Which answer BEST responds to the following statement. "A claim is a statement of the speaker's or writer's opinion."

While a claim is an opinion at heart, it must be well-reasoned and well-supported to carry any weight.

A claim starts out as an opinion, but it becomes a fact by the end of the argument.

A claim cannot be an opinion because it must be something that can be proven beyond a shadow of a doubt.

A claim and an opinion are different because an opinion cannot be argued while a claim cannot be doubted.

Which statement is TRUE?

Writing to argue or convince will always contain elements of writing to inform or explain.

Writing to inform or explain will always contain elements of writing to argue or convince.

Which statement is true regarding the development of an argumentative essay?

You should weigh the reasons and evidence supporting all sides of the argument before you make your claim.

Make a strong claim and then look for reasons and evidence that supports it afterwards.

It is important to spend a minimal amount of time planning and organizing your essay so that you have more time to write and edit.

Every argumentative essay should have three supporting reasons for the claim and three supporting pieces of evidence for each reason.

'And as soon as the old people said, "Poor Emily," the whispering began. "Do you suppose it's really so?" they said to one another. "Of course it is.' (Faulkner, lines 107-108) THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF ___.

textual evidence (in the form of a quote) followed by a parenthetical citation

A claim and a supporting reason

Reasons and evidence must be relevant. Which answer choice BEST explains the meaning of "relevant"?

Reasons and evidence which are relevant are related to and support the claim without getting off topic.

Relevant reasons and evidence can't be disagreed with.

Relevant reasons and evidence are so strong and convincing that they do not need further explanation.

When reasons and evidence are relevant, they are personalized to the point-of-view of each and every reader.

Which of the following is stated as a claim?

A border wall between the U.S. and Mexico is absolutely needed.

A border wall between the U.S. and Mexico is absolutely not needed.

A border wall between the U.S. and Mexico might be built.

President Trump has proposed building a border wall between the U.S. and Mexico.

What should you do after presenting text evidence?

Explain how that evidence proves your thesis statement

Transition to another paragraph

How do you know evidence is taken from the text?

You simply state it is from the text, but do not use quotes

What does it mean to "evaluate" an argument?

to decide whether it makes sense and is convincing

What is a source? Choose the best answer

Something you cite as support in your essay

When evidence is logical, it

makes sense to both the writer and the reader.

How do you know evidence is taken from the text?

It uses long, complex sentences

You simply state it is from the text, but do not use quotes

When using reasons to support a claim, the reasons should be

important and convincing to you only

What is a direct quote?

information taken from the text word for word

putting information from the text in your own words

Yes, the ability to make an argument is a valuable life skill, but in school you will learn how to make a formal argument. Formal arguments follow a specific structure that informal arguments may not. The types of arguments you make and the evidence you use to support those arguments will vary. In science or social studies, you may be asked to do research to support an argument. You may be asked to read books, journals, or internet articles. In English and Language Arts you will be asked to demonstrate your knowledge and deep understanding of a piece of text you have read by preparing a written argumentative essay in response to a question or prompt. Your evidence to support your argument will come directly from the text you read. Which of the following BEST represents a question that might be asked to get you to write an argumentative essay in your English or Language Arts class?

Was Mrs. Mallard a heroine or a villain in "The Story of an Hour"?

In what ways was the American Civil War the first modern war?

What type of rock is likely to be exposed if the ice caps melt?

What are some ways in which you might use the Pythagorean Theory in your life after school?

If you are asked to write a formal argumentative essay, you will need to use the steps of the Writing Process if you want to write well. Writing well is the first step in demonstrating what you understand. Demonstrating what you understand is the key to making a good grade. A well-written essay takes time and effort and cannot be written in a few minutes or in a single paragraph. The steps of the Writing Process are Prewriting, Writing, Revising, Editing, and Publishing. Each of these steps is equally important. Prewriting Steps Step 1: Paraphrase the question or prompt. By breaking down the question or prompt and putting it into your own words, you are making sure that you understand what you are being asked to write about. Misinterpreting the question or prompt is the number one reason students do poorly on written tests. Question: Was the narrator in The Tell-Tale Heart sane or insane when he murdered the old man? Paraphrase : Did the narrator in The Tell-Tale Heart have a mental disease that made it impossible for him to control his actions, thereby making him not responsible for murdering the old man? What is the MOST IMPORTANT reason to use the steps of the Writing Process when you are asked to write an argumentative essay?

It will lead to a better essay which best demonstrates what you know and understand.

If you don't use the Writing Process, your paper will be returned and you will have to start over.

If you don't use the Writing Process, you probably won't make a good grade on the assignment.

You will finish much more quickly if you use the Writing Process.

Prewriting Steps Step 2: Gather evidence that could support both** sides of the argument. The worst thing you can do when making an argument is to go into it with your mind made up. This limits your evidence gathering to only those pieces that support your point of view. You are going to have to address the opposing argument anyway, so you must understand it in order to effectively counter it in your writing. **I will limit your questions or prompts to those with only two main arguments in order to reduce the time you need to prewrite. Evidence will consist of pieces of information from the text that either directly or indirectly point to that point of view as being valid. As you gather evidence be sure to keep track of page numbers, paragraphs, line numbers, etc. that you will use as you cite the evidence in your essay. Also, remember that a direct quote from the text is more powerful and convincing than an indirect quote or paraphrase. Which comes first when writing an argumentative essay?

Gather textual evidence that could support both sides of the argument.

Decide on your claim or thesis. In other words, decide how you will answer the question.

Summarize and paraphrase the text.

Prewriting Steps Step 3: Annotate your evidence to show how it supports each particular argument. Good prewriting does the heavy lifting so that your essay practically writes itself. As I said before, if you skip the prewriting stage, your essay will almost always be poorly planned and written, resulting in a poor grade. Evidence he was sane "You should have seen how wisely I proceeded --with what caution --with what foresight --with what dissimulation I went to work! I was never kinder to the old man than during the whole week before I killed him." "He had a plan. An insane man is incapable of careful planning such as this." "Oh, you would have laughed to see how cunningly I thrust it in! I moved it slowly --very, very slowly, so that I might not disturb the old man's sleep." Summary: He demonstrated careful planning and self-control Evidence he was insane "I heard all things in the heaven and in 7 the earth. I heard many things in hell." "But, ere long, I felt myself getting pale and wished them gone. My head ached, and I fancied a ringing in my ears: but still they sat and still chatted. The ringing became more distinct: --It continued and became more distinct: I talked more freely to get rid of the feeling: but it continued and gained definiteness --until, at length, I found that the noise was not within my ears." Summary: Hearing things others can’t hear is a sign of delusion. More evidence he was insane "He had the eye of a vulture --a pale blue eye, with a film over it. Whenever it fell upon me, my blood ran cold; and so by degrees --very gradually --I made up my mind to take the life of the old man, and thus rid myself of the eye forever." (This is an irrational response. He could have avoided looking at the eye or asked the old man to cover it with a patch…) "I gasped for breath --and yet the officers heard it not. I talked more quickly --more vehemently; but the noise steadily increased. I arose and argued about trifles, in a high key and with violent gesticulations; but the noise steadily increased. Why would they not be gone? I paced the floor to and fro with heavy strides, as if excited to fury by the observations of the men --but the noise steadily increased. Oh God! what could I do? I foamed --I raved --I swore! I swung the chair upon which I had been sitting, and grated it upon the boards, but the noise arose over all and continually increased." (Here, the narrator is not only hearing things, he is acting out his irrational behavior in front of others who he surely did not want to suspect him of anything suspicious.) "Meantime the hellish tattoo of the heart increased. It grew quicker and quicker, and louder and louder every instant. The old man's terror must have been extreme! It grew louder, I say, louder every moment! --do you mark me well I have told you that I am nervous: so I am. And now at the dead hour of the night, amid the dreadful silence of that old house, so strange a noise as this excited me to uncontrollable terror." (Here, he is actually in the room. He describes the beating of the heart (which we believe to be his own) in such detail. He demonstrates how he was driven to “uncontrollable terror.”) Time permitting (especially when given argumentative essay choices in advance of the test), what is the big advantage to finding textual evidence to support both sides of the argument before you begin writing?

You are able to actually see, measure, and weigh the evidence for both arguments before you begin your essay. This means that you will choose the best argument with the best evidence.

You are done with your essay once you find evidence.

You don't have to read the text before you write the essay.

You can argue both sides of the question in your essay.

Prewriting Steps Step 4: Choose the strongest argument. The strongest argument is the one that you can write most convincingly about. It should have three and, occasionally, more pieces of evidence (in rare occasions two extremely strong pieces of evidence can work) that come from the text and either directly support the argument being made or can be explained logically as indirectly supporting the argument. Since the prompt specifically says “when he murdered the old man.”, I am giving more emphasis to his thoughts and actions during that key period in the bedroom. Consequently, although I personally believe that he was sane enough to plan the murder and attempt to cover it up, I believe that he could not distinguish his own heartbeat from that of the old man when he was driven to actually complete the deed. Therefore, I will argue that he was insane. How should you decide which side of the argument to make?

Let the evidence be your guide. Choose the argument that is supported by the strongest evidence.

Argue what you thought the first time you saw the question. It's a bad idea to change your argument based on the amount of evidence.

Count up the pieces of evidence for both sides. Choose the side with the most pieces of evidence even if they are weak.

Always argue what your teacher told you to argue and be sure to use the evidence the teacher gave you when you discussed the text.

Strong Thesis Statements -consist of a single sentence -restate the question for the benefit of the reader -show conviction and belief in the argument -avoid terms such as "I think...", "I believe...", "It is my opinion that...", etc. Which answer choice is the strongest thesis statement?

Without a doubt, the speaker in "The Tell-tale Heart" is insane.

I truly believe the speaker in "The Tell-tale Heart" is not insane.

He is insane beyond a shadow of a doubt.

Is the speaker in the "Tell-tale Heart" sane or insane? He is sane.

Why must you cite your sources?

To convince the reader that your evidence is reliable

When you paraphrase someone else’s ideas,

you summarize what they have said in your own words

you pick only the important items

During the claim-evidence-reasoning pattern, the reason is

an explanation for how or why your evidence proves your point

the basis or motive for an action

Background information

Information that a reader should know about an issue to understand one's thesis

Information that is not necessary but that helps pad an argument

Information that is based on factual improbability

Information that uses numbers to prove its point

Concrete times that one can show when something related to an issue occurred

Specifics you use to make an issue and your position make sense to (come alive for) the audience

Written responses, unlike true/false, multiple-choice, and other test types with which you are most familiar are subjective rather than objective. That means that there is no right nor wrong answer, and the teacher’s opinion of your writing will play a large role in the grade you receive. That being said, you cannot just write whatever you think in whatever manner you choose and expect to receive a good grade. Well-written and effective argumentative essays will have certain characteristics that I will look for. I will provide you with a rubric to follow as a guide to my expectations. I will model the writing process and my thinking as I go through it, and I will provide you with examples of student argumentative essays from excellent to poor so that you can learn to evaluate and judge for yourself. You should also expect to read the essays of your peers and offer feedback. Now, does the use of a rubric and a certain expectation of what good argumentative writing look like mean that you will learn to write like a robot, with no room for individuality and self-expression? I sincerely hope not, and that certainly is not my aim. However, just as most young children learn to ride a bike with the help of training wheels, so will you learn to write an argumentative essay with the aid of a set of expectations and parameters. Time, experience, and practice will allow you to develop a unique sense of style. Which of the following questions is subjective?

In what ways does the author of "The Highwayman" use tone and connotative language to shape the reader's attitude toward the highwayman and Bess?

What college does Sonny attend in "Sky of Stone"?

What is an example of figurative language used by the author on page 23 of "Sky of Stone"?

What weapons does the highwayman carry?

Writing a Short Argumentative Essay

Authored by Thomas Proctor

English

7th - 8th Grade

CCSS covered

Used 39+ times

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MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

What is the MAJOR purpose why we will make academic arguments in this class?

to convince

to persuade

to inform or explain

to tell a story

MULTIPLE SELECT QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

What are the MAJOR parts of a short argumentative essay?

claim/thesis

transitions

reasons

evidence

conclusion

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

Which of the following BEST represents the order in which you would use the reasons which support your claim?

strong to strongest

strongest to strong

weak to strongest

strongest to weakest

Why would you want to limit the number of reasons you use to support your claim?

If you have too many reasons, you are weakening your argument by using reasons that you cannot support as well as others.

When you have too many reasons, you exceed the recommended length of an extended argumentative essay which is one page.

You must use a paragraph to support each reason, but you never want your essay to be more than 5 paragraphs.

You should use the same number of reasons to support both your claim and the counterclaim, but you are not likely to have more than 2 reasons to support the counterclaim.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

What do you call the FIRST level of support for your claim?

reasons

evidence

citations

quotes

WHICH IS AN EXAMPLE OF SOMEONE USING ARGUMENT IN THEIR EVERYDAY LIFE?

doing your homework

changing your mom's mind so she makes macaroni and cheese instead of spaghetti

choosing between a red and a blue shirt to wear to school

writing a speech explaining why you like red better than blue

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

What is the typical number of reasons you should use in an argumentative essay?

no less than 2 and no more than 4

at least one, but not more than 5

As long as they are strong and well-supported, you can use as many as you wish.

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Writing a Short Argumentative Essay

What is the MAJOR purpose why we will make academic arguments in this class?

What are the MAJOR parts of a short argumentative essay?

Which of the following BEST represents the order in which you would use the reasons which support your claim?

Why would you want to limit the number of reasons you use to support your claim?

What do you call the FIRST level of support for your claim?

WHICH IS AN EXAMPLE OF SOMEONE USING ARGUMENT IN THEIR EVERYDAY LIFE?

What is the typical number of reasons you should use in an argumentative essay?

True or False. You should NEVER demonstrate bias in an argument.

Which of these should appear first in an argumentative essay?

Which answer BEST responds to the following statement. "A claim is a statement of the speaker's or writer's opinion."

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