Title
Symbol, Conclusions, and Inferences in Followed by Will McIntosh
Skill
Making a Strong Argument
EBA Activity
Choosing the Best Warrant Writing Exercise
Claims and/or Warrants You may choose one of the following claims:
Claim 1:
The button is a powerful symbol of the universal theme in Followed.
Warrants: (class provides warrants and the strongest 3 are chosen)
1. because…
2. because…
3. because…
Claim 2:
The button is a powerful symbol of the theme in Followed Warrants:
Warrants: (class provides warrants and the strongest 3 are chosen)
1. because…
2. because…
3. because…
Procedure
Standard Choosing the Best Warrant Writing Exercise
Timing/Pacing
1.
Prior to doing this activity students should have read Followed by Will McIntosh. I
have selected this story as a genre breaking short story in the zombie genre.
However, any short story that clearly breaks an expected genre could work for this
exercise as long as it utilizes strong symbolism. They should have viewed and/or
read excerpts or selected scenes from a variety of examples that typify the genre you
are working in. They should be familiar with the difference between theme and
universal theme. They should know what a symbol is and how symbols can help
solidify a theme or a universal theme.
2. Choosing the Best Warrant Writing Exercise is approximately 20-30 minutes.
Notes
●
●
This activity reinforces the differences between theme and universal theme.
This activity reinforces the roll and value of a symbol. For students to understand the
symbol they have to make inferences and come to conclusions about the significance
of the symbol. To reinforce the academic vocabulary of inference and conclusion the
teacher should use these terms when paraphrasing student argument.
● Proper symbol analysis requires attentiveness to theme, universal theme, conflict,
plot, inference, conclusion, and author’s purpose, so these elements can be
incorporated easily into analysis.
● In my class, students follow up their genre breaking study by writing their own genre
breaking short story. If you intend the same, it can be helpful to follow up this
exercise with brainstorming on the symbols they will select, and what they are
choosing to reinforce with those symbols, in their own story. Additionally, they
should consider if there story will be a social statement.
Boston Debate League © 2012
●
These mini-paragraphs can be saved as prep work for a Counterarguments Table
Debate.
Text
Followed, by Will McIntosh
http://www.amazon.com/Living-Dead-John-Joseph-Adams/dp/1597801437 OR the entire
short story can be found here:
http://www.johnjosephadams.com/the-living-dead/?page_id=31 by permission of the author.
Follow-up activity
To include a written activity, follow up with a choosing the best warrants mini-debate.
Boston Debate League © 2012
Name:_____________________________________ Class:__________________Date:______________
Choosing the Best Warrant Writing Exercise
Claim and Warrants
You may choose one of the following claims:
The button is a powerful symbol of the universal theme in Followed.
The button is a powerful symbol of the theme in Followed
Warrants:
1. because…
2. because…
3. because…
Claim 2:
The button is a powerful symbol of the theme in Followed Warrants:
Warrants:
1. because…
2. because…
3. because…
Preparing to Write
Step 1 – Select the strongest warrant. Warrant #___.
Step 2 – Provide 2 reasons why the warrant you choose is the strongest
Reason 1:
Reason 2:
Step 3 – Provide 2 reasons, 1 for each of the 2 weaker warrants why they are not as strong of an
argument.
Warrant #__ is weaker because…
Warrant #__ is also weaker because…
Boston Debate League © 2012
Paragraph Set-up
The strongest reason for believing [claim] is true is the fact that [the warrant you chose]. One
reason why this warrant is best is [reason why the warrant is best]. Additionally, [2 nd reason
why the warrant is best]. Some would argue that [1st opposing warrant] is a better reason to
believe [claim], but that is not the case. Specifically, [reason why 1st opposing warrant is
weaker]. In addition, others would argue that [2nd opposing warrant] is a better reason to
believe [claim], but that is not the case. In fact, [reason why 2 nd opposing warrant is weaker].
Thus, [the chosen best warrant] is clearly the best reason to believe [claim].
Paragraph
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Boston Debate League © 2012
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Boston Debate League © 2012