Lesson 33: Reasons and Evidence

Checklist for Reasons and Evidence:

In order to identify the reasons and evidence that support an author’s claim(s) in an argument, note the following:
- the argument the author or speaker presents in the text or speech and identify the claim
the reasons and evidence the author or speaker includes that support the claim
- if the evidence supports the claim and is complete and comprehensive
- if the author or speaker introduces irrelevant evidence, not related to the claim, and that does not support it
- reasons and evidence that has been distorted or exaggerated, as well as examples of fallacious reasoning, or errors in logic
such as personal attacks

To assess whether the reasoning is sound and the evidence is relevant and sufficient, consider the following questions:
- What kind of argument is the author or speaker making?
- Is the reasoning, or the thinking behind the claims, sound and valid?
- Are the reasons and evidence the author or speaker presents to support the claim sufficient, or is more evidence needed? Why
or why not?
- How can you tell if there is any fallacious reasoning, or evidence that is distorted or exaggerated?
- Does the speaker offer any examples of fallacious reasoning or distorted evidence? What were they, and how do they affect
the speaker’s point of view?
- Are there any instances of distorted or exaggerated evidence? In what ways was the evidence exaggerated or distorted, and
how did it affect what the speaker had to say?

RI.9-10.1, RI.9-10.8, SL.9-10.1.A, SL.9-10.1.C, SL.9-10.2, SL.9-10.3

DOK 2 & 3

Text Chunking
Guiding Questions
Sentence Starters & Response Frames
Small Group Support
Graphic Organizers
Visual Glossary
Modeling
Think-a-Louds

• Quiz questions, Open-Ended Response Questions, Discussion and Notes

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