CAN TAKE PORTFOLIOS NOW What makes an effective argument? Argument Notes cont’d Start Langley article

SRI 11/17th, 26-liners coming 11/19th…

Grab Your Portfolios

Essential Question of the Day: How do we convince people to think/believe something?

What is an argument?

Argument over an issue =

Claim

An argument usually is found in Non-Fiction (articles & essays) and has specific parts:

Reasons

+ + Evidenceto support a logical viewpoint

Parts of an Argument

CLAIM – an arguable statement on an issue What is an opinion some people have about

an issue? What do people argue about?

SUPPORT - reasons and evidence that the claim is reasonable and should be accepted How do you convince people to believe you?

What kind of examples would you use?

Types of Support

What’s the difference between: a REASON and EVIDENCE?

A Reason is: a general statement that answers WHY the writer thinks their claim. For example….

A writer claims: “More metal detectors should be installed in public schools.”

But WHY???? Reason: To reduce school violence

(that’s a reason…)

Types of Support

But how do you know your reason is VALID??!EVIDENCE!!!!

What is EVIDENCE? facts, statistics, experiences, comparisons – specific

examples that show why the claim is for realz. For example…..

A writer claims: More metal detectors should be installed in public schools (But WHY????) because this will reduce school violence.

But HOW do you KNOW??!

EVIDENCE!!! For example, after using metal detectors in Chicago school, officials went from confiscating 15 guns and 294 weapons in 92 to just two guns in 1995.

(Now that’s some goood evidence

Is This a reason or evidence?

Women are too emotionally fragile for combat. Reason

Smaller female soldiers have, on average, 45 to 50 percent less upper-body strength. Evidence

In direct combat, women would not have an equal opportunity to survive, or to help fellow soldiers survive. Reason

women with equal training as their male counterparts can outperform men. Reason

Women also tolerate hot and humid racing conditions better than men because of their smaller body size, according to a 1999 article in the European Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology. Evidence

CLAIM: Women should/should not fight in combat.

Thesis & Essay Structure

You are about to read an essay, and asked to find the thesis. What is it?

Thesis = a single sentence written by the author, usually in the introduction, that sums up the entire paper

In an argument, the thesis = claim + reasons

Example: The death penalty is wrong (claim) because (that word “because” is a big clue) it is immoral and innocent people are often wrongly condemned.

Thesis & Essay Structure

It will ask you about “The Body” of the essay. What is that?

It’s the paragraphs that follow the introduction

In this article: the first paragraph is the hook, the second paragraph is the actual introduction The third paragraph is where the body begins!

YOUR TURN!!

TIME TO READ!!

READING THE ARTICLE1. Read individually or as a group (take turns reading, everyone fills out the strengths and weaknesses – take turns on the group paper), and think about how to break down the argument. Notice words from the article to find the author’s: Claim Reasons Evidence

Then what do you think? Fill out the questions on the article…..