Geared toward 6th-9th grader students who must write a persuasive or argumentative essay for the new Common Core State Standards. Rigor incorporated. This is a nice overview of how to write and argumentative essay. It is ready to use in the classroom and has an academic vocabulary companion powerpoint. Find the full curriculum here: http://www.amazon.com/ARGUMENTATIVE-ESSAY-INSTRUCTIONAL-CURRICULUM-SIMULTANEOUSLY-ebook/dp/B00FKOTHWS/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1382463755&sr=8-2&keywords=argumentative+essay+curriculum

1. Argumentative Essay
Writing

2. Why is
argumentative
writing
important?
• How does it apply to
your daily life?
• Think-pair-share --
Turn to your partner
and discuss. Make
a list to share with
the class.
• You have 3
minutes…”go”….
Discuss: Where specifically do
you see this type of writing?

3. Newspapers
Magazines
Political Debates
Committee Meetings
Board recommendations
Persuading your
teacher…parent…others?
And???

4. Now brainstorm some ideas you might
want to use as a topic for your
Argumentative Essay
You have 5 minutes to discuss with your partners….
“Go”

5. Here are some I came up with….write down a
couple and add them to your list….
• Do curfews keep teens out of trouble?
• Are we too dependent on computers?
• Are test scores a good indication of a school’s effectiveness?
• Is child behavior better or worse than it was 20 years ago?
• Should companies market to children?
• Are actors and athletes paid too much?
• Should English be the official language of the world?
• Does boredom lead to trouble?
• Does participation in sports keep teens out of trouble?
• Is competition good?
• Should girls ask boys out?
• What’s the best type of homework?
• Should all American citizens be required to complete a year of community service?
• Should student’s textbooks be replaced by notebook computers?
• Should students have to pass a basic skills test to graduate high school?
• Should the government bring back the space program?
• Should there be tougher federal restrictions for content on the internet?
• Should students who commit cyber-bullying be suspended from school?
• Is it appropriate for students and teachers to be friends on Facebook?
• Should school athletes have to take drug tests?

6. Did you decide on a topic you
have interest in?
Will there be a LOT of information available on it?
Can you write a whole paper on this topic?

7. WHAT FORMAT DO I
USE TO WRITE IT?
How is each paragraph broken down?

8. Paragraph 1
• Begin with a Thesis or Call to Action
• Add Argument #1 condensed
• Argument #2 summarized
• Argument #3 condensed
• Add a transition here

9. Paragraphs 2, 3 and 4
(can be more or less, this is a suggestion)
• Restate Argument #1
• Supporting detail
• Supporting detail
• Supporting detail
• Go to next paragraph and
repeat this process

10. Paragraphs 5
Counter Claim
• State the Counterclaim(s) then
tell why these are not true
• Supporting detail
• Supporting detail
• Supporting detail

11. Last Paragraph
• Restate your thesis
• Restate your arguments in a couple of
sentences
• IMPORTANT : Write a
“clincher”….logical or emotional or
“call to action” --- ask your readers to
do something about it

13. Make Your Case!
• State the facts
• Quote the opinion of
experts and other
people who know a lot
about the subject
• Offer examples and
anecdotes from your
own life or other
people’s experience
• Use statistics to back
up parts of argument
• Compare the situation
to something that
people can readily
understand
• Give logical reasons
for your opinion
• Anticipate and deal
with any opposition to
your argument –
Counterclaim

14. • Cite your sources
• Use direct quotes
• Take pride in your work!

15. “HOW TO WRITE AN
ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY”
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