Identifying reasons behind a speaker's points
Identify the reasons and evidence a speaker provides to support particular points, evaluating whether the reasoning is logical and the evidence is relevant
What a learner can do afterwards
- Listen to a speaker's argument or presentation and list the specific reasons and evidence provided to support each main point
- Evaluate whether the reasons a speaker gives are logical and whether the evidence cited is relevant to the claim being made
- Ask follow-up questions that probe the strength of a speaker's reasoning, e.g. 'What evidence supports that claim?' or 'Are there other explanations?'
1 · Read
A claim is a point a speaker wants you to accept. A reason explains why they think it makes sense. Evidence includes facts, observations and examples that support a reason or claim. Listen for what the speaker actually says. 'Because' often introduces a reason. A loud voice or a long speech does not supply evidence by itself.
Check whether the reason really explains the claim. That makes the reasoning logical. Then check whether the evidence supports that reason or claim. That makes the evidence relevant. A reason may sound appealing without having evidence behind it.
A classmate says, 'Let's start recess five minutes earlier but keep its ending time the same. That gives us more time to be active. Our timetable shows five extra minutes outdoors.' The schedule change is the claim. More active time is the reason. The timetable is evidence about the extra time. Both connect to the claim.
A speaker says, 'We should get a class pet because our classroom needs more color.' Needing more color is the reason given, not evidence. It does not explain why a pet is needed. The speaker gives no facts or observations to support the reason. Ask what evidence supports a reason before accepting it.
If a reason seems weak, ask a follow-up question. 'What evidence supports that?' asks for facts. If a speaker recommends a plan tried elsewhere, ask what happened there. If a reason does not fit a choice, ask for a reason that does fit.
Listen for the reasons and evidence behind a claim, then check whether they truly connect to it.
The claim, reason and evidence teaching examples, flashcard correction and worked-step repairs were written for this dataset.
Explaining a text's reasons and evidence | Guided practice and Evaluating arguments | Guided practice are adapted from academy records attributed to Khan Academy. Checking claims, evidence, and reasoning was written for this dataset.
More to read
Explaining a text's reasons and evidence | Guided practice
Lots of speakers and writers want you to believe their points. A point is an idea they are trying to prove. How do they try to convince you? They use reasons and evidence.
Reasons are statements that tell WHY someone believes something. Evidence is the facts, numbers, and stories they use to back up those reasons.
People say all kinds of wild and untrue things. When you listen carefully, your job is to catch each point the speaker makes and ask two questions: What reasons did they give for this point? What evidence did they share to support it?
Try matching each reason to its point, like matching socks. If a speaker says, "Our school should start a garden," that is the point. If they say, "because kids learn better when they grow things," that is a reason. If they add, "one class grew tomatoes and every student passed the plant quiz," that is evidence.
Once you can spot the point, the reasons, and the evidence, you can decide if the speaker really proved their point or just hoped you would not check.
Evaluating arguments | Guided practice
Listen to this argument: "Today, the world's oceans are in danger. But if Nebraska would stop handing out so many fishing licenses, the oceans could heal within months."
Were you convinced? Probably not. Why? Because the speaker made a big claim without strong evidence and clear reasoning to support it. Nebraska does not even touch any oceans. It is completely surrounded by land!
An argument has three main parts. The claim is what the speaker wants you to believe. The reasoning explains why the claim makes sense. The evidence is the facts and proof that back it all up.
When you listen to a speaker, you can test their argument. Ask yourself: Is the reasoning logical, meaning does it actually make sense? Is the evidence relevant, meaning does it really connect to the claim? If a speaker says we should eat more carrots because orange is a happy color, that is a reason, not supporting evidence. The speaker offers no facts showing why that reason supports eating more carrots. Ask what evidence connects the reason to the claim.
Checking claims, evidence, and reasoning
Scientists and speakers can organize an argument using CER: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning.
The claim gives an answer or states an idea that evidence could support. For example, a speaker might predict that their team will win its next game.
Evidence supplies facts, measurements, or observations. The team winning its last six games would support that prediction.
Reasoning explains the link. Six straight wins suggest the team is playing well, so another win may be likely. This supports the prediction without making it certain.
As you listen, find the speaker's claim, the evidence offered, and the explanation joining them. A missing or weak part means the argument needs more support. You could ask, "Which facts back up your claim?"
2 · Watch
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Where it sits
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Where this leads
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