Argumentative Writing

1. Argumentative Writing English I

2. What is Argumentative Writing? • You may be more familiar with the term “persuasive writing;” argumentative and persuasive are very similar! • Argumentative writing is when one creates a claim and provides reasons and evidence that support his/her claim. • This type of writing is based on one’s opinion, but the writer uses facts and evidence to support this opinion.

3. What is a Claim? • A claim is a person’s assertion; it is his or her stance on a certain topic that can be disputed, or argued. These are strong statements that support one’s opinion on this issue at hand.

4. Examining a Claim • One popular argumentative topic is religion in schools. Take a look at the claims that are provided for this issue. • Supportive Claim: Without religion in our education systems, our nation would suffer from the loss of teaching morals and values in school. • Opponent Claim: Religion does not and will never belong in our schools. • What makes these two statements strong claims? Which is stronger?

5. Creating a Claim • Think about the school policy of cell phone use. What is your stance on this topic? Write your opinion of this policy in the space provided. • Now that you have your side of the argument, write a claim about this use.

6. Supporting the Claim • Now that you have a claim, you will want to support that claim with your reasons. Why do you feel like we should or should not have cell phones in school? Fill in your reasons in the blanks provided. Try to come up with as many reasons as you can.

7. Supporting the Claim • Now that you have your claim and reasoning, you will want to provide evidence that supports both of these things. The evidence provides some form of factual information that allows the reader to make a concrete connection with your side of the argument. This evidence will come from a text of some form. What text could we use to argue our claim and reasoning?

8. Format of Argumentative Writing • Your writing, then, will use this format when dealing with arguments: Claim Reason #1 Evidence to support Reason #1 Reason #2 Evidence to support Reason #2 And so on

9. Example for Topic Provided Cellphones must be kept out of schools at all times. First of all, cell phones are a distraction to students. In a recent study conducted by the Pew Research Center, 65% of students use their phones in school, and one fourth of this use is during class time. A student cannot be focused on the teacher while he or she is constantly on the phone. Secondly, cell phones are a major factor when it comes to cheating on assessments. In 2009, Common Sense Media and Benenson Strategy group conducted a study that discovered over 35% of students have used their cell phones to cheat on a test. If schools allow cell phones in the classroom, they will destroy academic honesty as this cheating will only increase over time once cell phones are permitted.

10. Colorless sentences Two of the sentences in the paragraph should not be highlighted. • “A student cannot be focused on the teacher while he or she is constantly on the phone.” • “If schools allow cell phones in the classroom, they will destroy academic honesty as this cheating will only increase over time once cell phones are permitted.” These sentences explain how the evidence supports their reasoning; they are important because they allow the reader to understand your reasoning and why this evidence is important to you.

11. The Basics of Argumentative Writing- Truman’s Speech • Now that you have had the time to consider the elements of argumentative writing, consider Truman’s speech to the American public after the dropping of the atomic bomb. As you listen to the audio, mark the claims that Truman makes as well as his reasoning and evidence for his argument.