Take a Stand Activity

HOW TO READ THE ARTICLE

Argument Paragraph Writitng Basics – Prove Your Point

Key Terms

Argument

· In life- conflicts engaged in using language.

· In writing - opinions that can be backed up with evidence.

Persuasion –to move another person or group to agree with a belief or position through argument, appeal, or course of action.

Fact –information that is certain and can be proven.

Debatable Claim – an opinion that is a matter of personal experience and values that must be backed up with evidence. Others can disagree with this claim.

Evidence- details, facts, and reasons that directly relate to and support a debatable claim.

Anecdotal Evidence- evidence based on personal observation and experience, often in the form of a brief story. Can come from the writer, friends, family, and acquaintances.

Factual Evidence- data, confirmed facts, and research performed by experts. Found by the writer performing research.

Commentary –sentences in an argument paragraph that explain what is important about the evidence and tell the reader how it proves and supports the claim.

Topic Sentences –the first sentence of a paragraph that provides a promise to the reader about what is to come. In an argument paragraph, the topic sentence must contain a debatable claim and should provide a sense of the evidence that is to come.

Subordinating Conjunctions –words and phrases such as because, even though, since, if, when, and while are helpful in crafting commentary and topic sentences because they point to the relationship between the claim and the evidence.

Argument Concepts – Anchor Chart

Debatable Claim – an opinion that is a matter of personal experience and values that must be backed up with evidence. Others can disagree with this claim. Also know as an opinion.

Evidence- details, facts, and reasons that directly relate to and support a debatable claim.

Argument

· In life- conflicts engaged in using language.

· In writing - opinions that can be backed up with evidence.

Persuasion –to move another person or group to agree with a belief or position through argument, appeal, or course of action.

Claim = opinion on a topic

Evidence = facts, reasons, details

Take a Stand Activity

Directions:

1. For each item, state your opinion/preference one way or the other. (Yes, you must pick one.)

2. Give three pieces of effective evidence (facts, reasons, details) for why you feel this way.

Chocolate or Vanilla?	1. 3.
Bachelor’s Degree or Magister’s Degree?	1. 3.
Beach or Mountains?	1. 3.
Math or Language Arts?	1. 3.
Sun or Snow?	1. 3.
Hip-Hop or Country Music?	1. 3.

Evidence Types

Evidence =details, reasons, and facts

EXAMPLE

DEBATABLE CLAIM My school lunch isn’t as healthy as it should be.

ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE details, brief stories, personal observations

Writer’s personal observation/experience - Today I was served chicken nuggets, French fries, chocolate milk, a roll and a few brownish carrots and pieces of celery.

Friends’ experience – My friends and I always feel sluggish after lunch. Tanesha said, “I can hardly stay awake in art class after rushing through our 20 minute lunch.”

Acquaintance’s story–Matt, the boy I sit next to in history class, says he feels sick after eating fried chicken nuggets, which aren’t real chicken but the parts of chicken processed and pressed together.

DEBATABLE CLAIM My school lunch isn’t as healthy as it should be.

FACTUAL EVIDENCE Facts, data, statistics, research by experts

Confirmed facts - Poor diet can lead to energy imbalance and can increase one’s risk for overweight and obesity. (Center for Disease Control)

Data/Statistics – A single serving of chicken nuggets (5 pieces) can contain up to 500 milligrams of sodium, the total amount of salt children should consume daily. (www.webmd.com)

Research by experts - A 2008 study by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation found that by the time many healthier commodities [that are processed before being served in school lunch] reach students, “they have about the same nutritional value as junk foods.” (New York Times)

Challenge Question: Why is it important to have a mix of both anecdotal and factual evidence in an argument paragraph or essay?

Date: 2016-03-03; view: 1054

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