Blueprint for Proof Slides Blueprint for Proof
Lesson 1: Tracing the Argument
The Hook: Mystery Ad
"Buy the SwiftStep 3000: The shoe that makes you fly!"
(Imagine a shiny running shoe with wings)
The Investigation:
What is this company trying to convince you of? What is their main claim ?
Arguments aren't just fights. They are carefully built structures designed to make you believe something.
Key Terminology
CLAIM
The main point an author wants you to accept as true. It is their thesis or position .
"Schools should start at 10:00 AM."
REASON
The why behind the claim. It explains the logical thinking that supports the position.
"Students learn better when they are well-rested."
EVIDENCE
The proof . Facts, statistics, and examples that show the reasons are correct.
"A 2023 study found test scores rose by 15% in schools with later start times."
The Argument Hierarchy
Informational vs. Argumentative
Informational
Teaches about a topic
Purpose: To explain or describe
Objective (stays neutral)
Argumentative
Persuades the reader
Purpose: To convince or change minds
Subjective (takes a side)
Key Question: Does the author want me to LEARN or AGREE?
Mapping the Flow
CLAIM
Reason 1
Reason 2
Reason 3
Supporting Evidence
Today, we use our Claim Tracker to map a real text!
Claim Tracker Worksheet Claim Tracker
Argument Blueprinting Tool
Name:
Date:
Mission Parameters
Read the assigned text carefully. Your goal is to map the author's argument from the main claim down to the specific evidence provided. Think of this as reverse-engineering the author's logic.
Primary Claim
Reason 01
Evidence for Reason 01
Reason 02
Evidence for Reason 02
Reason 03
Evidence for Reason 03
The Structural Integrity Check
After mapping the argument, do the reasons actually support the main claim? Is the evidence strong enough? Write your initial judgment below.
Fact-Checking Frenzy Slides Fact-Checking Frenzy
Lesson 2: Fact, Opinion, and Reasoned Judgment
Flash Fire Challenge
Rules of Engagement:
1 Listen to the statement.
2 Shout "FACT!" if it's verifiable.
3 Shout "OPINION!" if it's a belief.
READY?
"The sun rises in the east."
"Monday is the worst day of the week."
The Investigator's Toolkit
FACT
Can be proven true or false.
"The Nile is the longest river in Africa."
OPINION
A personal belief, feeling, or preference.
"Kayaking is the most exciting sport."
Reasoned Judgment
A conclusion based on facts and evidence.
"Based on current trends, electric cars will eventually replace gas cars."
The Persuasive Blend
The Text
"The Great Barrier Reef contains over 2,900 individual reefs (Fact). This natural wonder is the most beautiful place on Earth (Opinion). Because of rising ocean temperatures, it is clear that we must act now to save it (Judgment)."
Authors mix these together to make their arguments feel "fact-heavy."
Mission: Fact-Check
You are about to receive a report. Your task is to extract every "Fact" and verify if it's actually true, or just an "Opinion" in disguise.
Good Luck, Detectives
Truth Hunter Activity Sheet Truth Hunter Dossier
Case File: #402-B | Statement Analysis
Investigator:
Date:
Case Brief: The Robot Teacher Initiative
"The Global Education Board recently announced a pilot program for 'Robo-Tutors' in three cities. These AI-driven machines can answer math questions in 0.2 seconds. It is the most brilliant idea in the history of schooling. Because the robots never get tired, student achievement will definitely double by the year 2030. Every student deserves a teacher who is perfect and never takes a sick day."
Instructions:
Extract statements from the brief above and categorize them below. Provide your reasoning for each classification.
Statement from Text Classification Reasoning / Proof Fact
Opinion
Judgment
| |
| |
Fact
Opinion
Judgment
| |
| |
Fact
Opinion
Judgment
| |
The Fact-Check Challenge
Choose ONE "Fact" from the text above. How would you verify if this is actually true? What sources would you consult?
Evidence Under Review Slides Evidence Under Review
Lesson 3: Evaluating Sufficiency
The "Weak Link" Test
"Aliens definitely built the pyramids."
Teacher's Proof: "I saw a video on the internet where a guy said the stones are too heavy for people."
Are you convinced?
Why isn't this enough? What is missing from this argument?
Evidence must be SUFFICIENT and RELEVANT.
The Burden of Proof
Sufficiency
Does the author provide enough evidence to support the claim?
"If I claim 1,000 people love this pizza, I need more than one 5-star review."
Relevance
Does the evidence actually relate to the point being made?
"Claiming a car is fast because it has a nice cup holder is NOT relevant."
Beware: Logical Fallacies
A "Fallacy" is a flaw in reasoning that makes an argument weak.
Generalization
Claiming something is true for everyone based on only one or two people.
"My grandpa doesn't like TikTok, so no old people use it."
Slippery Slope
Arguing that one small step will lead to a chain of huge (usually bad) events.
"If we let students chew gum, soon they'll be bringing couches to class!"
Your Verdict
Today, you will receive three articles. You must use the Sufficiency Scorecard to decide: which argument stands up in court, and which is just hot air?
Sufficiency Scorecard Worksheet Sufficiency Scorecard
Official Evidence Evaluation Form
Juror:
Subject:
Instructions
Analyze your assigned article. Rate the author's performance in the categories below. Provide specific examples from the text to justify your score.
Category 1: Evidence Quantity
SCORE:
1
2
3
4
5
Criteria:
Does the author provide multiple pieces of evidence for each reason, or do they rely on just one example?
Examples from text
Category 2: Relevance
SCORE:
1
2
3
4
5
Criteria:
Does the evidence directly support the specific claim being made, or is it just loosely related to the topic?
Examples from text
Category 3: Logic Check
SCORE:
1
2
3
4
5
Criteria:
Did you spot any logical fallacies (Slippery Slope, Overgeneralization, etc.)? If so, the score should be low.
Fallacies found
The Final Verdict
Is this argument credible enough to convince a reasonable reader? Why or why not?
Official Seal of Argument Analysis
Bias Detectives Slides Bias Detectives
Lesson 4: Looking Beneath the Surface
The "Two Sides" Test
Witness A:
"He was aggressively yelling and wouldn't let me speak!"
Witness B:
"I was just trying to explain my side calmly, but she ignored me."
Who is telling the truth?
Every author has a perspective . Bias happens when that perspective makes the text unfair.
The Toolkit of Bias
Loaded Language
Words with strong emotional meanings meant to influence your feelings.
Positive
Innovative
Negative
Dangerous
Omission
Leaving out important facts that might change a reader's mind about the topic.
"The author mentioned the new park costs $1 million, but 'forgot' to mention it creates 50 new jobs."
Follow the Motive
Profit
Is the author trying to sell something?
Politics
Is the author trying to win an election or change a law?
Passion
Does the author just personally care deeply about the topic?
The Neutrality Challenge
Your mission today is to find the "emotional triggers" in a text and rewrite them to be neutral and objective.
Begin Investigation
Neutrality Lab Worksheet Neutrality Lab
Bias Neutralization Protocol
Lab Technician:
Phase 1: Loaded Language Scan
Identify the "loaded" word in each pair below. Explain why it is biased compared to its neutral counterpart.
Inquisitive Nosy
Analysis:
Stingy Thrifty
Analysis:
Phase 2: Neutralization Chamber
Contaminated Sample:
"The ridiculous new dress code is a shameful attempt by controlling administrators to crush the creativity of every student in this building. It is a disaster for school spirit."
Step 1: List the biased words found above
Step 2: Rewrite the paragraph to be neutral and objective
Neutrality Protocol Verified | Code: 99-B
The Final Verdict Slides The Final Verdict
Lesson 5: Socratic Seminar
Rules of the Circle
1
Cite the Text: No point counts unless you can point to the evidence on the page.
2
Build or Bridge: Connect your idea to what someone else just said.
3
Invite Others: If someone is quiet, ask for their perspective.
"Listening is 50% of Argumentation."
It's a dialogue, not a debate.
Sentence Starters
Building On
"I agree with [Name] because..."
"Building on what [Name] said..."
"To add to that point..."
Respectful Challenge
"I see your point, but I interpreted..."
"I respectfully disagree because..."
"The text says [X], which suggests..."
Clarifying
"Could you explain what you meant by..."
"Where in the text did you find that?"
Summarizing
"So, it seems like we are saying..."
"The common thread here is..."
The Hot Seat
To start, one brave student will represent the author. The class will ask them questions about their claims , their evidence , and their bias .
Are you ready to defend?
Enter the Agora
Grab your Evidence Tracker . Your participation grade depends on how many times you cite the text and build on others' ideas.
Start Seminar
Seminar Tracker Reflection Sheet Seminar Evidence Tracker
Civic Discourse Record | Case Study: #Veracity
Speaker:
Date:
Phase 1: Active Listening Log
Points Heard Textual Evidence to Support / Challenge
Post-Seminar Reflection
Contribution Check:
I cited specific textual evidence.
I built on someone else's idea.
I asked a clarifying question.
Final Verdict:
How did your opinion of the text change during this discussion? What was the most convincing piece of evidence shared?
