Paraphrasing Textual Evidence to Support an Argument
Learner: Alyza Mae
Assumed level: Upper elementary or middle school
Time: 45 minutes
Goal
Alyza Mae will paraphrase information from a text and use it as evidence to support an argument or general statement.
Materials
- Pencil
- Paper or notebook
- The passage and activities below
Key Idea
Paraphrasing means explaining someone else’s ideas in your own words. A good paraphrase keeps the original meaning but does not copy the exact wording.
To paraphrase:
- Read the sentence carefully.
- Think about what it means.
- Cover or look away from the original sentence.
- Say or write the idea in your own words.
- Check that you did not change the meaning.
Lesson Steps
1. Hook: Same Idea, New Words — 5 minutes
Ask Alyza Mae:
“How could you say ‘The dog ran quickly’ in a different way without changing the meaning?”
Accept answers such as:
- “The dog sprinted.”
- “The dog moved fast.”
Explain: “You changed the words but kept the same idea. That is what we do when we paraphrase.”
2. Teach: What Counts as a Paraphrase? — 8 minutes
Show Alyza Mae this original sentence:
“Reading for twenty minutes each day can help children learn new words.”
Show these examples:
Too close to the original: Reading for twenty minutes every day can help kids learn new words.
Explain that this changes only a few words, so it is too similar.
Good paraphrase: Spending a short amount of time reading daily may increase a child’s vocabulary.
Explain that this version uses different words but keeps the original meaning.
Teach Alyza Mae this sentence frame:
The text explains that __________ because __________.
3. Show: Find and Paraphrase Evidence — 8 minutes
Read this short passage aloud:
Many schools are adding gardens to their outdoor spaces. Students can plant seeds, observe insects, and learn how food grows. School gardens also give students a chance to work together. Because gardens provide both learning and teamwork opportunities, they can be a useful part of a school.
State the argument:
School gardens are useful for students.
Point to this evidence from the passage:
“Students can plant seeds, observe insects, and learn how food grows.”
Think aloud:
- “The important idea is that gardens help students learn about nature and food.”
- “I will not copy the sentence.”
- “I will explain the idea in my own words.”
Write this paraphrase:
School gardens help students understand plants, insects, and where food comes from.
Explain the connection:
This supports the argument because it shows that gardens are useful learning spaces.
4. Do It Together — 10 minutes
Read the passage below with Alyza Mae:
Getting enough sleep is important for students. When students sleep well, they may have more energy during the day. Sleep can also help them pay attention and remember what they learn. Students who do not get enough sleep may feel tired and have difficulty focusing in class.
Work through these questions together:
- What is the general statement or argument?
- Which sentence gives evidence for that statement?
- What does the evidence mean in your own words?
- How does the paraphrased evidence support the argument?
Help Alyza Mae complete this response:
Argument: Getting enough sleep helps students at school.
Paraphrased evidence: ________________________________.
Connection: This supports the argument because ________________________________.
Possible response:
Paraphrased evidence: Good sleep gives students energy and helps them concentrate and remember information.
Connection: This supports the argument because students are more prepared to learn when they are rested.
5. Alyza Mae Tries Alone — 10 minutes
Ask Alyza Mae to read the passage and complete the activity independently.
Regular physical activity can benefit children in many ways. Moving their bodies can make their muscles and bones stronger. Exercise may also improve children’s mood and help them feel less stressed. Activities such as walking, dancing, swimming, and playing outside can help children stay active.
Argument: Physical activity is beneficial for children.
Directions:
- Underline one sentence or part of the passage that supports the argument.
- Cover the passage or look away from it.
- Write the evidence in your own words.
- Complete the connection sentence.
Response:
Paraphrased evidence: ________________________________________________
Connection: This supports the argument because ________________________________________________
6. Brief Recap — 4 minutes
Ask Alyza Mae to explain:
- What does paraphrase mean?
- Why should we use our own words?
- How does paraphrased evidence support an argument?
Review this formula:
Argument + paraphrased evidence + explanation of the connection = supported argument
Quick Check
Ask Alyza Mae to paraphrase this sentence:
“Trees provide shade that helps keep people and buildings cooler on hot days.”
Then ask: “How could this evidence support the statement ‘Trees are helpful in communities’?”
Answer Key and Detailed Explanations
Do It Together
Argument: Getting enough sleep helps students at school.
Possible paraphrase: Good sleep gives students energy and helps them concentrate and remember information.
Why it is correct: The passage says that sleep can give students energy, help them pay attention, and help them remember what they learn. The answer changes the wording but keeps those ideas.
Connection: This supports the argument because students are more prepared to learn when they are rested.
Independent Activity
Possible paraphrased evidence: Exercise can strengthen children’s bodies and improve how they feel.
Possible connection: This supports the argument because physical activity benefits both children’s physical health and their emotions.
Other answers are acceptable if they use different words, keep the original meaning, and explain how physical activity helps children.
Quick Check
Possible paraphrase: On warm days, trees can make places cooler by blocking the sun.
Possible connection: This supports the statement because trees make communities more comfortable during hot weather.
Other answers are acceptable if they explain that trees create shade and help people or buildings stay cooler.
Make It Easier
Let Alyza Mae choose from two or three short sentences of evidence. Allow her to say her paraphrase aloud before writing it. Provide the sentence frame: “The text means that __________.”
Make It Harder
Ask Alyza Mae to use two pieces of paraphrased evidence in one paragraph and explain which piece is the strongest support for the argument.