Argumentative Writing Terms

The writer's position on an issue

• claim

• counterclaim

• rebuttal

• thesis

an ______________ is a claim that is supported with reasons and evidence.

• argument

• claim

• counterclaim

• relevant information

Any information that helps prove a claim.

• evidence

• argument

• counterclaim

• thesis

Facts, quotations, examples, anecdotes, and statistics can all be used as _______________.

• evidence

• claims

• arguments

• counterclaims

Statements that address opposing viewpoints.

• counterclaims

• rebuttels

• claims

• arguments

Once you trace an author's argument, it's important to ______________ it by examining the support and deciding if it is valid and convincing.

• evaluate

• trace

• irrelevant

• relevant

Parents should be fined when their
children bully because it will send a
message. Some say It is very difficult for
parents to manage their children
when they leave the house and go to
school. Despite this, thirteen million
kids are bullied each year and
something needs to be done. The fines
will encourage parents to focus on anti-bullying in the home.
Which sentence is the counterclaim?

• Despite this, thirteen million
  kids are bullied each year and
  something needs to be done.
• The fines
  will encourage parents to
  focus on anti-bullying in the home.
• Some say it is very difficult for
  parents to manage their children
  when they leave the house and go to
  school.
• Parents should be fined when their
  children bully because it will send a
  message.

the first sentence in a piece of writing used to grab the reader’s attention right away

• hook
• thesis
• claim
• evidence

the argument against a claim (what the other side would say if they disagreed with a claim)

• counterclaim

• fallacy

• author's purpose

• argument

What should you do after presenting text evidence?

• Move on to another reason

• Transition to another paragraph

• Summarize that evidence

• Explain how that evidence proves your point.