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Reading & writing · Grades 5–8

A claim needs relevant evidence

Distinguish a text-based inference from a statement the passage cannot support.

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Learn the idea

Claim

State a specific idea that can be examined using the available text.

Evidence

Choose a detail that actually supports the claim, not merely an interesting quotation.

Reasoning

Explain how the evidence connects to the claim.

Limits

Do not invent motives or facts absent from the passage. An inference should remain proportionate.

Worked examples

Fictional text: “Noor tested the lock twice, then placed the spare key in her bag.” Which inference is best supported?

Testing the lock and carrying a spare support preparation, not the other claims.

Noor was checking access before leaving.

For the same text, which detail is direct evidence rather than an inference?

The action is explicitly stated.

She tested the lock twice.

Check your understanding

  1. Write one cautious inference from: “Evan reread the invitation before choosing a formal jacket.”

  2. Explain why quoting a long paragraph is not enough to justify a claim.

  3. Which sentence best distinguishes evidence from interpretation?

    1. Her pause proves she was guilty.
    2. Pausing always means fear.
    3. The text says she paused; this may suggest hesitation.

Answers and marking notes

Answers and marking notes
  1. Evan may have been checking how to dress for the occasion.

    Require a plausible connection and avoid certainty about unstated motives.

  2. The writer must select relevant details and explain their connection to the claim.

    Credit relevance and reasoning rather than length.

  3. The text says she paused; this may suggest hesitation.

    A cautious interpretation does not exceed the observed detail.

Independent educational review required. Grade bands are approximate; these are not officially aligned curricula.