1. Argumentative Essay Writing

2. Persuasive Essay Argumentative Essay
Purpose - makes a claim about a topic and justifies this claim while trying to convince the reader to agree with him/her
Argumentative Essay
Purpose – makes a claim about a topic and justifies this claim with researched evidence. The goal is to get the reader to see that your side of the argument is valid.

3. Argumentative Essay
Offers facts, research, and evidence to show that the author has valid points
Based on logic, not emotion
Always provides evidence with claims
Acknowledges the opposing claims
Presents multiple sides of the argument, but it is clear which is the author’s side

4. Breaking It Down, Step-by-Step I. Read and Dissect the Prompt II
Breaking It Down, Step-by-Step I. Read and Dissect the Prompt II. Brainstorm III. Create Thesis Statement IV. Layout/Outline Essay Structure V . Write Rough Draft, including: 1. Introduction Paragraph 2. Body Paragraphs (s) Counter-argument paragraph 4. Conclusion VI. Revise and Edit VII. Produce Final Copy and Publish

5. I. Read and Dissect the Prompt
● Carefully read the complete prompt
Writing Situation: There is an increasing number of businesses and individuals attempting to domesticate wild animals. In the United States, there are varying opinions. Each state establishes its own laws regarding this practice, ranging from full bans of wild animal ownership to ownership with minimal government oversight.
Directions for Writing: Should exotic animals be domesticated? Consider the perspectives of the animals and humans involved.

6. I. Read and Dissect the Prompt
● Now, read the prompt again underlining important points.
● Synthesize what is being asked of the writer. What is the conflict? Who is the audience?
Writing Situation: There is an increasing number of businesses and individuals attempting to domesticate wild animals. In the United States, there are varying opinions. Each state establishes its own laws regarding this practice, ranging from full bans of wild animal ownership to ownership with minimal government oversight.
Directions for Writing: Should exotic animals be domesticated?
Consider the perspectives of the animals and humans involved.

7. Practice – I. Read and Dissect the Prompt
Writing Situation: Your school district has proposed saving money by eliminating extracurricular sports from the high school program. Think about the possible effects of cutting sports from the school program. Directions for Writing: Decide whether this proposal would be beneficial to the student body. Defend your position with specific reasons supported by evidence.

8. II. Brainstorm Domesticating Wild Animals?
● Recognize any side of the argument to identify the side you can BEST argue. Don’t rule out any ideas at this point!
● As you think of supporting ideas for each side, write those ideas down, so you may easily sift through them to formulate the position you want to argue.
YES:
-Interesting pets; gives variety
-Government should not intervene in what pets to own
NO:
-Pets could harm humans
-Expensive to maintain
-Not ideal environment; outside their natural habitats
-Help protect endangered species
Domesticating
Wild Animals?

9. Writing Situation: Your school district has proposed saving money by eliminating extracurricular sports from the high school program. Think about the possible effects of cutting sports from the school program. Directions for Writing: Decide whether this proposal would be beneficial to the student body. Defend your position with specific reasons supported by evidence.

10. III. Create Thesis Statement
Based on the strength of your evidence, choose your position and develop your thesis statement.
The thesis statement –
is the most important sentence in the entire essay, because it serves as a map of the entire essay
The thesis statement -
must be specific
must be a single sentence
must be a statement (WITH A PERIOD)
must outline all content discussed in the body of the essay
must be supported by specific evidence in the body of the essay
must have parallel structure (STOP for practice on notes)

11. III. Create Thesis Statement
The thesis statement –
is presented at the end of the introduction paragraph and is restated at the beginning of the conclusion paragraph.
Your ideas may change as you write the rough draft; if so, revise the thesis statement to reflect exactly what is discussed in the essay.

12. Specialized knowledge required Animals are deprived of intended life
III. Create Thesis Statement
Exotic Animal Domestication? Chosen Position: exotic animals should not be domesticated
People could be harmed
Specialized knowledge required
Reasons why exotic animals should not be domesticated…
Animals are deprived of intended life
Animals are endangered
Expense of proper maintenance

13. III. Create Thesis Statement
Directions for Writing: Should exotic animals be domesticated? Consider the perspectives of the animals and humans involved.
Thesis Statement - Because domestication of exotic animals endangers humans and deprives the animals of natural order, wildlife should remain in the wild where it belongs.

14. Practice – III. Create Thesis Statement
Writing Situation: Your school district has proposed saving money by eliminating extracurricular sports from the high school program. Think about the possible effects of cutting sports from the school program. Directions for Writing: Decide whether this proposal would be beneficial to the student body. Defend your position with specific reasons supported by evidence.

15. IV. Layout/Outline Essay Structure Your thesis statement outlines the structure/content of your essay. Look -
Body Paragraph 1
Because domestication of exotic animals endangers humans and deprives the animals of natural order, wildlife should remain in the wild where it belongs.
Body Paragraph 2

16. Introduction with Thesis Statement: Because domestication
of exotic animals endangers humans and deprives the animals of
natural order, wildlife should remain in the wild where it belongs.
Body Paragraph One Topic Sentence: When individuals bring
uncivilized animals into society, they are endangering themselves and
their unsuspecting neighbors.
Body Paragraph Two Topic Sentence: Wild animals are deprived of
their natural order when they are plucked from their native
environment.
Conclusion with a Restated Thesis Statement : Regardless of the
motive, exotic creatures should remain in the wild because their
domestication endangers humans and deprives the animals
of their natural order.

17. Restated Thesis Statement=
Practice -Topic Sentences and Restated Thesis Statement
Think about the possible effects of cutting sports from the school program. Decide whether this proposal would be beneficial to the student body.
Thesis Statement=
Topic Sentence #1=
Topic Sentence #2=
Restated Thesis Statement=

18. “Flipping” a Thesis Statement (an easy way to restate your original thesis)
Original Thesis Statement - Students should wear school uniforms in order to avoid negative consequences and disruption to education.
“Flipped” Thesis Statement – In order to avoid negative complications and interruption to learning, students should wear school uniforms.

19. IV. Layout/Outline Essay Structure IV. Layout/Outline Essay Structure
Make sure to address a counterargument in your last body paragraph. A counterargument is an opposing point of view (argument against a position- in this case, against your position/claim, your thesis statement). A counterargument is also sometimes called a counterclaim, because it COUNTERS (argues against) your CLAIM (opinion).

20. Why include a counterargument?
It proves to the reader that the writer is objective (has considered both sides of the argument), and as a result, the writer is credible (trustworthy).
By including AND refuting counterarguments, you strengthen your position outlined in the thesis statement.

21. V. Write the Rough Draft - Introduction
The introduction = minimum of four sentences
Begins with a hook/lead to grab the reader’s attention.
Provides one or two sentences that transition to the thesis statement.
Clearly states the thesis statement, the “map” of the essay.
Transitions to the first body paragraph.

22. V. Write the Rough Draft - Introduction
Dozens of fresh carcasses of exotic animals, including leopards and tigers, littering the land. This sight would cause alarm if encountered in a rainforest; however, in 2011, this striking scene in Ohio, not Africa, appalled residents. The local sheriff’s department saw no option other than to shoot the exotic animals as they began to dart through traffic and meander through neighborhoods, threatening public safety, after the suicidal owner of the exotic pets released them into a residential area. Because domestication of exotic animals endangers humans and deprives the animals of natural order, wildlife should remain in the wild where it belongs. Many such creatures are endearing and mesmerizing, but they pose a real danger for people.

23. V. Write the Rough Draft – Body Paragraphs
● The number of body paragraphs depends upon the number of ideas presented in the thesis statement, plus the counterargument paragraph.
● Begin each body paragraph with a topic sentence which establishes the subject/topic of the paragraph.
● The paragraph continues with specific, detailed evidence supporting your topic sentence. Pull evidence from the texts you are reading!

24. V. Write the Rough Draft – Body Paragraphs
● Each body paragraph ends with a concluding or transitional sentence which cleanly finishes the body paragraph.
● Never include less than five supporting sentences in a body paragraph (5-7).
● Don’t forget to address a counter-argument in the last body paragraph of an argumentative essay.

25. V. Write the Rough Draft – Body Paragraphs – Body Paragraph #1
When individuals bring uncivilized animals into society, they are endangering themselves and their unsuspecting neighbors. Born Free USA is a national non-profit organization focused on wildlife conservation and animal protection. Their database holds records of such incidents. For example, a 34-year-old man was strangled to death by his pet snake, a toddler was mauled by a relative’s “pet” mountain lion, and a lady’s face was permanently disfigured by a friend’s chimpanzee.
(over ->)

26. V. Write the Rough Draft – Body Paragraphs – Body Paragraph #1 cont’d.
The organization has documented over 2,000 similar incidents resulting in 82 deaths in the last 20 years. In addition to the physical attacks, wild animals introduce diseases causing people to become sick. The threat is factual. Humans cannot live without encountering dangers along the way. On the contrary, the threats brought about by domestication of wild animals can be eliminated by ceasing this practice. In addition, the animals are afforded a higher quality of life.

27. V. Write the Rough Draft – Body Paragraphs – Paragraph #2
Wild animals are deprived of their natural order when they are plucked from their native environment. In the movie The Lion King, the “circle of life” is explained as a delicate balance between the various components of nature, each filling a vital role in its own place. Removing animals from nature creates an imbalance in the world and leads to stress on the animals and unnatural behaviors, which can cause damage. For example, animals begin to attempt to cross-breed when they are enclosed with other creatures outside of those found in their natural environment. Other animals become aggressive when held in captivity, posing a threat to themselves as well as other animals. (over ->)

28. V. Write the Rough Draft – Body Paragraphs – Paragraph 2, cont’d.
For example, killer whales show dominance through an act called raking that involves forcefully scraping another whale with its teeth. The act has been found to be more common when killer whales are held in captivity, as their housing is restrictive. In 1989, at Sea World Aquatic Park, a killer whale rammed itself into a pool wall in a violent attempted raking. The creature died less than one hour later due to the trauma. In order to protect the well-being of exotic species, domestication attempts should cease.

29. V. Write the Rough Draft – Body Paragraphs – Counter Argument
There are many people who argue that wild animals make interesting and exotic pets. In a world where individuals seems to want to outshine the next, these people claim that it is no longer fascinating to have a dog or a cat as the household pet. However, these individuals are not considering the imminent danger they are risking to themselves, their families, their neighbors, and the animals. Yes, wild animals can be tamed and trained; nevertheless, their core instincts cannot be removed and their well-being is compromised when held outside their natural habitat. Born Free USA states that nearly 45% of domesticated wild animals will react aggressively at some point in their habitation with humans. That is a huge risk to take when loved one’s lives are at stake! Therefore, domesticating wild animals should simply not be an option.

30. V. Write the Rough Draft - Conclusion
The conclusion = minimum of four sentences
Transition sentence to the restatement of thesis statement, OR begin with the restatement
Restatement: reword the thesis or flip the thesis; do not paste the thesis from introduction to conclusion.
Provide two or three sentences reminding the reader of the main arguments made in the essay.
Close with a concluding sentence that leaves the reader thinking of the matter and the claims that have been made. Maybe a “call to action,” or connect back to the hook in the introduction.

31. V. Write the Rough Draft - Conclusion
What NOT to do in the conclusion:
DO NOT mention the counterargument again
DO NOT introduce new arguments, evidence, or details
DO NOT apologize for doing a poor job of presenting the material
DO NOT say, “This essay was about,” “I hope you agree with me,” “Hopefully, you are convinced,” or anything similar

32. V. Write the Rough Draft - Conclusion
Perhaps man’s desire to dominate wild animals is innate; others may be mesmerized by the idea of befriending a creature considered off-limits for most of society. Regardless of the motive, exotic creatures should remain in the wild because their attempted domestication endangers humans and deprives the animals of their natural order. Help protect the wild animals who cannot advocate for themselves by supporting animal welfare groups such as Born Free USA or Big Cat Rescue. It is important to make sure that pet ownership is mutually beneficial for both the human and the pet.

33. VI. Revise and Edit
The goal is to improve your paper in content (ideas) and mechanics (grammar, spelling, punctuation, etc.)
Do you have an introduction, 1-2 body paragraphs, a counter-argument, and a conclusion?
Does each paragraph have the proper structure (i.e., topic sentence, supporting sentences, concluding transition sentence)?
Is there a clearly stated thesis statement in the introduction?
Does every point support your thesis, or have you gone off topic? No matter how much you like a point or a sentence, if it is off topic, cut it.
Have you provided adequate supporting details (count your sentences and make sure you meet minimum requirements)?

34. VI. Revise and Edit
● Have you organized your material so that all your discussion of a single point is in one place in your essay, or does the same idea get discussed in more than one place in the essay? Combine all discussion of one claim in one paragraph, and cut any repetition.
● Check the way you begin your sentences; do you use the same words or phrases? Do not overuse any phrases, quotes, statistics, large words, etc.
● Use varied sentence structure. You should have simple, compound, and complex sentences throughout the essay.
● Are the grammar, punctuation, and spelling correct?
● Did you avoid first person references – I, me, we?

35. VII. Publish Final Copy
● If typed, use Times New Roman, size12 font, double spaced, and print in black ink on white paper, single sided
● If hand-written, write legibly, use black or blue ink, double spaced on notebook paper, single sided
● Indent each paragraph, and observe margins of the paper
● Entitle your essay
● Do not leave an extra empty line between paragraphs
● Do not use “colorful writing” – text lingo, hearts to dot i’s, smiley faces, your athletic number beside your name, etc.