Exercise to help students understand how to write an Argumentative Paragraph

1. Argumentative Paragraph

2. Writing an Argument
Begin by taking a stance – a position or way of
looking at the topic
Purpose is to persuade or convince the
audience (readers) of the soundness of your
position
Build your reasoning by using evidence to
convince your audience – explain the evidence
Stance – Purpose – Audience
– Evidence: all are important
elements of effective writing

3. REASONING ELEMENTS OF AN ARGUMENT
Point: Stance
Point of view - How the writer sees
things
Claim - How things are or should be
Request - How the writer would like
them to be
Proof: Evidence
From texts, internet, videos, etc.
From experience
Discuss: Explanation
An explanation that links a piece of
evidence to the stance so it is persuasive

4. EXAMPLE
STANCE: Rap should be central to the high school English curriculum in
urban public schools.
EVIDENCE: In a recent media survey of students attending the two urban
high schools, rap was rated as the favourite musical choice. Education
researcher, Dierdre Paul, promotes rap as a valid literary genre alongside
traditional poetry as a means of linking the culture of students to
educational content. This will make them more engaged and successful.
EXPLANATION: If students in urban high schools love rap so much, then
those who typically would not engage in studying older works, like
Shakespeare, might find rap lyrics a powerful source of statements about
life. If a major reason we ask them to read older literature is to consider
the life themes that seem ageless and universal across cultures and social
groups, why not consider the same themes in rap music? There are many
rap songs that present social tensions, raise issues about the role of
women, love, money, and life and death. These are all themes that we
could find in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Within culturally diverse
urban schools, using rap alongside traditional literature can aid in the
analysis of complex academic texts in ways that students find meaningful.

5. Argumentative Paragraph
Rubric

6. Other tips
Need a clear topic sentence/3 pt thesis
Intro/Conclusion
Write in 3rd
person
Develop Argument Logically
Clear evidence given
Evidence explained (analysis)
Written formally (pick a tense, no contractions)
Pro-nouns (they, it)
Be specific

7. Argumentative Statement
It was necessary for Canada’s war effort to put
conscription in place because _______ , _______ &
________ .

8. Sources
http://www.google.ca/imgres?
imgurl=http://sitemaker.umich.edu/argument/files/5paragraph.gif&imgrefurl=http://sitemaker.umi
ch.edu/argument/what_s_wrong_with_the_five_paragraph_essay_&h=324&w=500&sz=29&tbnid=u
M2aG75tO_mmQM:&tbnh=84&tbnw=130&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dfive%2Bparagraph
%2Bessay&zoom=1&q=five+paragraph+essay&hl=en&usg=__oRn4BRkpXqJB8fwNontqUt4nDyo=&sa
=X&ei=3HWbTP_SFIOhngfUn42yDw&ved=0CEIQ9QEwBQ
http://www.nla.gov.au/exhibitions/bunyips/html-site/evidence/index-evidence.html