As the digital age continues to proliferate, students find themselves surrounded by endless information every day. It challenges students to decipher what is credible, reliable and accurate. Therefore, teaching and reinforcing how to select evidence that supports a claim becomes a crucial skill to develop with students.

Below are some activities to teach students how to choose evidence to support a claim.

1. The first thing to teach students is to test the credibility of their sources. It’s an essential part of research to determine whether the information comes from a reliable and trustworthy source. Assign a group task where each group is given different sources to determine which one is the most credible. After each group presents their findings, as a class, discuss the reasons behind their choices. This exercise not only teaches students to select the best evidence for their claims but also encourages teamwork and cooperation.

2. Another activity that can help students understand how to support their claims with evidence is to provide them with a statement or argument with no evidence. Ask them to find evidence to support it. After they have completed their research, ask them to present their evidence to the class and discuss how that evidence supports the original claim. This exercise teaches students to analyze the accuracy and relevance of their evidence as well as how to use it to reinforce a point of view.

3. Teach your students to look for alternatives or counter-arguments to their claims. It’s important to know the other side of the coin as well as being able to defend their viewpoint. Divide students into groups and assign them a topic to argue about. Ask them to find counter-arguments for their side and evidence that supports them. This activity teaches students to evaluate different sources of evidence and helps them understand that there is always another side to an argument.

4. When you are teaching students how to choose evidence to support a claim, it’s vital to teach them about the difference between a solid and weak abstract statement. Therefore, always reinforce the idea that a claim must have strong evidence to support it. After they have grasped that concept, ask students to write a claim and back it up with evidence. Review their responses and help them understand whether their evidence supports their claim or not.

5. Lastly, one of the most challenging things for students is to understand bias in evidence. For example, some sources may be more credible than others, but they may still contain a certain bias. Ask students to evaluate their sources and their evidence to determine if they are unbiased or not. The goal of this exercise is to teach students to understand how different sources can influence the evidence they choose to support their claims.

In conclusion, teaching students to select evidence to support a claim is an essential skill in our digital age. By teaching students how to research, analyze, and evaluate their evidence, they will be better equipped to make informed decisions and present their arguments effectively. Using a variety of activities, like the ones mentioned above, will help students internalize the skills they need to be successful in the classroom and in life.