Taught through a legal example Argumentation Taught through a legal example

What are the steps? Quick Brainstorm: Steps in a legal matter from filing of the police report to the closing arguments of the trial.

The Steps Identify the problem Collect evidence; research Analyze the evidence to reach a conclusion (thesis) Organize the evidence and analysis in a way that convinces others of your thesis Present your argument

Identify the problem Mr. A’s reported that his 2006, yellow H3 was stolen out of the parking lot at Venice Beach, CA The car was new and did not have plates yet

Collect Evidence; Research Belinda, a resident of Venice Beach who had no car before, was seen driving a yellow H3 with no plates the afternoon of the theft Carl, a self-identified environmental activist who has launched a campaign against gas-guzzling SUVs, was seen at Venice within hours of the theft

Collect Evidence; Research Darlene, Mr. A’s ex who feels she was short-changed in their bitter divorce, was heard threatening to “take what was hers” after she heard Mr. A bought an expensive new H3. Evan, Mr. A and Darlene’s son, made a large deposit into his checking account the day after the theft on a check from a woman named Belinda

Collect Evidence; Research Belinda pulled over in a yellow H3 with matching VIN to Mr. A’s sales receipt Fingerprints found inside the car: Mr. A, Belinda, Evan; Fingerprints found on handle and windshield: Mr. A, Belinda, Carl, Darlene, Evan Mr. A had the car washed the morning before he went to the beach Mr. A’s beach bag, containing his street clothes, was found in the back of the car with nothing missing

Analyze the evidence to reach a conclusion (thesis) Identify the problem to be solved Who stole the car? Who should be arrested and prosecuted? Identify the important evidence and throw out the evidence that doesn’t matter

Organize the evidence and analysis in a way that convinces others of your thesis Start with your thesis ______________ stole the car Alternate between presenting evidence and analyzing how it supports your thesis ____________ occurred, showing that _____ stole the car because ____________. Quick summary to recap your thesis

Revise your argument Craft and tighten your argument Look at the other side of the argument and argue why it isn’t right _______ didn’t take the car because ______.

Present your argument Writing Debate Presentation Speech Lecture Music Artistic presentation