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Argument WritingMoving from persuasive to argumentative essays

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Make observations, record observations, and record their thinking.

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+Your 1st Case: Slip or Trip?

At five-feet-six and a hundred and ten pounds, Queenie V. was a sight to behold. When she tore out of the house after an argument with her husband, Arthur, she went to the country club where there was a party going on.

She left the club shortly before one in the morning and invited a few friends to follow her home and have one more drink. They got to the Vanderbilt house about ten minutes after Queenie, who met them at the door. Queenie said, “Something terrible happened. Arthur slipped and fell on the stairs. He was coming down for another drink- he still had the glass in his hand- and I think he’s dead. Oh, my God- what shall I do?”

+Can we believe what Queenie says?

The autopsy conducted later concluded that Arthur had died from a wound on the head and confirmed that he’d been drunk.

We need to try to determine what happened. First, we ask ourselves about our witness: ‘Can we believe what Queenie says?’

+Can we believe what Queenie says?

Turn & Talk:

Write down your answer to the question on an index card. Write down one or two observations that make you think that.

+Debate Protocol

1. Line up with one side or the other! (Those who can go either way, we’ll assign to a side.)

2. Face your opposing partner- debate! Take notes.

3. Caucus with a small group of your same side.

4. Return to opposing partner for rebuttal- Take notes.

5. Caucus with same small group on your side, share!

6. Flash draft.

+Claim Language & Application, part one

+Arguments begin with a CLAIM.

Claim = position/stance on a topic

Claims are opinion

Advice– Must be debatable by reasonable

people.– If you can’t support it with evidence,

it won’t be a strong claim.– Use strong language

Write down the things in bold.

+Make a CLAIM: Use strong languageLanguage:Use language from prompt, if possible

It may be argued that...

I want to argue that...

I want to suggest...

A point that has been disputed about is... because....

With research, it seems clear that . . .

Upon reviewing the evidence, it is clear that...

While some may think… the truth is….…

I want to correct the misconception that… when X is more accurate.

Write down the things in bold.

Avoid adverbs: honestly, strongly, surely, actually, really

Avoid: always, never

+Identify the STRONG CLAIM

PROMPT: Can we believe Queenie as a witness?

1. We believe that Queenie murdered Arthur.

2. I will argue that Queenie is not telling the truth as a witness.

3. Queenie is innocent.

4. Honestly, Queenie is innocent.

5. Queenie is guilty of Arthur’s murder.

Turn and talk: Evaluate the language used. Which one is the strongest claim?

+Identify the STRONG CLAIM

PROMPT: Can we believe Queenie as a witness?

1. We believe that Queenie murdered Arthur.

2. I will argue that Queenie is not telling the truth as a witness.

3. Queenie is innocent.

4. Honestly, Queenie is innocent.

5. Queenie is guilty of Arthur’s murder.

+Add language

Queenie is not telling the truth as a witness.

Stop & Jot: What language could you add? WriteDown the claim using language from before.

Language: It may be argued that... I want to argue that... I want to suggest... A point that has been disputed about is... because.... With research, it seems clear that . . . Upon reviewing the evidence, it is clear that... While some may think… actually…I want to correct the misconception that… when X is more accurate.

+What about a CLAIM in our essays?CLAIM: CPS should stop closing schools as school closing disproportionately affect underserved populations.

+EvidenceLanguage & Application, part two

+Support a claim with EVIDENCE.

Evidence = facts/ideas that offer support.

Advice– Questions cannot be evidence. Not everyone

answers a question the same.– Base evidence on observations or testimony that is

reliable.– If the piece of evidence is not clear to the audience,

it’s not going to lend itself to a clear argument.

+Identify the EVIDENCE

1. She didn’t react to Arthur’s fall.

2. The guy fell down backwards and his feet are still in the stairs.

3. Queenie had ten minutes before her friends arrived to her house.

4. The argument may get physical.

5. Why would Queenie be cooking if her husband is dead?

+Identify the EVIDENCE

1. She didn’t react to Arthur’s fall.

2. Arthur is facing up and his feet are still in the stairs.

3. Queenie had ten minutes before her friends arrived to her house.

4. The argument may get physical.

5. Why would Queenie be cooking if her husband is dead?

+General Rule, or WarrantLanguage & Application, part three

+Make a GENERAL RULE.

A general rule is a statement about how something generally goes.

Advice– Can be about cause and effect– You can use qualifications to increase the truth of the

statement (mostly, most, many…)– Avoids using a particular person (someone, one,

somebody…)

Language– In general, – Generally, – Usually,– If…, then…– When (cause)…, (effect)

+Why warrants?

General Rules are also called warrants.

Warrants are needed to explain how evidence supports the claim.

+Approaching a General Rule…

1. His feet were in a position that looked like his was walking up the stairs instead of down. If he was walking down he would’ve fallen face-front not on his back.

2. If he had fallen he wouldn’t have fallen like that.

3. Queenie does not mention anything about food cooking in her story.

4. Ten minutes give you enough time to kill somebody and to clean up the mess.

5. If Arthur would have tripped, there would be blood or a wound on Arthur.

+Approaching a General Rule…

1. His feet were in a position that looked like his was walking up the stairs instead of down. If he was walking down he would’ve fallen face-front not on his back.

2. If he had fallen he wouldn’t have fallen like that.

3. Queenie does not mention anything about food cooking in her story.

4. Ten minutes give you enough time to kill somebody and to clean up the mess.

5. If Arthur would have tripped, there would be blood or a wound on Arthur.

Pick one to turn into a general rule. Write the number on the index card.