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Case (Paragraph 2): Def: The case is the part of an argument that establishes the timeliness, relevance, or significance of a given issue. The case answers the question, “Why should the audience care about this issue?” In the best case scenario, the writer establishes a sense not just of relevance but immediacy/ urgency regarding the issue.

By the end of the period: Using procon.org or another resource, select a research topic. Write a paragraph, about 50 words, explaining why your issue is timely, relevant, or significant—why does/ should anyone care about this? Don’t include any research in this paragraph. Leave the paragraph in your student folder.

Pro Argument (#4 & #5): “Pro arguments” are any arguments that can be made in support of your point-of-view. Pro arguments are usually of three kinds: – Logical – Ethical – Emotional

Logical Appeal The logical appeal (or strategy for persuasion) uses logical reasoning, facts, statistics, expert opinion, or research to persuade.

Ethical Appeal The ethical appeal (or strategy to persuade) invokes right/wrong, good/bad, fair/unfair, social norms and values.

Emotional Appeal The emotional appeal (or strategy to persuade) invokes—or evokes—deeply-held ideals, beliefs, and morals.

Practice Let’s argue that the state legislature should raise the level of funding for charter schools up to the level of funding for public schools. Write an example of a logical appeal. Write an example of an ethical appeal. Write an example of an emotional appeal.

By the end of the period: Write one “pro argument” paragraph for your essay (50 words or so). Keep the focus on one type of appeal— logical, ethical, or emotional. Turn it in by hand or drop in student folder.

Definition(Paragraph #3) It is not unusual, especially with controversial issues, for major disagreements to hinge upon disputes concerning the meaning or connotation of key terms:

Counter-Argument (Paragraph # 7) In a civil debate, it is as important to understand your opponent’s reasoning as it is to understand your own. What could you imagine to be the objections to your perspective? Write a well-developed paragraph explaining one objection to your point-of-view that you imagine an opponent would have. Don’t argue against it. Just show that you understand it.

Examples: When does “life” begin? Does the Second Amendment right to bear “arms” include weapons that literally didn’t exist in the 18 th century? What qualifies as a “performance-enhancing” drug or practice? (Why is blood-doping against the rules even though it doesn’t involve synthetic substances?) Opponents of violent video games argue that first-person simulations are more like military training than like “games.”

The “Definition” Paragraph #3 Identify a key term that your audience would need to be defined in order to understand the argument as you see it. Write a well-developed paragraph defining the term and/or conveying a clear sense of how/why the term is contested. Add it to your existing document and save in your student folder

Paragraphs so far: Case paragraph (#2) Pro argument paragraphs (#4 & #5) Counterargument paragraph (#7) Definition paragraph (#3)

The introduction Your introduction has to do only three things: – Indicate what the topic is and why you are talking about it. – Give a sense of the various viewpoints concerning the issue (not detailed) – Make a claim (what you think should happen; your thesis idea/proposition)