I CAN… Make an arguable claim that can be supported with evidence from the text. “How to” 1.Read the passage/analyze the graph. 2.Determine what its main idea is (What is the author trying to ‘say’?) Write the main idea in one sentence. (This becomes your claim.) 3.Analyze your sentence/claim so far… 1.Is it arguable? Could someone disagree with it? 2.Can you defend yourself (to people who disagree) by using specific evidence. Example claim related to “Cask of Amontillado”: CLAIM: People whose name ends in an “R” are murderers. Can it be argued? (Heck yes!) Can it be supported using evidence from the text, “Cask of Amontillado?” Yes. There are only 3 characters named in “Cask”—Montresor, Fortunato and Luchresi. Of those 3, the only one whose name ends in an “R” IS a murderer! …Now that’s a bit of an outlandish example, but it meets the learning target!

BELLRINGER TASK: Carefully analyze the chart below. Write an arguable claim and support it using text evidence. (Come up to look closer, if needed)the chart below  team Indianapolis Colts Pittsburg Steelers Baltimore Ravens Philadelphia Eagles Green Bay Packers team San Diego Chargers New Orleans Saints  Seattle Seahawks Denver Broncos  Chicago Bears Miami Dolphins New York Jets Atlanta Falcons  Team  New England Patriots  Dallas Cowboys  Minnesota Vikings Cincinnati Bangals Houstan Texans Detroit Lions Cleveland Browns Buffalo Bills  Team   Team  Washington Redskins  Oakland Raiders Arizona Cardinals 

Which of the following claims can be best supported using evidence from the chart? Explain. CLAIM 1: In any given season, you can pretty much count on around 80% of the teams winning between 9.6 and 6.4 games per season. This is exactly what the NFL wants and is a large reason that they run a socialist type model of revenue sharing. CLAIM 2: The Browns are going to win the Super Bowl, clearly. CLAIM 3: There is no direct correlation between the number of starting QBs and win percentage. CLAIM 4: Detroit is an absolutely horrible franchise, yet they’re right in the middle of the pack with starting QBs. CLAIM 5 : Chicago has a winning record, because they’ve used the third most QBs. CLAIM 6: Cincinnati and Houston have had pretty stable QB situations, yet they don’t win even half of their games.

Which of the following claims can be best supported using evidence from the chart? Explain. CLAIM 1: In any given season, you can pretty much count on around 80% of the teams winning between 9.6 and 6.4 games per season. This is exactly what the NFL wants and is a large reason that they run a socialist type model of revenue sharing. CLAIM 2: The Browns are going to win the Super Bowl, clearly. CLAIM 3: There is no direct correlation between the number of starting QBs and win percentage. CLAIM 4: Detroit is an absolutely horrible franchise, yet they’re right in the middle of the pack with starting QBs. CLAIM 5 : Chicago has a winning record, because they’ve used the third most QBs. CLAIM 6: Cincinnati and Houston have had pretty stable QB situations, yet they don’t win even half of their games.

What to take away from this practice… If you did not identify the correct answer to this question, remember these two important points: #1. You need to analyze graphs/charts/visuals in their entirety—don’t just “skim” it, or read parts of it. (You wouldn’t do that to a text passage, would you? You wouldn’t dare read only the first and last sentence and then choose an answer for what the entire passage was about…right? So don’t do that with a graphic either.) #2. Don’t choose a claim that you personally agree with—the question isn’t asking which you agree with. Similarly, don’t let your personal opinion of the topic (whether you like it, or not) affect whether you read/study it carefully or not. **You don’t HAVE to have prior knowledge to be able to answer the prompt.. You just have to be able to analyze the graphics.