Argument Argument EssayEssay

Take out a piece of paper and Take out a piece of paper and take notes…take notes…

What is the argument What is the argument essay?essay?

The purpose of the argument The purpose of the argument essay is to convince or persuade essay is to convince or persuade the audience to do something or the audience to do something or think in a certain way. think in a certain way.

In it, you state a claim: make clear what you are arguing for or against

You must organize your reasons and supporting details in paragraphs

In an Argument Essay…In an Argument Essay…

Use relevant information from the sources you studied (read about)to support your claim

 Acknowledge and refute the counterclaim (counterargument)

 Include direct quotes from sources

State your claim (thesis) clearly.State your claim (thesis) clearly. Include at least three strong reasons that Include at least three strong reasons that

support the claim.support the claim. Support, or elaborate, each reason with facts, Support, or elaborate, each reason with facts,

quotes and examples from the text.quotes and examples from the text. Anticipate possible counterclaims objections Anticipate possible counterclaims objections

and acknowledge themand acknowledge them Arrange your reasons in the most persuasive Arrange your reasons in the most persuasive

orderorder Use persuasive but polite languageUse persuasive but polite language End by summarizing your reasons and calling End by summarizing your reasons and calling

your audience to action. your audience to action.

What do we need to think What do we need to think about when writing an about when writing an

effective Persuasive essay?effective Persuasive essay?Audience-Who is reading Audience-Who is reading your essayyour essay

Voice-Be politeVoice-Be politeIntroductionIntroductionSupporting ParagraphsSupporting ParagraphsConclusionConclusion

Where do we begin?Where do we begin?

Read the topic Read the topic Take a stance-choose a sideTake a stance-choose a side Brainstorm the issue-organize your writing Brainstorm the issue-organize your writing

with a graphic organizerwith a graphic organizer Have facts, quotes and supporting details Have facts, quotes and supporting details

to substantiate your claim (thesis).to substantiate your claim (thesis).

Transitional Transitional Words/PhrasesWords/Phrases

As you proceed through your text you As you proceed through your text you need to use transitions and links for need to use transitions and links for coherence. coherence.

Readers expect to move with ease from Readers expect to move with ease from one sentence to the other and from one sentence to the other and from one paragraph to the next…… one paragraph to the next……

Your document must “FLOW”.Your document must “FLOW”.

What is this? What is this?

Why reference a grasshopper? Why reference a grasshopper?

Do not force readers to grapple Do not force readers to grapple with “grasshopper prose,” with “grasshopper prose,” which jumps suddenly from which jumps suddenly from one idea to another without one idea to another without

obvious connections. obvious connections.

Your paper needs to flow!Your paper needs to flow!

Make your writing Make your writing coherent, with all the coherent, with all the

parts connecting clearly parts connecting clearly to one another with to one another with

transitional expressions, transitional expressions, context links, and word context links, and word

links. links.

Use connecting words Use connecting words like like thisthis, , thatthat, , thesethese,, and and thosethose to refer to to refer to something mentioned something mentioned

at the end of the at the end of the previous sentence or previous sentence or

paragraph.paragraph.

Transitional ExpressionsTransitional Expressions

Adding an ideaAdding an idea::

also, in addition, also, in addition, further , furthermore, further , furthermore, moreovermoreover

Contrasting:Contrasting:

however, nevertheless, however, nevertheless, nonetheless, on the nonetheless, on the other hand, in other hand, in contrast, still, rather, contrast, still, rather, converselyconversely

Showing time order:Showing time order:

later, subsequently, later, subsequently, meanwhile, meanwhile, previously, finallypreviously, finally

Showing result:Showing result:

consequently, consequently, therefore, thus, therefore, thus, hence, accordingly, hence, accordingly, for this reason, as a for this reason, as a resultresult

More of the same…More of the same…

AffirmingAffirming::

of course, in fact, of course, in fact, certainly, certainly, obviously, to be obviously, to be sure, undoubtedly, sure, undoubtedly, indeedindeed

Giving ExamplesGiving Examples::

for example, for for example, for instanceinstance

Adding an asideAdding an aside::

Incidentally, by the Incidentally, by the way, besidesway, besides

Summarizing:Summarizing:

In short, generally, In short, generally, overall, all in all, in overall, all in all, in conclusionconclusion

Do not overuse Do not overuse transitions... transitions...

Too many of them, used too often, Too many of them, used too often, give writing a heavy and give writing a heavy and mechanical flavor. mechanical flavor.

It is all about the flow, organization, It is all about the flow, organization, and integration of your paper. and integration of your paper.

The PromptThe Prompt

Research the pros and cons of youth sports. Now, imagine that your school district is going to make a final decision about continuing to fund sports programs in the schools. You have a chance to write a letter that will be read to the mayor, printed in the paper, or presented to the head of the school board or PTA.

The Directions…The Directions…Your letter should state a claim or thesis by taking a clear side, backing it up with research, and refuting the other side. Your job is to argue whether overall, sports are good or bad for kids. Letters are really just a form of essay, so use what you know about essay writing to structure your letter. Be sure to back up your claim with reasons and evidence, supported by facts and details from multiple sources you studied and analysis of those sources. Be sure to cite important references.

The IntroductionThe IntroductionFor many young people in America, sports

are their dreams and hopes. And this is not without reason. Research has shown that children who participate in athletics are happier and more goal-driven than their non-athletic peers. High school athletics are still a highly beneficial activity for young people everywhere, and this is why it is important for sports programs across the country to stay right where they are. Sports programs should be kept in high schools because they have a positive effect on academics, they improve determination, and they bring people together.

How to Write a Good How to Write a Good Introduction Introduction

1.1. Do not assume your reader knows Do not assume your reader knows your assigned your assigned prompt/topic/question. prompt/topic/question.

2.2. Provide context and background Provide context and background information to set up your topic. information to set up your topic. Lead readers to expect a statement Lead readers to expect a statement of your point of view.of your point of view.

4.4. Establish the tone from the Establish the tone from the onset of the paper: onset of the paper: Argumentative/PersuasiveArgumentative/Persuasive

5.5. Engage the readers’ interest; Engage the readers’ interest; provide a hook (attention provide a hook (attention grabber) that will make the grabber) that will make the readers want to continue readers want to continue reading. reading.

What to AvoidWhat to Avoid

1.1. Avoid becoming overly general and telling Avoid becoming overly general and telling readers the obvious, such as “Crime is a readers the obvious, such as “Crime is a big problem” or “In this fast-paced world, big problem” or “In this fast-paced world, TV is a popular form of entertainment”.TV is a popular form of entertainment”.

2.2. Do not refer to your writing intentions – Do not refer to your writing intentions – “In this essay, I will….” Do not make “In this essay, I will….” Do not make extravagant claims, such as “This essay extravagant claims, such as “This essay will prove that bilingual education works will prove that bilingual education works for every student.” for every student.”

3.3. Do not restate the assigned essay Do not restate the assigned essay question. question.

What is the Hook?What is the Hook?

Surprising statisticsSurprising statistics

A concise quotationA concise quotation

An unusual factAn unusual fact

A relevant anecdoteA relevant anecdote

A challenging A challenging questionquestion

Interesting Interesting background detailsbackground details

An intriguing An intriguing opinion statement. opinion statement.

IntroIntro

HookHook Connecting Connecting

sentencesentence Thesis Thesis

(claim)(claim) Three Three

ReasonsReasons

ConclusionConclusionThink of your conclusion as Think of your conclusion as

completing a circle. completing a circle.

You have taken your readers on a You have taken your readers on a journey from the presentation of the journey from the presentation of the topic in your introduction, to your topic in your introduction, to your thesis, to supporting evidence and thesis, to supporting evidence and discussion including specific discussion including specific examples. examples.

Remind readers the purpose of your Remind readers the purpose of your journey. Recall the main idea of the journey. Recall the main idea of the paper and make a strong statement paper and make a strong statement about it. Leave the readers feeling about it. Leave the readers feeling complete with a full understanding complete with a full understanding of the topic. of the topic.

Key Points for a Key Points for a ConclusionConclusion

1.1. Include a summary of the points Include a summary of the points you have made, but keep it short you have made, but keep it short and use fresh wording.and use fresh wording.

2.2. Frame your essay by reminding the Frame your essay by reminding the reader of something you referred reader of something you referred to in your introduction and by to in your introduction and by reminding the reader of your reminding the reader of your “topic”. “topic”.

3.3. End on a strong note: a End on a strong note: a quotation, a question, a quotation, a question, a suggestion, a reference to an suggestion, a reference to an anecdote in the introduction, anecdote in the introduction, a humorous and insightful a humorous and insightful comment, a call to action, or comment, a call to action, or a look to the future. a look to the future.