Evaluate Arguments in Persuasive Texts

Evaluate Arguments in Persuasive Texts

Poll

Let’s talk about VIDEO GAMES.

Are video games good or bad?

• Good

• Bad

• Depends

Poll

Let’s talk about HOMEWORK. Is homework good or bad?

• Good

• Bad

• Depends

PERSUASIVE TEXTS

A persuasive text has 3 features: topic, main claim, and supporting evidence.

Multiple Choice

The first feature of a persuasive text is the _________. It answers the question “Who/What is the text about?”.

• theme

• topic

• main idea

• supporting details

Multiple Choice

A topic is always

• a full sentence

• a word or phrase

To find the topic, look for the keywords that are repeated many times in a text. All of they keywords need to be a part of the topic.

• Learning more than one language can help children improve how their brain works. Research has shown that children who speak more than one language have better thinking and reasoning skills. They find it easier to understand math concepts and word problems. According to the US Department of Health, children who speak more than one language also have stronger communication and social skills.

To find the topic, look for the keywords that are repeated many times in a text.

• Learning more than one language can help children improve how their brain works. Research has shown that children who speak more than one language have better thinking and reasoning skills. They find it easier to understand math concepts and word problems. According to the US Department of Health, children who speak more than one language also have stronger communication and social skills.

Multiple Choice

What is the topic of the following persuasive text?

Learning more than one language can help children improve how their brain works. Research has shown that children who speak more than one language have better thinking and reasoning skills. They find it easier to understand math concepts and word problems. According to the US Department of Health, children who speak more than one language also have stronger communication and social skills.

• Learning more than one language can help children improve how their brain works.

• Children

• Children who speak more than one language have better thinking and reasoning skills.

• Advantages of learning a new language (for children).

Multiple Choice

What is the topic of the following persuasive text?

Bicycles are a healthy and eco-friendly option for traveling. Riding a bicycle involves the movement of almost every muscle group in the human body. Riding a bicycle helps to tone the abdomen, calf, and thigh muscles. Unlike cars and buses, bicycles do not release harmful gases in the air that cause pollution. Bicycles do not require fuel to run.

• Structure of a bicycle

• Advantages of riding bicycles

• Transport vehicles

• The human body

Multiple Choice

The next feature of a persuasive text is the main claim, or main idea. The main claim is basically the author’s opinion. It answers the question: What does the author think about this topic? (e.g., Dogs are better than cats. Cars are worse than buses.)

The main claim/main idea is always a ____________ .

• sentence

• word or phrase

Multiple Choice

What is the main claim in the following persuasive text?

Bicycles are a healthy and eco-friendly option for traveling. Riding a bicycle involves the movement of almost every muscle group in the human body. Riding a bicycle helps to tone the abdomen, calf, and thigh muscles. Unlike cars and buses, bicycles do not release harmful gases in the air that cause pollution. Bicycles do not require fuel to run.

• Bicycles are a healthy and eco-friendly option for traveling.

• Riding a bicycle involves the movement of almost every muscle group in the human body.

• Unlike cars and buses, bicycles do not release harmful gases in the air that cause pollution.

• Bicycles do not require fuel to run.

The main claim is supported by SUPPORTING EVIDENCE, or SUPPORTING DETAILS.

• All the supporting evidence strengthen and provide proof for the main claim.

• They help convince you that the main claim is correct and believable.

Multiple Choice

Which one is narrower/more specific?

• topic

• main claim

Multiple Select

When the main claim is stated, where can you find the topic sentence of a text? Choose all that apply.

• At the beginning

• In the middle

• At the end

On the other hand, if the main claim is implied, there is NO TOPIC SENTECE.

You need to analyze the supporting evidence in the text and write the topic sentence yourself.

To find the implied main claim, ask “What is the author trying to prove here?"

Multiple Choice

Is the main claim of the following text STATED or IMPLIED?

Bicycles are a healthy and eco-friendly option for traveling. Riding a bicycle involves the movement of almost every muscle group in the human body. Riding a bicycle helps to tone the abdomen, calf, and thigh muscles. Unlike cars and buses, bicycles do not release harmful gases in the air that cause pollution. Bicycles do not require fuel to run.

• Stated

• Implied

Multiple Choice

Is the main claim of the following text STATED or IMPLIED?

Riding a bicycle involves the movement of almost every muscle group in the human body. Riding a bicycle helps to tone the abdomen, calf, and thigh muscles. Unlike cars and buses, bicycles do not release harmful gases in the air that cause pollution. Bicycles do not require fuel to run.

• Stated

• Implied

Multiple Choice

Is the main claim of the following text STATED or IMPLIED?

Forests are good for our planet in many ways. They help maintain the oxygen levels in our atmosphere. They shelter animals and people. Many animals that live in forests can’t survive anywhere else. Some communities also depend on forests. For example, the Huli people of Papua New Guinea get their food, clothing, and shelter from forests.

• Stated

• Implied

Multiple Choice

Which sentence is the topic sentence?

Forests are good for our planet in many ways. They help maintain the oxygen levels in our atmosphere. They shelter animals and people. Many animals that live in forests can’t survive anywhere else. Some communities also depend on forests. For example, the Huli people of Papua New Guinea get their food, clothing, and shelter from forests.

• Sentence 1

• Sentence 2

• Sentence 3

• Sentence 4

• Sentence 5

Multiple Choice

Is the main claim of the following text STATED or IMPLIED?

Dogs look very cute. They are friendly and reliable. You can play many games with dogs, such as running or catching tennis balls.

• stated

• implied

Open Ended

Please write the main claim for this text.

Dogs look very cute. They are friendly and reliable. You can play many games with dogs, such as running or catching tennis balls.

The main claim should not be too narrow.

• It needs to cover ALL supporting evidence, not just 1-2 of them.

Multiple Choice

What is the implied main claim in the following text:

Fifty years ago, Americans were sleeping an average of eight to twelve hours a night, but by 1990 they were down to only seven hours a night. Now many Americans average only about six hours of sleep a night. Extensive research shows that losing an hour or two of sleep every night, makes it more difficult for people to pay attention and to remember things. Students fall asleep in class and fail to learn all that they should. Marriages become more stressful as sleep-exhausted parents try to cope with their children and each other.

• The loss of sleep in America has led to serious problems.

• Americans have lost sleep steadily over the last fifty years.

• Sleep loss affects the performance of students.

Poll

Do you think we should use digital textbook?

• Yes

• No