1. Everything is an Argument.
No, it’s not.

2. Audience? A letter to Editor Letter to public official
Letter to manufacturer
Letter to an organization
Letter to foreign official

3. The Toulmin Model Topic Opposing viewpoint. (Counterclaim)
Claim (Thesis statement)
Support paragraphs (3 or more)
Mention opposition’s main evidence.
Refutation of Opponent’s main evidence
Connect to higher universal issue/abstract concept, or call to action
 You do not have to use the Toulmin Model of argumentative paragraph development, but it’s a good model to go to when you are unsure of what to do.

4. Appeals: Ways of connecting to the reader.
Logos: Logic
Ethos: Reputation of the source (Employment/Education/Experience)
Pathos: Emotional (Sympathy)

5. Points of Support Details: Anecdote Statistic Quote
Rhetorical Question
Analogy

6. Logos, Ethos or Pathos? Anecdote (Includes hypothetical scenario)
Statistic
Quote
Rhetorical Question
Analogy

7. Rubric Persuasive/argumentative: Business letter format: Look it up
___ I have begun by identifying the topic and opposing viewpoint.
___ I have a clear thesis statement that clearly tells the topic, and claim. Where appropriate, I have developed a qualifying thesis: “Informed consumers should not use credit cards, except in cases of emergency.”
___ I have paragraph organization that divides the reasons of support or reasons of exception or qualification.
___ I have identified and refuted the opposition’s main evidence.
___ I have a total of five or more paragraphs. My conclusion restates major points using different words than the opening thesis statement, or has a conclusion which connects to a higher universal issue.
___ I have used an anecdote, a statistic, a quote an analogy and a rhetorical question. (Must have three of the five.)