Argument Writing

Argument Writing

Unit 3: Argument Writing End of Course Exam Questions .

Concluding Statements

• W2f. Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from and supports the information or explanation presented (e.g., articulating implications or the significance of the topic). 

• A concluding statement usually begins with a concluding conjunction followed by statements that summarizes the importance of points made in the paragraph.

Multiple Choice

Read the following paragraph.

(1) Every teacher in the school is certified. (2) No person can receive certification unless the person scores 70 percent on the national teacher exam. (3) They must also have worked for the district for three years. (4) Therefore, every teacher in our school must have worked here for a while and be very intelligent.

Which sentence in this argument would be categorized as the conclusion?

• sentence 1

• sentence 2

• sentence 3

• sentence 4

Open Ended

Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from and supports the argument presented in the passage below.

I feel that children watch way too much television. Studies show that children, on the average, watch between three and five hours of television on weekdays and up to eight hours of television on weekends. Cartoons may be funny, but children should not spend their whole lives watching them. If children are spending that much time watching television, when are they doing anything else? When are they sitting down to eat as a family? When are they getting outside and participating in physical activities and socializing with their friends? They probably are not doing much of that at all—there just would not be any time for any productive activities.

Strong Arguments contain logically sequenced claims that are supported by facts and evidence.

W1a. Introduce precise, knowledgeable claim(s), establish the significance of the claim(s), distinguish the claim(s) from alternate or opposing claims, and create an organization that logically sequences claim(s), counterclaims, reasons, and evidence. 

W1b. Develop claim(s) and counterclaims fairly and thoroughly, supplying the most relevant evidence for each while pointing out the strengths and limitations of both in a manner that anticipates the audience’s knowledge level, concerns, values, and possible biases.

Multiple Choice

What is the best order for the sentences in the following paragraph?

(1) When are they getting outside and participating in physical activities and socializing with their friends? (2) When are they sitting down to eat as a family? (3) I feel that children watch way too much television. (4) If children are spending that much time watching television, when are they doing anything else? (5) They probably are not doing much of that at all—there just would not be any time for any productive activities. (6) Studies show that children, on the average, watch between three and five hours of television on weekdays and up to eight hours of television on weekends.

• 1, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2

• 3, 6, 4, 1, 2, 5

• 2, 1, 3, 4, 5, 6

• 3, 4, 1, 2, 5, 6

Multiple Choice

I feel that children watch way too much television. Studies show that children, on the average, watch between three and five hours of television on weekdays and up to eight hours of television on weekends. Cartoons may be funny, but children should not spend their whole lives watching them. If children are spending that much time watching television, when are they doing anything else? When are they sitting down to eat as a family? When are they getting outside and participating in physical activities and socializing with their friends? They probably are not doing much of that at all—there just would not be any time for any productive activities.

What would be a better opening sentence for the passage above?

Current sentence: I feel that children watch way too much television.

• Today’s children watch too much television.

• I think children watch way too much television.

• In this essay, I will discuss why I think children watch too much television.

• I can’t

Multiple Choice

(1) When are they getting outside and participating in physical activities and socializing with their friends? (2) When are they sitting down to eat as a family? (3) I feel that children watch way too much television. (4) If children are spending that much time watching television, when are they doing anything else? (5) They probably are not doing much of that at all—there just would not be any time for any productive activities. (6) Studies show that children, on the average, watch between three and five hours of television on weekdays and up to eight hours of television on weekends.

Which is the weakest point in this argument?

• sentence 1

• sentence 3

• sentence 5

• sentence 7