How to Identify Evidence and Support Claims

Khan Academy

In this engaging educational video, narrator David introduces students to the concept of textual evidence through a fictional game show called "Prove It!" The video breaks down the abstract concept of argumentation into a clear, three-step process: identifying the author's main point, locating the specific evidence provided, and drawing connections between the two. Through humor and relatable examples, students learn that writers cannot just make claims; they must support their ideas with facts, statistics, or logic. The video uses two distinct examples to illustrate these concepts. First, it uses a simple, funny comparison between fictional movies ("Lil Tony 3" vs. "Lil Tony 4") to show how box office numbers or reviews serve as evidence. Then, it transitions to a more complex informational text about common fears versus actual dangers (specifically involving hippopotamuses). This progression from simple to complex helps scaffold the learning, allowing students to practice the skill of linking claims to data in real-time. For educators, this video is an excellent tool for introducing or reviewing standards related to reading informational texts and argumentative writing. It provides a shared language ("Prove It!") that teachers can adopt in the classroom when asking students to support their answers. The visual demonstration of mapping points to evidence in a t-chart offers a concrete strategy that students can replicate in their own reading and writing assignments.