Argumentative Essay Sample

Argumentative Essay Sample

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Introduction 

Hook: Grab the reader’s attention!!!

Background Introduction: Explain the issue your paper will be about. Give any information the reader will need in order to understand your essay. 

Thesis: A strong claim that answers the prompt that your whole paper will prove. 

Paper Overview: Briefly mention your three main points

Check out this introduction...

on next slide

^{Have you ever been sitting in class and the teacher asks for an assignment that you have no idea about? Have you ever checked Aeries and seen a missing assignment that you never heard the teachers collect? Has your teacher ever excused you to work time, and you have absolutely no idea what you are supposed to do? This has happened to me several times, but even more than that, I have seen it happen to my classmates. They ask me if I heard the instructions or if I heard the teacher collect the assignment. I look at them like they're crazy. How could they have been sitting in the same class and have no idea what is going on. I think I might actually know the answer to this question. They are listening to music. There has been a debate going on at Bidwell about whether or not teachers should allow music in they’re classes. It is clear, pioneers should definitely not listen to music in class. They are missing out on important instructions and music distracts students from their work.}

Multiple Choice

What type of hook does this writer use in the intro.?

• Question

• Anecdote

• Question & anecdote

• quote

• statistic

Multiple Choice

What is this writer's thesis statement?

• There has been a debate going on at Bidwell about whether or not teachers should allow music in they’re classes.

• It is clear, pioneers should definitely not listen to music in class.

• This has happened to me several times, but even more than that, I have seen it happen to my classmates.

• I look at them like they're crazy.

Paragraphs- Hamburgers and ICEE!

What does a paragraph and a hamburger have in common? Doesn't a nice cold ICEE sound good with your juicy cheeseburger?

A paragraph is like a hamburger! 

The top and bottom bun are your topic and concluding sentences. They hold your paragraph together - just like buns hold your burger together!

A paragraph is like a hamburger!

Inside your paragraph, you have supporting detail sentences that use evidence. This is like the yummy insides of your burger - cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickles, bacon...! 

Check out this body paragraph...

con't. on next slide...

_{It is clear that students are not hearing what their teachers are saying. Each day, I hear my teachers introduce something and go over it two or three times, only to have students ask what is going on a few minutes later. I see ear buds sticking out of many students’ shirts. In my history class, my teacher gives us instructions while we are working on a website or are writing an essay on the Chromebooks. She will give pointers or help or mention issues she is seeing with our assignment. So many kids are not even hearing what she is saying to help them, because they are listening to music and don’t even know that something helpful is being shared.}

Body paragraph continued...

Sure, I love listening to music probably more than the average kid here at Bidwell, but we definitely don’t need it in class. According to the study "Effects of Background Music on Phonological Short-term Memory" by Salame and Baddeley, “listening to lyrical music while studying creates a huge distraction. And that means people don't remember certain tasks and bits of knowledge they need the most for learning.” This means that while kids are listening to music, they are not getting everything they can out of the lesson. This shows the negative effect that music can have at school. The whole purpose of being at school is to learn, so why should we harm that? Obviously, teen’s at Bidwell are missing out on needed information because of music in the classroom.

Multiple Choice

What is the topic sentence (claim) of this paragraph?

*Remember full paragraph is on slides 10 & 11*

• In my history class, my teacher gives us instructions while we are working on a website or are writing an essay on the Chromebooks.

• This shows the negative effect that music can have at school.

• Sure, I love listening to music probably more than the average kid here at Bidwell, but we definitely don’t need it in class.

• It is clear that students are not hearing what their teachers are saying.

Multiple Choice

What part of ICEE is this:

In other words, earbuds waste time through finding them, monitoring them, discussing them, and disagreeing about them. This shows how much time is removed from classroom instruction.

• Explain & Expand

• Copy

• Expand

• Introduce

Don't forget!

An essay has 3 body paragraphs. (We just looked at one body paragraph in this lesson)

Check out this counterargument paragraph...

on next slide

^{There are obviously many people who disagree. One may argue that music actually helps them focus because it takes away from distractions in the class. However, this is incorrect thinking, because finding the right song, finding your earbuds, discussing music with your friends and listening to inappropriate and distracting content, is clearly more distracting than normal classroom noises. A critic might state that music would make things quieter in the classroom and easier on the teacher, but they are clearly wrong. Finally, someone may disagree and say that music is wonderful and inspiring. They are absolutely right, but that does not mean that we need music in every area of our lives. Save music for when you can really focus on it, instead of tuning out your teachers and schoolwork.}

Fill in the Blank

What is the first counterargument in this paragraph?

Check out this conclusion...

on the next slide

In conclusion, music should definitely not be allowed in the classrooms at Bidwell. It is clear that students are missing out on important information from teachers and it is taking away their attention from their work. When the teachers and parents of the PTA make the vote about whether or not our Chromebooks should allow music add-ons, vote no! Students do not need anything in their lives that will make their classes harder and their grades slip. There is absolutely nothing keeping students from listening to music in their free time, in fact, it’s a great part of life. However, there is no need for music to be continuously playing when students have something on which to focus that is way more important. A vote for no music is a vote for better student achievement!

Multiple Select

Does this conclusion include all the parts: restate thesis, paper overview, and ending statement.

• YES

• NO

You can do this!

• Be sure to create a plan for your essay

• Include all the parts of an essay: Intro., Body Paragraphs, Counterargument, & Conclusion.

• Always include ICEE evidence - explain the quote you use

• Write a strong hook and ending statement

• Proofread!