Argumentative Writing

6th Grade ELA Argumentative Writing

What is an argument? • An argument involves the process of establishing a claim and then proving it with the use of logical reasoning, examples, and research.

Claim – Your basic belief about a particular topic, issue, event, or idea • Counterclaim – A solid and reasonable argument that opposes or disagrees with your claim • Rebuttal – A written or verbal response to a counterclaim. The object of the rebuttal is to take into account the ideas presented in the counterclaim and explain why they aren’t persuasive enough, valid enough, or important enough to outweigh your own claim. • Support – Your specific facts or specific evidence used to support why your claim is true Key Terms for Argumentation

Makes claims based on factual evidence (also known as research) Make counterclaims – the author takes opposing views into account Neutralizes or defeats serious opposing ideas Convinces audience through claims and support offered Logic-based An Argumentative Essay…

Why is organization important in building an argument? • Guides an audience through your reasoning process • Offers a clear explanation of each argued point • Demonstrates the credibility of the writer

Organizing your argument • Introduction • Thesis statement • Body Paragraphs • Constructing Topic Sentences • Use the 5 Ws and 1 H to effectively discuss the facts of the topic (what, who, why, where, when, and how) • Building Main Points • Counter-Argument (Countering the Opposition) • Conclusion

What is an introduction? • Acquaints the reader with the topic and purpose of the paper • Generates the audience’s interest in the topic • Offers a plan for the argument

The Great Introduction… What makes an good introduction? • It grabs or “hooks”the reader’s attention by using one or more of the following strategies: • An anecdote or scenario • A quotation • An interesting fact or statistic • A question • It tells how the writing will be organized. • The author’s position is clearly stated in a thesis statement.

Lead / HookGrab the Reader’s Attention

You Could Begin with a Strong Statement: • Example: • Fast food consumption has risen 500 percent since 1970 and today reaches nearly every part of society, including some public school cafeterias.

You Could Open with a Quotation: • Example: University of Delaware professor states: “Advertising, including television ads, billboards, and other advertising, including toys in boxed meals, has had an effect upon children as never before. Children these days are growing up with low concern for their health and more concern for what tastes good.”

You Could Open with a interesting fact: • Example: • “Did you know that a typical child needs 2,000 calories for an entire day and Burger King’s Whopper with triple cheese has 1,230 calories?”

The MOST IMPORTANT SENTENCE in your paper Lets the reader know the main idea of the paper Answers the question: “What am I trying to prove?” Not a factual statement, but a claim that has to be proven throughout the paper What is a thesis statement?

Role of the thesis statement • The thesis statement should guide your reader through your argument. • The thesis statement is generally located in the introduction of the paper. • A thesis statement may also be located within the body of the paper or in the conclusion, depending upon the purpose or argument of the paper.

Next: Creating a Thesis Statement • A thesis statement is one sentence at the end of your introduction that states your opinion. It needs to be strong. • First, choose 3 main focus points to discuss in your essay. These points will become the focus of three paragraphs in the body of your paper. Let’s use fast food as an example again. Fast food…(3 Discussion Points) • rapidly increases weight • causes high blood pressure • leads to sluggishness

A thesis statement should • contain a topic (main idea of what you are writing about) • contain an opinion about the topic (what your attitude is toward the topic)

Let’s Practice

Parents, often too busy to watch television shows with their families, can monitor their children’s viewing habits with the aid of the V-chip. To help parents monitor their children’s viewing habits, the V-chip should be a required feature for television sets sold in the U.S. This paper will describe a V-chip and examine the uses of the V-chip in American-made television sets. Which thesis statement is the most effective for an argument about the need for V-chips in television sets?

Directions: 1) Find the opinion words in the statement. If there are no opinion words, it is not a thesis statement. 2) Tell if the statement is a good thesis statement. • Although most people believe otherwise, bats are harmless and highly beneficial.

Directions: 1) Find the opinion words in the statement. If there are no opinion words, it is not a thesis statement. 2) Tell if the statement is a good thesis statement. • In this essay I will discuss the crime rate in Mountain City.

Which of the following is a good thesis statement? • I believe we must stop wasting food now! • The problem of food waste can easily be solved by implementing three simple steps: reduce, reuse, recycle. • If you aren’t reducing, reusing, and recycling, you should. • I believe wasting food is a huge problem. We need to reduce our food waste. For example, make a shopping list before you go to the store, and only buy things you truly need. You shouldn’t buy a gallon of milk if you are only going to drink a quart of it during the week. Who cares if the gallon size is on sale?

Thesis and Forecast A thesis statement is always one sentence that states your assertion (belief) about a topic. A thesis statement usually includes a forecast (brief preview of your arguments). (I believe) ____________________ because of argument 1, argument 2, and argument 3.

Our Introductory Paragraph: CATCHY TITLE Fast Food Is Killing America! Did you know that a typical child needs 2,000 calories for an entire day and Burger King’s Whopper with triple cheese has 1,230 calories? That is far more calories than anyone needs in one day! Fast food consumption has risen 500 percent since 1970 and today reaches nearly every part of society, including some public school cafeterias. Fast food is harmful because it rapidly increases weight, causes high blood pressure, and leads to sluggishness. Fast food is bad for your health! HOOK THE READER YOUR THREE ARGUMENTS THESIS STATEMENT Walsh Publishing Co. 2009

Body Paragraphs and Topic Sentences • Body paragraphs build upon the claims made in the introductory paragraph(s) • Organize with the use of topic sentences that illustrate the main idea of each paragraph. • Offering a brief explanation of the history or recent developments in your topic within the early body paragraphs can help the audience to become familiarized with your topic and the complexity of the issue.

Body Paragraphs • Paragraphs may be ordered in several ways, depending upon the topic and purpose of your argument: • General to specific information • Most important point to least important point • Weakest claim to strongest claim

Offering a Counter-argument • Addressing the claims of the opposition is an important component in building a convincing argument. • It demonstrates your credibility as a writer--you have researched multiple sides of the argument and have come to an informed decision.

Offering a Counter-argument • Counter-arguments may be located at various locations within your body paragraphs. • You may choose to • build each of your main points as a contrast to oppositional claims. • offer a counter-argument after you have articulated your main claims.

Counter-arguing effectively • Consider your audience when you offer your counter-argument. • Acknowledge some of your opposition’s concerns. • Remain firm in your support for your claim.

The Other Side of the Story • This is where you should explain why your opposition believes what they believe. • For example: • “A fast food company wouldn’t agree with the points in this essay. They would have lots of reasons why fast food is good. They may say…”it’s convenient” or “It’s fine if eaten in moderation.” These arguments just don’t hold up when you take all the facts into consideration! Walsh Publishing Co. 2009

Incorporating Textual Evidence into the body paragraphs • Textual evidence (research materials) can aid in proving the claims of your argument and disproving oppositional claims. • Be sure to use textual evidence to support the claims made in your topic sentences--make your evidence work to prove your argument!

Conclusion -- The END • Your conclusion should reemphasize the main points made in your paper. • You may choose to reiterate a call to action or speculate on the future of your topic. • Avoid raising new claims in your conclusion.

Concluding Paragraph: Restate your thesis. End with… • A comment (Don’t make your body suffer!) • A question (Are you willing to risk your health?) • A call to action (I highly recommend you consider your options the next time your faced with a decision about what to eat.) In closing, it’s important to remember that too much fast food can have negative effects on your health. If not eaten in moderation, you can gain weight, suffer from high blood pressure and become slow and sluggish. Is it worth the risk to your body? Eat Healthy and Make good choices! Walsh Publishing Co. 2009

Organizing your argument • Title • Introduction • Body Paragraphs • Constructing Topic Sentences • Building Main Points • Countering the Opposition • Conclusion

Argumentative Writing