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Writing Arguments

Explore a student-centric argument on whether students should or should not be allowed to eat jelly beans in class, offering compelling reasons and evidence. Learn how to structure a persuasive piece effectively.

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Writing Arguments

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  1. Writing Arguments Claim + Reason

  2. What is an argument? • An argument is simply a conversation (written or oral) which intends to persuade.

  3. Why do I need to persuade? • You need to explain your position in such a way that your readers will pay attention to what you have to say and consider your opinion. • You must prove your point (defend your position) so that anyone reading your argument will have to at least think about what you say. (Assume that nobody cares about your opinion without proof.)

  4. Claim + Reason • Claim + Reason is a way to organize your thoughts (a pre-write). • Claim = should statement • Reason = because statement • All reasons need to be supported with evidence.

  5. Claim • Should students be allowed to eat jelly beans in class? • Claim—Students should be allowed to eat jelly beans in class. OR • Claim—Students should NOT be allowed to eat jelly beans in class.

  6. Reasons Students should be allowed to eat jelly beans in class • because they need to keep their sugar levels up in order to learn. • because the colorful jelly beans stimulate the students’ minds. • because a chewing mouth makes the brain think faster.

  7. Reasons, cont. Students should be allowed to eat jelly beans in class • because all students need the freedom of personal expression that eating jelly beans gives them. • because jelly beans can be used as manipulatives for math problems.

  8. Reasons, cont. Students should NOT be allowed to eat jelly beans in class • because the students could choke on the jelly beans, causing a distraction. • because the sugar in the jelly beans will eventually rot the students’ teeth. • because students will find it impossible not to throw the jelly beans.

  9. Reasons, cont. Students should NOT be allowed to eat jelly beans in class 4. because children (not to mention teachers) who are diabetics will feel left out. 5. because the students may not eat their lunches if they are too full of jelly beans.

  10. And a BONUS reason Students should NOT be allowed to eat jelly beans in class 6. because some brain child would bring in Bertie Bott’s Every Flavor Beans (from Harry Potter fame) and somebody in class would end up eating a vomit-flavored jelly bean. Chaos would ensue.

  11. OK, I’ve got my pre-write, now what? • Use your Claim + Reason as a pre-write for any type of persuasive writing (argument). • Choose your STRONGEST reasons to use in your writing. I ask you to always come up with at least five but use the strongest three.

  12. Now, what? cont. • A good rule of thumb is to include an introductory paragraph, at least one paragraph for each of your three reasons, and a conclusion. • Your challenge is to word your reasons and evidence so that they don’t sound like a list of because statements. • Always include a rebuttal.

  13. What’s a Rebuttal? • A rebuttal is your statement that contradicts the opposing viewpoint. You should always consider the other side’s strongest point and offer evidence as to why that point is false.

  14. Ways to Say Because • Students should be allowed to eat jelly beans in class because they need to keep their sugar levels up in order to learn. • Students need to keep their blood sugar levels up to be able to learn so they should be allowed to eat jelly beans in class.

  15. More Ways to Say Because • Students need to keep their blood sugar levels up to be able to learn; therefore, they should be allowed to eat jelly beans in class. • One reason students should be allowed to eat jelly beans in class is to keep their blood sugar levels up, which enables learning.

  16. How do I get a whole paragraph out of each reason? EVIDENCE!!! • Remember, assume nobody cares about your opinion. Offer PROOF! • If you are in a situation where you can do research, do it (be sure to document sources). If not, do your best with what you know.

  17. How do I organize this bad boy? The organization of a persuasive piece of writing can take many forms. However, a solid basic outline is this: • Paragraph #1—Intro (include claim) • Paragraph #2—Reason #1 and evidence • Paragraph #3—Reason #2 and evidence • Paragraph #4—Reason #3 and evidence • Paragraph #5—Conclusion

  18. Organization, cont. • You may, obviously, include as many paragraphs as necessary for each reason. One is a MINIMUM. • Be sure that your rebuttal is included. • Your conclusion should include a call to action (what do you want the reader to do, think, feel, etc.?).

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