Explain the difference between relevant and sufficient evidence in an argument.

Relevant evidence is closely related to the claim, while sufficient evidence means there is enough evidence to fully support the claim.

An author claims that 'Dogs make great pets.' They provide the following evidence: 'Dogs need to be walked every day.' Is this relevant evidence? Why or why not?

This is not strong relevant evidence because it describes a responsibility of owning a dog, not a benefit. It doesn't support the claim that dogs make great pets.

Does the Evidence Support the Argument?

8th Grade•45 minutes

Learning Objective

I can determine if the evidence an author uses supports their argument.

Key Concepts

When analyzing an argument, it is important to evaluate whether the evidence is relevant and sufficient.

An argument presents a series of claims that lead to a conclusion, and the premises must support the conclusion in a logical way.

When evaluating evidence, ask yourself: Did the author present sufficient information? Is all the information relevant to the conclusion?

Practice Questions

This lesson includes 9 practice questions to reinforce learning.

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1. What does it mean for evidence to be 'relevant' in the context of an argument?

2. Why is it important to evaluate the evidence presented in an argument?

3. An author argues that 'Living in a city is exciting.' Which piece of evidence is MOST relevant to this claim?

...and 6 more questions

Educational Video

Analyzing the Argument - Part 2 of 2 (Evaluating the Evidence)

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Learning Objective

Key Concepts

Practice Questions

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