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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 24 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.'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
2.'The mills made the region because they employed most people.' What is missing?
  • A.The number employed
  • B.The date
  • C.A reason why employment is the right measure rather than money
3.'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
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 uplands declined because upland people are backward.' What is wrong?
  • A.It blames the people with no evidence, when their market disappeared
  • B.It is too short
  • C.Uplands are cold
7.'Deaths were high because the poor are dirty.' What is wrong?
  • A.Deaths cannot be counted
  • B.It ignores the officer's own evidence about piped water
  • C.It is too blunt
8.An argument uses only the union's figures. What is wrong?
  • A.It has chosen the evidence to fit the conclusion
  • B.Figures are unreliable
  • C.Unions never lie

LessonPrint · D4.4.3-5 · Set 24 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Where That Argument Breaks

Set 24. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.No figures are given, so the claim cannot be checked
  2. 2.A reason why employment is the right measure rather than money
  3. 3.Thoroughness is not evidence for the particular claim
  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.It blames the people with no evidence, when their market disappeared
  7. 7.It ignores the officer's own evidence about piped water
  8. 8.It has chosen the evidence to fit the conclusion

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.