What the Book Is Arguing is a free printable Grade 3 to Grade 5 social studies worksheet on summarizing the central claim of a secondary work, aligned to C3 Framework indicator D2.His.17.3-5. It prints 8 questions with an answer key on its own sheet of paper, in 25 versions that each ask different questions, so no two students in the class work from the same page. Print it from the browser or download it as a PDF — no account, no email.
Set 1 of 25 · the same problems every time you open this link.
1.What is the central claim of the 2015 history of the valley?
A.That the valley gained more than it lost, though not for everyone
B.That the workhouse kept registers
C.That the railway opened in 1846
2.How would you summarize the book in one sentence?
A.The valley had a canal and a railway
B.Railways changed Britain
C.The railway transformed the valley, and the gains outweighed the losses unevenly
3.Why does it matter that this book is a secondary work?
A.It makes it certain
B.The author was not there and is arguing from the records
C.It makes it unreliable
4.Why is "the railway opened in 1846" not the central claim?
A.It is untrue
B.It is too recent
C.It is a fact the author uses, not the argument she is making
5.How can you tell a claim from a fact in a history book?
A.A claim comes last
B.A claim is longer
C.A claim is something a reader could reasonably disagree with
6.What evidence does the 2015 author use for the cost of the change?
A.The workhouse registers and the fall in canal traffic
B.Her own memory
C.The railway timetable only
7.The author says "though not for everyone." What does that phrase do?
A.It contradicts her claim
B.It limits her claim so it is not overstated
C.It changes the subject
8.A reader disagrees with the central claim. What should they produce?
A.Evidence from the records that weighs the other way
B.An older book
C.A stronger opinion
LessonPrint · D2.His.17.3-5 · Set 1 · free to copy for classroom use
Answer key — What the Book Is Arguing
Set 1. Prints on its own sheet.
1.That the valley gained more than it lost, though not for everyone
2.The railway transformed the valley, and the gains outweighed the losses unevenly
3.The author was not there and is arguing from the records
4.It is a fact the author uses, not the argument she is making
5.A claim is something a reader could reasonably disagree with
6.The workhouse registers and the fall in canal traffic
7.It limits her claim so it is not overstated
8.Evidence from the records that weighs the other way
Questions about What the Book Is Arguing
What does the What the Book Is Arguing worksheet cover?
It practices summarizing the central claim of a secondary work — 8 questions for Grade 3 to Grade 5, all on C3 Framework D2.His.17.3-5: Summarize the main claim a history book makes. The instruction to students is “Circle the best answer”, and the answer key follows on the next sheet.
Which C3 Framework indicator does What the Book Is Arguing practice?
D2.His.17.3-5, under History for Grade 3 to Grade 5. The published indicator reads: “Summarize the central claim in a secondary work of history.” The worksheet assesses that indicator rather than a paraphrase of it.
What age or grade is this worksheet for?
What the Book Is Arguing is written for Grade 3 to Grade 5, typically ages 40-41. It is one of the sheets on D2.His.17.3-5, so it suits any student working at that standard — including older students revisiting it and younger ones working ahead.
Does What the Book Is Arguing come with an answer key?
Yes. All 8 answers are generated from the same problems as the questions, so the key cannot drift out of step with the sheet. It starts on a fresh sheet of paper, after the questions, so it is not handed out with the class by accident.
How many different versions of What the Book Is Arguing can I print?
25 — one per student, and all 25 ask different questions. Set 1 downloads the whole class as a single PDF. Every version is fixed to its own address, so a sheet printed today holds the same problems when you reopen it next week.
Is What the Book Is Arguing free to print and photocopy?
Yes. What the Book Is Arguing, its answer key and its 25 versions are free to print and photocopy for your own class, with no account, no email capture and no subscription at the download step. Please do not resell them or republish them as your own.
Is there a lesson plan to teach D2.His.17.3-5?
Yes — “What the History Book Is Arguing” is a 45-minute Grade 3 to Grade 5 plan for D2.His.17.3-5, timed section by section, with the misconceptions to expect and an exit ticket. What the Book Is Arguing is the practice that follows it.