Lesson 10: WritInG Your Argument
This is it, folks,
This is where we put everything we've been leaning about this whole unit into practice.
This is the lesson where we write our paragraphs.
By the end of this lesson, you'll have 5 of your 5 paragraphs written.
Please plan on spending at least an hour (most likely two--could be more!) on this lesson and assignment.
Sharpen your pencils, get some place quiet, and get ready to write 20 sentences.
Yes, 20.
(Phhhssshhhewwww....that's not so bad...)
Nope, it's not really that bad...so let's get going!
But, first, let's make sure we know what's what.
This is where we put everything we've been leaning about this whole unit into practice.
This is the lesson where we write our paragraphs.
By the end of this lesson, you'll have 5 of your 5 paragraphs written.
Please plan on spending at least an hour (most likely two--could be more!) on this lesson and assignment.
Sharpen your pencils, get some place quiet, and get ready to write 20 sentences.
Yes, 20.
(Phhhssshhhewwww....that's not so bad...)
Nope, it's not really that bad...so let's get going!
But, first, let's make sure we know what's what.
STop: do you remember your topic?
Remember, all the lessons in this unit are tied to the topic of academic argument.
Beginning in lesson 7, we were given the choice of two topics:
Do you think college athletes should be paid to play?
OR:
Do you think people shouldn't be allowed to read certain books?
Whatever topic you chose then, that's what you'll be writing about today.
Beginning in lesson 7, we were given the choice of two topics:
Do you think college athletes should be paid to play?
OR:
Do you think people shouldn't be allowed to read certain books?
Whatever topic you chose then, that's what you'll be writing about today.
STOP: do you remember your research?
In lesson 7, you did research to find facts, expert quotes and other evidence to support your claim.
You'll need to use the facts and evidence you researched when you write your paragraphs today.
Now would be a good time to find the notes you took while doing your research (remember, I told you there wasn't a spot to take notes on your research, but that you should--and hold on to them because you'd need them later? Now is when you need them.)
If you did not take notes when researching sources, it's no reason to panic!
Click here to return to lesson 7. There are three links provided for each topic.
Spend time reading the information on the websites, and writing down sentences, quotes or facts that offer support to your own personal opinion/claim.
Here is a document to help you get organized if you've been lost in the unit until this point. This document is NOT what you turn in for a grade, it's just to help you get organized for lesson 10:
You'll need to use the facts and evidence you researched when you write your paragraphs today.
Now would be a good time to find the notes you took while doing your research (remember, I told you there wasn't a spot to take notes on your research, but that you should--and hold on to them because you'd need them later? Now is when you need them.)
If you did not take notes when researching sources, it's no reason to panic!
Click here to return to lesson 7. There are three links provided for each topic.
Spend time reading the information on the websites, and writing down sentences, quotes or facts that offer support to your own personal opinion/claim.
Here is a document to help you get organized if you've been lost in the unit until this point. This document is NOT what you turn in for a grade, it's just to help you get organized for lesson 10:
STop: do you remember your introductory paragraph?
Yeah, remember? We already wrote the first of the 5 paragraphs of this essay. In lesson 8, we came up with a claim and counterclaim and wrote our introductory paragraph!
Take the time right now to re-read your intro. You can go into your gradebook to see if your intro has been graded and read teacher comments.
If the teacher has suggested that you make some changes to your intro paragraph, open up the Word doc and change it!
If the intro paragraph has not been graded yet, that's ok!
The important thing is that you re-read your intro paragraph. The paragraphs you write today will continue to argue the claim that you wrote in your intro.
But how?
And that's where your outline comes in...
Take the time right now to re-read your intro. You can go into your gradebook to see if your intro has been graded and read teacher comments.
If the teacher has suggested that you make some changes to your intro paragraph, open up the Word doc and change it!
If the intro paragraph has not been graded yet, that's ok!
The important thing is that you re-read your intro paragraph. The paragraphs you write today will continue to argue the claim that you wrote in your intro.
But how?
And that's where your outline comes in...
STOP: Do you remember your outline?
In lesson 9, we were asked to create an outline of our argument outline.
The outline serves as a blueprint to you for how you planned to structure your essay.
In other words, you already thought about what you wanted to write about and what points you wanted to argue.
If you've done a decent job outlining your argument, the hard part is done! Get your outline now and put it in front of you. Use it as a guide as you write today. Look at it to help yourself remember what you wanted to write your paragraphs on.
The outline serves as a blueprint to you for how you planned to structure your essay.
In other words, you already thought about what you wanted to write about and what points you wanted to argue.
If you've done a decent job outlining your argument, the hard part is done! Get your outline now and put it in front of you. Use it as a guide as you write today. Look at it to help yourself remember what you wanted to write your paragraphs on.
STop: Make sure you have everything you need!!
Ok, just to recap:
1. You've decided on either banned books or college athletes as a topic, right?
2. You have made a claim/counterclaim, right? Meaning, you know what you are going to try to convince an audience of, right?
3. You've done research and have facts and quotes to support your argument, right?
4. You have 3 main points to write about right? (These are your three reasons why you feel the way you do about your claim). These main points should be on your outline.
5. You have your introduction paragraph pulled up and edited according to teacher comments (if any), right?
1. You've decided on either banned books or college athletes as a topic, right?
2. You have made a claim/counterclaim, right? Meaning, you know what you are going to try to convince an audience of, right?
3. You've done research and have facts and quotes to support your argument, right?
4. You have 3 main points to write about right? (These are your three reasons why you feel the way you do about your claim). These main points should be on your outline.
5. You have your introduction paragraph pulled up and edited according to teacher comments (if any), right?
Get Ready!
Like I said, in this lesson's assignment is to write 4 paragraphs.
Three body paragraphs and a conclusion paragraph to be exact.
A paragraph is made of 5 sentences. Each paragraph has 5 sentences, then the assignment is to write 20 sentences.
Not so bad, but 20 sentences about what? And how?
Well, that depends on what your topic is, and what your claim is. It also depends on what three reasons you chose to talk about.
Whatever you outlined as your three reasons 'why' will be what you write your paragraphs about.
For example, if my outline looks like:
Claim: I believe college athletes should not be paid to play
Counterclaim: some people may think they should be paid to play
1. It's a choice--nobody has to play sports in college
2. All athletes need to be paid then, not just the football players
3. Not professional
Then my essay would look like:
Intro: 5 sentences about my topic, and give my claim/counterclaim
Body 1: 5 sentences about how playing is a choice
Give a fact or quote to support
Body 2: 5 sentences about how all athletes need to be paid, if any are
Give a fact or quote to support
Body 3: 5 sentences about how college athletes are not professional, and shouldn't be paid
Give a fact or quote to support
Conclusion: 5 sentences reviewing he mail points and reminding readers why it's important to agree
Take about 2 minutes to view this clip about why and a how to set up an argument essay:
Three body paragraphs and a conclusion paragraph to be exact.
A paragraph is made of 5 sentences. Each paragraph has 5 sentences, then the assignment is to write 20 sentences.
Not so bad, but 20 sentences about what? And how?
Well, that depends on what your topic is, and what your claim is. It also depends on what three reasons you chose to talk about.
Whatever you outlined as your three reasons 'why' will be what you write your paragraphs about.
For example, if my outline looks like:
Claim: I believe college athletes should not be paid to play
Counterclaim: some people may think they should be paid to play
1. It's a choice--nobody has to play sports in college
2. All athletes need to be paid then, not just the football players
3. Not professional
Then my essay would look like:
Intro: 5 sentences about my topic, and give my claim/counterclaim
Body 1: 5 sentences about how playing is a choice
Give a fact or quote to support
Body 2: 5 sentences about how all athletes need to be paid, if any are
Give a fact or quote to support
Body 3: 5 sentences about how college athletes are not professional, and shouldn't be paid
Give a fact or quote to support
Conclusion: 5 sentences reviewing he mail points and reminding readers why it's important to agree
Take about 2 minutes to view this clip about why and a how to set up an argument essay:
get set!!
Open up a your Introduction in a Word doc.
Hit enter and tab to indent for a new paragraph and begin typing.
All in all, you'll write three body paragraphs and a conclusion.
The writing may be difficult, just say what you want to say to say to get people to agree with you! Don't forget to use your research to give your audience facts and quotes that support what you are trying to say!
5 sentences per paragraph, for three body paragraphs and one conclusion paragraph=20 sentences total.
Each of your three reasons 'why' should get their paragraph.
This may take as much as an hour to write! That's ok!
You may find this document helpful.
NOTE: This is not what is turned in for this lesson.
Hit enter and tab to indent for a new paragraph and begin typing.
All in all, you'll write three body paragraphs and a conclusion.
The writing may be difficult, just say what you want to say to say to get people to agree with you! Don't forget to use your research to give your audience facts and quotes that support what you are trying to say!
5 sentences per paragraph, for three body paragraphs and one conclusion paragraph=20 sentences total.
Each of your three reasons 'why' should get their paragraph.
This may take as much as an hour to write! That's ok!
You may find this document helpful.
NOTE: This is not what is turned in for this lesson.
GO!!
Ok, did you get all that?
Got your three body paragraphs and conclusion written? Save them!! Copy and paste them into the worksheet for this lesson.
Please go to slide 4 in the lesson and copy/paste the 'Drafting Guide' into a Word doc.
Complete the 'Drafting Guide.'
Don't forget to include your 'Works Cited' information. Please see lesson 6 for a reminder of how to complete a 'Works Cited' list.
Got your three body paragraphs and conclusion written? Save them!! Copy and paste them into the worksheet for this lesson.
Please go to slide 4 in the lesson and copy/paste the 'Drafting Guide' into a Word doc.
Complete the 'Drafting Guide.'
Don't forget to include your 'Works Cited' information. Please see lesson 6 for a reminder of how to complete a 'Works Cited' list.
assessment: portfolio
Upload your completed 'Drafting Guide' in to the dropbox for lesson 10. This is the assignment for this lesson.
Good job!!
You have earned a break!!
Next lesson, lesson 11, we will continue to work with these essays, so make sure you have it saved!
Good job!!
You have earned a break!!
Next lesson, lesson 11, we will continue to work with these essays, so make sure you have it saved!