ARGUMENTATIVE WRITING What is it?

WE ALL ARGUE. IF YOU ARE ARGUING WITH YOUR PARENTS TO LET YOU STAY OUT PAST CURFEW, WITH YOUR SIBLING TO STAY OUT OF YOUR ROOM, OR YOUR TEACHER TO HAVE LESS HOMEWORK… YOU ARE ARGUING.

ARGUMENTATIVE WRITING IS NOT ABOUT EMOTION !

IT’S ABOUT FACTS, DATA, AND LOGIC. Your goal is to convince someone that your opinion about a topic is correct.

THERE ARE 5 COMPONENTS IN AN ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY

1. TOPIC: A good topic should have at least two sides, called positions or points of view.

TOPIC: PHYSICAL EDUCATION ProsCons Encourages a healthy lifestyle. Fun, non-academic class. Outlet for energy or stress. Learn athletic skills. Promotes teamwork and good sportsmanship. Difficult for youth who are not athletic. Potential for injury. Various skill levels may stereotype kids as “good” or “bad” in a sport. Fights and arguments may occur.

2. POSITION & CLAIM: Choose which side of an argument you are going to take. This is your position. State your position in a clear, concise, and complete sentence. This is your claim.

CLAIMS SHOULD BE: Debatable -there are at least two good sides that can be argued. Defensible -there is enough information available to support your position, or point of view. Thought-provoking -your topic is interesting enough that people will care about it.

3. AVOID EMOTIONAL ARGUMENTS When writing an argumentative essay, you cannot support your claim by saying… “PE is a necessary class because it’s so totally awesome.” or “PE should not be forced on students because it’s the lamest thing I’ve ever done.” Instead use facts and logic. “According to a study I conducted at Lexington JH, eight out of ten students said that PE was their favorite class, and it helped reduce their stress level.”

4. REASONS & EVIDENCE You need to come up with reasons to support your claim. It’s always a good idea to include at least three. Next, you will need evidence. This is any information, facts, quotes, etc. that support your claim and reasons. You will find this in your research or your sources.

STRUCTURE OF YOUR BODY PARAGRAPHS Reason #1 Encourages a healthy lifestyle Evidence: “Health experts have long noted the importance of physical activity. Exercise not only improves your appearance, it can also improve your health. Exercise helps to reduce the risk of so many diseases such as heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.” (Article: “Daily Exercise Leads to Better Health” by June Simms) Reason #2 Reduces stress and increases energy Evidence: “Participation in physical activities increases the release of beta endorphins, the natural mood enhancers of our brains. With an improved mood, students develop a more optimistic perception of their daily tasks, allowing them to surge forward with greater mental energy and less stress. “ (Article: “Why Is Physical Education a Stress Reliever for Students in HS? By Katherine Bradley) Reason #3 Fun, non-academic class Evidence: In a survey conducted by Mrs. Parillo, eight out of ten students claimed that P.E. was their favorite class.

5. COUNTER CLAIMS You should discuss the viewpoint of the topic that disagrees with your claim (also called the counterargument ) and then refute it(tell why it’s wrong ). This can also be called the rebuttal. It looks like you are closed minded, and it weakens your argument, if you do not address the opposing viewpoint.

ACTIVITY Partner up with a student. Work together to choose a topic with two good sides or viewpoints. One student will brainstorm the PROS. The other student will brainstorm the CONS. Choose the three BEST/STRONGEST reasons for each. Share with the class.