2. WHY IS ARGUMENTATIVE WRITING SO IMPORTANT?
● As a History student, argumentative writing is
important because it allows us to:
1. Analyse historical events and experiences carefully.
2. Understand the significance of these events and
experiences.
3. Develop our own informed opinions about these
events and experiences.
3. Point. This is the main idea or argument of your
paragraph/essay.
Evidence. Use your own historical knowledge and
details from historical sources to support your point.
Explain. Connect the evidence to your point and
explain its significance.
Link. Tie all the information together (like a mini
conclusion) and transition to the point you want to
make in the next paragraph.
4. CASE STUDY: Wall Street Crash, 1929
Point - The Wall Street Crash of 1929 was a direct cause of many economic and social problems faced in
the USA throughout the 1930s, such as unemployment, a loss of money and homes, and a decline in
international trade.
Evidence - The Wall Street crash was mainly as a result of a lack of government control over the
economy, which meant that people could borrow money at low interest rates to buy stocks. This allowed
more people to buy stocks, which increased stock prices.
Explain - Because the US government failed to control the economy, for example: by not regulating the
stock exchange and by allowing people to borrow money to buy stocks, it became nearly impossible to
control the increase in stock prices, leading to the Wall Street Crash in October 1929.
Link - As a result of the Wall Street Crash, America entered a period known as the “Great Depression”
marked by large scale unemployment, where 25% of the labour force was unemployed by 1933. This lead
to homelessness and misery among American citizens.
6. Class Activity 1:
Use the paragraphs that have been handed out in class to identify the 4
elements of PEEL:
POINT
EVIDENCE
EXPLANATION
LINK
Complete this activity by highlighting each element in a different colour.
7. HOMEWORK:
IN PREPARATION FOR TOMORROW’S HISTORY LESSON,
PLEASE READ PAGES 8-11 IN YOUR VIA AFRIKA HISTORY
GRADE 11 LEARNER’S BOOK.
