The Common Core and Argument Writing

Write: What was your best writing experience?

What was your worst writing experience?

Common Core: Anchor StandardsText Types and Purposes* 1. Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts, using valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence. 2. Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas and information clearly and accurately through the effective selection, organization, and analysis of content. 3. Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, well-chosen details, and well-structured event sequences. Production and Distribution of Writing 4. Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience. 5. Develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach. 6. Use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing and to interact and collaborate with others. Research to Build and Present Knowledge 7. Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects based on focused questions, demonstrating understanding of the subject under investigation. 8. Gather relevant information from multiple print and digital sources, assess the credibility and accuracy of each source, and integrate the information while avoiding plagiarism.

9. Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.Range of Writing 10. Write routinely over extended time frames (time for research, reflection, and revision) and shorter time frames (a single sitting or a day or two) for a range of tasks, purposes, and audiences.

*These broad types of writing include many subgenres. See Appendix A for definitions of key writing types.

Three Text Types 1. Argument

2. Informational/Explanatory 3. Narrative

Grade-level Standards What assumptions do the standards pre-

suppose? What do the standards imply? Consider order, wording, what is omitted, what is included.

Persuasion vs. ArgumentPersuasion Ethos (author credibility) Pathos (emotional appeals) Logos (logical appeals) Reason

Argument

Persuasion vs. Argument"With its roots in orality, rhetoric has a bias for viewing audiences as particular. Aristotle said, The persuasive is persuasive to someone. In contrast to rhetoric, writing has a bias for an abstract audience or generalized conception of audience. . . . For this reason, a particular audience can be persuaded, whereas the universal audience must be convinced; particular audiences can be approached by way of values, whereas the universal audience (which transcends partisan values) must be approached with facts, truths, and presumptions.~Miller & Charney

Argument

Common Core: What is Argument?

To change readers point of view To bring about some action on the readers part To ask the reader to accept the writers explanation or evaluation of a concept, issue, or problem

Is it argument or persuasion?

Is it argument or persuasion? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9z71iNrlew

Is it argument or persuasion?

Is it argument or persuasion?

Is it argument or persuasion?

Is it argument or persuasion?

Is it argument or persuasion?

Grade-level samples Group by number and read associated sample. 1: Grade 12 (Freedom)

2: Grade 12 (Dress

Codes) 3:Grade 10 4: Grade 9 5: Grade 7 6: Grade 6 (Pet Story) 7: Grade 6 (Dear Mr. Sandler)

Discuss what the writing and annotations reveal

about characteristics of argument writing (according to CCSS). Group by color and share your sample groups findings. Generate a list of characteristics across samples: what are the qualities of argument writing, as revealed by these samples (in

Elements of Argument Claim

Evidence: relevant and verifiable Warrant: explanation of how the evidence

supports the claim; often common sense rules, laws, scientific principles or research, and wellconsidered definitions. Backing: support for the warrant (often extended definitions) Qualifications and Counter-arguments: acknowledgement of differing claims

Arguing Both Sides What can students learn?

Arguments across disciplines Although arguments in different fields use the

same elements (claims, warrants, etc.), fields have different goals for argumentation, degrees of formality and precision, and modes of resolution, with the consequence that evaluative judgments should be made within fields, not between fields." Also. . . There are "multiple differences between academic argument and public argument."~Miller & Charney

Modes and Genres Good writers know what kind of thing they are

making with writing. They can answer the question, should someone ask, what have I read in the world that is like what you are trying to write? No one I know would answer that question with words like narrative or persuasive or expository. These words simply arent operational for people who write. They arent the terms writers use to talk about or think about the writing they are producing. . . . Mode words dont actually name the kinds of things people make with writing, so by themselves they dont give anyone a vision for writing. Genre words do that

AudienceHow do writers assumptions about audience affect production of a text? 1. How much to elaborate based on what they anticipate readers know 2. How much to tailor the development of claims 3. How much to care, since writers concerns are bigger when audience matters 4. How to accommodate audiences if writers don't identify with them Considering the audience, therefore, is not simply a matter of selecting the information that readers need to understand the argument. Instead, writers must anticipate objections and questions and develop persuasive appeals, including building on common ground, refuting opposing claims, offering an acceptable reader-writer relationship, and presuming upon appropriate beliefs and values."~Miller & Charney

Building a Topic BankSchool issues Local Issues State Issues National Issues Global Issues

Choosing an arguable issue Arguments need. . . An issue An arguer An audience Common ground

Arguments fail with. . . No disagreement or

A forum Audience outcomes

reason to argue Risky or trivial issues Difficulty establishing common ground Standoffs or fights that result in negative outcomes

Narrowing a topicPreventing Bullying Name calling Texting bad names

What about your class/grade?

GenreTopic

PSARecycling in our schoolPreventing bullying

Topic

Common Core: What is Argument?

To change readers point of view To bring about some action on the readers part To ask the reader to accept the writers explanation or evaluation of a concept, issue, or problem

Creating an argumentClaim Evidence ExplanationA Miner would be a good mascot selection for our school. Mascots should be strong or tough and represent the area. They should be something people would be proud to be. Our area has mining as one of its primary industries, so the choice would represent our area. In addition, miners need to be tough because they do strenuous workand dangerous work. They work hard to fill a need for people everywhere. Thats something to be proud of.

Four corners The Supreme Court was right this week to

reverse the ban on the sale of violent video games to children. Strongly Agree? Agree? Disagree? Strongly Disagree? Write for 3 minutes on your opinion. Go to corner of room matching your response. In your groups, you have several minutes to create an argument: claim, convincing evidence (yes, you can use your laptops), and explanation to present a two-minute argument to the rest of the groups.

Point of View Annotation You will be reading this piece as one of the

following people: Teenager Parent Police Officer Insurance Executive President of DriveCam

Underline information that is important, surprising,

puzzling or thought-provoking. For each time you underline information, jot a sentence or two about why you chose that bit to underline. The goal is to explain your roles thoughts, opinions or questions.

What is courage? One day while Superman is flying around the

skies of Chicago, he lands atop the Sears Tower. Using his super-telescopic vision, he sees a woman tied to a railroad track in the distant south. Squinting, he sees that it is Lois Lane. Beyond her, perhaps only fifty yards away, is a rushing freight train, which, in seconds, will cut her fragile body to pieces. Superman leaps from the Sears Tower and flies toward the train with the speed of light. He screeches to a halt on the tracks facing the train. The train smashes into his outstretched arms, and Superman stops it dead. He turns to Lois and asks, Gee, are you all right?

Defining CourageWrite a full definition of the term: Include criteria Provide examples that meet and do not meet each criteria Avoid when after a linking verb Instead, use constructions like this: A courageous act is one. . .Courageous action involves the control of fear in the face of grave danger. For an act to be truly courageous, it must meet several criteria. First, because courage is considered to be a virtue, any courageous act must be a noble or virtuous act, such as saving a life or preventing harm to another person. Robbing a bank, no matter how dangerous and no matter how steadfast the actor, is not a noble or selfless act. Because it is not a virtuous act, it cannot be considered courageous.

Locavore Movement A locavore is a person who has committed to

eating locally grown or produced food. Read the materials youve been provided. Discuss the ideas in your groups. Create a v-chart of pros and cons of the movement

V-chart as pre-write

To Locavore or Not? A member of your city council agrees with the

perspectives of the locavore movement. He has proposed encouraging the movement through a series of ordinances and financial incentives. Using what you know from the sources youve studied, write a statement expressing your position on the subject that will be read in front of the city council when it has hearings on the matter.

Drawing as prewriting Read the article. Then sketch some of the key points

from the article. Get into groups of three. Share your sketches: each person share the thinking behind the sketch. Groups make a poster that may integrate the ideas from the individual sketches or something that came up in discussion. All group members must contribute to the drawing of the poster. Gallery walk: In groups, use your post-its to comment or respond to the other posters. Comments should be about the ideas, not the drawing. Sign all names to your comment and move on when the time signal is given. As you move, also read the other comments and factor them into your comments.

Scaffolding instruction Day 1: explore the genre. Read samples and analyze parts. Do

fact/opinion work with essays. Day 2: Read and analyze more letters to the editor. Rank them in order of effectiveness. Begin list of criteria for this writing. Begin to generate possible topics. Day 3: Read and analyze some argument essays. Consider claims, evidence, organization, tone (snarl words and purr words). How do these apply to letters to editor? Homework: What do you want to write to editor about? Write your claim,why you hold the opinion and why someone might disagree with you. Day 4: Choosing newspaper and identifying audience. Look at more letters in your target newspaper. What topics? What language? How long? How organized? What do these things tell about the anticipated audience? Note to leave class: Which newspaper? Describe audience. Day 4: Inquirytime in library for finding evidence. Homework,

Scaffolding instruction Day 5: Fill in graphic organizer; evaluate quality of evidence.

Take one piece of evidence and explain how it supports claim (teacher modeling). Turn in. Level of importanceEvidence Type of evidence to audience

Day 6: Logic and organization, transitions Day 7: Drafting, returning to models Day 8: Peer evaluation Day 9: Revision and further inquiry if necessary Day 10: Polishing; sentence combining and word choice Day 11: Due with addressed envelope

Developing Curriculum Statements What do students need to know how to do? What

understandings do they need to write this genre? Take one of the genres you developed at the end of yesterday and write some of the curriculum statements that might come from that genre. EX: Movie review for a website: Writer will state opinion of quality of movie. Writer will give short summary of movie. Writer will give evidence from movie (filming, story, actors credibility, etc.) to support claim.

General qualities of effective writing Grouping ideas into sentences and paragraphs

that carry meaning efficiently and move ideas forward Creating an effective thesis Introducing an idea effectively Connecting ideas (between sentences and paragraphs) Punctuating correctly Creating and maintaining an appropriate tone Concluding meaningfully Using words eloquently

The structures and language of argument Incorporating others words or ideas

Subordinating opposing views Organizing for greatest effect Maintaining an academic tone Analyzing and explaining data/sources

adequately Recognizing the difference between reasons and evidence Evaluating quality of evidence/research

Connecting ideas effectively Why? To establish clear relations between ideas

The best compositions establish a sense of momentum and direction by making explicit connections among their different parts, so that what is said in one sentence (or paragraph) not only sets up what is to come but is clearly informed by what has already been said. When you write a sentence, you create an expectation in the readers mind that the next sentence will in some way echo and be an extension of the first, even ifespecially ifthe second one takes your argument in a new direction. ~Graff &Birkenstein

Ways to make connections Transitions

Pointing words Repetition of key words and phrases Synonyms Idea hooks

Example The only thing more dangerous than being on

the back of a racehorse was being thrown from one. Some jockeys took two hundred or more falls in their careers. Some were shot into the air when horses would prop, or plant their front hooves and slow abruptly. Others went down when their mounts would bolt, crashing into the rails or even the grandstand. A common accident was clipping heels, in which trailing horses tripped over leading horses hind hooves, usually sending the trailing horse and rider into a somersault. Finally, horses could break down, racings euphemism for incurring leg injuries.

TransitionsEXAMPLES: Also, besides, furthermore, in addition, similarly, in other words, for example, for instance, although, but, despite the fact that, however, as a result, since, so, therefore, admittedly, as a result, consequently, yetSpot is a good dog. He has fleas. Spot is a good dog, even though he has fleas.

Courage is resistance to fear. Courage is mastery of fear. Courage is not absence of fear.

Pointing words EXAMPLES: this, these, that, those, their, such,

her, it, etc.Children wanted their kiddy-cars to go faster. First, the animal design was done away with. Then off went a couple of the wheels. The two remaining wheels were greatly enlarged and then aligned down the center of the vehicle. Finally, handlebars and footrests were added. These primitive two-wheelers went much faster than the fourwheeled kiddy-cars. ~ Toys! Wulffson Riders didnt even have to leave the saddle to be badly hurt. Their hands and shins were smashed and their knee ligaments ripped when horses twisted beneath them or banged into the rails and walls. Their ankles were crushed when their feet became caught in the starters webbing.~ Seabiscuit, Hillenbrand

Repetition of key words or phrases She sighed as she realized she was tired. Not

tired from work but tired of putting white people first. Tired of stepping off sidewalks to let white people pass, tired of eating at separate lunch counters and learning at separate schools. She was tired of Colored entrances, Colored drinking fountains, and Colored taxis. She was tired of getting somewhere first and being waited on last. Tired of separate, and definitely tired of not equal. ~ Rosa, Giovanni

Synonyms and pronouns Candy is almost pure sugar. It is empty of

nutritional value. It is an extravagance. It dissolves in water. It melts in your mouth, not in your hands. Its the icing on the cake. Candy is so impossibly sweet and good that eating it should be the simplest thing in the world. So how can there be anything of substance to say about it?~ Candy and Me, Liftin

Religion was central to Egyptian life from the

beginning, and the pharaoh played a key role in its rituals. In life, the ruler was thought to be the son of Ra, the all-powerful sun god.~ Secrets of the Sphinx, Giblin

Idea hooksMark Twain is established in the minds of most Americans as a kindly humorist, a gentle and delightful funny man. No doubt his photographs have helped promote this image. Everybody is familiar with the Twain face. He looks like every childs ideal grandfather, a dear old whitethatched gentleman who embodies the very spirit of loving-kindness. Such a view of Twain would probably have been a source of high amusement to the author himself. ~ Lively Art of Writing, Payne

In combinationJebel Musa in the morning is like a tiger at dawn, a cat curled up in the shadows, its coat the color of pumpkin pie, its demeanor a misleading message: tame. As we arrived at the small plateau where climbers prep for the hike to come, the mountain seemed almost inert, waiting. At 7,455 feet, its not a particularly tall mountain: half as high as the tallest mountain in the Colorado Rockies; roughly as tall as the highest peak in the Appalachians. But it is impressive, completely dominating the landscape around it like a mother elephant dwarfing her babies. A mixture of red and gray granite fused together in an imposing, almost threatening mass, Mount Moses rises straight from the ground and softens slightly at the top like a drip castle. Though not as angular as Mount Ararat,

Using others ideas appropriately Quoting: using the exact words of another. Words must be placed in quotation marks and the author cited. Summarizing: putting the ideas of another in your own words and condensing them. Author must be identified. Paraphrasing: putting someone elses ideas in your words but keeping approximately the same length as the original. Paraphrase must be original in both structure and wording, and accurate in representing authors intent. It can not just be switching out synonyms in the original

Quoting Why use quotations? when the speakers name and reputation add

credibility when the phrasing of the quotation is interesting or revealing and cannot be stated another way as effectively How effective are these examples? Many students improve their reading ability by

looking at a text closely and by giving their first reactions to it (Burke 46). Mem Fox contests, worksheets are the dead-end streets of literacy: theres a non-message on each line, going nowhere, for no reason (69).

Summarizing Summaries Should be shorter than original text Should include the main ideas of the original Should reflect the structure of the original text

somewhat Should include important details Is this an effective summary of Source B? At the moment of harvest, food begins to lose vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals important for fighting disease and maintaining health. Because the decrease is negligible, however, even if food is days or weeks from harvest, its still possible to derive nutrition from it and be healthy by

Paraphrasing Source: People of African descent in the

Diaspora do not speak languages of Africa as their mother tongue. Inappropriate Paraphrase: People of African descent no longer speak the languages of Africa as their first language. Appropriate Paraphrase: Painter contends that cultural factors like language and religion divide African Americans from their ancestors. Black Americans speak a wide variety of languages, but usually these are not African.

Introducing others ideas Put source names either before the idea [Painter

insists that the hula hoop can help fight diabetes] or after the idea in parentheses [Others find the idea ridiculous (Smith, Wilson)]. Use vivid and precise verb signals more than says or believes to show how an author feels or how an idea might relate to other ideas: agrees, recommends, insists, explains Make sure the idea adds to the point you are making. Dropping in unrelated quotes or names diminishes your credibility. SHOW how the idea contributes to YOUR argument.

Practice Write a paragraph expressing your opinion about

the locavore movement using either a quote, paraphrase, or summary statement from one of the sources. Be prepared to explain your choice: why you chose the option you did and how you incorporated it (either with appropriate punctuation and citation or by shortening or restating).

Creating lessons Determine what students need to know how to do

Find examples and models to show the skill Talk through the findings Give students chances to practice in low-risk

situations Have them talk to each other about the practices Apply the new skill to writing currently being completed Decide on appropriate timing: when would be the best in the learning process?

Writing Next 1.

Writing strategies 2. Summarizing 3. Collaborative writing 4. Specific product goals 5. Word processing 6. Sentence combining 7. Prewriting 8. Inquiry activities 9. Process writing approach 10. Study of models 11. Writing for content learning

And so. . ."Findings from this study suggest that teachers needn't teach to the test in a narrow, evaluationfocused manner; rather, they can develop tools that move students toward test-readiness while keeping writing process principles in focus. ~ Wolman-Bonilla

Sources Caine, Karen. Writing to Persuade: Mini-lessons to Help Students Plan,

Draft, and Revise.

Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann, 2008.

Daniels, Harvey Smokey, and Nancy Steineke. Texts and Lessons for

Content-Area Reading. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann, 2011. Dean, Deborah. Strategic Writing: The Writing Process and Beyond in

Secondary Schools. IL: NCTE, 2010.

Urbana, IL: NCTE, 2006.

---. What Works in Writing Instruction: Research and Practices. Urbana, Graff, Gerald, and Cathy Birkenstein. They Say, I Say: The Moves that

Matter in Academic

Writing. New York: Norton, 2006.

Hillocks, George, Jr. Teaching Argument Writing. Portsmouth, NH:

Heinemann, 2011. Miller, Carolyn R., and Davida Charney. Persuasion, Audience, and

Argument. Handbook of Research on Writing. Ed. Charles Bazerman. New York: Lawrence Erlbaum, 2008. 583-598. Smagorinsky, Peter, et al. The Dynamics of Writing Instruction: A

Structured Process Approach for Middle and High School. Portsmouth,