Oklahoma Social Studies E.P.1.2.C

Social StudiesGrades 9–12Social Studies Practices

The Standard

E.P.1: Apply critical thinking skills to address authentic civic issues.
E.P.1.2: Develop practices which demonstrate an understanding that social studies involves the evaluation of evidence.

Reinforce critical thinking by evaluating and challenging ideas and assumptions, analyzing and explaining inconsistencies in reasoning.

Oklahoma Academic Standards for Social Studies (2026) · E.P.1.2

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students identify a claim, the evidence offered for it, and any hidden assumption. They explain where the reasoning does not support the conclusion.
What Mastery Looks Like: Given a proposal to cut a bus route because ridership fell, a student points out that fewer riders does not mean no one needs the route. They cite the remaining riders and ask how those people would travel.
Common Misconceptions: Students may call an argument flawed just because they disagree with its conclusion. They may also treat a drop in ridership as proof that nobody rides, or assume they know what caused the drop.
How to Assess It: Exit ticket: A council member says, 'Route 4 ridership fell from 120 to 80, so nobody needs it.' Name one hidden assumption and explain one gap in the reasoning.

Lesson moves

Give groups a Route 4 cut proposal, a ridership chart, and a bus map; have them sort the claims, evidence, and assumptions.
Ask: 'Ridership fell from 120 to 80. What does the speaker assume about the 80 remaining riders?'
Play Find the Gap with three printed council claims; teams underline conclusions and circle the evidence each claim still needs.
Print a local council agenda item on transportation; students write one question that tests an assumption behind the proposed change.

Free download

A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to E.P.1.2.C, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.

PDF, US Letter, prints cleanly in black and white.

Keep exploring

Grade, subject, topic, and the complete standard are prefilled. Create one free, no account needed.