Evidence Evaluation 1.Trade SOKs with the person sitting next to you. 2.Look at each piece of evidence that is supposed to support the argument. Evaluate the evidence: Is it evidence or just more explanation of the argument?Is it evidence or just more explanation of the argument? Is it a fact or someone’s opinion?Is it a fact or someone’s opinion? Is it believable or suspect?Is it believable or suspect? Is it specific or too general?Is it specific or too general? Does it effectively prove the argument being made?Does it effectively prove the argument being made? Is the evidence enough to prove the argument, or would additional evidence be helpful?Is the evidence enough to prove the argument, or would additional evidence be helpful?

Generating IDEAS— Focused free-write: In your S.O.K. write about your issue. Discuss your position, the arguments you can use in supporting your position, the evidence you found, the arguments of the opposition and what you could say to refute the opposition, anything you can think of. Write without stopping for ten minutes. You don’t need to worry about conventions, format or organization, but keep your pen moving. If you get blocked, refer to your T chart and write about the arguments you identified yesterday.

Generating IDEAS— Focused free-write: 1)If you still have more to say, keep writing for five more minutes on your topic. 2)If you’re finished, select the strongest argument you mentioned and write more on that point for the next five minutes.

Generating IDEAS— Highlight the following in different colors: 1)Supporting arguments (points you make to support your position) 2)Opposing arguments (points others make to attack your position) 3)Arguments that refute the opposition 4)Evidence to support your arguments

Evaluate IDEAS— Are you missing any colors?Are you missing any colors? Do you have an imbalance?Do you have an imbalance? Take these into consideration when you write. Try to strengthen your weaknesses.

Begin drafting 1.Write your thesis at the top of a clean page. 2.Draft ONE paragraph, explaining and supporting your position with at least three strong arguments and evidence to support them. 3.Draft ONE paragraph presenting the opposing arguments (at least 2). 4.Draft ONE paragraph showing how and why the opposing argument is weaker than yours or wrong. This is called a refutation. Use evidence to support your arguments.

There are several reasons why conserving water is necessary. First, much of Southern California is a natural desert which means that it does not have enough rainfall to support the people who live there. Last year, only nine inches fell compared to the average rainfall of fifteen inches. Less rain leads to less water for drinking, bathing, washing, and farming. Second, in addition to less rain, more communities are being developed and more people are moving to California. Over the past eight years, the U.S. Census Bureau has estimated that California’s population has increased by 8.5%, approximately 3 million people. More people means a need for more water. If people don’t waste water, but only take what they need it is more likely there will be enough to meet the necessities of everyone. Finally, due to the water shortage, water companies have raised water rates. The Metropolitan Water District raised their rates by 20% this year and are planning to raise rates more next year. Higher rates means higher bills for customers unless they cut back on how much water they use. These are just some of the reasons to conserve water.

To be honest, there are very few open critics of water conservation. Most people believe that using water reasonably and responsibly is important. However, water conservation is an issue where people’s actions don’t match their words. For example, how many times have you seen water running down the street because a homeowner has set their sprinklers to run too long or to overshoot a lawn? How many of us like to linger in the shower or leave the water running as you brush your teeth? Have you ever ordered water at a restaurant and left most of it in the glass to be thrown away? Though most people talk a good game, often water conservation takes a back seat to other wants or habits. To excuse their poor habits, some say that the water they are wasting is minor, a drop in the bucket compared with all the water out there. Others say that the drought conditions have been over-exaggerated in order to force people to believe they must conserve water. Some suspect that water utilities are using the drought to raise rates higher than necessary to increase their revenues. They use these arguments to resist conservation efforts.

First, the “drop in the bucket” argument is easily disproved. Statistics presented by the Mohave Water Agency and the American Water Works Association show that the average American uses gallons of water per day. Showering and bathing are the largest indoor uses (27%). The average five-minute shower takes fifteen to twenty gallons of water, while around forty gallons are used in ten minutes. You use about five gallons of water if you leave the water running while brushing your teeth. In addition to personal use, landscaping accounts for about half the water Californians use at home. A leaky sprinkler or faucet can lose 100 gallons a day. Clearly, the drops add up to more than one bucket. Secondly, though utility companies may be taking advantage of the drought to line their coffers, the fact remains that drought conditions persist. The California State Department of Water Resources Drought Report (Sep 2010) states that “water years were the 12th driest three-year period in the state’s measured hydrologic record” (11). In addition, the report demonstrated that from 1906 to the present, there has been a decline of 10% in the water runoff that feeds our rivers. Clearly, the drought has not been fabricated and blaming the utility companies for corruption will not add one drop of water to a dwindling supply.

HOMEWORK Finish drafting the body paragraphs: 1.Paragraph 1: Explain your position with at least three strong arguments and evidence to support them. 2.Paragraph 2: Present opposing arguments (at least 2). 3.Paragraph 3: Show how and why the opposing argument is weak or wrong. This is called a refutation. Use evidence to support your arguments.