Argument Writing: Claims and Reasons

Argument Writing: Claims, Reasons, and Evidence

by Mrs. Goforth

Let's begin with a quick movie trailer​

As you watch the trailer:

• Write down what the trailer is trying to get you to do.

• List the TECHNIQUES, or ways, they are trying to convince you.​

The Power of Persuasion

​A movie trailer that introduces audiences to the latest action-packed blockbuster, a newspaper editorial that discusses the problem of pollution, a political speech that unveils a new policy proposal—what do these have in common?

They all use the power of persuasion to convince you to do or believe something.

​What is an argument?

​Persuasive writers and speakers use all kinds of special techniques to convince their audiences. But to really be effective, a writer or speaker needs to have a strong argument. At the heart of any argument is a claim, or a writer's position on a problem or an issue. A writer must prove the claim by providing reasons and evidence, also known as support.

​Practice

​Let's watch a quick video and see if you can identify the following items:

• ​The argument (the topic being discussed)

• ​The claim (the person's position on the issue or problem)

• ​The supports (reasonse and evidence to back up the position)

​Identifying the Claim

​When analyzing any persuasive text, examine it closely to identify the claim. Ask yourself: What does the writer want me to believe or do after reading this passage?

​Read the passage and see if you can identify the claim

Record the sentence number that you feel best states the author's position.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence stated the writer's claim?

• Sentence 1

• Sentence 2

• Sentence 3

• Sentence 4

​Support for a Claim

​A writer must support a claim with reasons that answer the question "Why?" For instance, a political candidate might argue that he or she is the better person for a position. As part of the argument, the candidate should offer reasons that answer the question, "Why am I a better choice than my opponent?"

Poll

Think about the following claim: 

I'm the candidate who is more prepared to tackle the difficult issues that our community faces.

Now decide, which candidate has the strongest support?

• My plan for community improvement will be more effective than my opponent's plan.

• I have more experience than my opponent.

Time to take some notes​

Fill in the cloze with the words/phrases that complete each definition

​Facts

​Quotations

​Example

​Statistic

​Anecdote

Multiple Choice

Identify the type of Evidence:

A credible national survey found that 75 percent of households believe that CleanUp can handle tough stains better than the other leading brands.

• Anecdote

• Statistic

• Fact

• Quotation

Multiple Choice

Identify the type of Evidence:

Are you tired of tough stains that refuse to go away? "I've raised seven rowdy boys, and CleanUp is the only detergent that I trusted to take out those tough stains," Ava Robins says.

• Anecdote

• Statistic

• Fact

• Quotation

Multiple Choice

Identify the type of Evidence:

Tia Hale was strolling outside in her white linen dress. A car roared by, spraying mud all over her. CleanUp got the stains out. Since this incident, she will only use CleanUp.

• Anecdote

• Statistic

• Fact

• Quotation

Closure

Let's watch the same movie trailer we watched at the beginning of the class, but this time, look for ONE EXAMPLE of evidence being used to convince you to watch the film

​

Open Ended

Name the type of evidence you saw used in the movie trailer and how it helped to convince you to watch the movie