WHAT IS IT?ARGUMENTATIVE WRITING

Writing style similar to Response to Literatureimportant across subject areas & for tests

ARGUES a positionThesis & Claims

USES textual evidence as support

WHAT IS ARGUMENTATIVE WRITING?

NON-FICTION!HOW IS THIS DIFFERENT FROM

RESPONSE TO LITERATURE?

INTRO = background, bridge, thesisBODY paragraphs (2+)

Claim/Topic Sentence Lead-in (author & source title) Textual evidence/quote Citation (pg #, paragraph #, section title) Analysis (interpretation & justification) Concluding Sentence (restated claim)

OPPOSING/COUNTER CLAIM (1) Claim of opposing side’s argument (AGAINST your

position) Lead-in, Quote, Citation Analysis (explain counterargument, then REFUTE it!)

CONCLUSION = restated thesis, main points

HOW DO YOU WRITE IT?

INTRO Paragraph:Put [brackets] around the BACKGROUND information

Put (parentheses) around the BRIDGEUnderline or highlight the THESIS

SAMPLE ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY

Identify in BODY paragraph #1:Claim = underline/highlight redLead-in to quote (author, title, webpage) = orange

Evidence/Quote from text = yellowCitation (pg #/section) = greenAnalysis (explanation & justification) = blueConcluding Sent. = red

SAMPLE ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY

Criminals who cannot tell right from wrong should be allowed to use the insanity plea. The Denver Post article “James Holmes’ insanity plea faces historically long odds” by John Ingold points out that ”the law defines insanity as having judgment so impaired by mental illness that the defendant could not tell right from wrong" (Ingold). The law is correct in recognizing that a person with such extreme mental illness who cannot tell right from wrong should be allowed to be deemed insane. If a person does not have the mental capacity to tell right from wrong, the person should truly not be held accountable for committing a crime. One concrete example of this would be when a very young child accidentally shoots a friend or family with a loaded gun. The young child most likely thinks the gun is a toy and doesn’t fully comprehend what is happening. In cases like these, a court would never send a young child to jail for life in prison. The same should be said for insane murderers who are unable to fully comprehend their actions. Courts should allow criminals to plead insanity if the evidence proves the murderer is truly insane.

PARAGRAPH #1 SHOULD LOOK LIKE THIS

Identify in COUNTER-ARGUMENT paragraph:Counter-Claim = underline/highlight purpleLead-in to quote (author, title, webpage) = orangeEvidence/Quote from text = yellowCitation (pg #/section) = greenAnalysis

Explanation of counter-argument = purpleRefute/Rebuttal = blue

Concluding Sent. = red

SAMPLE ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY

Others may argue that all murderers, insane or not, deserve punishment. “The Insanity Defense” from Reality Central argues, “there are many people who struggle with severe mental illness who do not commit crimes” (54). It is not disputed that there are many other people throughout the world who have mental illness who do not commit violent crimes. This does not prove, however, that there are some people in the world who are unable to stop themselves from committing a horrible deed because of the fact that their brains don’t function properly. This is not to say that they should be allowed to go completely free of punishment. Getting sent to a mental institution should not be considered to be a reward. These criminals are still paying consequences for their crimes; they’re just serving time in a hospital environment instead of jail. Murderers who are deemed insane will still be punished for their crimes even if they are able to plead insanity.

PARAGRAPH #4 SHOULD LOOK LIKE THIS

CONCLUSION Paragraph:Underline or highlight the restated THESIS

Review main points of your argument

SAMPLE ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY

A: “When parents allow celebrities to be their children’s primary role models, the line between fantasy and reality sometimes becomes too blurred for imparting lessons about ethics, character and responsibil ity” (Introduction).

B: “A diminished emphasis on the actual consequences of wrongdoing confuses children into believing that whatever bad things celebrities do are excusable, and, thus, should apply to them as well” (Truth and Consequences).

C: “We all choose people to model ourselves after” (Reality Central, “Someone to Look Up To”).

D: “There are actors who lend support to charities, athletes who launch after-school programs and comedians who visit hospitals to cheer up patients” (Positive Aspects).

E: “ ‘Dr. King said that you must put 100 percent into everything you do, because it’s not about the job, it’s about the content of your character’” (Reality Central, “Someone to Look Up To”).

F: “Role models have helped many people be all they can be” (Reality Central, “Someone to Look Up To”).

1. If you are arguing that it is possible for celebrities to be positive role models, which quote would you use as your strongest evidence? Why?

2. If you are arguing that it is NOT possible for celebrities to be positive role models, which quote would you use as your strongest evidence? Why?

3. Why would Quote C or Quote F be a weaker choice to use as evidence?

4. What 2 steps should be included in the ANALYSIS of textual evidence in a BODY paragraph?

5. What 2 steps should be included in the ANALYSIS of textual evidence in a COUNTER ARGUMENT paragraph?

CHOOSING YOUR EVIDENCE

LET’S GET WRITING!