Building Strong Supporting Arguments

Grade 6 English Language Arts Learning to Persuade with Evidence

What We'll Learn Today

I can identify and write strong supporting arguments for my thesis statement I can use facts, statistics, and examples to strengthen my arguments I can evaluate whether my supporting evidence is relevant and convincing

Warm-Up: Think-Pair-Share

Think: What is your thesis statement from last class? Pair: Share with a partner what makes a good supporting argument Share: Tell the class one idea from your discussion

What Are Supporting Arguments?

Supporting arguments are statements that explain WHY your thesis is true They provide evidence to convince your reader Think of them as the 'proof' for your main idea Without them, your thesis is just an opinion!

Three Types of Support

Supporting Arguments in Action

Thesis: 'We should have longer recess at school' FACT: Studies show children who play more have better focus in class STATISTIC: 90% of students said they feel happier during longer breaks EXAMPLE: Last week, I finished my homework faster after a long recess

Sort the Support!

Work in groups of 4-5 students Sort the cards into three piles: Fact, Statistic, or Example Each group shares one card from each pile Explain why you put it in that category

Your Turn: Building Arguments Chart

Write your thesis statement at the top Create 3 supporting arguments Include at least one fact, statistic, or example for each argument Use the sentence starters if helpful: 'One reason is...', 'For example...', 'Statistics show...'

Reflection Time

Which type of support was easiest for you to use? Why? Which was most challenging? How does including different kinds of evidence make your argument stronger?

Success Check & Next Steps

Today we learned to identify and write strong supporting arguments We practiced using facts, statistics, and examples as evidence Next class: We'll organize these arguments into persuasive paragraphs Remember: Strong arguments need strong support!