Rhetoric and Documented Argument

Build a Documented Argument: Claim, Evidence, Warrant

Grades 6-12 | BleuLearn Homeschool Practice Pack

BleuLearn Rhetoric standard: A documented argument has three required parts. A claim without evidence is an opinion. Evidence without a warrant is a list. A warrant without evidence is an assertion. All three parts are required. None of them begin with "I think" or "I feel."

Your Primary Source

Document you are arguing about: _______________________________________

Where it is archived publicly: _______________________________________

Part 1 — The Claim

Write one claim about this primary source. It must take a position — not just state what happened. It cannot begin with "I think." It must be a statement that requires evidence to support:

Part 2 — The Evidence

Quote the specific words from the document that support your claim. Copy them exactly. Put them in quotation marks. Include where in the document this appears:

Part 3 — The Warrant

Write the sentence that connects your evidence to your claim. Start with "This evidence shows..." or "This proves my claim because..." — the warrant must actually explain the connection, not just restate the claim:

Counter-Argument (Advanced)

Write one piece of evidence from the same document that someone could use to argue against your claim. Then write one sentence explaining why your original argument is stronger despite this counter-evidence:

BleuLearn Pause

Read your three-part argument aloud. Does the warrant actually explain why the evidence proves the claim? If not, rewrite it here: