Argument Essay

You have already written an INFORMATIONAL essay (VLT #1)

Introduction Body Conclusion

Informational Essay Introduction Thesis Statement: Body Body Body Paragraph 1 Body Paragraph 2 (optional) Body Paragraph 3 (optional) Conclusion

Arguments have some of the same parts … but there is an added element

Argument Essay Reason 1 Reason 2 Reason 3 Counterclaim Rebuttal Introduction Thesis Statement (your claim): Reason 1 Reason 2 Reason 3 Counterclaim Rebuttal Conclusion

Claim: The main idea of your paper Claim: The main idea of your paper. Your claim is the side of an argument you are taking. Prompt: What makes the best pet, a dog or a cat?***whichever side you pick is your claim. ex: “Dogs are the best pet.” Counterclaim: The opposing side of your claim. In an argument paper you must address why the opposing argument can be valid. If your claim is “Dogs are the best pet,” then the opposing side is your counterclaim. ex: “Some people, on the other hand, believe cats are the best pet.”

Rebuttal: Reasons why the counterclaim is wrong or unimportant. ex: “Even though cats are low maintenance pets and are quiet, barking can actual protect you… making dogs the more desirable pet.

My Example Dogs make better pets than cats. Dogs are great friends Dogs help with health Dogs are noisy and require daily walks. Cats are better because they are low maintenance & quiet Barking can protect you and walking can keep you healthy. Therefore these features are actually benefits.

Complete this section of your worksheet with a partner. I couldn’t complete my homework on time. Give your best reasons to support the claim. Write the best argument your opposing side would give you. Address the counterclaim’s argument. This is your opportunity to address them and prove them wrong.

Do this section of the worksheet on your own. Write your OWN argument that you’ve had with a parent or a friend. Give your best reasons to support the claim. Write the best argument your opposing side would give you. Address the counterclaim’s argument. This is your opportunity to address them and prove them wrong.

Example Argument Essay What makes the best pet, a cat or a dog?

Which makes the best pet, a cat or a dog? Introduction Hook: Dogs as “man’s best friend.” List good things for dogs. Thesis: Dogs are truly the best pet anyone could have Reason 1 Dogs are great friends. Use evidence to support! Reason 2 Dogs help with health. Use evidence to support! Counterclaim: Dogs are noisy and require daily walks. Cats are better because they are low maintenance & quiet Rebuttal: Barking can protect you and walking can keep you healthy. Therefore these features are actually benefits. Conclusion: Dogs are the best pet for all these reasons.

When to write an argument essay? When there are two positions that both could be supported on either side of an issue.

Argument Paper Topic What is the more effective way to struggle for freedom, through public struggles or private struggles?

Pick a side and use this structure to prove that claim Introduction Thesis Statement (your claim): Reason 1 Reason 2 Reason 3 Counterclaim Rebuttal Conclusion

Prompt: What is the most effective way to “struggle” for freedom Prompt: What is the most effective way to “struggle” for freedom? Through legal, public action or through private, personal resistance? Public – Working to change laws or governments through marches, legal battles, political speeches & protests Personal – Working to change individual minds or bring attention to freedom through writing, small or secret disobedience, forming relationships, having personal conversations etc.

Struggle for Freedom Text Set Speech: “I Have a Dream” by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Article: Woman with Down Syndrome prevails over parents in guardianship case by Teresa Vargas Article: Social media plays potent role in global digital activism by Nathan Porter Memoir: Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi Graphic Novel: Persepholis 2 by Marjane Satrapi

Goal: Argument Paper topic What is the more effective way to struggle for freedom, through public struggles or private struggles?

How should I choose my side? Reasons a PUBLIC struggle for freedom would be better: Reasons a PERSONAL struggle for freedom would be better: Why would it be better?

How should I choose my side? Reasons a PUBLIC struggle for freedom would be better: Reasons a PERSONAL struggle for freedom would be better: Why would it be better? Helps larger groups of people all at once Helps make long lasting change by changing laws - When the political environment is safer and more open to change - Longer lasting change, even though change is usually slower in coming Helps change the minds of people which will help make the society more open to the change Based on relationships, which can make it strong - When the political environment is dangerous and you could die if you publically struggled for freedom - Provides immediate freedom in secret for people, even though that freedom is not protected by law.

Go back through your evidence Go back through your evidence. Highlight the public and the circle the private.

Circle the Side You Will choose for your argument paper …

Struggle for Freedom Graphic Organizer for Evidence

You can argue EITHER SIDE  What is the more effective way to struggle for freedom, through public struggles or private struggles?

Struggle for Freedom Graphic Organizer for Evidence

EXAMPLE PROMPT: What makes the better pet, a cat or a dog? Talk about the good characteristics of dogs. A dog is known as man’s best friend Dogs truly are the best pet anyone could desire because…

Introduction – Introduce your claim Write the prompt in your own words here Get your reader’s attention. Options: Define the struggle for freedom. Give an example of a struggle for freedom. Define freedom etc… The most effective way to struggle for freedom is publicly/privately because ______________. (Give one overall reason).

Example prompt thesis: Dogs truly are the best pet anyone could desire because they are good friends and they can help improve health. Dogs are good pets because they are good friends. Dogs are good pets because they can help improve health. “Dogs give back happiness ten-fold” (Purina article). “Dogs help people deal with trauma” (Purina article). You need a minimum of ONE reason. However, stronger papers usually give MULTIPLE reasons. Dogs help you feel good by returning the love you give. Dogs help with all kinds of mental health issues “Pets love you unconditionally” (dogsfordepression.org). Pet owning kids children miss less school (Purina article). Dogs are always there to love their owners no matter what Dogs help with physical health issues.

Happy Friday! Take 3 minutes to review your vocabulary.

Body – Reasons to support claim Body – Reasons to support claim *** Your reasons should have been stated in your thesis Reason why its better to struggle for freedom publicly/ privately. You need a minimum of ONE reason. However, stronger papers usually give MULTIPLE reasons. Quote or detail from article Explain how the quote supports your reason/ claim. Another quote or detail from article Explain how the quote supports your reason/ claim.

REMEMBER: Counterclaim is the OPPOSING side of your claim! Cats make better pets because dogs are noisy (barking) and need more care (daily walks). Dogs are still better because dogs’ barking provides protection & walking provides owners with exercise. REMEMBER: Counterclaim is the OPPOSING side of your claim! “Walks help to forget the stresses and strains of everyday life” (Purina). “Cat’s don’t need to be walked” (Pets 101 article). Less responsibility is required to own a cat and care for it. Walks are a benefit even though they may seem like an annoyance.

Counterclaim - Opposite side Valid – reasonable or logical Tell why the opposite side is also a valid position Piece of evidence from the opposing side Explain why this evidence shows the opposite side is valid.

REMEMBER: Rebuttal is your chance to address the counterclaim but prove your claim is still the best one! Dogs are still better because dogs’ barking provides protection & walking provides owners with exercise. “Walks help to forget the stresses and strains of everyday life” (Purina). Walks are a benefit even though they may seem like an annoyance.

Rebuttal – Disprove Opposite Side Tell why your side is still better than the opposite side. Include another piece of evidence to support your claim. Explain how your evidence supports your claim.

PUBLIC STRUGGLE PERSONAL STRUGGLE Pros (Reasons) Cons Makes change for a lot of people Creates long-lasting legal change Takes longer More dangerous Safer because it is secret Faster change on an individual level Involves fewer people so it is easier to organize Temporary change because it doesn’t alter any laws

Counterclaim & Rebuttal Each have their own paragraph Tell why the opposite side is also a valid position. Include evidence & elaborate. Tell why your side is still better than the opposite side. Include evidence & elaborate.

It is clear that choosing a dog is the best choice a potential pet owner could make. When looking for your next furry companion, choose a dog. There is clearly no better choice you could make.

A Call to Action - An instruction you give to the audience (your reader) to provoke or cause an immediate response.

Remind readers what your claim is. Conclusion Remind readers what your claim is. End with a closing idea that tells why that claim matters. Why is it important to believe what you believe? Restate your claim using different wording than you did in your introduction. Why is this topic important? Why should the reader care about it? Why does your point matter? What do you want the reader to think about? What action should the reader take after reading?

Essay Writing Steps: 1. Finish evidence handout Essay Writing Steps: 1. Finish evidence handout (text page: #48-51, #82-83, #84) 2. Finish Graphic Organizer - Introduction: Make a claim. - Reasons + evidence & elaboration - Counterclaim + evidence & elaboration - Rebuttal + evidence & elaboration - Conclusion: Restate your claim. 3. Write essay (final draft paper located on the front table) - Follow my example about dogs - Use the rubric to guide you

You must include two pieces of evidence for every reason you give. Citing Evidence The process of gleaning information from what you have read and then adding that information to your paragraphs, in order to prove each reason paragraph. What are two ways that you can properly add evidence to your writing? 1. Direct quote Ex: In the Pets 101 Article, the author writes, “Cats do not need to be walked.” 2. Paraphrase Ex: Another good reason to choose a cat, is that they do not need to be walked. (Pets 101 article) You must include two pieces of evidence for every reason you give.

Begin with the end in mind…

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