Research Based Argument Essay-Lesson 6: Balancing Evidence

Research Based Argument Essay-Lesson 6: Balancing Evidence

A good argument is a bit like a layer cake

Have you ever eaten a cake that did not have enough icing? Have you ever eaten a cake with too much icing?

A good balance of cake and icing is important to make a cake great!

In the same way, a research paper needs to have balance. But instead of cake and icing, the balance needs to be evidence and explanation/thinking.

JUST THE RIGHT BALANCE of research-based evidence (that’s the cake) and layers of RICH THINKING (that’s the frosting) To make this happen, you must add YOUR OWN THINKING AND EXPLANATIONS.

• Now, picture that your evidence is the cake and your THINKING is the frosting.

• The trick is you can not just plop in more and more evidence.

• You have to EXPLAIN the importance of your evidence

• hat is the frosting that binds everything together. You really need to analyze your evidence, and think about what makes it important.

Multiple Choice

True or False: Evidence should support your reasoning and you should explain your evidence

• True

• False

GOAL

• Our goal today is to learn that when we are writing our argument essay, we need to have a balance of evidence and thinking/explanation

• Evidence

• Thinking

• Explanation

Questions to Help Writers Develop Their Thinking

-Why did I include this evidence?

-How does this evidence relate to my claim?

-What makes this quote or statistic so important?

- How is this evidence changing my thinking?

“Getting the right balance of quoted text and your own thinking can be tricky, and some of you are quoting large paragraphs. Make sure that you are only picking quotes and parts of quotes that help your claim. You don’t need to use an entire paragraph; only quote what is essential to your point.” 

What you should do today

Today, as you re-read and revise your drafts, remember, whenever you are putting evidence into your writing, you must balance that evidence with your own thinking. In other words, tell your reader what you find to be IMPORTANT about that evidence. If you get stuck on one thought prompt or predictable question, it is your job not to STAY STUCK. Move on and TRY ANOTHER.

Multiple Select

What you should do today check all that apply

• Use evidence to support your reason

• Analyze and explain the evidence

• re-read and revise your drafts

• balance evidence with your own thinking

• Reread your draft looking for spots HEAVY in evidence.

Research, notes, and redrafting

REVISE your REASONS. 

- ELIMINATE unnecessary opinions or information

- Do any of your reasons OVERLAP (sound the same?)

- Does all your evidence match your reasons?

do you need to read and research more?

Keep up the great WORK

You have all been doing such great work