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Worksheet8th GradeLevel 3 · Challenge

Free 8th Grade Evaluating Sources and Evidence for Argumentative Writing Worksheet

An 8th grade argumentative writing worksheet on choosing evidence that holds up. Using a set of practice sources about protected bike lanes, students judge credibility (author, purpose, expertise, bias, date), relevance, and sufficiency; tell strong evidence from anecdotes and sweeping generalizations; spot overstated claims; and integrate evidence smoothly with a signal phrase and an explanation. They finish by writing an evidence paragraph that introduces, cites, and explains its evidence.

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Grade
8th Grade
Subject
English
Topic
Persuasive Writing
Difficulty
Level 3 · Challenge
Estimated time
35 minutes
Curriculum
Texas grade levels (TEKS)
Questions
11
Answers
Included, with working
Format
PDF (A4), print or complete online

Students will practice

  • evaluating the credibility of a source
  • recognizing bias and purpose in a source
  • judging whether evidence is relevant and sufficient
  • introducing evidence with a signal phrase
  • explaining how evidence supports a claim

Curriculum: Texas grade levels (TEKS). We show specific outcome codes only where they have been verified against the official curriculum document.

What's next?

Completed: Evaluating Sources and Evidence for Argumentative Writing

  1. 1Modality and Objective Language in Formal Reports
  2. 2Paraphrasing Sources and Writing a Summary in Your Own Words
  3. 3Using Evidence in Informative Writing: Facts, Statistics and Quotations

How to use this worksheet

  1. Print the PDF or complete it on screen. Write the student's name and date at the top.
  2. Read the instructions for each part together before starting. Encourage working to be shown.
  3. Mark with the answer sheet. Use the model answers and success criteria as a guide rather than a single right answer.
  4. Record the score, celebrate what went well, then follow the "What's next" suggestion.

Common questions

Who is this worksheet for?

8th Grade students (typically ages 13–14) working on persuasive writing. It is pitched at level 3 · challenge.

Are the answers included?

Yes. The PDF includes a full answer sheet with model answers and success criteria where there is more than one good answer. You can also view the answers online.

How long does it take?

About 35 minutes for 11 questions. Short, regular sessions work best: two or three a week beats one long one.

Do I need to sign up to download?

No. Click Download Free PDF and it opens immediately. It is free for personal, classroom and homeschool use.

What should we do next?

Try Modality and Objective Language in Formal Reports.

Preview

Success TutoringWorksheets8th Grade · English · Persuasive Writing

Evaluating Sources and Evidence for Argumentative Writing

Name

Date

Score /

Before you use a source, ask who made it, why, and whether it shows its evidence.

Part A: Judge the sources

Ask about each source: Who made it? Why (to inform, to sell, to vent)? Are they an expert? Is it current? Does it show its evidence? Read the sources, then answer.

Claim: Our city should build protected bike lanes on Main Street.

*The sources below are made up for practice.*

Source A: A report by the city's transportation department that found crashes involving cyclists on Main Street increased over the past five years. It explains how the data were collected.

Source B: A post on a personal social media account that says, "Bike lanes are a total waste. Nobody bikes here anyway!" with no evidence.

Source C: An advertisement from a company that sells bike-lane barriers, saying its product "makes any street 100% safe."

Source D: A recent article in a newspaper that interviews local cyclists, business owners, and a traffic engineer, and names its sources.

Source E: A 25-year-old pamphlet about bicycle safety from another country.

1.Which source is most credible for evidence about crashes on Main Street?
  1. ASource A
  2. BSource B
  3. CSource C
  4. DSource E
2.Why should a writer be cautious about Source C?
  1. AIt is too long.
  2. BThe company profits if people believe it, and "100% safe" is an overstated claim.
  3. CIt is about bikes.
  4. DIt names its sources.
3.What is the main weakness of Source B?
  1. AIt gives an opinion with no evidence and makes a sweeping generalization ("Nobody bikes here").
  2. BIt is from the transportation department.
  3. CIt is too recent.
  4. DIt includes interviews.
4.What is the main weakness of Source E?
  1. AIt is from an expert.
  2. BIt is out of date and about another place, so it may not apply to this city today.
  3. CIt includes too much data.
  4. DIt is a newspaper article.
5.Name two reasons Source D is a useful source. (answer space)

Part B: Strong, relevant, and sufficient

Strong evidence is accurate and specific. Relevant evidence connects directly to the claim. Sufficient evidence is enough to prove the point.

6.Which is the strongest evidence for the claim that protected bike lanes would make Main Street safer?
  1. AMy friend almost got hit by a car once.
  2. BData showing how many crashes involving cyclists happened on Main Street, along with studies of what happened on similar streets after protected lanes were added.
  3. CBike lanes look nice.
  4. DEveryone knows bike lanes are safer.
7.A writer supports the claim with a single story about one cyclist. What is the problem?
  1. AThe evidence is not relevant.
  2. BThe evidence is not sufficient: one example cannot show a pattern.
  3. CThe source is biased.
  4. DThe evidence is too recent.
8.Which statement is overstated?
  1. AProtected bike lanes can reduce some types of crashes.
  2. BProtected bike lanes will end all traffic accidents forever.
  3. CSeveral cities have added protected bike lanes.
  4. DSome drivers worry about losing parking.

Part C: Integrate the evidence

Introduce evidence with a signal phrase (According to…, In a report by…, As … explains), give the evidence, then explain how it supports your claim.

9.Which sentence integrates evidence best?
  1. ACrashes. Source A says there were many.
  2. BAccording to a five-year report by the city's transportation department, crashes involving cyclists on Main Street have increased, which shows that the current design is not keeping riders safe.
  3. CHere is a quote: "crashes."
  4. DI read something about crashes once.
10.Add a signal phrase and an explanation to this bare evidence: A traffic engineer said that physical barriers keep cars from drifting into bike lanes. (Use Source D.) (answer space)
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Preview — the PDF contains the full resource and answer sheet.

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About this resource

Created by
Success Tutoring
Last reviewed
1 October 2026
How it was made
Written by our team

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