Use the sentences to complete the activity
Statement 1: Since more popcorn is sold than any other snack food, it must be America’s favorite!
Statement 2: Popcorn is America’s favorite snack food.
Statement 3: Popcorn has been around for over 200 years! It was originally made by Native Americans.
Statement 4: 17 billion quarts of popcorn are sold each year, more than any other snack food.
Statement 5: Nebraska produces the most popcorn out of any other state
In 3-5 sentences, explain which statement is a claim, which is a reason, which is evidence, and in which order the statements should appear in the paragraph.
The first statement is a claim because it states an opinion without providing any evidence or reasoning. The second statement is also a claim, but it is more specific and assertive than the first statement. The third statement is evidence because it provides a factual statement about the history of popcorn. The fourth statement is evidence as well because it provides a statistic about the quantity of popcorn sold each year. The fifth statement is a reason because it explains why popcorn is often associated with Nebraska.
In order to form a paragraph, the statements could be organized as follows:
Statement 3 (evidence): Popcorn has been around for over 200 years! It was originally made by Native Americans.
Statement 5 (reason): Nebraska produces the most popcorn out of any other state.
Statement 4 (evidence): 17 billion quarts of popcorn are sold each year, more than any other snack food.
Statement 2 (claim): Popcorn is America’s favorite snack food.
Statement 1 (claim): Since more popcorn is sold than any other snack food, it must be America’s favorite!
By starting with evidence, providing a reason, supporting it with further evidence, and concluding with the main claim, the paragraph would present a logical progression of information.