This document provides information and instructions about argumentative writing. It defines an argument as expressing a position on an issue while supporting it with reasons and evidence. The key components of an argumentative essay are then outlined as an introduction with a claim, reasons and evidence supporting the claim, an opposing claim and counterclaim, and a conclusion. Various elements of an argument like the claim, reasons, evidence, opposing claim, and counterclaim are then defined and exemplified. Students are assigned homework to write a one paragraph argument on a given topic that incorporates these elements.

1. Bellwork 2-Q3 (5 min)
Write the following sentences in your notes. Add colons, semicolons,
and commas where appropriate.
1. I’m a simple man my favorite meal is a grilled cheese sandwich.
2. Sheila enjoys the following breeds of cats Abyssian Ragdoll and
Siberian.
3. The gifts of the Nile River included rich soil for farming, water for
irrigation, and a route for trading and Kush was one of many
societies that benefited from these gifts.

2. New Unit, New Tab
New Tab Title: Bonds Between Us/Sweet Sorrow

3. Argumentative Writing Notes

4. What is argumentative writing?
An argument expresses a position on an issue or problem and supports
it with reasons and evidence. The purpose of a formal argument is to
make readers believe something and, in many cases, to take some
type of action.
Any of these ideas might be presented as an argument:
• You want your parents to let you have a pet tarantula.
• A government official wants to pass a law about bicycle lanes.
• A movie reviewer wants readers to understand why one movie is
better than another.

5. Components of Argumentative Essay
Introduction with Claim
Reason/
Evidence
Reason/
Evidence
Reason/
Evidence
Opposing Claim & Counterclaim
Conclusion

6. Elements of an Argument
• Also called a thesis or controlling
idea, a claim is a writer’s
position on an issue or problem.
Example claim: High school classes
should start later in the day.

7. Elements of an Argument
• Reasons are declarations made to justify an action, decision or belief.
This is a form of support for the argument’s claim.
Example reason: Many students suffer from sleep deprivation because
class times start so early.

8. Elements of an Argument
Evidence is The specific references, quotations, facts, examples and
opinions that support the claim. Evidence may also consist of:
Facts, Examples, Statistics, Quotes or Anecdotes.

9. Elements of an Argument
• An opposing claim refers to an objection that the writer anticipates
from opponents.
Example opposing claim:
Opponents of changing school start times will point out that later start
times means that extracurricular activities will have to start later, and
students will lose sleep due to the later hours.

10. Elements of an Argument
Counterclaims, or counterarguments, are arguments made to oppose
other arguments. A good argument anticipates opposing claims by
providing counterclaims to answer them.
Example counterclaim:
However, teenage sleep patterns show that students would go to sleep
at approximately the same time as they are with the current earlier
schedule; with a later schedule, students would actually gain 45
minutes of sleep.

11. Homework
1. Write a one paragraph argument that includes:
• A claim
• One reason
• One piece of evidence
• An Opposing claim
• A Counterclaim
2. You will color code each element of the argument, as we did with the
exemplar arguments today.
3. If your evidence comes from an outside source (Fact, Statistic, Example,
Quote), you need to cite the source.
4. Choose from the following topics:
• Is cheating getting worse?
• Does gym help students perform better in their other classes?
• Can cellphones be educational tools?
• How important is arts education?