6.68 Relevant Evidence & Elaboration Worksheet

A student claims: “The most compelling evidence often combines a trustworthy source with a clear connection to the claim.” Claim: “Our city should expand the public bus route to the industrial park to help workers.” Evidence options: a transit agency report showing 620 workers commute to the park daily and 38% do not have access to a car, a comment saying buses are annoying, a photo of a bus, and a sentence that workers deserve help.

A student’s claim is: “Longer recess improves afternoon behavior.” She records the number of behavior reminders teachers gave after lunch. During weeks with 20-minute recess, the average was 11 reminders per day. During weeks with 30-minute recess, the average was 7 reminders per day. But one of the 30-minute weeks was also the week before winter break.

A report claims: “Planting trees near the river will reduce erosion.” It includes: a diagram of roots holding soil, a measurement showing the riverbank retreated 18 cm in a treeless area and 6 cm in a tree-lined area over the same rainy season, a quote that trees are beautiful, and a note that rain is common.