Argument structure: claims and evidence

Map an argumentative text: find the writer's main claim, the evidence offered for it, the opposing views the writer reports, and the concessions, rebuttals and qualifications that shape the final position.

Level C1 25 min4 exercisesLesson 7 of 12 in Reading C1

Trains: IELTS Reading – Multiple choice, IELTS Reading – Matching sentence endings, TOEFL iBT Reading – Read an Academic Passage

What you'll learn

Identify the main claim of an argumentative text and the reasons that support it
Recognise counter-arguments, concessions, rebuttals and qualifications from their signals
Judge how strongly different kinds of evidence support a claim
Use an argument map to answer questions on function, purpose and sentence endings

Lesson content

7 steps · 4 exercises · 25 min total

1. Warm-up2 questions
2. LearnThe skill and the strategy
3. ModelSee how it's done
4. PracticeWhat does each paragraph do? + 2 more
5. Exam tips3 tips
6. Key vocabulary11 words
7. SummaryReview and finish

Start lesson