Claim It or Counter It

Do you know how arguments are built in writing? In the Claim It or Counter It playsheet, you’ll practice identifying claims—statements that present a main point—and counterclaims, which challenge or oppose those points. By learning to recognize both, you’ll become a sharper reader and a stronger writer.

As you go through the activities, you’ll notice that claims often express a viewpoint backed with reasons or evidence, such as School uniforms improve focus in class. Counterclaims, however, provide the opposite side, like Uniforms limit students’ self-expression. Seeing both sides of an argument helps you think critically about issues.

Each challenge guides you to spot claims and counterclaims in short passages, label them correctly, and explain how they connect. You’ll also practice writing your own examples, balancing arguments with evidence and reasoning. These exercises strengthen your comprehension and prepare you for persuasive and argumentative writing.