argumentative writing
DESCRIPTION
An outline for argumentative writingTRANSCRIPT
Argumentative Writing
Adapted from a presentation by Dr. Barry Laga, Professor of English, Mesa State College, Grand Junction, CO
Purpose of ArgumentPurpose of Argument
Correct a misguided or wrong claim
Encourage people to act or think
differently
Argument: A reasoned series of
thoughts intended to support a
claim.
Correct a misguided or wrong claim
Encourage people to act or think
differently
Argument: A reasoned series of
thoughts intended to support a
claim.
Three QuestionsThree Questions
What’s your claim?
What’s your warrant? (WHY do you think so?)
Where is your evidence? (SHOW me!)
What’s your claim?
What’s your warrant? (WHY do you think so?)
Where is your evidence? (SHOW me!)
Basic OutlineOne Paragraph Basic Outline
One Paragraph
Argue against another viewpoint
Clarify
Logic
Example
Testimony/Data
Call to Action/Restate Opinion
End with a BANG!
Argue against another viewpoint
Clarify
Logic
Example
Testimony/Data
Call to Action/Restate Opinion
End with a BANG!
Claim
Warrant
Provide Evidence
Conclusion
ClaimArgue against another view
ClaimArgue against another view
A younger, dumber version of yourself.
“I used to think that...”
A hypothetical person or group.
“Some students think that...”
A real person or group.
“Mrs. Doss believes ...”
A younger, dumber version of yourself.
“I used to think that...”
A hypothetical person or group.
“Some students think that...”
A real person or group.
“Mrs. Doss believes ...”
ClaimIntroduction
ClaimIntroduction
Introduce your topic as you argue against a view you disagree with. Do both in the same sentence.
Some of my classmates think that … but I believe that…
Many people think that…. however, I would say that…
Mrs. Doss thinks that …, but if we think carefully we’ll see that…
At first glance, we might think that… but if we look closer we’ll see that…
I used to think that... but now I realize that...
Introduce your topic as you argue against a view you disagree with. Do both in the same sentence.
Some of my classmates think that … but I believe that…
Many people think that…. however, I would say that…
Mrs. Doss thinks that …, but if we think carefully we’ll see that…
At first glance, we might think that… but if we look closer we’ll see that…
I used to think that... but now I realize that...
Basic Student Example…Basic Student Example…
My district thinks that physical education should be dropped in order to spend more time in writing class, but I believe that P.E. is necessary for good health.
My district thinks that physical education should be dropped in order to spend more time in writing class, but I believe that P.E. is necessary for good health.
Claim Introduction
Claim Introduction
ClaimClarifyClaimClarify
Use phrases like
In other words...
Put another way...
What I’m trying to say is that ...
That is, …
Use phrases like
In other words...
Put another way...
What I’m trying to say is that ...
That is, …
ClaimClaim Basic Student Example…
My district thinks that physical education should be dropped in order to spend more time in writing class, but I believe that P.E. is necessary for good health. What I’m trying to say is that eliminating P.E would hurt student learning because you have to be healthy to learn.
Basic Student Example…
My district thinks that physical education should be dropped in order to spend more time in writing class, but I believe that P.E. is necessary for good health. What I’m trying to say is that eliminating P.E would hurt student learning because you have to be healthy to learn.
Clarify
Claim
WarrantUse LogicWarrantUse Logic
This makes sense because…
Running for an hour makes no sense at all. (Explain)
If…. then …
This is so logical. (How so? Explain.)
Changing our schedule is an illogical idea. (Explain)
It’s like... (Use an analogy)
This makes sense because…
Running for an hour makes no sense at all. (Explain)
If…. then …
This is so logical. (How so? Explain.)
Changing our schedule is an illogical idea. (Explain)
It’s like... (Use an analogy)
WarrantUse LogicWarrantUse Logic
Basic Student Example…
It makes no sense to get rid of P.E. because many kids need it to release excess energy and without P.E. they would be disruptive in class.
Basic Student Example…
It makes no sense to get rid of P.E. because many kids need it to release excess energy and without P.E. they would be disruptive in class.
WarrantUse an Example
WarrantUse an Example
For example…
A good example of this is…
I remember when...
My friend is a good example of …
This reminds me of Susan B. Anthony who …
For example…
A good example of this is…
I remember when...
My friend is a good example of …
This reminds me of Susan B. Anthony who …
WarrantHypothetical Example
WarrantHypothetical Example
A “hypothetical” example is an imaginary example. It’s an example you create. It didn’t really happen.
What if…
Imagine…
A “hypothetical” example is an imaginary example. It’s an example you create. It didn’t really happen.
What if…
Imagine…
WarrantReal Example
WarrantReal Example
A “real” example is an experience that happened to you or to someone you know. Real examples include stories about people or events in the past. They may be your friends, people you have heard about in the news, or people in history.
A “real” example is an experience that happened to you or to someone you know. Real examples include stories about people or events in the past. They may be your friends, people you have heard about in the news, or people in history.
WarrantLiterary Example
WarrantLiterary Example
Use examples from stories, poems, novels, fables, etc. You could use Harry Potter, “The Boy Who Cried Wolf”, or the preacher in The Giver.
Use examples from stories, poems, novels, fables, etc. You could use Harry Potter, “The Boy Who Cried Wolf”, or the preacher in The Giver.
WarrantExampleWarrantExample
Imagine going to a school where there were no P.E. classes, and you were stuck in a desk all day. Children would be bored out of their minds and would long to just run, jump and play.
Imagine going to a school where there were no P.E. classes, and you were stuck in a desk all day. Children would be bored out of their minds and would long to just run, jump and play.
Basic Student ExampleBasic Student Example
Provide Evidence Testimony
Provide Evidence Testimony
Quote an authority to reinforce your idea:
Eye-Witness
Expert
Well-Respected Non-Expert
Proverbs
Quote an authority to reinforce your idea:
Eye-Witness
Expert
Well-Respected Non-Expert
Proverbs
Provide Evidence Data
Provide Evidence Data
Data has to do with numbers:
Statistics
Polls
Survey Results
Percentages
Data has to do with numbers:
Statistics
Polls
Survey Results
Percentages
Gather data through research:
Authoritative websites and on-line sources
Almanacs
Encyclopedias
Statistical-oriented studies
Your own surveys or fieldwork to create your own
data
Provide Evidence Data
Provide Evidence Data
Provide Evidence: Writing Strategies
Lead Into the Quote
Provide Evidence: Writing Strategies
Lead Into the Quote Use phrases like...
According to our principal, “...”
Many experts agree. X points out that, “...”
This is not an isolated example. Dr. X tells us “…”
In the words of Noble Prize winner Toni Morrison, “ ...”
Basketball star Michael Jordan reminds us that “...”
Use phrases like...
According to our principal, “...”
Many experts agree. X points out that, “...”
This is not an isolated example. Dr. X tells us “…”
In the words of Noble Prize winner Toni Morrison, “ ...”
Basketball star Michael Jordan reminds us that “...”
Use phrases like…
As Mr. Smith points out...
What is important to notice here is ...
What we should see in this quote is that ...
Dr. Smith makes sense, especially when she...
What is obvious here is that ...
In other words, Malcolm X is saying that ...
Use phrases like…
As Mr. Smith points out...
What is important to notice here is ...
What we should see in this quote is that ...
Dr. Smith makes sense, especially when she...
What is obvious here is that ...
In other words, Malcolm X is saying that ...
Provide Evidence: Writing Strategies
Lead Out Of the Quote
Provide Evidence: Writing Strategies
Lead Out Of the Quote
The National Association of Sport and Physical Education tells us, “physical education is an integral part of the total education of every child”. This quote suggests that a good education goes far beyond reading, writing and math.
The National Association of Sport and Physical Education tells us, “physical education is an integral part of the total education of every child”. This quote suggests that a good education goes far beyond reading, writing and math.
Provide EvidenceTestimony
Provide EvidenceTestimony
Basic Student ExampleBasic Student Example
Lead In
Lead Out
According to an article in the journal of “Active Living Research”, studies involving 58,000 students between 1967 and 2006 show that kids who are more physically active do better academically. What is obvious here is that kids need P.E. to do well in other subjects.
According to an article in the journal of “Active Living Research”, studies involving 58,000 students between 1967 and 2006 show that kids who are more physically active do better academically. What is obvious here is that kids need P.E. to do well in other subjects.
Provide EvidenceData
Provide EvidenceData
Basic Student ExampleBasic Student Example
Lead In
Lead Out
ConcludeConclude
One sentence summary. Use a signpost to indicate that you plan to conclude. Try something along the lines of ...
In sum, ...
In short, ...
As I’ve just said...
One sentence summary. Use a signpost to indicate that you plan to conclude. Try something along the lines of ...
In sum, ...
In short, ...
As I’ve just said...
Conclusion StrategiesCall to Action
Conclusion StrategiesCall to Action
Present a “carrot” or a “stick.”
We have a choice to make. We can either do X and [this will happen] or we can do Y [and this will happen]. I hope we will choose wisely, etc. Answer... “So what?”
Testimony:
Well-respected non-expert
We should remember the words of Thomas Jefferson who said, “…”
Expert
Let’s not forget what Dr. Jones told us, “ ...”
Proverb
We should keep in mind the ancient proverb, “...”
Present a “carrot” or a “stick.”
We have a choice to make. We can either do X and [this will happen] or we can do Y [and this will happen]. I hope we will choose wisely, etc. Answer... “So what?”
Testimony:
Well-respected non-expert
We should remember the words of Thomas Jefferson who said, “…”
Expert
Let’s not forget what Dr. Jones told us, “ ...”
Proverb
We should keep in mind the ancient proverb, “...”
In short, we have a choice to make. We can get rid of P.E. and have unhappy students who are not motivated to learn, or we can keep P.E and have healthy students who are fit in both body and mind. Let’s make the right choice for our students and keep Physical Education in school.
In short, we have a choice to make. We can get rid of P.E. and have unhappy students who are not motivated to learn, or we can keep P.E and have healthy students who are fit in both body and mind. Let’s make the right choice for our students and keep Physical Education in school.
ConclusionCall to ActionConclusionCall to Action
Basic Student ExampleBasic Student Example
Blog Ready: Add Hypertext
Definitions, Linktribution
Blog Ready: Add Hypertext
Definitions, Linktribution
My district thinks that physical education should be dropped in order to spend more time in writing class, but I believe that P.E. is necessary for good health. What I’m trying to say is that eliminating P.E. would hurt student learning because you have to be healthy to learn. It makes no sense to get rid of P.E. because many kids need it to release excess energy and without P.E. they would be disruptive in class. Imagine going to a school where there were no P.E. classes, and you were stuck in a desk all day. Children would be bored out of their minds and would long to just run, jump and play. The National Association of Sport and Physical Education tells us, “physical education is an integral part of the total education of every child”. This quote suggests that a good education goes far beyond reading, writing and math. According to an article in the journal of “Active Living Research”, studies involving 58,000 students between 1967 and 2006 show that kids who are more physically active do better academically. What is obvious here is that kids need P.E. to do well in other subjects. In short, we have a choice to make. We can get rid of P.E. and have unhappy students who are not motivated to learn, or we can keep P.E. and have healthy students who are fit in both body and mind. Let’s make the right choice for our students and keep Physical Education in school.
My district thinks that physical education should be dropped in order to spend more time in writing class, but I believe that P.E. is necessary for good health. What I’m trying to say is that eliminating P.E. would hurt student learning because you have to be healthy to learn. It makes no sense to get rid of P.E. because many kids need it to release excess energy and without P.E. they would be disruptive in class. Imagine going to a school where there were no P.E. classes, and you were stuck in a desk all day. Children would be bored out of their minds and would long to just run, jump and play. The National Association of Sport and Physical Education tells us, “physical education is an integral part of the total education of every child”. This quote suggests that a good education goes far beyond reading, writing and math. According to an article in the journal of “Active Living Research”, studies involving 58,000 students between 1967 and 2006 show that kids who are more physically active do better academically. What is obvious here is that kids need P.E. to do well in other subjects. In short, we have a choice to make. We can get rid of P.E. and have unhappy students who are not motivated to learn, or we can keep P.E. and have healthy students who are fit in both body and mind. Let’s make the right choice for our students and keep Physical Education in school.
For PracticeFor Practice
Your state has decided to pass a law that makes thirteen (13) the legal driving age. Explain whether or not this law is a good idea.
Your principal has decided that students at EMS are overweight. Students must now run or bike during the last hour of school. Is this a good way to solve the problem? Explain your answer.
Your state has decided to pass a law that makes thirteen (13) the legal driving age. Explain whether or not this law is a good idea.
Your principal has decided that students at EMS are overweight. Students must now run or bike during the last hour of school. Is this a good way to solve the problem? Explain your answer.