Grade: Grade 6 Subject: English Language Arts Unit: Claims & Evidence Lesson: 4 of 6 SAT: ExpressionOfIdeas ACT: English

Writing Application

Learn

Now it is time to put your knowledge into action. In this lesson, you will learn how to write your own argument paragraphs that include strong claims supported by convincing evidence. This skill is essential for essays, research papers, and standardized tests like the SAT and ACT.

The CREEA Paragraph Structure

Use this structure to write effective argument paragraphs:

C - Claim: Start with a clear, arguable statement.

R - Reason: Explain why your claim is true.

E - Evidence: Provide specific facts, data, or examples.

E - Explanation: Explain how the evidence supports your claim.

A - Acknowledgment: Address a counterargument (optional but strengthens your writing).

Writing Strong Claim Statements

Your claim should be:

  • Specific: Not too broad or vague
  • Arguable: Someone could reasonably disagree
  • Supportable: Evidence exists to back it up
Weak Claim Strong Claim Why It's Better
Exercise is good. Schools should require 30 minutes of daily physical activity. Specific, actionable, arguable
Reading is important. Students who read for 20 minutes daily perform better academically. Makes a specific, measurable claim
Technology has changed education. One-to-one laptop programs improve student engagement in middle school classrooms. Focused on a specific claim that can be proven

Integrating Evidence Smoothly

Use signal phrases to introduce evidence:

  • "According to [source]..."
  • "Research from [organization] shows that..."
  • "A study published in [journal] found that..."
  • "[Expert name], a [title] at [institution], states that..."
  • "Data from [source] indicates that..."

Explaining Your Evidence

Never drop evidence into your paragraph without explanation. Always connect it back to your claim:

  • "This demonstrates that..."
  • "This data proves..."
  • "This example shows..."
  • "These findings support the claim that..."
  • "This evidence matters because..."

Examples

Example 1: Complete CREEA Paragraph

[CLAIM] Middle schools should start the day with a 15-minute silent reading period. [REASON] Beginning the day with reading helps students transition from home to school mode and improves academic performance. [EVIDENCE] According to a study by the National Reading Panel, students who engage in daily sustained silent reading show a 15% improvement in reading comprehension over one school year. Additionally, a survey of 200 teachers found that 87% reported calmer, more focused classrooms after implementing morning reading routines. [EXPLANATION] These findings demonstrate that a brief reading period not only builds literacy skills but also creates a more productive learning environment for the rest of the day. [ACKNOWLEDGMENT] While some might argue that this takes away from instructional time, the improved focus and comprehension actually make the remaining class time more effective.

Example 2: Building Evidence Chains

Notice how this paragraph uses multiple pieces of evidence that build on each other:

"Schools should offer more vocational training programs. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that skilled trade jobs will grow by 10% over the next decade, yet many schools have eliminated shop classes and technical training. A report from the Harvard Graduate School of Education found that only 30% of Americans have a bachelor's degree, meaning the majority of workers need non-college pathways to good careers. Furthermore, students in career and technical education programs have a 93% graduation rate compared to the national average of 85%. These statistics reveal that vocational programs not only prepare students for in-demand careers but also keep them engaged in school."

Example 3: Addressing Counterarguments

Strong arguments acknowledge the other side:

"Standardized testing should be reduced in schools. Critics argue that tests provide objective data about student achievement, and this is a valid concern. However, the negative effects outweigh these benefits. Research shows that excessive testing causes anxiety in 60% of students and leads teachers to narrow their curriculum to tested subjects only. Rather than eliminating all assessments, schools should use a balanced approach with fewer high-stakes tests and more formative assessments that actually help students learn."

Practice

Complete these writing exercises to strengthen your argument writing skills.

Practice 1: Improve the Claim

Rewrite each weak claim to make it specific, arguable, and supportable:

  1. Homework is bad.
  2. Social media affects teens.
  3. Schools need to change.

Practice 2: Add Signal Phrases

Rewrite each sentence to include an appropriate signal phrase:

  1. Students who eat breakfast perform 20% better on tests.
  2. Climate change will cause sea levels to rise by 3 feet by 2100.
  3. "Arts education develops critical thinking skills that transfer to other subjects."

Practice 3: Write Explanations

Read each claim and evidence pair. Write an explanation sentence that connects them:

  1. Claim: School libraries are essential for student success. Evidence: Students with access to school libraries score 10-15% higher on reading assessments.
  2. Claim: Physical education should be required daily. Evidence: A study found that students who exercise before tests have 20% better recall.

Practice 4: Complete the Paragraph

Fill in the missing parts of this CREEA paragraph:

"[CLAIM] Schools should allow students to listen to music during independent work time. [REASON] _________________ [EVIDENCE] A Stanford University study found that students who listened to classical music while studying retained 15% more information than those who worked in silence. [EXPLANATION] _________________ [ACKNOWLEDGMENT] While some teachers worry that music is distracting, allowing students to use headphones during individual work keeps the classroom quiet while giving students a tool that helps them focus."

Practice 5: Write a Complete Paragraph

Choose one of these topics and write a complete CREEA paragraph. Include at least two pieces of evidence (you may use reasonable-sounding made-up statistics for practice):

  • Should schools have a later start time?
  • Should students be required to learn a musical instrument?
  • Should schools provide free breakfast and lunch to all students?

Practice 6: Revise for Stronger Evidence

This paragraph has weak evidence. Rewrite it with stronger, more specific evidence:

"Schools should teach financial literacy. Many people don't know how to manage money. My parents didn't learn about budgeting in school and they wish they had. Everyone agrees that money management is important. If schools taught financial literacy, students would be more prepared for life."

Practice 7: Add a Counterargument

Read this paragraph and add 2-3 sentences that acknowledge and respond to a counterargument:

"Schools should eliminate letter grades and use standards-based assessment instead. Research shows that letter grades often reflect compliance and behavior rather than actual learning. A study of 500 classrooms found that standards-based grading helped struggling students improve by clearly identifying skill gaps. When students know exactly what they need to work on, they can take targeted action to improve."

Practice 8: Peer Review Checklist

Use this checklist to evaluate your Practice 5 paragraph or exchange with a classmate:

  • Does the claim make a clear, arguable statement?
  • Is there a reason that explains why the claim is true?
  • Are there at least two pieces of specific evidence?
  • Does the writer use signal phrases to introduce evidence?
  • Is each piece of evidence explained and connected to the claim?
  • Is a counterargument acknowledged and addressed?

Sample Answers

Click to reveal sample answers

Practice 1: 1) "Elementary school homework should be limited to 20 minutes per night to reduce student stress without sacrificing learning." 2) "Social media use of more than 3 hours daily is linked to increased anxiety in teenagers." 3) "High schools should offer more career-focused electives to prepare students for the workforce."

Practice 2: 1) "According to the Journal of School Health, students who eat breakfast perform 20% better on tests." 2) "Research from NASA scientists indicates that climate change will cause sea levels to rise by 3 feet by 2100." 3) "Dr. Ellen Winner, a psychology professor at Boston College, states that 'arts education develops critical thinking skills that transfer to other subjects.'"

Practice 3: 1) "This data demonstrates that libraries are not just nice to have but are directly connected to measurable academic gains." 2) "These findings prove that physical activity primes the brain for learning, making PE as important as any academic subject."

Practice 4: REASON: "Music can help students concentrate by blocking out distracting noises and creating a focused mental state." EXPLANATION: "This research demonstrates that certain types of music actually enhance cognitive function rather than detracting from it, suggesting that music can be a learning tool rather than a distraction."

Check Your Understanding

  1. What do the letters in CREEA stand for?
  2. What three qualities should a strong claim have?
  3. Why is it important to explain your evidence rather than just presenting it?
  4. How does addressing counterarguments strengthen your writing?
  5. What is a signal phrase, and why should you use them?
Click to check your answers
  1. Claim, Reason, Evidence, Explanation, Acknowledgment
  2. A strong claim should be specific, arguable, and supportable.
  3. Explanation connects the evidence to your claim and shows the reader why the evidence matters. Without explanation, readers must make the connection themselves and might not understand your point.
  4. Addressing counterarguments shows you have considered other viewpoints, builds your credibility, and makes your argument more persuasive by pre-emptively answering reader objections.
  5. A signal phrase introduces evidence by citing its source (e.g., "According to..."). Signal phrases give evidence credibility and help integrate quotes and data smoothly into your writing.

Next Steps

  • Practice writing CREEA paragraphs on topics that interest you
  • Look for opportunities to use evidence in your writing across all subjects
  • Continue to the Editing Workshop lesson to polish your argument writing