Argumentative Writing Not as hard as you think!

CLAIM  The position you will take – could be the main idea ” Example: We should abolish the death penalty.

EVIDENCE  Facts or statistics that support your claim.” Example: One hundred and twenty-four people have been freed from prison and death role in the last 30 years because new evidence has proved their innocence.

WARRANT  Reasons behind your facts – supporting details” Example: Human error in these cases shows that our legal system is flawed, and these people were falsely convicted. 4 Death penalties have been handed down more often when the victim of murder has been white than when they are of other races. 5 The system discriminates on the basis of race.

COUNTERCLAIM  An opposing position – a different point of view from yours.” Example: Some people may say that removing the death penalty would not endanger us.

REBUTTAL  Logical reasons for rejecting the counterclaim.” Example: Life in prison without parole is an alternative sentence that would keep our citizens safe.

EXAMPLE Death Penalty 1We should abolish the death penalty.2 One hundred and twenty-four people have been freed from prison and death role in the last 30 years because new evidence has proved their innocence. 3 Human error in these cases shows that our legal system is flawed, and these people were falsely convicted. 4 Death penalties have been handed down more often when the victim of murder has been white than when they are of other races. 5 The system discriminates on the basis of race. 6 Some people may say that removing the death penalty would not endanger us. 7 Life in prison without parole is an alternative sentence that would keep our citizens safe.

Questions to ask yourself  Do I have a STRONG topic sentence (claim)?  Do I make 2-3 STRONG ARGUMENTS which represent my evidence?  Do I have SUPPORTING FACTS which WARRANT my arguments?  Have I covered any COUNTERCLAIMS with a strong REBUTTAL?  Do I have a strong CLOSING which persuades the reader to think the way I do?

Reflection   What were the strengths of my writing assignment?   What are my obvious weaknesses?   What do I not understand about argumentative writing?   How did my writing compare to the examples shown by the teacher?