1. Rhetoric Thank you for arguing! Topic: Lengthening or not lengthening the school day

2. Writing Prompt Write a letter to Mr. Vercher (Mr. V) in which you argue for or against lengthening the school day. Be sure to support your claim with specific reasons, explanations and examples. Keep writing even if you are stuck. Write nonsense until you are able to come up with something else. You have 20 minutes…Go!

3. Elements of an Argument

4. Claim Definition: n. A statement or belief open to challenge by those who disagree; v. to insist something is true in the face of possible contradiction. Example (For,) Lengthening the school day ( will,) be beneficial for students because it ( will,) create higher testing scores, it (, is not ) costly, and it ( will not,) take away from extra-curricular activities for students’.(Thesis) Example Against: Lengthening the school day ( will not) be beneficial for students because it will not) create higher testing scores, it ( is,) costly, and it ( will) take away from extra- curricular activities for students’.(Thesis)

5. Evidence Definition: Evidence to support the claim. MUST BE FACTUAL and show citation for evidence. 1)Statistics2)Examples3) Expert Opinion Example (For, Against) 1)( 3%, 95% ) of schools saw change in test scores. 2)Praxton Middle School in Rewl, Texas has recently extended their school day, and they ( have, have not ) seen a change in test scores. 3)Mr. Jones has taught at a school, which had a longer school day than Chisholm, and he ( has, has not ) seen a difference in test scores among the two schools.

6. Counter-Argument Definition: an argument or set of reasons put forward to oppose an idea or theory developed in another argument. Example For: Some argue that lengthening the school day will not be beneficial because it will take away from extra-curricular activities, but a student's loss of “play-time” is worth the higher test scores and intellectual gains. Against: Some argue that lengthening the school day will be beneficial because it will increase test scores, but behind these higher test-scores are student who are physically, mentally, and emotionally malnourished due to time being taken away from extra-curricular activities.

7. Ethos, logos, and pathos Ethos: Appeal to authority or ethics/morals Logos: Appeal to logic Pathos: Appeal to emotion

8. fallacy Definition- an idea which many people believe to be true, but which is in fact false. Types Commonplace Assertion Appeal to Pity Name-Calling

9. Fallacy: Commonplace Assertion Definition- A statement that many people assume to be true, but it can’t be proven or is false. Example For: We all know that every student wants school to be longer! Against: We all know that all teachers wouldn’t want school to be longer!

10. Fallacy: Appeal to pity Definition: an argument where the writer or speaker refers to a pitiful or sympathetic fact about someone in order to get others to accept the conclusion. Example Georgina got hit by a car this morning, and she ( supports, does not support) a longer school day, so you ( should, should not) support is also!

11. fallacy: name calling Definition: where rather than addressing the issue, the writer discredits someone by attacking her or his character. Example ( For, Against ) Ms. H is a cotton-headed ninny muggin, and she (supports, does not support) longer school days, so you (should not, should ) support it!

12. Now it is your turn… Give it a try!

13. Scenario *Warning: nothing you are about to read is true* Mr. Vercher wants to make it mandatory that all students wear ankle length skirts to class everyday. You are a parent of a student. And you do not agree! You think that the dress code at the school now is just fine. You decide to write a letter to Mrs. Wagner to beg your point. Write a sample three sentences of the letter, each using Ethos, Logos, or Pathos.

14. Scenario *Warning: nothing you are about to read is true* Ms. Hendrickson wants to allow students to eat candy in every class period of the day. You are a dentist, and you do not agree. You are writing a letter to Mrs. Raven about why she should change her mind. Write a sample sentence of the letter using a counter-argument.

15. Scenario *Warning: nothing you are about to read is true* Your parents want you to complete your chores without giving you an allowance. You do not agree. And you decide to write a speech to present to your parents. Write a sample sentence of the letter using the fallacy- appeal-to-pity.