1. Argumentative Essay
Take Notes

2. Types of Argumentative Essays
Classical
Rogerian
Introduction
Background
Lines of argument
Alternate arguments
Conclusion
Toulman
Claim
Qualifiers
Reasons
Evidence
Warrants
Backing
Authority
Conditions or rebuttal
Responses
Introduction
Context
Writer’s position
Benefits to opponents
Conclusion

3. Preplanning
Main argument Your Position - reasons people disagree
Objection
Reply counterarguments 2. 3.

4. Claim – What you will prove?
A Claim must:
be debatable, something that you will prove.
Answer - What’s your point?
Answer- Where do you stand on that?
When writing your claim - State your position on the issue and the reason that will validate it.
Claim: Teens should attend high school from Monday thru Thursday so they may benefit from completing homework and projects on Fridays; in addition to being able to rest and be prepared for the following week of school.

5. Writing an Argumentative Essay
Introduction:
Introduce your topic – describe an issue, problem. Hook
Why is this topic important & state your position – background info. (You may use two sentences for this.)
Why should the audience care? -- counterargument
Thesis statement – claim + reasons (3-4)
Transitional statement

6. Choose a Topic Football is dangerous/safe.
All students should study abroad.
Athletes are paid too much.
Kids should be able to vote.
We need a military draft.
Cheerleaders' costumes are too skimpy.
Kids should get paid for grades.
School should take place in the evenings.
Country life is better than city life.
City life is better than country life.
Life is better than it was 50 years ago.
Kids under 15 shouldn't have Facebook pages.
SATs should be eliminated.
Teachers should be paid more.
Reincarnation is possible.
There should be one world currency.
We should provide food for the poor.
The government should impose household trash limits.
Football is dangerous/safe.
School days should start later.
Night school is better than day school.
Technical training is better than a college degree.
Immigration laws should be stricter/more lenient.
Students should be able to pick their schools.
Everyone should learn to play a musical instrument.
Cockroaches should be eliminated.
Sharks should be protected.
We should do away with cars and go back to horse and carriage for transportation.
We should use more wind power.

7. Claim + Reason + Warrant
Your statement + Backs up the point + How you get from the data to the claim. Unstated idea
Examples:
1. The mushroom is poisonous so don’t eat it since eating poisonous things is dangerous.
2. Smoking causes serious diseases in smokers and endangers nonsmokers as well so the federal government should ban smoking since the constitution was established to “promote the general welfare” and citizens are thus entitled to protection from harmful actions by others.
3. I’ve been drinking since age fourteen without problems so the legal age for drinking should be lowered since what works for me should work for everyone else.
Write a claim.

8. Transitional sentences
However, many do agree….
Nevertheless, the evidence does point to the …
Consequently, these are the facts that help us understand …
In simpler terms, our world would be much better if …
In fact, the best alternative would be …
Due to the advantages of …

9. Body of the Argumentative Essay Body 1 =
Counterargument and refutation
Explanation for each
Evidence or Support
Commentary
Transitional sentence

10. Body 2 = Scope one of thesis + reasons 1 Explanation for each
Evidence or Support
Commentary
Transitional sentence

11. Body 3 Scope 2 of thesis + reasons 2 Explanation Evidence or Support
Commentary
Transitional sentence

12. Body 4 Scope 3 of thesis + reasons 3 Explanation Evidence or Support
Commentary
Transitional sentence

13. Transitions for Counterargument
May be argued
Could be asserted
It might be contended
maintained that…
claimed
said
Some people may argue, may assert
could contend, could maintain
might claim, might say

14. Conclusion So what? Why is this topic important?
Why should people agree with you?
Rewording of claim
Persuade to take action or to think differently.

15. Works Cited Page
Elshahawi, Aya. “Structure of an Argumentative Essay.” March
Keller, Ben. “Argumentative Writing and the SEE Method.” September
Lundsford, Andrea; Ruszkeiwics, John and Keith Walters. Everything’s an Argument Bedford St. Martin.
Tabbakh, Sam. “Introduction to Argumentative Essay Type !”. August