Crafting Effective Argumentative Essays

Why is background information crucial in an argumentative essay?

• It gives the reader a quick idea of the topic.

• It presents the counterclaim.

• It includes the thesis statement.

• It provides detailed evidence.

Where should background information be placed in an essay?

• In the conclusion paragraph.

• In the body paragraphs.

• In the introductory paragraph.

• In the thesis statement.

Which of the following is NOT a form of background information?

• Who is affected by the topic.

• When or where the topic occurs.

• Detailed evidence supporting the topic.

• The significance of the topic.

What should you do after watching the funny Shmoop video?

• Answer questions to gather background information.

• Write your thesis statement.

• Present your counterclaim.

• Draft the conclusion paragraph.

What is the purpose of answering questions about your topic?

• To gather evidence for the body paragraphs.

• To create a detailed conclusion.

• To develop a counterclaim.

• To build background information for the introductory paragraph.

In the example paragraph, what is implicitly stated as the topic?

• Nutrition.

• Inner cities.

• School lunch.

• Food insecurity.

How many children in America go to school hungry every day according to the example?

• 10 million

• 13 million

• 15 million

• 20 million

What is the main cause of the problem discussed in the example paragraph?

• High food prices.

• Poor education.

• Food insecurity.

• Lack of schools.

What should you include in your introductory paragraph besides background information?

• Only the hook.

• The hook, thesis statement, and possibly the counterclaim.

• Only the counterclaim.

• Only the thesis statement.

What will be discussed in the next section of the workshop?

• Gathering evidence.

• Writing a counterclaim.

• Developing the thesis statement.

• Writing the conclusion.