Argument Writing An Introductory Guide for High School Students

Argument WritingAn Introductory Guide for High School Students

Argument – August 26• What makes an argument?

• When putting your argument into writing, what are some important terms that you must consider? Hint: _______ statement.

• How do you know if your argument is successful?

• What types of sources will you use for evidence that supports your argument? What types of sources are considered not helpful or should not be used?

• Has there ever been a time where listening, reading, or seeing an argument or speech has made you change your opinion on a topic? Explain why or why not.

Objectives for this Unit

• 1.a Introduce precise, knowledgeable claim(s), establish the significance of the claim(s), distinguish the claim(s) from alternate or opposing claims, and create an organization that logically sequences claim(s), counterclaims, reasons, and evidence.

• 1.b Develop claim(s) and counterclaims fairly and thoroughly, supplying the most relevant evidence for each while pointing out the strengths and limitations of both in a manner that anticipates the audience’s knowledge level, concerns, values, and possible biases.

• 1.e Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from and supports the argument presented.

• 4. Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.

Essential Questions

• Why am I writing? For whom?

• What am I trying to achieve through my writing?

• Where do ideas for writing come from?

• How do ideas for writing come from?

• How do writers organize their ideas?

An argument in writing

• IS DIFFERENT THAN ARGUING WITH A PARENT OR FRIEND

Characteristics of Argument Writing

• Convinces reader claim is true

• Uses evidence—facts and data

• Acknowledges counterclaims—the other side of the argument

An Effective Claim

• Takes a clear position

• Has two sides

• Is narrow enough to be supported within essay

• Can be supported by facts or citations from a text

Addressing the counterclaim…

• Refutes or proves wrong, another point

• Recognizes the other side’s points

• Lends credence to the writer’s claims

Components of Effective Argument Writing?

• Clear and forceful claim

• Well-constructed argument

• Strong textual support with lucid explanations of text support

• Addresses counterclaims

• Strong conclusion

How do I structure an argumentative essay?

• I. Introduction• Hook - Your introduction should start with an

attention-grabbing opening to get the reader interested in your topic.

• Background Information - You need to provide some background information about your topic for your reader so he/she becomes invested in the argument.

• Claim or Thesis Statement - In an argument essay, your thesis statement is called a claim. Your claim is your viewpoint on your topic stated clearly in one sentence.


• II. Body Paragraphs

• Reasons with Supporting Evidence - Your next paragraph should contain the first reason that supports your claim. Your reason needs to be supported with evidence. Evidence should be based on facts, data, and/or logic.


• III. Conclusion

• Your conclusion paragraph should recap your entire argument. You should include some comments about why this is an important issue to argue about and why it is important for your audience to agree with your side of the argument. If the argument is about a topic that is relevant to our society at large, then you could possibly mention how your claim could help shape the future of our society.

Topic Brainstorm (Community Issues)

• Bullying in schools

• Technology in the classroom

• Influence of Media

• Religious freedom

• Nutrition

• Fitness

Claim - Fitness

• What claim can we make about physical fitness?

• What evidence do we have to support that?

Claim – Bullying in Schools

• What claim can we make about bullying in schools?

• What evidence do we have to support that?

Letter From Birmingham Jail

• Choose one line from this letter that you believes sums up the letter in its entirety. Be prepared to explain why you feel this way.

Making an Argument Graphic Organizer

• Based on MLK’s Letter

Making an Argument Graphic Organizer

• Choose one of the examples that we discussed at the beginning of class and fill this organizer in on your own.

Brainstorming Topics

• Let’s brainstorm more topics that could be considered “issues within our community or society as a whole.”

Society's Issues – August 27

• First, brainstorm a list of any and all issues that you can think of that breach society today. What problem needs the most work? What is it that you see on the news or hear your teachers, parents, etc. talking the most about? Try to think of at least 7.

• Choose 3 of the issues that you have written down and answer the following questions:• 1. What is the issue? How can we fix this?• 2. How can this issue be turned into a service

project?• 3. What evidence do we have that this is a problem?

How do you know about this particular issue?• Be prepared to share at least one!

Persuasive Speech Video

• As you are watching the video, please answer the following questions:• 1. What is her claim or position?• 2. What evidence does she have and use?• 3. Does she use credible sources? How do you

know?• 4. What did you find most interesting about

her speech?• 5. What does she give as a solution to her

problem?• 6. Was her conclusion effective? Why or why

not?

Ethos, Pathos, & Logos

• 1. Ethos - appeals to credibility of speaker

• 2. Pathos - appeals to emotions of audience

• 3. Logos - appeals to logic using reliable evidence and logical arguments

Oprah Winfrey’s Speech

• What is the purpose of Oprah’s speech? What is her claim to Harvard graduates?

• Identify the rhetorical appeals that we have discussed:• 1. Ethos –

• 2. Pathos –

• 3. Logos –

Rhetorical Appeals

Example Student Essays

• On a separate sheet of paper you will be analyzing three student argumentative essays.

• You will need to answer the following questions for EACH essay on your own notebook paper:• 1. Write what you believe to be the thesis statement

word for word.• 2. List and explain any and all evidence of Ethos,

Pathos, or Logos.• 3. What support does the student use? What evidence

does he or she have?• 4. Is the evidence they are using credible? How do

you know?

Poorly Written Essay – Exit Ticket – August 28

• On your note card, please identify the overall problem with this essay that I just read aloud to you.

• What was done in this essay that we discussed must never be done in any argumentative essay?

• What happened throughout the paper that made this essay seem poorly written?

Laws You Disagree With – August 29

• Think of a law that is in place now whether it be in the state of North Carolina or in the United States as a whole that you disagree with. Write it down and explain it to the best of your ability.

• What is it about this law that you disagree with?

• How would you like to see it changed?

• Do you believe that the changing of this law would make the state or country a better place? Why or why not?

• How could you get other people to support your argument about this law?

What does it mean?

• Based on the video we just viewed, write a one sentence definition for the idea of civil disobedience in your notebooks.

Act # 1

Act # 2

Women in Combat – Sept. 2

• Today we are going to be looking at an argumentative topic together as a class, but first I want to know how you feel about this topic.

• How do you feel about women in combat? By this I mean how do you feel about women fighting on our “front lines?” Explain your claim.

• Why do you feel that way? Do you have any evidence to support your opinion?

• If you used this topic for your research paper, how would you outline it? What would your focus be?

Women in Combat Video

• Recently, Congress has mandated that all branches of the military review policies that restrict female members service. For the Marine Corps that means integrating women into the infantry. (Marching or fighting on foot.) Not everyone believes that this first steps towards equals rights is a good idea, including a female Marine officer who has been on the front lines.

• We will be watching two videos today. There are arguments that will be presented to you. It is your job to answer the following questions:

Video Questions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=pZe6urpHuEE• 1. What is the claim in this video? If this video

had a thesis statement, what would it be?

• 2. What evidence is given? Data, facts, research? Write down any and all examples.

• 3. Are any counterclaims addressed in this video?

• 4. What appeals to ethos, pathos, and logos are being used?

Questions About Your Topic– September 4

• Today you are going to compose five questions that you feel that someone else would ask about your topic.

• How are you going to answer them in your paper?

• What do you think people will find most interesting about your topic?

• After you have explained the answers to the these questions and how you will go about answering them, I want you to write down at least two questions that you still have about your topic and are hoping to find out in your research.

Pop Quiz – Ethos, Pathos, Logos

• According to the Murphy Corporation study, when teachers’ salaries are raised in a district, more high quality teachers are hired, and teacher morale is higher. When teachers’ salaries are lowered, the study found that more teachers left the profession and a higher percentage of teachers were hired without a credential.

Ethos, Pathos, or Logos?

• My sister is a teacher, and she often has trouble paying her bills. She is an excellent teacher, dedicated to her students, funny, warm, loving, and yet, she can only afford to live in a tiny apartment.


• Advil Liqui-Gels provide up to 8 hours of continuous pain relief.


• Tiger Woods endorses Nike.





• "As your doctor, I have to tell you that if you don't stop smoking, you're going to die."


• The anti-smoking movement has never been louder or more prominent. Yet all signs suggest that among the young the anti-smoking message is backfiring. Between 1993 and 1997, the number of college students who smoke jumped 32 percent. Since 1988, in fact, the total number of teen smokers in the United States has risen an extraordinary 73 percent.


Thesis Statement = Math Equation

• Problem + Solution because it leads to or causes __________, ____________, and ______________.

Reason # 1 Reason # 2

Reason # 3

Example

• Child nutrition should be monitored more closely in schools because what a child eats can either be helpful or harmful; good nutrition can decrease the chance of developing obesity, can decrease the change of developing heart disease, and can ensure proper growth and development.

Examples of Argumentative Thesis Statements

• “Americans should eliminate the regular consumption of fast food because the fast food diet leads to preventable and expensive health issues, such as diabetes, obesity, and heart disease.”

• “Homeless people in Berkeley should be given access to services, such as regular food donations, public restrooms, and camping facilities, because it would improve life for all inhabitants of the city.”

Charity Presentation

• You and a partner have been selected to represent your chosen charity. The prize is $10,000 that will be donated directly to help support your charity.

• You have to choose one of the listed charities and research enough information about it to put together a thesis statement that you will present me and your peers.

• You should take notes on the charity, including their goal, how successful they are, any important information that you would want someone to know who was going to donate a large sum of money to help.

Charity Presentation Thesis Statement

• After you have conducted your research, use the note card I gave you to write out the thesis statement that you will present.

• You want to include in the thesis statement why you believe this charity is the best and why it deserves the support of people who are donating money.

• Think about the formula that we learned and practiced with earlier.

Anti-Smoking Ads – Sept. 5

• Make an argument for the following questions: Are anti-smoking ads effective?

• State your claim and prepare an argument.

• Explain why you feel the way you do about this question.

• How would you begin an introductory paragraph on this topic?

• What would your thesis statement be for this topic?

Your Government – Sept. 8

• Do you agree with your government? Why or why not?

• Do you believe that everything the government does is just and fair? Explain using support.

• If you were elected into the government, how would you change things?

• Where would you start? With a particular law or organization? Why?

Civil Disobedience Video – Respond &

Define• 1. Based on the video, define the term ‘civil

disobedience.’

• 2. Respond to the video. What were your thoughts? Explain what was happening and how you feel about it.

• 3. Think of acts of civil disobedience. For example, Martin Luther King Jr. How did he defy civil society? How did he speak out against society? Now think of at least one more person or act of civil disobedience and explain how the person or act defied (or went against) what was expected of them.

Successful Speeches – Sept. 10

• What makes a successful speech or presentation?

• What types of things do they do?

• Think of famous speeches that have been given throughout the course of history. (Think about the Oprah Winfrey speech we watched.)

• What are some famous speeches? Why were they so successful? What did the presenter do to make the speech interesting?

• Think of a time when a speech or presentation you have watched or listened was not successful. Why did you not enjoy it? What could they have done better?

Venn Diagram

• Create a venn diagram in your notes for the two speeches that we just read as a class.

• In the circles you should identify any and all rhetorical devices and appeals that were used.

• You should also include the claim for each speech.

• Lastly, include what stood out to you in each speech. What caught your attention?

After Reading Questions

• 1. What was the claim made in this speech?

• 2. What support or evidence did they use?

• 3. What rhetorical appeals were used in this speech? (Ethos, Pathos, or Logos) Explain them. How are they used?

• 4. What rhetorical devices were used in this speech? Explain why and how they are used. (All of them may not be used)

• 5. Is a counterclaim addressed? If so, what is it?

• 6. What is most successful about this speech?

Documents

Argument Writing An Introductory Guide for High School Students