 CAN TAKE PORTFOLIOS NOW  What makes an effective argument?  Argument Notes cont’d  Start Langley article  SRI 11/17 th, 26-liners coming 11/19 th … Grab Your Portfolios Essential Question of the Day: How do we convince people to think/believe something?

What is an argument? Argument over an issue = Claim An argument usually is found in Non-Fiction (articles & essays) and has specific parts: Reasons + +Evidence to support a logical viewpoint

Parts of an Argument  CLAIM – an arguable statement on an issue  What is an opinion some people have about an issue? What do people argue about?  SUPPORT - reasons and evidence that the claim is reasonable and should be accepted  How do you convince people to believe you? What kind of examples would you use?

Types of Support  What’s the difference between:  a REASON and  EVIDENCE?  A Reason is: a general statement that answers WHY the writer thinks their claim. For example…. A writer claims: “More metal detectors should be installed in public schools.” But WHY????  Reason: To reduce school violence (that’s a reason…)

Types of Support But how do you know your reason is VALID??! EVIDENCE!!!! What is EVIDENCE?  facts, statistics, experiences, comparisons – specific examples that show why the claim is for realz. For example….. A writer claims: More metal detectors should be installed in public schools (But WHY????) because this will reduce school violence. But HOW do you KNOW??! EVIDENCE!!! For example, after using metal detectors in Chicago school, officials went from confiscating 15 guns and 294 weapons in 92 to just two guns in (Now that’s some goood evidence

Is This a reason or evidence?  Women are too emotionally fragile for combat.  Reason  Smaller female soldiers have, on average, 45 to 50 percent less upper-body strength.  Evidence  In direct combat, women would not have an equal opportunity to survive, or to help fellow soldiers survive.  Reason  women with equal training as their male counterparts can outperform men.  Reason  Women also tolerate hot and humid racing conditions better than men because of their smaller body size, according to a 1999 article in the European Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology.  Evidence

Thesis & Essay Structure  You are about to read an essay, and asked to find the thesis. What is it?  Thesis = a single sentence written by the author, usually in the introduction, that sums up the entire paper  In an argument, the thesis = claim + reasons  Example: The death penalty is wrong (claim) because (that word “because” is a big clue) it is immoral and innocent people are often wrongly condemned.

Thesis & Essay Structure  It will ask you about “The Body” of the essay.  What is that?  It’s the paragraphs that follow the introduction  In this article:  the first paragraph is the hook,  the second paragraph is the actual introduction  The third paragraph is where the body begins!

1. Read individually or as a group (take turns reading, everyone fills out the strengths and weaknesses – take turns on the group paper), and think about how to break down the argument. Notice words from the article to find the author’s:  Claim  Reasons  Evidence Then what do you think? Fill out the questions on the article…..