This document contains the notes from an English class. It discusses an upcoming advertising project where students will work in groups. It also covers the concepts of argument in reading and writing, including how to recognize an author's point, evaluate evidence, and make a good argument by taking a position and supporting it with logical reasons and facts. An example is provided of a discussion around discouraging a friend from buying a sports car by providing multiple persuasive reasons related to affordability, practicality, and gas mileage.

1. Week 11, Day 1,
March 31, 2014
English 72(83r)
Professor Elizabeth Buchanan

2. Please put homework on front
desk.
• VV: Read “He Was First” on pages 110-116.
Complete essay assignment #1 or 2 on page 121.
MLA format.
• One resource that you will be using for Essay #2
• Vocabulary List 6
• Tone Activity

3. Agenda
• Review VV homework – peer review
• Introduction to Advertising Project
• Argument in Reading and Writing

4. Introduction to Advertising Project

5. Advertising Project
• Groups
• Find the students that have the same color paper as
your own.
• This will your group for the project.
• Let’s review the instructions and look at some
examples.

6. Argument in Reading and Writing

7. • A good argument is a rational discussion
in which each person advances and
supports a point of view about some
matter.

8. Argument in Reading and Writing10
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ReprintedwithpermissionofUNIVERSALUCLICK.Allrightsreserved.
In an argument, the two parties each present supporting evidence.
The goal is to determine who has the more solid evidence to support
his or her point of view.
Supporting evidence
Supporting evidence
Supporting evidence

9. • Argumentation is a part of our everyday dealings
with other people.
• It is also an important part of much of what we
read.
• Authors often try to convince us of their opinions
and interpretations.

10. • As critical readers it is important that we do the
following while reading:
• Recognize the author’s point.
• Decide if the author’s point is relevant.
• Decide if the author provides enough support to
validate his/her point.

11. What is a good argument?
• A good argument is one in which the
person makes a point, and then is
able to provide persuasive and
logical evidence to back it up.

12. Check out this point
• “Even though the car is nice, I don’t think you
should buy it.”
• In this statement on person is not telling the other
person NOT to buy the car, but is discouraging her from
buying it.
• But what if good reasons are given?

13. • The car payments would be more than the friend
could afford.
• Is that enough information to convince the friend
not to buy the car?
• Perhaps she is thinking of obtaining a second job
to pay for it.
• Let’s get some more evidence.

14. • The student commutes 50 miles to school one
way.
• Is that a good enough reason not to buy the car?
• Since the friend is getting a second job, she
would be able to afford the gas, right?
•

15. • But what if the friend mentioned that the car
only gets 15 MPH? After all, it is a sports car.
• Are you convinced yet?

16. And some more evidence
• “The car only has two seats – there is no back
seat, so you would only be able to take one
friend with you.”
• Finally, enough evidence is given to support the
point that the friend should not buy the
car, right?
• What are the reasons?

17. Argument in Reading and Writing10
The Basics of Argument: Point and Support
Clear thinking in an argument means: making a point
and providing support that truly backs up that point.
A valid argument may also be described as a conclusion
supported by logical reasons, facts, examples, and other
evidence.

18. Indicator Words
• To see if a sentence is a statement of
support, try inserting the word because in front
of it. If the statement sounds right, it is probably
a statement of support.
• Let’s look back on the car discussion.

19. • “Even though the car is nice, I don’t think you
should buy it.”
• “Even though the car is nice, I don’t think you
should buy it because it doesn’t have a back
seat, gets poor gas mileage, and will require high
car payments.”

20. Indicator Words used in giving a
conclusion.
• since (nontemporal meaning)
• as indicated by
• because
• for
• in that
• as (noncomparison meaning) may be inferred from
• given that
• seeing that
• for the reason that
• inasmuch as
• owing to

21. For Wednesday, April 2, 2014
• Literature Circle 7
• Argument in Reading and Writing Activity
• Quiz on Vocabulary Lists 4/5