Argumentative Essay

Argumentative Writing

Fact vs. Opinion
Facts can be proven, while opinions are personal feelings about a topic. Argument writers use both fact and opinion when developing pieces.


What Is an Argument?
An argument is an opinion supported by facts. Writers refer to opinions as claims and facts as evidence. The claim clearly states a stance on a topic or issue. Evidence to prove this claim can include reasons, personal experience, statistics, confirmed facts, and expert research. 



We all have plenty of opinions, but can you support yours to create a strong argument? For this writing assignment, you will identify and build an argument by crafting a debatable claim and supporting it with three pieces of credible evidence. Whether you’re arguing about the best television show or why homework should be outlawed, you must show your reader how you arrived at this conclusion by laying out your thinking in the form of a claim and supporting evidence. Your argument will be five paragraphs. It should be focused on one central idea and provide three examples of supporting evidence to persuade your reader that your argument is strong. At least one piece of evidence should be from a credible secondary source. 

Day One: Writer's Workshop
Brainstorm a list of possible topics. These need to be topics that you care about, and that you could come up with pros and cons/advantages and disadvantages for. 

Personal Narrative Writing

Personal Narrative

• Choose an important moment or event in your life.

• Select a meaningful memory to describe in your writing.

• Pick one moment and paint a picture with your words. 

• Show, don't tell!

• Use figurative language such as: idioms, similes and metaphors, personification, and onomatopoeia.

Expository Writing Presentation

Expository Writing Presentation Requirements

Please include the following in your Slideshow/Poster/Nearpod Presentation:

• Title Page

• Topic Sentence, or perhaps your entire Introductory Paragraph

• One slide for each of your Supporting Topics with details

• Concluding Statement or perhaps your entire Concluding Paragraph

• At least two photos pertinent to your writing

• Sources Cited Page

Credible Sources

Click here to learn about Credible Sources!

The 5 Step Writing Process

Here are the steps of the writing process:

1. PREWRITING- Think
_X_ Brainstorm- What do you want to do a expository writing piece on?

_X_Outline- Generate a brief outline on your topic, your three sub-topics and details for each.

_X_Research your topic. Use at least two credible online sources and one book source. Due 10/24

_X_Web/Graphic Organizer: For this step you will fill in a graphic organizer using the information from your outline and research.




2. DRAFTING- Write
_X_ Put the information into your own words, and properly cite it. Due 11/5
_X_ Construct complete sentences and form them into paragraphs. Remember, a paragraph is three-five sentences in length.

_X_ Read your writing to yourself, at least one time out loud and one time silently.



3. REVISING- Make it Better
_X_ Read it to yourself again.

_X_ Make sure that you have complete sentences. Check for capital letters for the beginning of sentences and for proper nouns. Did you use the correct punctuation, especially at the ends of your sentences? Did you indent for each new sub-topic/paragraph?

_X_ Add or take out parts as needed. Is your paper two pages long?

_X_ How is the flow? Does your paper flow smoothly?



4. PROOFREADING- Make it Correct

_X_ Read it to yourself again.

_X_ Peer Edit: Fill out a peer edit sheet, on your own writing, and then have a peer read your paper and do the same.

_X_ Read it to yourself again. Make all of the changes your peer has suggested, that make sense to you; ask questions.

_X_ Did you read it again?

_X_ Re-type all changes that you have decided need to be made, and you will have your finished product!

5. PUBLISHING-Share the finished product

_X_ Read it to the class.

_X_ Create a Keynote/Powerpoint slideshow of your paper. Make it at least 6 slides in length, including the Sources page.

_X_Add photos that help illustrate your writing.

_X_ Present to the class!

Expository Writing from Research

• Select a newspaper article about an event that has taken place in the community, state or country.
• Underline or highlight the key points and main ideas of the article.
• Write a summary of this newspaper article. A summary describes the key points and doesn't share unimportant information.
• Be sure to use your own words-avoid plagiarism!

Paragraph due in class tomorrow, September 24

Quick Writes

To start off our first round of Quick Writes, click the link!