Argumentative

Paragraph

Writing an Argument
Begin by taking a stance a position or

way of looking at the topic

Purpose is to persuade or convince the
audience (readers) of the soundness of
your position
Build your reasoning by using evidence
to convince your audience explain the
evidence

Stance Purpose Audience

Evidence: all are important
elements of effective writing

REASONING ELEMENTS OF AN
ARGUMENT
Point: Stance
Point of view - How the writer sees
things
Claim - How things are or should be
Request - How the writer would like
them to be
Proof: Evidence
From texts, internet, videos, etc.
From experience
Discuss: Explanation
An explanation that links a piece of
evidence to the stance so it is
persuasive

EXAMPLE
STANCE: Rap should be central to the high school English curriculum in
urban public schools.
EVIDENCE: In a recent media survey of students attending the two
urban high schools, rap was rated as the favourite musical choice.
Education researcher, Dierdre Paul, promotes rap as a valid literary
genre alongside traditional poetry as a means of linking the culture
of students to educational content. This will make them more
engaged and successful.
EXPLANATION: If students in urban high schools love rap so much, then
those who typically would not engage in studying older works, like
Shakespeare, might find rap lyrics a powerful source of statements
about life. If a major reason we ask them to read older literature is
to consider the life themes that seem ageless and universal across
cultures and social groups, why not consider the same themes in rap
music? There are many rap songs that present social tensions, raise
issues about the role of women, love, money, and life and death.
These are all themes that we could find in Shakespeares Romeo and
Juliet. Within culturally diverse urban schools, using rap alongside
traditional literature can aid in the analysis of complex academic
texts in ways that students find meaningful.

Argumentative Paragraph
Rubric

Other tips
Need a clear topic sentence/3 pt thesis
Intro/Conclusion
Write in 3rd person
Develop Argument Logically
Clear evidence given
Evidence explained (analysis)
Written formally (pick a tense, no contractions)
Pro-nouns (they, it)
Be specific

Argumentative
Statement
It was necessary for Canadas war effort to
put conscription in place because _______ ,
_______ & ________ .

Sources
http://www.google.ca/imgres?
imgurl=http://sitemaker.umich.edu/argument/files/5paragraph.gif&imgrefurl=http://sit
emaker.umich.edu/argument/what_s_wrong_with_the_five_paragraph_essay_&h=324&
w=500&sz=29&tbnid=uM2aG75tO_mmQM:&tbnh=84&tbnw=130&prev=/images
%3Fq%3Dfive%2Bparagraph
%2Bessay&zoom=1&q=five+paragraph+essay&hl=en&usg=__oRn4BRkpXqJB8fwNon
tqUt4nDyo=&sa=X&ei=3HWbTP_SFIOhngfUn42yDw&ved=0CEIQ9QEwBQ
http://www.nla.gov.au/exhibitions/bunyips/html-site/evidence/index-evidence.html