1. Argumentative Writing

2. PART 1- ORGANIZATION

3. STEP #1: State your claim.  Make a claim statement.  Claim statements are for argumentative papers.  Thesis statements are for informative papers.  A claim statement directly answers the topic question.  Restate the question/prompt in the claim statement by clearly stating the position you have chosen.  Make a claim statement.  Claim statements are for argumentative papers.  Thesis statements are for informative papers.  A claim statement directly answers the topic question.  Restate the question/prompt in the claim statement by clearly stating the position you have chosen.

4. STEP #1: State your claim.  Example Topic questions:  Is it ever justifiable to execute criminals?  Do schools have the right to search students’ lockers?  Should school uniforms be mandatory?  Should the United States eliminate the penny?  Should we ban or restrict the use of violent video games?  Are sports really good for us?  Example Topic questions:  Is it ever justifiable to execute criminals?  Do schools have the right to search students’ lockers?  Should school uniforms be mandatory?  Should the United States eliminate the penny?  Should we ban or restrict the use of violent video games?  Are sports really good for us?

5. STEP #1: State your claim.  Example Claim Statement: School uniforms should be mandatory.  Example Claim Statement: School uniforms should be mandatory.

6. STEP #2: Premises  Create ONE supporting premise for your claim statement  Premises are for argumentative papers.  Reasons are for informative papers.  The first premise should directly support the claim statement.  Create ONE supporting premise for your claim statement  Premises are for argumentative papers.  Reasons are for informative papers.  The first premise should directly support the claim statement.

7. STEP #2: Premises  Example of one supporting premise: Premise #1 : School uniforms keep students focused on their education.  Example of one supporting premise: Premise #1 : School uniforms keep students focused on their education.

8. STEP #3: Supporting Evidence  Provide TWO pieces of evidence for each premise and cite the source (identify where you got the evidence).  Evidence is used for an argumentative paper.  Provide TWO pieces of evidence for each premise and cite the source (identify where you got the evidence).  Evidence is used for an argumentative paper.

9. STEP #3: Supporting Evidence  Example of Supporting Evidence:  Premise #1- Evidence #1: Source: USA Today  Premise #1- Evidence #2: Source: National Association of Secondary Principals  Example of Supporting Evidence:  Premise #1- Evidence #1: Source: USA Today  Premise #1- Evidence #2: Source: National Association of Secondary Principals

10. STEP #4: Counter-Claim  Make a counter-claim statement.  A counter-claim statement directly opposes the initial claim statement.  Make a counter-claim statement.  A counter-claim statement directly opposes the initial claim statement.

11. STEP #4: Counter-Claim  Example of a counter-claim statement: School uniforms should not be mandatory.  Example of a counter-claim statement: School uniforms should not be mandatory.

12. STEP #5: Counter-Claim Premise  Create ONE opposing premise for your counter-claim.  Note: This opposing premise should directly support the counter-claim.  Create ONE opposing premise for your counter-claim.  Note: This opposing premise should directly support the counter-claim.

13. STEP #5: Counter-Claim Premise  Example of a counter-claim premise: Opposing Premise #1 : School uniforms restrict students’ freedom of expression.  Example of a counter-claim premise: Opposing Premise #1 : School uniforms restrict students’ freedom of expression.

14. STEP #6: Opposing Evidence  Provide TWO pieces of evidence for the counter-claim premise and cite the source (identify where you got the evidence).  Note: These pieces of evidence should directly support the counter-premises.  Provide TWO pieces of evidence for the counter-claim premise and cite the source (identify where you got the evidence).  Note: These pieces of evidence should directly support the counter-premises.

15. STEP #6: Opposing Evidence  Example of Opposing Evidence:  Counter-Claim Premise #1- Evidence #1: Source: New York Times  Counter-Claim Premise #1- Evidence #2: Source: National Center for Education Statistics  Example of Opposing Evidence:  Counter-Claim Premise #1- Evidence #1: Source: New York Times  Counter-Claim Premise #1- Evidence #2: Source: National Center for Education Statistics

16. STEP #7: 2 nd Supporting Premise  Create a second supporting premise to the initial claim statement that directly refutes the counter-claim statement.

17. STEP #7: 2 nd Supporting Premise  Example of 2 nd supporting premise: Premise #2 : School uniforms reduces bullying.  Example of 2 nd supporting premise: Premise #2 : School uniforms reduces bullying.

18. STEP #8: Supporting Evidence  Provide TWO pieces of evidence for this 2 nd premise and cite the source (identify where you got the evidence).

19. STEP #8: Supporting Evidence  Example of Supporting Evidence:  Premise #2- Evidence #1: Source: USA Today  Premise #2- Evidence #2: Source: National Association of Secondary Principals  Example of Supporting Evidence:  Premise #2- Evidence #1: Source: USA Today  Premise #2- Evidence #2: Source: National Association of Secondary Principals

20. PART 2- DRAFTING

21. STEP #1:  Connect the dots.  Make sure that you are properly placing together the information from PART 1.  Connect the dots.  Make sure that you are properly placing together the information from PART 1.

22. STEP #2:  Use transitional words and phrases.

23. STEP #3:  Write in 3 rd person point-of-view  Do NOT use:  “me” “my” “I” “you” “your” “you’re” “myself” “yourself”  Write in 3 rd person point-of-view  Do NOT use:  “me” “my” “I” “you” “your” “you’re” “myself” “yourself”

24. STEP #4:  Establish a proper tone (voice) for your audience.  Incorporate higher level vocabulary.  DON’T make announcements:  “Keep reading to find out…” “Now I will tell you why…” “In the following paragraph I will tell you…” “Grab some popcorn while I show you why you should agree with me…”  DON’T state any questions  Establish a proper tone (voice) for your audience.  Incorporate higher level vocabulary.  DON’T make announcements:  “Keep reading to find out…” “Now I will tell you why…” “In the following paragraph I will tell you…” “Grab some popcorn while I show you why you should agree with me…”  DON’T state any questions

25. STEP #5: Draft the First Paragraph  Draft the first paragraph ( Introduction ).  Make sure it has the following (in order): a. Hook : ONE sentence that catches the reader’s attention.  USE : a quote, imagery, a scenario, figurative language, or a definition.  AVOID : questions, onomatopoeia, or restating the prompt b. Background Info : one or two sentences of general information related to the topic.  Consider mentioning what is being debated. C. Claim Statement : include your claim statement from Part 1, STEP #1  Draft the first paragraph ( Introduction ).  Make sure it has the following (in order): a. Hook : ONE sentence that catches the reader’s attention.  USE : a quote, imagery, a scenario, figurative language, or a definition.  AVOID : questions, onomatopoeia, or restating the prompt b. Background Info : one or two sentences of general information related to the topic.  Consider mentioning what is being debated. C. Claim Statement : include your claim statement from Part 1, STEP #1

26. STEP #6: Draft the BODY paragraphs  Draft the BODY paragraphs (paragraphs 2-4).  Connect the dots. Make sure to properly place the information together from Part 1:  Draft the BODY paragraphs (paragraphs 2-4).  Connect the dots. Make sure to properly place the information together from Part 1:

27. STEP #6: Draft the BODY paragraphs  2 nd paragraph (Body 1): PART 1, STEPS #2-3  P remise= Transition + P remise #1  E vidence #1  E xplain/ E laborate- thoroughly explain how the text evidence directly supports the premise  E vidence #2  E xplain/ E laborate- thoroughly explain how the text evidence directly supports the premise  3 rd paragraph (Body 2): PART 1, STEPS #4-6  Transition + Counter-Claim + Counter-Claim P remise  E vidence #1  E xplain /E laborate - thoroughly explain how the text evidence directly supports the counter-claim premise  E vidence #2  E xplain /E laborate - thoroughly explain how the text evidence directly supports the counter-claim premise  4 th paragraph (Body 3): PART 1, STEPS #7-8  P remise= Transition + P remise #2  E vidence #1  E xplain/ E laborate- thoroughly explain how the text evidence directly supports the premise  E vidence #2  E xplain/ E laborate- thoroughly explain how the text evidence directly supports the premise  2 nd paragraph (Body 1): PART 1, STEPS #2-3  P remise= Transition + P remise #1  E vidence #1  E xplain/ E laborate- thoroughly explain how the text evidence directly supports the premise  E vidence #2  E xplain/ E laborate- thoroughly explain how the text evidence directly supports the premise  3 rd paragraph (Body 2): PART 1, STEPS #4-6  Transition + Counter-Claim + Counter-Claim P remise  E vidence #1  E xplain /E laborate - thoroughly explain how the text evidence directly supports the counter-claim premise  E vidence #2  E xplain /E laborate - thoroughly explain how the text evidence directly supports the counter-claim premise  4 th paragraph (Body 3): PART 1, STEPS #7-8  P remise= Transition + P remise #2  E vidence #1  E xplain/ E laborate- thoroughly explain how the text evidence directly supports the premise  E vidence #2  E xplain/ E laborate- thoroughly explain how the text evidence directly supports the premise

28. STEP #7: Draft the final paragraph.  Draft the CONCLUSION (5 th paragraph).  Be sure to include (in order):  Restated CLAIM + 2 supporting PREMISES - 2 sentences that paraphrase your claim statement & supporting premises.  Summarize- provide a brief summary of the strongest supporting evidence used in the essay.  Closing sentence- 1 sentence that CALLS TO ACTION or PREDICTS A CONSEQUENCE.  Sample:  Let’s get students focused on their education, not their clothes!  If school uniforms were mandatory, one would see a positive impact on peer-pressure and bullying!  Draft the CONCLUSION (5 th paragraph).  Be sure to include (in order):  Restated CLAIM + 2 supporting PREMISES - 2 sentences that paraphrase your claim statement & supporting premises.  Summarize- provide a brief summary of the strongest supporting evidence used in the essay.  Closing sentence- 1 sentence that CALLS TO ACTION or PREDICTS A CONSEQUENCE.  Sample:  Let’s get students focused on their education, not their clothes!  If school uniforms were mandatory, one would see a positive impact on peer-pressure and bullying!

29. PART 3: REVISING

30. STEP #1:  Review and revise the whole essay: ( ARMS )  Add - sentences and words  Remove - words or sentences you don’t need  Move - change a word or placement of a sentence  Substitute - trade words or sentences for new ones  Review and revise the whole essay: ( ARMS )  Add - sentences and words  Remove - words or sentences you don’t need  Move - change a word or placement of a sentence  Substitute - trade words or sentences for new ones

31. PART 4: EDITING

32. STEP #1:  Edit the essay ( CUPS ):  Capitalize - names, places, titles, months, sources, etc.  Usage - nouns and verbs correctly used  Punctuation - periods, quotes, commas, semi-colons, apostrophes, etc.  Spelling - check all words. Look for homophones.  Edit the essay ( CUPS ):  Capitalize - names, places, titles, months, sources, etc.  Usage - nouns and verbs correctly used  Punctuation - periods, quotes, commas, semi-colons, apostrophes, etc.  Spelling - check all words. Look for homophones.