Argumentative Writing

​ARGUMENTATIVE WRITING

Introduction

This will be the first paragraph of your essay.

Introduction

• Hook

• Bridge

• Thesis

HOOK: Gets the reader's attention

• Anecdote or Short Personal Story

• Quote

• Interesting Fact

• Current Event

• Avoid questions. We're in the 8th grade now!

BRIDGE: Explains the hook and leads into the thesis

• If you used a quote or interesting fact; explain the meaning

• It can also be used to summarize a specific text to give the audience context

• Sometimes you may need to do both

CLAIM: also known as thesis statement

• This will be the last sentence in your first paragraph.

• Make sure your claim answers the writing prompt.

• Use parallel structure.

• Create a compound or complex sentence instead of writing more than once sentence.

BODY PARAGRAPHS

This is where your reasons and evidence will go!

REASONS: Statement that supports your claim

• This should be your topic sentence in each paragraph

• It explains why the claim is true

• Please use a counter-claim and rebuttal for your last reason

EVIDENCE: Statement that supports your reason

• Statistics

• Quotes

• Expert Advice

• Stories

• You need at least two pieces of evidence for each paragraph: One quoted and one paraphrased

COUNTERCLAIM

AND REBUTTAL

COUNTERCLAIM: a statement that challenges those that don't agree with you.

SENTENCE STARTER IDEAS:

• Some may claim/argue that...

• Others believe that...

• It is often thought...

• A common argument against this position is...

REBUTTAL: evidence used to weaken the the opposing view. All counterclaims should be followed by a rebuttal that strengthens your position and explains why you're correct:

SENTENCE STARTER IDEAS:

-However...

-But...

-Yet...

-Nevertheless...

-The evidence shows..

-Still, overall...

-In reality...

The CONCLUDING SENTENCE is the last sentence in your paragraph.

- Restate the topic sentence using synonyms.
- Restate the topic sentence using a different kind of sentence.
- Wrap up your paragraph.
- Consider using transition words to signify the end of your paragraph.

CONCLUSION

The final paragraph

CONCLUSION

• Restate the Claim

• Connect Back to the Hook (Why should we care?)

• State a specific Call to Action (What do you want the audience to do now? Make sure to stay consistent with Third Person)