Persuasive Writing and Types of Evidence

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.

Argumentative Writing

How should my argumentative or persuasive essay look?

Essay Structure

Many essays follow a FIVE PARAGRAPH structure. This is an easy format to remember, and it allows you to state your ideas clearly.

Our essay will include:

Introduction/Thesis Paragraph

Body 1

Body 2

Body 3

Conclusion Paragraph

Introduction Paragraph

Your introduction paragraph tells the reader what you are going to write about in your essay. The intro paragraph should tell the reader:

1. The topic (issue, subject matter)

2. Which side you are taking (Claim)

3. A hook

4. A bridge * if required

Multiple Choice

Your introduction should have a HOOK that makes the reader interested.

• True

• False

Body Paragraphs

A basic body paragraph:

Tells ONE of your reasons

Cites evidence

Explains how that evidence shows your reason is true

Multiple Choice

How many reasons should you include in each body paragraph?

• Only 1

• 2

• 3

• 4 or more

Body Paragraphs - SAMPLE Template

Reason: State a good reason why your thesis is correct. 

Context: Introduce your evidence with some context. What do your readers need to know before they read more?

Evidence : Use facts, statistics, or expert opinions to support and prove your claim. (This is where you quote or paraphrase.)

Commentary: Explain why your evidence is important.

Conclusion: Wrap up by restating your reason in new words.

Multiple Choice

What TYPE of sentence is NOT in a body paragraph?

• Reason

• Evidence

• Commentary

• Introduction

Body Paragraph - Example OUTLINE

Reason: Takis have a better flavour than hot cheetos.

Context: To see how unique Takis flavour really is, you only need to look at the bag.

Evidence 2: Each bag of Takis includes a picture of a lime, highlighting its lime flavour .

Commentary: This is unique to Takis alone, Cheetos don’t have any lime!

Conclusion: This shows that Takis have a special flavour.

Body Paragraph - Example

Takis have a better flavour than Hot Cheetos. To see how unique the flavour of Takis really is, you only need to look at the bag. Each bag of Takis includes a picture of a lime, highlighting its lime flavour. This is unique to Takis alone, Cheetos don’t have any lime! This shows that Takis have a special flavor.

Multiple Choice

When revising, you can change the order of your evidence and commentary sentences if you wish.

• True

• False

​The magic of REVISION!

Body Paragraph - IMPROVED Example

Takis are the superior snack; Hot Cheetos are bland. Each brightly designed bag of Takis, includes a picture of a zesty lime. This dynamic image highlighs its inclusion of a fresh lime flavour. You do not even have to taste the product to see how unique the flavour of Takis really is. Seeing is believing! This exciting taste combination is unique to Takis alone. Cheetos don’t have any lime, only a dull cheesey dust! This shows that Takis have a special flavour.

Conclusion Paragraph

Your conclusion paragraph tells the reader what you just explained in your essay. The conclusion paragraph should:

Re-state which side you supported (claim)

Summarize your three reasons

End with a strong statement about WHY you are correct or why the readers should agree or care about your topicl

Multiple Select

Your conclusion paragraph should:

• Summarize your reasons

• Restate your claim

• End with a strong statement that shows you are correct

• End with "This is the end of my essay."

• Include spelling and grammar errors

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.

Here three claims that are related to the same topic as the example before (using phones in class). You will need to select 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

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

What are counterclaims?

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

• It's the other side -- the wrong side according to 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...

• There are some who believe...

REMEMBER

​Have an opinion -- CLAIM it with a STATEment

PROVE it with EVIDENCE (two or more)

EXPLAIN your REASONING

Claim

The opinion that the author has about the topic.
They need to make a statement about the claim.



White chocolate is disgusting.

Evidence - Proof

Facts or proof to support the claim.

These can be quotes from experts or people with credibility, direct quotes from another text, statistics, facts or examples.


White chocolate is not considered true chocolate because it does not contain cocoa solids, which are the key component of traditional chocolate.

Reason

Why the evidence given supports the claim.
EXPLAIN your evidence, what it means and how it relates to your claim.


White chocolate is an imposter, an off-brand substitute for beloved treat.

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

Open Ended

What is the topic here?

Are you a couch potato? If so, changing your ways will make you healthier and maybe even smarter! Exercise is important for adults and kids alike. When you're active, you become stronger and more flexible, and you build stronger bones. This helps your body function better. Moving around can help relieve stress, and that can put you in a better mood. And scientists have found that kids did better on tests after they had 20 minutes of exercise. Plus, exercise is fun! So whether it's riding bikes, playing a team sport, dancing, or doing karate, just get moving!

Open Ended

What is the claim here?

Are you a couch potato? If so, changing your ways will make you healthier and maybe even smarter! Exercise is important for adults and kids alike. When you're active, you become stronger and more flexible, and you build stronger bones. This helps your body function better. Moving around can help relieve stress, and that can put you in a better mood. And scientists have found that kids did better on tests after they had 20 minutes of exercise. Plus, exercise is fun! So whether it's riding bikes, playing a team sport, dancing, or doing karate, just get moving!

Multiple Choice

Which piece of evidence BEST supports the claim: Everyone should exercise.

• Exercise is important for adults and kids alike.

• When you're active, you become stronger and more flexible, and you build stronger bones.

• Exercise is fun!

Multiple Choice

Which reason supports the evidence: "When you're active, you become stronger and more flexible, and you build stronger bones"?

• Changing your ways will make you healthier and maybe even smarter!

• Exercise helps your body function better.

• Scientists have found that kids did better on tests after they had 20 minutes of exercise.