1. Rubric—IDEAS ?Strong, specific, provable and interesting thesis that is worth proving ?Clear, focused, compelling—holds the reader’s attention ?Striking insight, in-depth understanding of topic ?Arguments are well-supported with significant, intriguing, accurate and well-cited facts, details, examples and statistics ?All information is accurate ?All information is appropriately cited.

2. Ideas Check ?Read through the draft. ?Highlight or mark sentences that show Clear, convincing supporting argumentsClear, convincing supporting arguments Significant and intriguing EVIDENCE/ ELABORATION: important descriptions, details, examples, anecdotes, facts, statistics, reasons, and/or quotations.Significant and intriguing EVIDENCE/ ELABORATION: important descriptions, details, examples, anecdotes, facts, statistics, reasons, and/or quotations. Opposing argumentsOpposing arguments Refutation of opposing argumentRefutation of opposing argument ?Put a question mark next to any idea, sentence, or piece of evidence that does not fit one of the categories above.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. Fortunately, these arguments are easily addressed. 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 140-170 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. Obviously, 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 2007-09 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. The only choice is to conserve.

6. Ideas Check ?Evaluate the arguments you give. Are they clear, convincing, and well-supported with evidence?Are they clear, convincing, and well-supported with evidence? Where are they weak?Where are they weak? What still needs more elaboration or better evidence?What still needs more elaboration or better evidence? ?Look at each sentence with a question mark. Is that sentence really needed or does it distract from the argument and thesis? ?Look at the writing rubric and tell where on the rubric for IDEAS you would place your essay.

7. Fact vs. Opinion ?A fact is a statement that can be proved. ?An opinion is a statement of personal belief that cannot be proved. Personal feelings, attitudes, and beliefs are opinions. A writer may support an opinion with facts to persuade readers to accept the opinion. ?Opinion: Video monitors in our school will save lives. ?Fact: Schools with video monitors have reported less running in hallways and fewer accidents within their facilities. ?Open Language Network to page 543.

8. Ideas Check ?Read through the 2 nd draft. ?In one color, highlight statements of opinion ?In another color, highlight statements of fact.

9. Ideas Check—Facts v. Opinion ?Evaluate the arguments you give. How many facts do you present?How many facts do you present? How many opinion statements do you present?How many opinion statements do you present? Is there enough fact to back up your opinions, or do you need more facts to support your arguments?Is there enough fact to back up your opinions, or do you need more facts to support your arguments? ?On your draft, mark where some additional facts could be used to support your arguments.

10. Logical Fallacies ?Fallacy = any of various types of erroneous reasoning that make arguments logically unsound OvergeneralizationOvergeneralization Either-Or FallacyEither-Or Fallacy Cause-and-Effect FallacyCause-and-Effect Fallacy Circular ReasoningCircular Reasoning ad Hominemad Hominem

11. Overgeneralization ?An overgeneralization is a broad statement that says something is true for every case, with no exceptions. In fact, very few statements have no exceptions. Overgeneralizations often include the words all, none, everyone, no one, any, and anyone. ?Overgeneralization: Every school official who cares about students supports video monitoring. ?Logical statement: Some school officials believe that video monitoring can help provide a safe environment for students.

12. Either-Or Fallacy ?The either-or fallacy states that there are only two possible ways to view a situation or only two options to choose from. In most situations, there are actually a number of views and options. ?Either-or: Either video monitors are installed in the school, or students will be injured. ?Logical statement: A safety problem exists in the school and video monitoring will help solve it.

13. Cause-and-Effect Fallacy ?In the cause-and-effect fallacy, the writer makes the assumption that because one event follows another, the second event was caused by the first one, which isn’t necessarily the case. ?Cause-and-effect fallacy: Westview School cut security staff, and two students fell down the stairs and were seriously injured. ?Logical statement: Two Westview students were injured because they were running down a slippery stairway that had just been mopped.

14. Circular Reasoning ?Circular reasoning is an attempt to support a statement by simply restating it in other words. If a statement doesn’t include any supporting facts and leaves you thinking “So?”, it may be circular reasoning. ?Circular reasoning: Using video cameras to monitor school hallways is good because it feels right. ?Logical statement: Monitoring school hallways with video cameras will help reduce fights and damage to property.

15. Ad Hominem ?Latin : ad Hominem = to the man ?In reasoning, ad hominem is attacking an opponent's character rather than answering his argument. ?Ad hominem: Anyone who doesn’t believe in using video cameras to monitor school hallways is an idiot. ?Logical statement: The evidence that video monitoring works and is reasonable in cost should convince people to support installing it in schools.

16. Ideas Check ?Read through your draft. ?Look for fallacies. If you find one, cross it out or rework it so that it is not a fallacy.

17. Emotional Appeals ?Some speakers and writers appeal to people’s emotions to get a point across. Emotional appeals can often be found in ads and commercials, as well as in persuasive writing. Loaded languageLoaded language BandwagonBandwagon Snob appealSnob appeal TestimonialsTestimonials

18. Loaded Language ?Writers or speakers who want to sway your opinion may try to appeal to your emotions by using loaded language. This means using words to which you are likely to have a strong positive or negative reaction. In this approach the connotations of words are as important as the denotations. When you notice loaded language, ask yourself “Where are the facts?” A speaker or writer may use loaded language to try to hide a lack of facts to support his or her opinions. ?EXAMPLES: Positive loaded language: Sue is a dynamic and competitive tennis player.Positive loaded language: Sue is a dynamic and competitive tennis player. Negative loaded language: Sue is a pushy and aggressive tennis player.Negative loaded language: Sue is a pushy and aggressive tennis player.

19. Bandwagon ?This technique is often used in advertising. It encourages you to believe in something because “everyone else” believes in it. It appeals to people’s desires to belong to a group because some of us want to fit in and be accepted. ?EXAMPLES: Why don’t you believe in global warming? Everyone else does!Why don’t you believe in global warming? Everyone else does! Buy Super Potato crisps. All the country is talking about them.Buy Super Potato crisps. All the country is talking about them.

20. Snob Appeal / Status ?This technique is a reverse version of the previous bandwagon technique. It appeals to a person’s desire to feel smarter or better than other people. It tries to convince you that you are special, different from the average person. ?EXAMPLES: Don’t be just another face in the crowd! Wear Cool Block Shades!Don’t be just another face in the crowd! Wear Cool Block Shades! Be smarter than the average person on the street. Listen to KNEWS 86.3 A.M. and find yourself top of the class.Be smarter than the average person on the street. Listen to KNEWS 86.3 A.M. and find yourself top of the class.

21. Testimonials ?Often used in advertising, testimonials employ celebrities or satisfied customers to endorse a product or idea. Businesses that use this technique hope that you will buy a product because it is backed by a person you admire. People who advocate certain causes or political positions often point to celebrities, respected people, or well-known organizations to help promote their causes. ?EXAMPLES: NBA player Grant Hill loves SportsPro sneakers: “These are the only shoes I’ll wear on the court!”NBA player Grant Hill loves SportsPro sneakers: “These are the only shoes I’ll wear on the court!” Vote for Robert Simms for President! The National Coalition for Democratic Rights supports him, so should you.Vote for Robert Simms for President! The National Coalition for Democratic Rights supports him, so should you.

22. Ideas Check ?Read through your draft. ?Look for emotional appeals. If you find one, cross it out or rework it so that it is based on logical reasoning, not just an appeal to someone’s emotions.

23. HOMEWORK: Revise your draft for IDEAS 1.Fix or replace unclear or weak arguments with strong ones. 2.Find and add necessary elaboration to support your arguments. Make sure you have enough facts, don’t just rely on your opinions. 3.Eliminate any sentence that doesn’t contribute to the overall sense and effectiveness of the ideas. 4.Eliminate any fallacy or emotional appeal. 5.Reorganize sentences so that the Ideas flow logically and smoothly from one to the other. 6.Bring two copies of your newly revised draft to class tomorrow AND your highlighters.