About This Worksheet
This Grade 7 reading worksheet helps students examine how an author responds to an opposing view. The article asks whether homework should be limited to one hour each night. Students identify the author’s main claim, the counterclaim from people who support longer assignments, and the response that follows. For example, the author admits that extra practice can help but argues that careful limits can still protect learning and student health.
Learning Goals
The main goal is to show students that strong informational arguments often include and answer another point of view. Readers should already understand the difference between a claim and a supporting reason. This activity moves them toward judging whether a response is fair, direct, and convincing. It supports CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.7.8, which asks students to trace an argument and evaluate whether its reasoning and evidence are sound.
Student Tasks
On this worksheet, students will read an article about setting a nightly homework limit. They will write the author’s main claim and identify the counterclaim presented in the passage. Students will then examine how the author answers the concern that longer homework leads to better learning. Their responses should show whether the rebuttal truly addresses the other side or simply repeats the original opinion.
Common Challenges
Students may confuse the counterclaim with a supporting detail because both can sound reasonable. Some may also choose a sentence that mentions a problem but does not represent the opposing position. Remind them that the counterclaim is the belief held by people who disagree with the author. A useful strategy is to complete the sentence, “Some people argue that…”
Teaching Suggestions
A teacher can place the claim and counterclaim in two columns and let students find evidence for each side. Then the class can discuss whether the author’s response solves the concern or only partly answers it. Parents can help by asking the child to explain both sides before deciding which is stronger. This balanced approach helps students understand that analyzing a text is different from choosing a side too quickly.
Worksheet Features
The article presents a familiar school issue with research, health concerns, and an opposing point of view. Questions begin with the main claim and counterclaim, giving students a clear path into deeper analysis. The passage models a thoughtful rather than overly extreme argument. This worksheet works well for reading lessons, persuasive writing, homework discussion, or independent assessment.