Structure of argument essay

Structure of argument essay

What you need to make your strong argument!

Writing an argument

You want to make a logical case for your position

What you need

• Background on the issue: why is this a subject people are arguing about?

• A clear claim: what side of the issue are you on?

• Solid reasons to support your claim

• Evidence - to back up your reasons

• Counter Claim and Rebuttal: what does the other side argue? What is your argument against that argument?

• Call to Action: What do you want people to do?

Open Ended

Why are people debating lowering the voting age to 16 in 2021?

Poll

Do you think the voting age in the US should be lowered to 16?

• Yes!

• No!

• Yes, but only for local elections, like school board.

Poll

What do you think is the strongest reason for lowering the voting age to 16?

• Teenagers are active in or leading many political movements now: BLM, March for our Lives, Climate Change.

• Many Teenagers pay taxes, but have no say in how that money gets spent.

• When 16-year olds have been allowed to vote, they vote at much higher rates than 18-year olds.

• The US has changed the laws about who can vote many times over its history.

Poll

What do you think is the strongest reason for not lowering the voting age to 16?

• The teenage brain is not fully developed.

• Teenagers are not independent; most live at home and don't have adult responsibilities.

• Teenagers have not learned enough about how government works to make good voting decisions.

• Teenagers would be too influenced by their friends, family or social media.

When you use evidence, you must give credit

CITE your evidence. Make it clear that you are using someone else's words or ideas.

Some ways to introduce evidence

• According to the article

• Support for this position is

• Evidence is presented in the article

Citing Evidence

You need to give credit

We will have a works cited section in our writing

Crockett, Zachary. “The Case for Allowing 16-Year-Olds to Vote.” Vox, Vox, 7 Nov. 2016, www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2016/11/7/13347080/voting-age-election-16.

Multiple Choice

Why is it important to include a counter argument?

• To show that you have considered multiple views of the issue.

• To anticipate and respond to your reader's questions.

• To show that you have a good understanding of the issue.

• All of the above.

Then you need a rebuttal

An argument against the counter argument

Explain why your argument is stronger

Multiple Choice

A call to action is letting your reader know what you think should be done. Which of these is an example of a call to action?

• Thank you for reading my essay.

• Write your representative today so we can lower the voting age!

• The voting age should not be lowered.

• Some people may disagree.