About This Worksheet
This worksheet is a great way to help students understand that authors can have completely different perspectives on the same topic. A teacher might explain to a parent, “Here, students are reading two short articles that disagree with each other, which really helps them see how perspective shapes writing.” It’s designed for Grade 6 students to compare opinions and evaluate how each author supports their ideas. For example, one article argues that homework should be limited, while the other explains why homework is important.
Curriculum and Grade Alignment
This activity aligns with CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.6.6, which focuses on identifying and comparing authors’ points of view. A teacher might say, “Students already know how to find one perspective, but now we’re asking them to compare two and understand the differences.” This builds critical thinking skills and prepares students for more advanced analysis and argument writing. It also helps them become more thoughtful readers of real-world texts.
Student Tasks
On this worksheet, students will read two short articles with opposing viewpoints about homework. A teacher might explain, “They’ll identify each author’s perspective and compare how those perspectives are supported.” Students answer questions that require them to look closely at reasons and evidence in both texts. They are encouraged to think about how each author presents their argument and why.
Common Challenges and Misconceptions
Students sometimes focus on which opinion they personally agree with instead of analyzing the author’s perspective. A teacher might note, “They’ll say which side they like without explaining what each author is actually arguing.” Another challenge is keeping the two perspectives clearly separated. Teachers can support students by having them summarize each article in one sentence before comparing.
Implementation Guidance
In the classroom, this worksheet works really well as a discussion-based activity. A teacher might say, “We often read both articles together and talk through the differences before answering questions.” At home, parents can support by asking their child which argument they found more convincing and why. This helps students practice backing up their thinking with evidence.
Details and Features
The worksheet includes two engaging articles on a relatable topic, which naturally invites student interest. A teacher might point out, “It’s structured in a way that guides students from understanding to comparison.” The questions are thoughtfully designed to build deeper thinking. It is easy to print and works well for both individual and group work.