Argumentative Writing

Quick Review of Terminology Central Claim – This is your Thesis Statement; what you believe to be true. Arguments – These tell why – they are your Reasons. They tell the importance of the Central Claim, and why you believe the way that you do. Evidence – This supports your Arguments. Evidence TELLS WHY OR HOW, GIVES EXAMPLES, CITES FACTS FROM THE TEXT, AND USES ELABORATION. Elaboration – This is the use of additional details to make your writing more interesting or complete. Counterclaim – States the opposite of your Central Claim, but then tells why your own Central Claim is stronger. Concluding Statement (conclusion) – Restates your Central Claim, in different words.

What is argumentative writing? Argumentative writing allows the writer to choose a side, or state an opinion, and support that Central Claim with reasons why (arguments), and evidence to support those reasons why.

How do I start my argumentative essay? 1. Read the story you have been given, or do research on your topic. (For a test, you will have a story or article to read.)

What is next? 2. Read the prompt, and find out what you are being asked to argue. Are you being asked to: Support someone or something? Change your way of thinking? Prove that someone is right, or wrong? State your belief, or your opinion?

Now that you know what you are arguing for, or against State your Central Claim. This is your statement; what you believe to be true. It is based on what you have read, and you will support your Central Claim with your Arguments (Reasons). “Jolly Rancher jelly beans are the best.” “The Boston Red Sox have outperformed every other team this year.” “Clean, safe, drinking water should be available to every person on our planet.” This statement should be Remember – do not use “I think” strong and sure. or “I believe” in your claim.

Once you have stated your Central Claim it is time to support your claim with your Arguments (reasons), and to support your Arguments with evidence from the article. Begin paragraphs 2 and 3 with an argument (reason). The other sentences in those paragraphs will be the evidence and elaboration you choose to support your arguments. This evidence should come from your story or article.

Example... Paragraph 1... The cancellation of the Space Shuttle program at NASA is one of the greatest losses to our country. Starting in 1981 and lasting until 2011, our country’s shuttle program provided the answers to many questions in science and medicine through the experiments and tests performed by our astronauts. This dismantling also forever changed the communities that had been largely supported by the shuttle program. The article, “A Great Loss,” talks about the shuttle program and its demise. Central Claim Background Information

Paragraph 2... Research and experiments conducted by astronauts while the space shuttle was in orbit provided beneficial information that could help in the fields of medicine and technology. Under the subheading, “Experimentation,” it tells us that a 1983 protein crystals experiment helped to improve our knowledge as to how proteins work, which had the potential of providing better and more targeted medicines in the future. Paragraph 5 states that in 1994 an experiment with photocells and other thin materials was conducted, including a thin ceramic that could be used one day to create artificial retinas for people with severe vision loss. It is a great loss to people around the world that experiments of this type have halted. Just imagine the medical advances that might have been made in the future! Argument (reason) Evidence Elaboration

Paragraph 3... Several communities have been hurt by the loss of the space shuttle program. As stated in the article, several towns were highly populated by shuttle workers and their families, while others who lived in the community provided goods and services for them. When the shuttle program ended, these shuttle workers were left without jobs, and most had to try and start over with new careers. Many were forced to relocate (move). Without those customers, many businesses and schools were forced to close. Paragraph 8 states that finding new, meaningful jobs has been hard for many of the former shuttle workers. One worker spent the last 13 years working on the shuttle. He is now 53, and doesn’t know where he will find another job where he can use the same skills.

COUNTERCLAIMS Remember that counterclaims state the opposite of your central claim... but they make your claim stronger when you tell why your claim is the better/stronger one. You can use counterclaims in your body paragraphs, or you can use them in your concluding paragraph. Counterclaims are not required in your essay. If done properly, however, they can improve your overall score.

Paragraph 4...Conclusion When will our country have another successful space program? No one really knows the answer to that question. Losing the space shuttle program has been a difficult adjustment for many individuals, and their hometowns. While it is true that stopping the shuttle program has been beneficial in reducing spending and saving our country money, that extra money isn’t worth the loss of the potential future benefits in the fields of medicine and science. Science has suffered the loss of many unique opportunities and the benefits of specialized experimentation. Hopefully, we will one day again hear the roar of those rockets, and feel the same pride of past generations when heroic astronauts risk their lives to help mankind. COUNTERCLAIM

Other ways to cite evidence... Under the subheading, “Jets,” it states that Delta still leads the airline industry. In his article in paragraph 6, Mr. Sharp argues, “No one should have taken the money,” and believes that those responsible should be taken to trial and convicted of fraud. As stated in the article, The University of Florida has the most successful sports program in the state of Florida. In paragraph 3, the article explains that there are only 200 wolves left in the wild.