Argumentative Writing Reminders
Directions:
Read the reminders on this handout. This side has reminders about argumentative writing. The other side has reminders about annotating. Annotating will HELP YOU construct a strong, text-based argument. After you read the reminders, THEN read and annotate the articles about the Three Gorges Dam.
What is argumentative writing?
Argumentative writing is when you ARGUE one side of discussion.
Body Paragraphs 1 and 2
Make sure it is a COMPLETE paragraph! REPEAT for Body Paragraph 2!
Body Paragraph 3- CounterClaim
Mention it BRIEFLY, then refute it with evidence from the text.
Use the A.A.C.T. method:
Important: These are reminders of how we learned to Annotate. When you are reading to construct an argument, you will want to use your annotating to find things that will help your argument!
Why Annotate?
annotate= to add notes to a text giving explanation or comment
Annotating-
I’ll show you a strategy for annotating, but you will eventually have to figure out how it works for YOU and do it in a way that is helpful.
How to Annotate (at least, one way)
*I like using a different color for each of these, but that is a personal preference. Your writing test is online, but you WILL have a highlighting tool.
What to Write
8th Grade
Argumentative Writing
How to Write an Argumentative Paragraph Essay!
Introduction
EXample: Which character displays the greatest courage?
Lead-in: In the play The Diary of Anne Frank, by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett, each of the characters in the annex are called upon to display great courage at one time or another.
Thesis: The characters that show the greatest courage are Miep and Mr. Kraler, because they were under no threat from the Germans but chose to help the Frank family and they are endangering their own lives to do so.
Body Paragraphs 1 and 2
Make sure it is a COMPLETE paragraph! REPEAT for Body Paragraph 2!
Example:Body Paragraph 2
Next, Miep and Mr. Kraler are the most courageous characters in the story because they are sacrificing a great deal and risking their own lives to help the inhabitants of the annex. In Act Two, Scene One, they both come to visit the annex on New Year’s Day, 1944. Mr. Kraler says, “We came to bring you New Year’s greetings.” Mrs. Frank responds, “You shouldn’t...you should have at least one day to yourselves” (412). This shows that Miep and Mr. Kraler spend every day of their own lives taking care of the Franks and the Van Daans, as well as Dussel. Also, In Act One, Scene Two, Anne reads from her diary, “I asked Father what would happen to [Miep and Mr. Kraler] if the Nazis found out they were hiding us. Pim said that they would suffer the same fate we would...imagine! They know this, and yet when they come up here, they’re always cheerful…” (381). This demonstrates that even though it puts them in terrible danger of being sent to a concentration camp- or worse- Miep and Mr. Kraler are willing to help their Jewish friends, and that they never let on how scared they must be of getting caught. Because of their heroic actions, Miep and Mr. Kraler show the most courage of all the characters in the play.
Body Paragraph 3- CounterClaim
Use the A.A.C.T. method:
Example: CounterClaim Paragraph
However, Some readers may say that the bravest character in the play is Mr. Frank, because he does so much to protect his family and remains calm in times of tension. While he does act with great courage, he is still hidden away, inside the annex, while Miep and Mr. Kraler must come and go constantly, which puts them at risk of being spotted by the Nazis. In Act One, Scene Two, Anne refers to the two Dutch people as their protectors. This indicates that they are the ones keeping the occupants of the annex safe. Despite Mr. Frank’s great bravery, Miep and Mr. Kraler willingly put themselves in harm’s way, making them the most courageous characters in the play.
YOUR PROMPT:
Considering what you have read in Anne Frank, how can people best respond to conflict? Use examples from the text to support your claim.
What is argumentative writing?
Argumentative writing is when you ARGUE one side of discussion.
Structuring an Argument
An argumentative paragraph is set up MUCH like an expository paragraph:
Counterclaim
An argumentative paragraph has something that an expository one doesn’t- A COUNTERCLAIM.
If you are writing an argument and neglect to acknowledge the other side, your argument is completely invalidated.
Counterclaim Examples:
Claim: Since smoking can cause cancer, people should not smoke.
<insert evidence and commentary here>
Counterclaim: Some may say that just because something has the potential to cause cancer doesn’t mean that it will, so it isn’t necessary to avoid smoking altogether.
Refutation: However, when your health is on the line, it’s better to weigh the risks and avoid an activity that has been proven to be so dangerous.
Counterclaim Examples:
Claim: Jimmy John’s serves the best sandwiches in Norman.
<insert evidence and commentary here>
Counterclaim: Some people may prefer Subway over Jimmy John’s.
Refutation: However, Jimmy John’s offers so much more variety and has a better atmosphere, so it is a more preferable lunch location.
Structuring An Argument
Including the counterclaim, an outline of an argumentative paragraph looks like this:
Purpose Paragraph- Making it an argument (4th hour)
The author’s purpose of Watch This. No, Read It! is to persuade the reader to read books, rather than listening or watching. According to the article, “Just like muscles, the brain benefits from a good workout, and reading is more neurobiologically demanding than processing images or speech.” By telling readers that reading is better for your brain, the author hopes to convince them to read more. The author also says all the reading helps people to remember things better. Since no one wants to be forgetful, they are more likely to read rather than watch. Some may say that this article is not to persuade, but to inform because it gives a lot of facts. However, it’s clear that the author’s intent in providing those facts is to convince readers to read more. All this evidence demonstrates that the purpose of this article was to persuade.
Purpose Paragraph- Making it an argument (5th hour)
The author’s purpose in Watch This. No, Read It! is to persuade. According to the text, “Even when it’s superficial...indulging in a tabloid beats watching [television]. Just processing the words boosts the brain.” This is persuasive because it attempts to convince the reader to read rather than watch. Also shown in the text, reading is beneficial and rewarding. This influences the reader because it tells that when they read, they will get something in return. Some may say that this article is informational rather than persuasive because it gives a lot of facts. However, the purpose of those facts is to convince the reader that reading is better. Because of this, it is clear that this article is attempting to persuade its audience to read.
Purpose Paragraph- Making it an argument (7th hour)
The author’s purpose in Watch This. No, Read It! is to persuade. According to the text, “Even when it’s superficial...indulging in a tabloid beats watching [television]. Just processing the words boosts the brain.” This is persuasive because it attempts to convince the reader to read rather than watch. Also shown in the text, reading is beneficial and rewarding. This influences the reader because it tells that when they read, they will get something in return. Some may say that this article is to inform because it gives a lot of facts. However, the purpose of those facts is to convince the reader to read more. Because of this, it is clear that this article is attempting to persuade its audience to read.
Purpose Paragraph- Making it an argument (8th hour)
The purpose of the article Watch This. No, Read It! is to persuade. In the text, it states that, “Reading is more neurobiologically challenging than processing images or speech.” This is persuasive because it promises that reading makes a person smarter because they have to think harder. The article also states that other good thing about reading are that it help people remember things, improves their ability to absorb information, and in general makes minds stronger. This convinces readers that reading comes with distinct advantages.Some people may say that this article is informative rather than persuasive because it give facts. However, the purpose of those facts is to convince the reader. Because of this, the evidence demonstrates that the author’s intent is to persuade.
Group Prompt:
Should Whittier Middle School ban bottle flipping?
Use evidence from the article to support your answer.
Even groups: YES, WMS should ban bottle flipping
Odd groups: NO, WMS should NOT ban bottle flipping
If you finish: STAPLE your article and paragraph and TURN THEM IN.
If you DON’T finish: put them in your comp book so you will have them on Monday.