Claim
Reason #1
Evidence #1
Evaluation of evidence:
Reason #2
Evidence #2
Evidence #1
Evaluation of evidence:
Evidence #2
Reason #3
Evidence #1
Evaluation of evidence:
Evidence #2
Instructions for completing the graphic organizer:
Claim: [Look to text] What specific claim does the author make? This may be explicitly stated in the text or implied. Do not confuse the claim with
the title of the piece. The claim can be recognized as the author’s opinion. It is an arguable thesis. You need to express the claim as a
complete sentence/statement.
Reasons: [Look to text] What reasons does the author provide to support his/her claim? The reasons are generalizations the author concludes
from the evidence.
Evidence: [Look to text} What evidence does the author cite to support or prove his/her reasons? The evidence does not and should not
overwhelm the author’s reasons or claim.
Evaluation of the evidence: [Your judgement, based on the evidence presented] Is the evidence first-hand or secondhand in nature? Is there
quantitative evidence? Is it relevant? Is there anecdotal evidence? Does the claim lend itself to be proved by anecdotal evidence? Does
the author include any expert testimony? Is it relevant? Does the evidence appeal to pathos? To logos? Are these appeals effective? Etc!
Is the evidence consistent with a clear line of reasoning?