Claim-Evidence Writing: Historical Timelines
Example
Question: Why are timelines useful for studying history?
Claim: Timelines are useful for studying history because they help us see how events connect.
Evidence: A timeline shows events in order from oldest to newest. For example, we can see that Columbus arrived in 1492, then Jamestown was founded in 1607, and then the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776. This makes it easy to see that European settlement came before American independence.
Explain: This shows that timelines help us understand cause and effect in history. When we see events in order, we can ask "What caused this?" and "What happened next?" Without timelines, history would seem like random events with no connection.
Practice Questions
1. Which is the best CLAIM about timelines?
A) Timelines have dates
B) Timelines help historians understand the order and connections between events
C) Timelines are long
D) Timelines use paper
Answer
B) - This makes a specific, arguable claim about why timelines matter.
2. Which is good EVIDENCE for "The Revolutionary War changed history"?
A) Wars are bad
B) Before 1776, America was ruled by Britain; after, it became an independent nation that created the Constitution
C) People fought
D) History is old
Answer
B) - This gives specific before-and-after evidence showing the change.
3. "The Boston Tea Party happened 3 years before independence was declared" is:
A) A claim
B) Evidence
C) An explanation
D) A question
Answer
B) Evidence - This is a specific, verifiable fact from a timeline.
4. What should your explanation show about historical events?
A) Just more dates
B) How your evidence proves your claim about history
C) Your favorite president
D) Nothing important
Answer
B) - The explanation connects your evidence to your main point.
5. "This demonstrates that..." is a good way to start:
A) A claim
B) Evidence
C) An explanation
D) A title
Answer
C) An explanation - It introduces how your evidence supports your claim.
6. Which evidence supports "Cause and effect helps us understand history"?
A) History happened long ago
B) Because the British taxed tea, colonists protested, which led to the Revolutionary War
C) Cause and effect are words
D) History books exist
Answer
B) - This shows a specific chain of cause and effect in history.
7. A good history claim should be:
A) Just a date
B) Something that can be supported with historical evidence
C) One word
D) A person's name
Answer
B) - Good claims can be backed up with facts from history.
8. "For instance, the gold rush of 1849 led to California becoming a state in 1850" introduces:
A) A claim
B) A specific example (evidence)
C) A conclusion
D) A question
Answer
B) - "For instance" signals a specific supporting example.
9. Why use dates as evidence in history writing?
A) Dates are precise facts that can be verified
B) Dates are opinions
C) Teachers like dates
D) Dates are confusing
Answer
A) - Dates are reliable evidence that can be checked in multiple sources.
10. A complete history paragraph needs:
A) Just a claim
B) Just evidence
C) Claim, evidence, and explanation
D) Only a timeline
Answer
C) - All three parts make a complete, convincing argument.
Your Turn!
Write about this question:
"Why was the Declaration of Independence an important event?"
- Claim: The Declaration of Independence was important because...
- Evidence: Give 2-3 specific facts (use dates!)
- Explain: Show how your evidence supports your claim
Next Steps
- Practice writing about other historical events
- Find timeline evidence in history books
- Continue to the Unit Checkpoint