Argumentative Writing Great English

Argumentative Writing

Great Writing English 2023

Open Ended

First of all... what makes a good argument? What makes it convincing to you?

What is argumentative writing?

• It's pretty much what you think it is! Argumentative writing is about picking one side of a controversial topic, and using evidence and reasoning to support your side of the argument.

What are claims?

• In argumentative writing, your claim states your stance on the topic, and summarizes your reasons for taking that stance.

• The claim should be very clear about which side of the topic you are arguing.

What makes a good claim?

• Good claims are arguable: You could argue for or against it. No fence-sitting (taking both sides)!

• Good claims are reasonable: You aren't arguing for something extreme or over-the-top that most people would not support.

• Good claims are supportable: Your claim can be supported with evidence. You aren't making wild claims with no basis in fact, and you aren't just pulling your argument out of nowhere.

Example of a good claim:

"Students should be allowed to use phones in class for educational purposes and to stay in touch with their loved ones."

• It's arguable because you could just as easily argue that students shouldn't be allowed to have phones in class.

• It's reasonable because it doesn't argue that students should be on their phones all the time, but that they do have a use in the classroom.

• It's supportable because you can find lots of evidence to support the use of all kinds of technology, phones included, to benefit learning.

And now, some bad claims.

I will show you three claims that are related to the same topic as the example before (using phones in class). You will need to tell me if the claim is: not arguable, not reasonable, or not supportable.

Multiple Choice

Claim 1: Phones have both good and bad sides, and can be used for productive and unproductive activities.

• Not arguable

• Not reasonable

• Not supportable

Multiple Choice

Claim 2: Phones should be allowed because most kids I know can use them and still pay attention in class.

• Not arguable

• Not reasonable

• Not supportable

Multiple Choice

Claim 3: Phones should be banned from all schools permanently because they are a distraction and have no use in education.

• Not arguable

• Not reasonable

• Not supportable

What are counterclaims?

• While claims state which side of the issue you are arguing for, a counterclaim states how others might argue against you.

• Counterclaims require you to see a different side of the argument than the one you're taking.

• They are a form of concession--You are conceding that your argument is not the only possible argument on this topic.

How to write counterclaims

Let's return to the claim we were working with earlier:

• Students should be allowed to use phones in class for educational purposes and to stay in touch with their loved ones.

  ​

​Think about reasons why someone might disagree with this claim.

​

Open Ended

What are some reasons why someone might disagree with this claim?

"Students should be allowed to use phones in class for educational purposes and to stay in touch with their loved ones."

How to write counterclaims, continued

Once you have identified some reasons others might argue against your claim, you incorporate those into a statement much like your claim.

• Start with a lead-in that will signal to readers this is not your argument, but how others might argue against you.

• Examples could include "Some may say..." or "Others argue..."

• Examples: ​

  • Some may say students shouldn't use phones in class because there's too much potential for distraction.

  • Others argue phones aren't intended for educational use and are merely for entertainment and communication.

​

Multiple Choice

True or False: Your counterclaim should give a reason that supports YOUR argument, as stated in your claim.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Which of these phrases is NOT a good lead-in to a counterclaim sentence?

• Some might argue...

• Others say...

• I personally believe...

• Others could argue...

Final Quiz!

Let's see if you remember what you learned!

Multiple Choice

Good claims are...

• Arguable, serious, lengthy

• Debatable, creatable, relatable

• Arguable, reasonable, supportable

• Supportable, questionable, adaptable

Multiple Choice

Why is "Taco Bell is the best fast food restaurant because everyone thinks their food is really good" a bad claim?

• It's not a bad claim

• Not reasonable

• Not supportable

• Not arguable

Multiple Choice

Counterclaims should state what ___ believe about your topic.

• You, the author

• Others who might argue against you

• Experts whose research you've read

• People with experience on your topic