1. Do Now  Define the following in your own words 1. Premise 2. Conclusion

2. Debatable Topics 8 th Grade Language Arts

3. Debatable Claims CONTROVERSIAL:  Are CONTROVERSIAL:  Meaning: two logical people might disagree based on evidence and reasoning used to support the claim.  Example: Using a cell phone while driving puts you and other drivers in danger

4. Non-Debatable Claims FACTS  Are FACTS cannot  Meaning: they cannot be argued  Example: Cell phones are a popular form of modern communication.

5. When choosing a topic, make sure the topic… 1) Is INTERESTING to you

6. When choosing a topic, make sure the topic… CONFLICTING 2) Involves CONFLICTING viewpoints

7. When choosing a topic, make sure the topic… CURRENT RELEVANT 3) Is CURRENT and RELEVANT

8. When choosing a topic, make sure the topic… IMPACTS 4) IMPACTS other people besides yourself

9. When choosing a topic, make sure the topic… DIFFERENT 5) Can be considered from DIFFERENT angles

10. When choosing a topic, make sure the topic… CLICHÉ 6) Is NOT CLICHÉ or too common Abortion Death Penalty Euthanasia Global Warming Recycling

11. Thumbs Up or Down?  Are the Following:  Debatable: Thumbs Up Or  Non-Debatable: Thumbs Down

12. Thumbs Up or Down?  Public school students should be required to wear school uniforms.

13. Thumbs Up or Down?  Pollution is bad for the environment.

14. Thumbs Up or Down?  The United States should not get involved in foreign conflicts.

15. Thumbs Up or Down?  I should be able to spend a hundred dollars a month on new clothes.

16. Thumbs Up or Down?  A president should be able to run for more than two terms.

17. Together …  Let’s think of some possible topics for an argumentative essay…

18. On Your Own  Complete the questions on page 141 of SpringBoard by writing debatable and non-debatable claim.