MS.

MACLAREN GRADE 11 HONORS

Argumentative Writing
Unit
MORAL DILEMMA INQUIRY

Audience

Topics

Claims

Counter Claims

Evidence

Letter From Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King Jr.

Moral Dilemma Argumentative Writing Packet

Letter from Birmingham Jail Notes:

Structure of Argument:
Paragraph/Section

Word

Function

Definition/Part of Speech

Function in context

Letter From Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King Jr.

Moral Dilemma Argumentative Writing Packet
Seldom

Cognizant

Moratorium

Unfettered

Notable Vocabulary and Terms:

Transition Words:
Frankly, Moreover, Of course, On the other hand, . . .
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Punctuation:
Punctuation mark and Example

Function

Ideas for Moral Dilemma Writing

Questions to ask yourself:

Letter From Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King Jr.

Moral Dilemma Argumentative Writing Packet
What do I care about?
Who do I care about?
What injustices have I seen?

What is a Moral Dilemma?

A moral dilemma is a conflict in which you have to choose between two or more actions and
have moral reasons for choosing each action.
Moral refers to standards used to judge right and wrong.
A moral dilemma is a situation where:
1.) You are presented with two or more actions, all of which you have the ability to perform.
2.) There are moral reasons for you to choose each of the actions.
3.) You cannot perform all of the actions and have to choose which action (or actions when there are
three or more choices) to perform

Some examples of Moral Dilemmas:

-

Should everyone donate money to the poor?

Is it right to hold doors open for people?

Can lying be justified?

Is cheating okay?

Why is it an insult to call someone a girl or say they do something like a girl?

Here is a BuzzFeed Quiz to help your juices get flowing:

http://www.buzzfeed.com/tracyclayton/moral-dilemmas-that-will-break-your-brain
Sources:

http://education-portal.com/academy/lesson/moral-dilemma-definition-examplesquiz.html#lesson
http://education-poSrtal.com/academy/lesson/crimes-against-morality-definition-

Letter From Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King Jr.

Moral Dilemma Argumentative Writing Packet

Where do I start?
The Writing Process
Brainstorm
First, think about what matters to you. Try to find something you are
interested in exploring. Remember that with every argument there is a
counter-argument. Be ready to come across counter claims and stakeholders
who are dialoguing with each other.

Free-write
Choose a few topics to free-write about. Take out a sheet of paper and just
write anything and everything you can think of about the topic. Read it over
and ask yourself, can I write more about this? Am I willing to go deeper with
this?

Choose a Topic and RESEARCH

Find sources (articles, sophisticated blogs, sophisticated YouTube videos,
conduct interviews etc.) which both support and go against your opinion. In
this assignment, you will be both arguing your point of view and
acknowledging the counter argument. Make sure not to be bashful; rather
command the devices of rhetoric. (Like Martin Luther King Jr.!)

Choose your Audience

Ask yourself, who I am writing for? Who do I want to read this? Who are my
arguments directed towards? What am I trying to accomplish by writing this?
Gear your wording with an audience in mind; this will make your paper more
affective overall.

Construct a Thesis Statement and Introduction

Where are you going with your argument? What is the main focus of your
paper? Your thesis will answer what you are arguing and for what purpose.
Your Thesis should be an arguable statement or two which provide the reader
with an overall idea of what your argument is and what your inquiry will be
based on.

Construct Topic Sentences

These dictate the flow and direction of your paper while framing a body
paragraph and stating the function of that paragraph. Remember MLK Jr.s
effective structure of an argument. Your topic sentences must state a new

Letter From Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King Jr.

Moral Dilemma Argumentative Writing Packet

claim to your argument and why you are making that claim, a.k.a.: so what?
You must write a paragraph dedicated to acknowledging the counter
argument to your thesis, a concession.

Construct Body Paragraphs and Conclusion

Use your research to guide arguments. Be fueled by the discourses that
surround your topic of moral dilemma. Who is saying what? What do I think
about what other people are saying?

Mechanics
Phrase, Clause, Simple Sentence, Compound Sentence, Complex Sentence,
Compound-Complex Sentence.
Focus on creating sentences with different structures based on the grammar
rules we have already learned. Once you draft, you will practice revising
your own writing by focusing on sentence combining.

Ethos establishing credibility as a writer

Pathos appeal to emotion
Logos appeal to logic

Fallacies*
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/659/0
3/
Fallacies are common errors in reasoning that will undermine the logic of your argument. Fallacies
can be either illegitimate arguments or irrelevant points, and are often identified because they lack
evidence that supports their claim. Avoid these common fallacies in your own arguments and watch
for them in the arguments of others.
Slippery Slope: This is a conclusion based on the premise that if A happens, then eventually through
a series of small steps, through B, C,..., X, Y, Z will happen, too, basically equating A and Z. So, if we
don't want Z to occur, A must not be allowed to occur either. Example:
If we ban Hummers because they are bad for the environment eventually the government
will ban all cars, so we should not ban Hummers.

Letter From Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King Jr.

Moral Dilemma Argumentative Writing Packet
In this example, the author is equating banning Hummers with banning all cars, which is not the same
thing.
Hasty Generalization: This is a conclusion based on insufficient or biased evidence. In other words,
you are rushing to a conclusion before you have all the relevant facts. Example:
Even though it's only the first day, I can tell this is going to be a boring course.

In this example, the author is basing his evaluation of the entire course on only the first day, which is
notoriously boring and full of housekeeping tasks for most courses. To make a fair and reasonable
evaluation the author must attend not one but several classes, and possibly even examine the
textbook, talk to the professor, or talk to others who have previously finished the course in order to
have sufficient evidence to base a conclusion on.
Post hoc ergo propter hoc: This is a conclusion that assumes that if 'A' occurred after 'B' then 'B'
must have caused 'A.' Example:
I drank bottled water and now I am sick, so the water must have made me sick.

In this example, the author assumes that if one event chronologically follows another the first event
must have caused the second. But the illness could have been caused by the burrito the night before,
a flu bug that had been working on the body for days, or a chemical spill across campus. There is no
reason, without more evidence, to assume the water caused the person to be sick.
Genetic Fallacy: This conclusion is based on an argument that the origins of a person, idea, institute,
or theory determine its character, nature, or worth. Example:
The Volkswagen Beetle is an evil car because it was originally designed by Hitler's
army.

In this example the author is equating the character of a car with the character of the people who built
the car. However, the two are not inherently related.
Begging the Claim: The conclusion that the writer should prove is validated within the claim.
Example:
Filthy and polluting coal should be banned.

Arguing that coal pollutes the earth and thus should be banned would be logical. But the very
conclusion that should be proved, that coal causes enough pollution to warrant banning its use, is
already assumed in the claim by referring to it as "filthy and polluting."
Circular Argument: This restates the argument rather than actually proving it. Example:
George Bush is a good communicator because he speaks effectively.

In this example, the conclusion that Bush is a "good communicator" and the evidence used to prove it
"he speaks effectively" are basically the same idea. Specific evidence such as using everyday

Letter From Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King Jr.

Moral Dilemma Argumentative Writing Packet
language, breaking down complex problems, or illustrating his points with humorous stories would be
needed to prove either half of the sentence.
Either/or: This is a conclusion that oversimplifies the argument by reducing it to only two sides or
choices. Example:
We can either stop using cars or destroy the earth.

In this example, the two choices are presented as the only options, yet the author ignores a range of
choices in between such as developing cleaner technology, car-sharing systems for necessities and
emergencies, or better community planning to discourage daily driving.
Ad hominem: This is an attack on the character of a person rather than his or her opinions or
arguments. Example:
Green Peace's strategies aren't effective because they are all dirty, lazy hippies.

In this example, the author doesn't even name particular strategies Green Peace has suggested, much
less evaluate those strategies on their merits. Instead, the author attacks the characters of the
individuals in the group.
Ad populum: This is an emotional appeal that speaks to positive (such as patriotism, religion,
democracy) or negative (such as terrorism or fascism) concepts rather than the real issue at hand.
Example:
If you were a true American you would support the rights of people to choose whatever
vehicle they want.

In this example, the author equates being a "true American," a concept that people want to be
associated with, particularly in a time of war, with allowing people to buy any vehicle they want even
though there is no inherent connection between the two.
Red Herring: This is a diversionary tactic that avoids the key issues, often by avoiding opposing
arguments rather than addressing them. Example:
The level of mercury in seafood may be unsafe, but what will fishers do to support
their families?

In this example, the author switches the discussion away from the safety of the food and talks instead
about an economic issue, the livelihood of those catching fish. While one issue may affect the other it
does not mean we should ignore possible safety issues because of possible economic consequences to
a few individuals.
Straw Man: This move oversimplifies an opponent's viewpoint and then attacks that hollow
argument.
People who don't support the proposed state minimum wage increase hate the poor.

Letter From Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King Jr.

Moral Dilemma Argumentative Writing Packet
In this example, the author attributes the worst possible motive to an opponent's position. In reality,
however, the opposition probably has more complex and sympathetic arguments to support their
point. By not addressing those arguments, the author is not treating the opposition with respect or
refuting their position.
Moral Equivalence: This fallacy compares minor misdeeds with major atrocities.
That parking attendant who gave me a ticket is as bad as Hitler.

In this example, the author is comparing the relatively harmless actions of a person doing their job
with the horrific actions of Hitler. This comparison is unfair and inaccurate.

*Taken from Purdue Online Writing Lab.

Grammar
Use varying sentence structures to enhance sophistication
of writing and appeal to audience.
In order to create rhythm and a flow, and in order to
clearly show the relationships between ideas, sentences
vary between simple, compound, complex, and compoundcomplex.
Simple Sentence, Compound Sentence, Complex Sentence
Compound-Complex Sentence
Use Parallel Structure when listing.
Ex. Cinderella loves dancing, singing, and riding in the chariot.
Rapunzel is kind, caring, and shy.
Assign Emphasis to words and sentences.
Sentences feature the main idea by aligning phrases and clauses
in a logical progression and in a way that ends with the main idea.
Avoid overstating and avoid understating.

Letter From Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King Jr.

Moral Dilemma Argumentative Writing Packet

Use strong vocabulary choices that condense phrases and that

capture the nature of the action. Avoid repetition of to be verbs
or to have verbs. Use a variety of verbs. Use a variety of
transitions.
Make sure subject and verb are in agreement.
Use semi-colons to join independent clauses.
Your grammar and writing may never be perfect. Thats
okay! Writing is supposed to be messy and it is a process.

The Writing Process

Condensed:
1. Choosing a topic
2. Finding Supporting
Evidence
3. Planning to Write
4. Drafting the Essay
Smaller Writing Assignments:
Free-write.
You will have 3 free-writes due as a part of the writing process.

Research/Finding Evidence
Collect research, print, and show your classmates and me. Evaluate and
yourself who your research would benefit. Talk to people you know. Conduct
interviews. You can even do a social experiment and record results, video
tape (with permission).

Respond to Peers.
In class, we will look over a peers research and give them structured
feedback.

Letter From Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King Jr.

Moral Dilemma Argumentative Writing Packet

Constructing Thesis and Introduction.

These will be handed in after free-writes and research.

To Research:
Go to the Library! Find a computer and do preliminary brainstorming by
researching topics and what people are saying in, about, and around each
of those topics (discourses). This will help you decide your topic and
ultimately construct a strong argumentative piece.
Some sites:
Nytimes.com (The New York Times)
http://www.nypl.org/collections/articles-databases (The New York Public
Library Free Database)
Our school databases
YouTube (credible debates, etc.)
Conduct your own experiment and record it.
Interview someone (A teacher, parent, family member, etc.)
Other Texts:
Famous Speeches: http://www.historyplace.com/speeches/previous.htm

Draft Ideas Here:

Letter From Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King Jr.

Moral Dilemma Argumentative Writing Packet

Tips for gathering and making sense of your research:

Know what the stakeholders of your research are claiming and the counter
claims.
Keep track of all articles, books, videos, and audio that you may have
collected so you can refer back to it easily.
Use the following chart to help keep track of your research:
Stakeholder

Claim/Counter
Claim

Evidence

Text/Article

Letter From Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King Jr.

Moral Dilemma Argumentative Writing Packet