Author's Claims & Evidence | Parent Activity Guide

What is Your Child Learning?

Seventh graders learn to analyze argumentative texts - writing where authors try to convince readers to believe something. Students learn to identify claims (what the author argues), evaluate evidence (the support for claims), and spot logical fallacies (errors in reasoning that weaken arguments).

This is a crucial life skill! Understanding how arguments work helps students make informed decisions and resist manipulation in advertising, politics, and everyday life.

Key Vocabulary

Claim: The main point an author wants you to believe (arguable statement)

Reason: Explains WHY the claim should be accepted

Evidence: Facts, statistics, or expert opinions that support the reason

Sufficient: Is there ENOUGH evidence to support the claim?

Relevant: Does the evidence actually CONNECT to the claim?

Credible: Is the source reliable, expert, and unbiased?

Logical Fallacy: An error in reasoning that makes an argument seem convincing but is actually flawed

Common Logical Fallacies to Watch For

Hasty Generalization: Drawing big conclusions from too few examples ("My friend got sick there, so that restaurant is dangerous")
Bandwagon: "Everyone is doing it, so it must be right"
Ad Hominem: Attacking the person instead of their argument
False Cause: Assuming one thing caused another just because it came first
Either/Or: Presenting only two options when more exist

Activities to Try at Home

📺 Commercial Claim Analysis

Watch TV commercials together and analyze the arguments:

"What is this commercial claiming about the product?"
"What evidence do they show? Is it convincing?"
"Do you see any logical fallacies?" (Bandwagon is common in ads!)
"What information is missing that you'd want to know?"

Example: "9 out of 10 dentists recommend..." - Who are these dentists? What exactly did they recommend? This often lacks sufficient evidence.

📰 Opinion Article Analysis

Read opinion pieces or editorials together (many newspapers have teen-appropriate sections):

"What is the author's main claim?"
"What reasons do they give?"
"Is the evidence from credible sources?"
"Does the author address counterarguments?"
"How could this argument be stronger?"

🗣️ Family Debate Night

Choose a family-friendly topic and practice making arguments:

Should bedtime be later on weekends?
What should we do for the next family activity?
Should we get a new pet?

Practice using claims, reasons, AND evidence. Call out fallacies when you hear them (make it fun, not critical!).

📱 Social Media Fact-Check

When your child shares something from social media, use it as a teaching moment:

"What's the claim being made here?"
"Who is the source? Are they credible?"
"Is this one example or part of a pattern?"
"How could we verify if this is true?"

Questions to Ask About Any Argument

"What is the author trying to convince me to believe?"
"What evidence do they provide?"
"Is this evidence sufficient? (Enough?)"
"Is this evidence relevant? (Connected to the claim?)"
"Is this evidence credible? (From a reliable source?)"
"Does the author address opposing viewpoints?"
"Do I see any logical fallacies?"
"What information is missing that I'd need to be fully convinced?"

Parent Tip: Model Critical Thinking

When you encounter claims in everyday life, think aloud with your child:

"This ad says their product is the best, but I notice they only show one person's story. That's not enough evidence for me."

"This news article quotes a study from Harvard. That's a credible source, so I take this evidence more seriously."

"The politician said 'everyone agrees,' but that's a bandwagon fallacy. I want to see actual data."

Modeling this thinking helps your child internalize the process!

Real-World Connections

Where We See Arguments

Advertisements
Political speeches
Product reviews
Social media posts
News editorials

Why This Matters

Make informed decisions
Resist manipulation
Evaluate information
Become better writers
Participate in democracy

Informacion para Padres (Spanish Summary)

Que esta aprendiendo su hijo? Los estudiantes de septimo grado aprenden a analizar ARGUMENTOS - escritos donde los autores intentan convencer a los lectores de algo.

Vocabulario clave:

Afirmacion (Claim): El punto principal que el autor quiere que usted crea
Evidencia: Hechos, estadisticas u opiniones de expertos que apoyan la afirmacion
Falacia logica: Un error en el razonamiento que debilita el argumento

Preguntas para hacer:

"Que esta tratando de convencerte el autor?"
"Que evidencia proporciona? Es suficiente?"
"La fuente es confiable?"
"Ves alguna falacia logica?"

Consejo: Los comerciales de television son excelentes para practicar! Analicen juntos las afirmaciones que hacen los anunciantes.

Author's Claims & Evidence - Parent Activity Guide