How authors back up their points

English · Reading Comprehension · ages 9-10

Name ______________________ Date ____________

An author writes: 'Our town buses ran late on 40 mornings last winter. Two drivers quit in January. The bus service needs more money.' What is the author's point?
- The buses ran late on 40 mornings
- Two drivers quit in January
- The bus service needs more money
An author writes: 'Schools should start later. Studies show teens who sleep more do better on tests.' What is the reason given?
- Studies show teens who sleep more do better on tests
- Teens like to sleep late
- School starts too early everywhere
An author's point is the same thing as the reasons that support it.
Circle one: True False
Which sentence is an opinion, not a fact-backed claim?
- Pizza is the best food ever.
- A survey found pizza was the top choice of 60% of students.
- Three studies link pizza sales to Fridays.
An author writes: 'Our school garden is worth keeping.' Which sentence would back up that point?
- The garden has a green gate
- The garden sits behind the gym
- Last year the garden grew 40 kilograms of vegetables for the school kitchen
An author writes: 'Our class should get a pet fish. A fish would be a good pet for our class. Fish are quiet, so they will not bother the class next door. Feeding a fish takes about one minute a day.' Which sentence only says the point again instead of backing it up?
- Fish are quiet, so they will not bother the class next door
- A fish would be a good pet for our class
- Feeding a fish takes about one minute a day
A writer found this fact: 'In April, 9 out of 10 children at Pine School walked to school.' Which point does that fact back up?
- Most children at Pine School walk to school
- Pine School needs a bigger car park
- April is the rainiest month of the year
An author writes: 'Our classroom needs a second water jug. Last week the one jug ran dry before lunch on 4 of the 5 days.' What kind of support does the author use?
- A number you can check
- An expert's opinion
- A story about one person
An author writes: 'Cats make easier pets than dogs. Cats clean themselves, so they need fewer baths. A cat can be left alone all day while you are at school. Dogs love long walks with their owners.' Which sentence does not help the author's point?
- Cats clean themselves, so they need fewer baths
- A cat can be left alone all day while you are at school
- Dogs love long walks with their owners
An author writes: 'Reading before bed helps you fall asleep faster.' Which example actually backs up that point?
- Sam reads comics at lunchtime and always enjoys them
- Leo owns 60 books and keeps them all on one shelf
- Mia read for 20 minutes every night at bedtime and fell asleep faster than before

Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

How authors back up their points W1-mt_k-V37x3zsF-s1

The bus service needs more money · The point is what the author wants you to believe: the bus service needs more money. The late buses and the drivers who quit are there to hold that up.
Studies show teens who sleep more do better on tests · The reason is the study about sleep and test scores. That is the evidence backing the point.
False · The point is the main idea. Reasons and evidence are what back it up.
Pizza is the best food ever. · Best food ever is just a feeling. It has no facts or evidence behind it.
Last year the garden grew 40 kilograms of vegetables for the school kitchen · All three sentences could be true, but only the one about vegetables shows the garden gives the school something worth keeping.
A fish would be a good pet for our class · A fish would be a good pet for our class is the point wearing different words. Saying the point again is not support.
Most children at Pine School walk to school · The fact counts children who walked, so it backs up the point that most children at Pine School walk. It says nothing about car parks or rain.
A number you can check · The author counts the days the jug ran dry, so the support is a number anyone in the class could check.
Dogs love long walks with their owners · The point is that cats are easier. Fewer baths and being fine alone both show cats being easier. Dogs loving long walks is a good thing about dogs, so it pulls the other way.
Mia read for 20 minutes every night at bedtime and fell asleep faster than before · The point joins two things: reading at bedtime, and falling asleep faster. Only Mia's example has both of them.