Solving a Mystery…

1. Solving a Mystery… Argumentative and Persuasive Writing

2. Argumentative Argument, is mainly about logical appeals and involves claims, evidence, warrants, backing, and rebuttals. Argument is at the heart of critical thinking and academic discourse. *This is the type of writing you will do now, in college, and for the majority of your life.

3. Persuasive “In a persuasive essay, you can select the most favorable evidence, appeal to emotions, and use style to persuade you readers. Your single purpose is to be convincing” (Kinneavy and Warriner 1993) *This is similar to propaganda and advertising

4. The Elements of Argument • A claim • Based on evidence of some sort • A warrant that explains how the evidence supports the claim • Backing supporting the warrants • Qualifications and rebuttals or counter arguments that refute competing claims

5. How does this apply to Slip or Trip? CLAIM: “Queenie murdered her husband.”

6. How does this apply to Slip or Trip? EVIDENCE “Queenie’s husband’s body positioning shows he was going up the stairs.”

7. How does this apply to Slip or Trip? WARRANTS “Queenie’s husband is facing upwards as it would if he fell backwards down the stairs. Queenie’s story was that he was coming downstairs for another drink. Therefore Queenie’s story does not match the evidence.”

8. How does this apply to Slip or Trip? BACKING “If Arthur had been coming down stairs when he fell he would have landed on his face not his back.”

9. How does this apply to Slip or Trip? Rebuttal “To further prove this point, the fact that the glass is in his left hand would indicate that he was going up the stairs rather than down because he would use his right hand to steady himself on the handrail”

10. How Does This Apply to Class? Think back to the creation stories you read in the summer packet….. These stories were based on what the early people saw and heard around them PLUS their BIAS and this was then turned into a MYTH. Remember for MYTHS: Individuals and communities often accept myths as valid explanations of something that has occurred. They accept creation myths because they believe that the myth contains a valid explanation for things they don’t know.

11. How Does This Apply to Class? For Slip or Trip, YOU take what you saw and read happened PLUS your BIAS and you create your own story that you believe happened… in essence you are creating a MYTH! (It is what you believe to be a valid explanation for what happened!) *While some myths lose credibility over time, others continue to be seen as truths

12. Instructions! • Read: The Case of the Dead Musician • Determine if you think Mr. Karazai killed himself or not • In your group, complete your Investigation Notebook -Facts= Evidence -Inferences= Warrants and Rebuttals -Conclusion=Claims 4) Revise what you wrote to create your Final Report. You will then present this Final Report to the class and argue your findings.