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Where That Argument Breaks is a free printable Grade 3 to Grade 5 social studies worksheet on critiquing an argument, aligned to Common Core standard D4.4.3-5. 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 pupils in the class work from the same page. Print it from the browser or download it as a PDF — no account, no email.

Set 20 of 25 · the same problems every time you open this link.

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Set 1 has all 25 in a single PDF. All 25 sets ask different questions.

Where That Argument Breaks

D4.4.3-5

NameDate

Circle the best answer.

1.'Deaths were high because the poor are dirty.' What is wrong?
  • A.It is too blunt
  • B.It ignores the officer's own evidence about piped water
  • C.Deaths cannot be counted
2.'The mills made the region because they employed most people.' What is missing?
  • A.The date
  • B.The number employed
  • C.A reason why employment is the right measure rather than money
3.An argument uses only the union's figures. What is wrong?
  • A.Figures are unreliable
  • B.Unions never lie
  • C.It has chosen the evidence to fit the conclusion
4.What makes an argument about the region strong?
  • A.Confidence
  • B.A clear claim, evidence from both sides, and an answer to the strongest objection
  • C.Length
5.An argument states what would change its mind. Is that weak?
  • A.Yes, it shows doubt
  • B.Yes, it is longer
  • C.No: it makes the argument testable, which is a strength
6.'The 1998 book is right because it is thorough.' What is wrong?
  • A.Thorough books are wrong
  • B.1998 is too recent
  • C.Thoroughness is not evidence for the particular claim
7.'Trade is poor, so wages must fall.' What is wrong with the argument?
  • A.Trade is never poor
  • B.Wages cannot fall
  • C.No figures are given, so the claim cannot be checked
8.'The uplands declined because upland people are backward.' What is wrong?
  • A.It is too short
  • B.It blames the people with no evidence, when their market disappeared
  • C.Uplands are cold

LessonPrint · D4.4.3-5 · Set 20 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Where That Argument Breaks

Set 20. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.It ignores the officer's own evidence about piped water
  2. 2.A reason why employment is the right measure rather than money
  3. 3.It has chosen the evidence to fit the conclusion
  4. 4.A clear claim, evidence from both sides, and an answer to the strongest objection
  5. 5.No: it makes the argument testable, which is a strength
  6. 6.Thoroughness is not evidence for the particular claim
  7. 7.No figures are given, so the claim cannot be checked
  8. 8.It blames the people with no evidence, when their market disappeared

More practice for D4.4.3-5

Judge how good an argument is.

Teaching this next? Where That Argument Breaks is the 50-minute plan for it, with the misconceptions to expect.

All Grade 3 to Grade 5 worksheets

Last reviewed 2026-09-05. Aligned to D4.4.3-5 of the C3 Framework for Social Studies State Standards.