1. Agree or Disagree Everyone should get his/her birthday off of school. All sophomores should have to take an English class. School should begin at 9:00 instead of 8:00. All students should be required to play a sport. Students should be able to leave Marian for lunch. General Tso chicken isn’t as good as it used to be. Teachers shouldn’t be able to give homework on weekends.

2. Thesis Statement TAKE A STAND

3. Topic: Position statement: Thesis statement:

4. Topic: What you’re writing about Position statement: topic + stance (your opinion or position on the topic) Thesis statement: topic + stance + reason (overall reason for your belief)

5. Topic: Position statement: topic + stance (your opinion or position on the topic) Thesis statement: topic + stance + reason (overall reason for your belief)

6. Topic: Homework on weekends

7. Topic: What you’re writing about Position statement: topic + stance (your opinion or position on the topic)

8. Topic: Homework on weekends Position statement:

9. Topic: What you’re writing about Position statement: topic + stance (your opinion or position on the topic) Thesis statement: topic + stance + reason (overall reason for your belief)

10. Topic: Homework on weekends Position statement: Thesis statement:

11. Topic: Homework on weekends Position statement: Teachers should not be allowed to assign homework on weekends. Thesis statement: Teachers should not be allowed to assign homework on weekends because that time should be for family and leisure.

12. Topic: What you’re writing about Position statement: topic + stance (your opinion or position on the topic) Thesis statement: topic + stance + reason (overall reason for your belief)

13. REASONS With a partner, brainstorm reasons that SUPPORT the thesis. Then brainstorm objections to the thesis. THESIS: Teachers should not be allowed to assign homework on weekends because that time should be for family and leisure.

14. Why shouldn’t teachers be allowed to assign homework on weekends? Reason 1: Reason 2: Reason 3: Reason 4:

15. Teachers should be able to assign homework on weekends. Objection 1: Objection 2: Objection 3:

16. Supporting Details: Pg. 569-570 Facts Statistics Examples Anecdotes Quotations Definitions Reasons Comparisons

17. Reason 1: Supporting details:

18. Reason 2: Supporting details:

19. Reason 3: Supporting details:

20. Objection: Counterargument 1: Counterargument 2: