Introductions to Argumentative Writing

Writing Argumentative Introductions

Jigsaw

• Background information

• State opinion, belief, position, or proposal

• Identify the reasons

• Acknowledge an alternative perspective

Background Information

• Never assume your reader knows

• Hook: hard-hitting fact, question, scenario, defining key vocabulary

Multiple Select

Why do you need to provide background information for your reader?

• They might not know the topic

• You can't assume they know what you are talking about

• You don't have to provide background information

Thesis Statement

• State opinion, belief, position, or proposal

• Identify reasons

Identifying reasons

• Explicitly state each reason: ex. Wearing school uniforms eliminates peer pressure, reduces morning stress, and saves families money.

• Broadly reference the reasons to be identified in the body paragraphs: ex. Wearing school uniforms reduces emotional, personal, and financial pressure.

• Allude to reasons in general: ex. Students should want to wear school uniforms for three reasons.

Multiple Choice

What does the thesis statement include?

• your position and reasons

• your position

• the reasons for the argument

• you don't need a thesis statement

Acknowledge an alternative perspective

• Comes before the thesis statement and after the hook

• Opponents believe....

• Some say...

• A common belief is...

Multiple Select

Where does the acknowledgement of the opposition go in your introduction?

• It's the last sentence

• You don't acknowledge the opposition

• After the hook

• Before the thesis statement