 An
argument is a reasoned, logical way of
demonstrating that the writer’s position,
belief, or conclusion is valid.
 Arguments seek to make people believe that
something is true or to persuade people to
change their beliefs or behavior.
An argumentative essay

A persuasive essay
Makes claims based on factual
Makes claims based on factual

evidence
evidence
Makes
counter-claims. The

author takes opposing views

into account.
May make claims based on
opinion
May not take opposing ideas into
account


Neutralizes or “defeat” serious
opposing
ideas

Persuades by appealing to the
Convinces audience through

or by relying
theaudience’s
merit andemotion
reasonableness
of
thethe
claims
and proofs
 on
character
or credentials of
offered
 the writer – less on the merits of
Often compares texts or ideas
to establish a position

Logic-based
Persuades by appealing to the
audience’s emotion or by relying
on the character or credentials of
the writer – less on the merits of
her or his reasons and evidence.
Emotion-based
 Claim
– Your basic belief about a particular
topic, issue, event, or idea
 Counterclaim – A solid and reasonable
argument that opposes or disagrees with your
claim
 Rebuttal – A written or verbal response to a
counterclaim. The object of the rebuttal is
to take into account the ideas presented in
the counterclaim and explain why they
aren’t persuasive enough, valid enough, or
important enough to outweigh your own
claim.
 Support-
Your specific facts or specific
evidence used to support why your claim is
true.
 Refute – Argue against a position or prove it
to be wrong.
 Qualify – A “partly-agree” stance in which
you agree (in part) with another person’s
argument or position but also disagree with
part of it.
 Claims
 Counterclaims
 Note
to teacher – use a piece of argument
writing that has the qualities I am looking for
in my student’s work: organization,
evidence, counterclaims, etc.
 Students
will come up with arguable,
debatable topics that can be researched and
supported with factual evidence
 Finding
and evaluating sources for validity
and reliability
 Briefly
cover MLA
 In-text citations
 Students
will use notecards for research.
 Students must have a minimum of two
sources – one supporting claim and one
supporting counterclaim
 Students should have at least three points of
evidence for the claim and one point of
evidence for the counterclaim
I. Introduction
A. Hook
B. Why is this issue important? Explain.
C. Claim- This is your thesis; it should clearly state your claim.
II. Body Part I
A. First point and supporting information
III. Body Part II
A. Second point and supporting information
IV Body Part III
A. Third point and supporting information
V. Counterclaim
A. Acknowledge the opposition
B. Refute the counterclaim with evidence
VI. Conclusion
A .Restating of claim and summary of the main ideas