So You Think You Can Argue?

So You Think You Can Argue?RELA 8Howelll/Larson

All About Writing PersuasivelyAgenda:SSRWarm-upMini-LessonObjectiveDFMSSWBAT define argument, counterargument, and supporting argument an identify supporting arguments for a main argument.What is an argument?An argument is just a statement that someone believes is or should be true.

Kids should be in school Monday through Saturday!For the next three slides, have students fill in the missing words in the notes at the top of the guided worksheet.

3What is a Counterargument?A counterargument expresses the opposite point of view.

Kids should not have to go to school on Saturdays.A main argument all by itself is not very strong.Supporting arguments explain why the main argument is true.I NEED BACKUP!Main Argument Kids should not have to go to school on Saturdays.

Supporting ArgumentsStudents need a rest.Most working parents have weekends off, and students need to be with their families.Some students have jobs. Students need time for other activities. Common Myths about ArguingMythRealityAn argument is just people yelling at each other.

Arguments can be very calm. An argument in writing is silent.

You have to totally believe in what you are arguing.Making an argument has nothing to do with how you feel.Every argument has a right and wrong side.Most of the time, the two sides of an argument are just different opinions. Neither side is really right or wrong.You cant be good at arguing unless you can think fast on your feet.A lot of great arguing takes place on paper, where you can take as much time as you need to think everything through.Bet you can thing of 1 reason why school SHOULD be on SaturdaysAs you go through the myths and realities, have students fill in the chart on the first page of the Power Point Worksheet.

6Argue on paper? Why would I want to do that??Imagine this:You state legislature is thinking about passing a law that says that kids cant drive until they are 18. You want to write a letter to convince your state senator to vote against the idea. What would you say?Or this:You city decided to close the park where you and your friends always hang out and play basketball. The city officials say there was too much trouble at the park and there was trash everywhere. Would you know what to write in a letter that would convince them to re-open the park?

What about this?You brought a used truck from the car lot downtown, but the truck didnt have a stereo. The salesman told you they would take a stereo from a different truck and install it in your truck. He said it would work great. You drove your truck home and discovered the stereo doesnt work at all. You called the car lot, but they refuse to fix the problem. You want to write a letter demanding they fix the stereo!

In all of those cases, you need to be able to write persuasively!To disturb someone about somethingTo sweat on someoneTo convince someone that something is trueTo cause someone to be confused about something

When you write persuasively, you use arguments to convince the reader that something is true. Have students answer the question on the guided worksheet before you reveal the answer.92 Kinds of ArgumentsShould/Should NotDoes/Does NotArgue why something should or should not be true.As you advance through this chart, have students fill in the blanks in the chart at the top of page 2 of their guided worksheets.

102 Kinds of ArgumentsShould/Should NotDoes/Does NotArgue why something should or should not be true.Argue why something does or does not violate a rule.

As you advance through this chart, have students fill in the blanks in the chart at the top of page 2 of their guided worksheets.

112 Kinds of Arguments Should/Should NotDoes/Does NotArgue why something should or should not be true.Argue why something does or does not violate a rule.

Use this kind of argument when you are arguing your opinion about something.

As you advance through this chart, have students fill in the blanks in the chart at the top of page 2 of their guided worksheets.

122 Kinds of Arguments Should/Should NotDoes/Does NotArgue why something should or should not be true.Argue why something does or does not violate a rule.

Use this kind of argument when you are arguing your opinion about something.

Use this kind of argument when there is already a rule in place.

As you advance through this chart, have students fill in the blanks in the chart at the top of page 2 of their guided worksheets.

132 Kinds of Arguments Should/Should NotDoes/Does NotArgue why something should or should not be true.Argue why something does or does not violate a rule.

Use this kind of argument when you are arguing your opinion about something.

Use this kind of argument when there is already a rule in place.

Example: Should school be held Monday through Saturday?

As you advance through this chart, have students fill in the blanks in the chart at the top of page 2 of their guided worksheets.

142 Kinds of Arguments Should/Should NotDoes/Does NotArgue why something should or should not be true.Argue why something does or does not violate a rule.

Use this kind of argument when you are arguing your opinion about something.

Use this kind of argument when there is already a rule in place.

Example: Should school be held Monday through Saturday?

Example: The school rule says no hats. Sarah wore a giant ribbon on her head. Did Sarah break the rule?

As you advance through this chart, have students fill in the blanks in the chart at the top of page 2 of their guided worksheets.

15LETS PRACTICE!Your kid sister Leslie attends Oaks Elementary School. The school rules say students are not allowed to wear hats inside the building. The rules say a hat is anything that covers and protects a persons head. Leslie wore a giant ribbon in her hair and got in trouble for violating the no-hat rule! Did Leslie really violate the rule?

16This scenario is for class practice. It does not have a corresponding section on the guided worksheet.There are two possible main arguments: Leslie did not violate the rule because her ribbon is not a hat, orLeslie did violate the rule because her ribbon is a hat.What do you think? (WaitDont answer that yet)

17This scenario is for class practice. It does not have a corresponding section on the guided worksheet.

Ha! That was a trick question.Making arguments is a skill that you learn. What you think doesnt really matter at all. You should be able to argue for both sides no matter which side you think is right.

18Have students fill in the Who Cares What You Think? box on their guided worksheets. You may wish to discuss with students whether it would be easier to argue both sides of this issue than both sides of an issue they really care about. Point out that being able to argue both sides of an issue can help them see flaws in the other sides argument, which will help their own argument be stronger.LETS TRY ANOTHER:The park rules say, Dont walk on the grass. Kiana avoided a neatly-mowed lawn but cut across another mowed area that was mostly weeds. Did Kiana violate the rule? The two possible arguments are___________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________Kiana did not violate the rule because she walked on aweedy area, not on the grass.Kiana did violate the rule because there was grass inthe area where she walked.19One could also argue that the park rule meant for people to stay off any green, mowed area.

A main argument by itself is not enough. You have to convince people why your main argument is true.You do this by using supporting arguments.Next, lets look at some supporting arguments. You will decide which main argument each supporting argument supports.

20HAT OR NOT?Supporting Argument #1: The ribbon is something on her head.School Rule: A hat is anything that covers and protects a persons head. This argument supports the idea that Leslie did not violate the rule because her ribbon is not a hat.This argument supports the idea that Leslie did violate the rule because her ribbon is a hat.

Have the class respond A or B as a chorus before you reveal the answer.21HAT OR NOT?Supporting Argument #2: The ribbon is too flimsy to protect Leslies head.School Rule: A hat is anything that covers and protects a persons head. This argument supports the idea that Leslie did not violate the rule because her ribbon is not a hat.This argument supports the idea that Leslie did violate the rule because her ribbon is a hat.

Have the class respond A or B as a chorus before you reveal the answer.22HAT OR NOT?Supporting Argument #3: The ribbon does not cover all of Leslies head.School Rule: A hat is anything that covers and protects a persons head. This argument supports the idea that Leslie did not violate the rule because her ribbon is not a hat.This argument supports the idea that Leslie did violate the rule because her ribbon is a hat.

Have the class respond A or B as a chorus before you reveal the answer.23HAT OR NOT?Supporting Argument #4: The ribbon could protect her head from rain or dust.School Rule: A hat is anything that covers and protects a persons head. This argument supports the idea that Leslie did not violate the rule because her ribbon is not a hat.This argument supports the idea that Leslie did violate the rule because her ribbon is a hat.

Have the class respond A or B as a chorus before you reveal the answer.24HAT OR NOT?Supporting Argument #5: The ribbon would not keep Leslies head warm.School Rule: A hat is anything that covers and protects a persons head. This argument supports the idea that Leslie did not violate the rule because her ribbon is not a hat.This argument supports the idea that Leslie did violate the rule because her ribbon is a hat.

Have the class respond A or B as a chorus before you reveal the answer.25HAT OR NOT?Supporting Argument #6: The ribbon covers most of Leslies head.School Rule: A hat is anything that covers and protects a persons head. This argument supports the idea that Leslie did not violate the rule because her ribbon is not a hat.This argument supports the idea that Leslie did violate the rule because her ribbon is a hat.

Have the class respond A or B as a chorus before you reveal the answer.26Supporting Argument #7: The ribbon could protect Leslies head from sunlight.School Rule: A hat is anything that covers and protects a persons head. This argument supports the idea that Leslie did not violate the rule because her ribbon is not a hat.This argument supports the idea that Leslie did violate the rule because her ribbon is a hat.

HAT OR NOT?Have the class respond A or B as a chorus before you reveal the answer.27Supporting Argument #8: The ribbon is not fitted to Leslies head.School Rule: A hat is anything that covers and protects a persons head. This argument supports the idea that Leslie did not violate the rule because her ribbon is not a hat.This argument supports the idea that Leslie did violate the rule because her ribbon is a hat.

HAT OR NOT?Have the class respond A or B as a chorus before you reveal the answer.28 you have not seen them all! Some arguments are better than others. Look at the four arguments below. Which one do you think is the strongest? Weakest? The ribbon is too flimsy to protect Leslies head from anything.The ribbon does not cover all of Leslies head.The ribbon would not keep Leslies head warm.The ribbon is not fitted to Leslies head.

If Youve Seen One Argument29Discuss as a class. Explain to students that some answers are better than others, but there is not necessarily a right answer. This slide does not have a corresponding section on the guided worksheet.MINI QUIZ True FalseYou can only make an argument about something if you feel very strongly about it.Making an argument has nothing to do with how you actually feel. It is a skill you learn.Have the class respond True or False as a chorus before you reveal the answer.30MINI QUIZ True FalsePersuasive writing is meant to convince someone that something is true.Exactly! The whole point is to persuade someone.Have the class respond True or False as a chorus before you reveal the answer.

31MINI QUIZ True FalseAll arguments are equally strong.Some arguments are stronger and more convincing than others.Have the class respond True or False as a chorus before you reveal the answer.

32MINI QUIZ True FalseIf there is already a rule in place, you will use a should/should not argument.When there is already a rule, you will argue whether something does or does not violate that rule.Have the class respond True or False as a chorus before you reveal the answer.

33MINI QUIZ True FalseAn argument is a statement that someone claims is or should be true.Whether youre arguing that Sarah did violate the rule or that students should not go to school on Saturdays, you are claiming that statement is true.Have the class respond True or False as a chorus before you reveal the answer.

34MINI QUIZ True FalseAn argument can take place without any yelling at all.Were talking about arguments that are meant to persuade. Yelling wont help, but good reasoning will.Have the class respond True or False as a chorus before you reveal the answer.

35MINI QUIZ True FalseThere is a right and wrong side to every argument.Most of the time, the different sides of an argument are just different opinions. However, people may believe very strongly that one side is correct.Have the class respond True or False as a chorus before you reveal the answer.

36MINI QUIZ True FalseSarah looks very cool in her big ribbon.Um Everyone is entitled to an opinion!MINI QUIZ True FalsePeople often use persuasive writing when writing letters about important issues.Writing letters is one of the most common uses of persuasive writing in everyday life.Have the class respond True or False as a chorus before you reveal the answer.

38MINI QUIZ True FalseYou use arguments to persuade someone that your viewpoint is correct.Thats why its called persuasive writing!Have the class respond True or False as a chorus before you reveal the answer.

39NEXT TIME:What would you do if your school suddenly changed the rules and banned something you like to wear? This sounds like trouble . . .

40In tomorrows lesson, students will begin examining evidence they will use to make arguments in their persuasive essays. They will look at a fictional situation in which Ben Brewer, a middle school student, gets suspended for wearing his favorite band t-shirt to school after the school changed its dress code policy to prohibit all band t-shirts. Does Ben have the right to wear his shirt?