WorksheetsWriting a Short Argumentative Essay
Total questions: 89
Worksheet time: 1hrs 7mins
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
What are the MAJOR parts of a short argumentative essay?
claim/thesis
transitions
reasons
evidence
conclusion
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.
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
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
3
As long as they are strong and well-supported, you can use as many as you wish.
True or False. You should NEVER demonstrate bias in an argument.
True
False
Which of these should appear first in an argumentative essay?
a claim
reasons
counterargument
evidence
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.
When we write argumentative essays in ELA class, where will we get our evidence from?
the text
research
our opinions
prior knowledge
'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
the opinion of an expert
A claim and a supporting reason
a counterargument
When you tell where your evidence came from, it is called a ___.
citation
quote
reason
reference
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.
The people that will be affected by your argument or read your essay
evidence
your teacher
audience
those who oppose you
How do you know evidence is taken from the text?
You capitalize it
It is in all CAPS
You use quotes and cite it.
You simply state it is from the text, but do not use quotes
When evidence is logical, it
is relevant.
makes sense to both the writer and the reader.
is engaging.
presents a counterclaim.
How do you know evidence is taken from the text?
It uses long, complex sentences
It is in all CAPS
You use quotes
You simply state it is from the text, but do not use quotes
When using reasons to support a claim, the reasons should be
facts and statistics only
solely based on your opinion
valid and logical
important and convincing to you only
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.
Develop your counterargument.
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.
Prewriting Steps
Step 5: Rank your evidence from strong to stronger to strongest. Your will want to use only strong evidence, but you will want to use your absolute strongest argument last since it is what the reader will most remember about your essay. The more direct your evidence is the stronger it is. In other words, a direct quote from the text that supports the argument being made is always stronger than a piece of evidence that must be explained using inferencing. Evidence that can be used by your opponent as well as by you is your least strong evidence. Use it if you must, but be sure to explain it well and demonstrate that it supports your argument more than that of your opponent.
Strong
"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 explains the irrational reason why he wanted to murder the old man in the first place.
Stronger
"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."
**This shows that he can’t control his irrational feelings and emotions even when necessary to get away with the murder.
Strongest
"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."
**This actually shows how he thought while in the room and still working toward the murder.
How many pieces of textual evidence will be used in this argumentative essay?
3
1
2
4
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 avoid plagiarism
To make the paper longer
To make the word count larger
To convince the reader that your evidence is reliable
When you paraphrase someone else’s ideas,
you use the exact words
you pick only the important items
you summarize what they have said in your own words
During the claim-evidence-reasoning pattern, the reason is
the power of the mind to think
the basis or motive for an action
an explanation for how or why your evidence proves your point
During the claim-evidence-reasoning pattern, the claim is
to formally request or demand
where you state your point
to say something is true
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
Reasons
A type of logic
Related to vision
Understanding
Why one believes something
Examples
Concrete times that one can show when something related to an issue occurred
A reason to change behavior
The context of an issue
Times that you have doubt
Details
A step in butchering a deer
Related to the five senses
Specifics you use to make an issue and your position make sense to (come alive for) the audience
From personal experience
an idea or conclusion that’s drawn from evidence and reasoning.
analyze
evaluate
inference
summarize
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?
When will you be asked to write short argumentative essays in this class?
On tests in order to demonstrate that you have closely read and deeply understood a text.
For homework in order to see if you were listening to my class lecture.
When I am polling the class to see what flavor ice cream you like best.
When I ask you to reflect on how you did on a test.
Even though you will write your short argumentative essay response below the question I ask you on a test, a good thesis statement does two things: it accurately restates the question AND it strongly makes a claim.
Which answer is an example of a thesis statement that does both in response to this question? WHO IS THE MORE HEROIC CHARACTER IN THE NARRATIVE POEM, "THE HIGHWAYMAN", THE HIGHWAYMAN HIMSELF OR BESS?
Bess is far and away the more heroic character in the narrative poem, "The Highwayman", than the highwayman is himself.
The highwayman is more heroic than Bess.
In "The Highwayman" both Bess and the highwayman are heroic.
I kinda think Bess is more heroic in "The Highwayman" than the highwayman because she ends up shooting herself to show her love while he breaks his promise to return to her no matter what happens.
Which answer choice correctly quotes and cites from this text?
"A clear and exalted perception enabled her to dismiss the suggestion as trivial." (Chopin, lines 43-44)
In lines 43-44 Chopin wrote that Mrs. Mallard clearly understood her feelings and did not find her doubts important at all.
"A clear...as trivial." (Chopin, lines 43-44)
Mrs. Mallard said that "A clear and exalted perception enabled her to dismiss the suggestion as trivial."
Which of the following questions would NOT be the basis of a good short argumentative essay?
Why did Montresor hate Fortunato so much in "The Cask of Amontillado"?
In "The Cask of Amontillado" were Montresor's actions against Fortunato justified?
Did Fortunato deserve his fate in "The Cask of Amontillado"?
Who was more villainous in "The Cask of Amontillado", Montresor or Fortunato?
Are the following transitions (commonly found within many middle school short argumentative essays) examples of ones that both connect and engage the reader?
My first reason is...
My second reason is...
My third reason is...
Yes
No
When I am evaluating and grading your short argumentative essays according to the grading rubric, which TWO criteria will I give the most weight to?
Thesis Statement and Essay Focus
Supporting Evidence
Organization
Connections
True or False: Your concluding sentence in a short argumentative essay should exactly restate your thesis statement.
True
False
True or False: You must always have exactly 3 pieces of supporting evidence for your thesis in a short argumentative essay.
True
False
Which of these is an example of a "strongest" reason to support a thesis in a short argumentative essay?
More importantly, in lines 40-41 it states: “The trail was bad, and I felt half mad, but I swore I would not give in; and I’d often sing to the hateful thing, and it hearkened with a grin.”
A policeman must serve the public’s best interest rather than his own and by making the decision to have his childhood best friend arrested, Jimmy clearly demonstrated that he could make the right, albeit extremely difficult, decision.
Above all else, Goldilocks ran away rather than explain her presence when she awoke to see the three bears standing over her.
Let’s begin with the decision made by the druggist that allowed Miss Emily to obtain the arsenic she used to poison Homer Barron.
Argumentative essays should be written in a formal style. Which answer choice represents a formal style?
Mrs. Mallard may have seemed cool with her husband, but she couldn't wait for him to be dead so she could PARTY!
Mrs. Mallard was kinda EMO and really whack when you think about it.
LOL! Anyone who thinks Mrs. Mallard was a loving and devoted wife has had too much to drink. SMH :(
While Mrs. Mallard was outwardly a devoted, loving wife, inside she was desperately seeking the independence all too often lacking in marriages of this time period.
What four questions should you constantly ask yourself as you write a short argumentative essay if you want to meet the requirements necessary to do well?
Is this good?
Is this enough?
Is this right?
Is this all?
What do I mean?
How do I know?
Why is this important?
Why is this true?How does this prove my point?
Who?
What?
When?
Where?
What is a claim?
What are reasons?
What is evidence?
What are transitions?
The first thing you must do well AND the most likely reason you won't do well as you write your short argumentative essay is
decide what your claim will be.
determine the number of reasons you will give.
give your evidence in your thesis statement.
take the time to properly analyze, understand, and paraphrase the question or prompt you will be answering.
True or False: You should always argue what your first impression tells you in a test-based short argumentative essay?
True
False
"I believe", "I think", and "It is my opinion that..." are examples of the best ways to begin your thesis statement.
True
False
True or False: While conventions (spelling, grammar, punctuation, capitalization, sentence structure, etc.) are important, they won't prevent you from getting a good grade on a test short argumentative essay unless they keep me from clearly understanding your meaning.
True
False
True or False: You should give your supporting reasons in your thesis statement.
True
False
True or False: Be sure to write a lot in a short argumentative essay because long essays always score better.
True
False
True or False: The best short argumentative essays say as much as possible in as few words as possible.
True
False
True or False: Your teacher will overlook weak or poorly connected evidence as long as you use at least 3 pieces of evidence in your short argumentative essay.
True
False
True or False: Since your teacher is grading your short argumentative essay, it is his responsibility to understand your argument and figure out what you mean.
True
False
Following the recommended structure of Thesis, Reasons/Evidence/Connections, and text to world connection in your concluding sentence(s) will definitely help you to score well in which rubric criteria?
Organization
Conventions
Connections
Focus
True or False: It's okay to write a good paraphrase of evidence from the text as you support your thesis.
True
False
True or False: Adding more information from the text that is not asked for in the question is a good way to show your teacher how well you understand the text and, therefore, improve your grade on your short argumentative essay.
True
False
True or False: If you begin writing as soon as you read the question, it is very likely you will make a poor grade because your essay will probably lack focus, organization, strong supporting evidence, and strong connections from the evidence to the thesis.
True
False
True or False: While directly stated and cited evidence from the text is best, you can use inferred evidence as long as you clearly explain why it is logical and you clearly connect it back to the thesis.
True
False
True or False: On a test about a text we have read and discussed in this class, you will always be given the argumentative questions days in advance, and you will have plenty of time to do multiple drafts of your essay.
True
False
True or False: Even though you must restate the question using its key words as you write your short argumentative essay thesis, you still need to take the time to break down the question and paraphrase it before doing so.
True
False
Strong evidence in a short argumentative essay
comes directly from the text
connects back to the thesis statement
is properly cited
is thoroughly explained for the reader
Why is it important to restate the test question asked in the thesis of your short argumentative essay?
It is a habit you will want to develop as you transition to more extensive essays in eighth grade and beyond when your essay won't begin with a test question.
It gives the reader important background to understand your argument.
It gives immediate focus to your essay.
It makes your paper longer and assures you a better grade.
Which of these transitional phrases would be inappropriate if you were beginning to argue your second reason or beyond?
To begin,
Furthermore,
Additionally,
Also,
Most importantly,
Which statement(s) is TRUE about the structure of a short argumentative essay?
It usually is written in a single paragraph, however, it can have multiple paragraphs if the writer feels it would help to make his reasons and evidence more clear to the reader.
It should never have more or less than 3 reasons.
It can take multiple sides of an argument as long as the writer makes clear those claims are equally valid.
It does not need to restate the question asked if that question is written directly above it on the test.
True or False: Because I am giving you the structure I want you to use as you write short argumentative essays, every essay in the class should look and sound the same.
True
False
Despite the fact that I am giving you a specific format to use as you write a short argumentative essay, which of the following BEST explains why no two essays should look or sound the same.
While the structure/organization is the same for all students, the claim, the reasons, the evidence, the transitions, the text-to-world conclusion can differ greatly from student to student.
Some students are just naturally good writers and some students are just naturally bad writers.
Students can choose to follow or not follow the structure/organization I ask you to use and still receive the maximum score per the scoring rubric.
Some students may choose to make their essays more creative and add lots of information not necessary to answering the question asked.
Which analogy is closest to me giving you a prescribed structure and organization for your short argumentative essays?
Using a specific structure as you learn to write an argument is like a child using training wheels when they first begin riding. As they get older and more mature as writers, they can develop a style that is not quite so strict just as those training wheels can come off the bicycle.
Using a specific structure as you learn to write an argument is like being a slave in chains. It does not allow you any freedom or ownership of your writing.
Using a specific structure as you learn to write an argument is like memorizing your times tables. There is only one right answer to What is 4 times 4? and there is only one right way to construct an argumentative essay.
Using a specific structure as you learn to write an argument is like getting a Get Out of Jail Free card. You will always get a good grade if you follow the formula, even is your essay is "bad."
Why do we avoid phrases like "I think" and "I believe" in argumentative writing?
Good writers of argument sit on the fence and never clearly let the reader know what their claim is.
Arguments can never include opinions, only facts.
We want to create a strong, confident tone which is convincing to our reader, yet these phrases clearly demonstrate that our claim is really just an opinion.
We want to use emotions as we make an argument, and these phrases just don't persuade the reader very much.
"Researchers say that young men and women join gangs because they are seeking the attention and acceptance their own families do not provide, yet how are these choices so different from the ones Miss Emily felt compelled to make?" This sentence is MOST LIKELY which part of an argumentative essay?
a thesis
a text-to-world conclusion
a piece of textual evidence
a transition from one reason to another
True or False: While it is important to stand behind what you truly believe, in the world of academic arguments, the argument that will score best is the one you can best support with logical, relevant textual evidence--regardless of your personal beliefs.
True
False
It's okay to use a weak piece of evidence as long as you have two really strong ones.
True
False
