Unit 4 Writing Prompt: Argumentative Essay
What is an ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY?
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A style of writing that requires the student to investigate a topic; collect, generate, and evaluate
evidence; and establish a position on the topic in a concise manner.
The claim should state an opinion, and the remainder of the essay should focus on supporting the
author’s beliefs with textual evidence
For this essay, you will be responding to the following prompt:
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Which is more influential to our growth as people: Family or Community?
Assignment
We have discussed the ways in which our family and our community influence us as we grow. Your job
on this essay is to decide which influence is more powerful, family or community. Once you have
established your position, please use textual support from at least 3 of the following sources:
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“Blind Side” Article by Michael Lewis
“Stone Soup” by Barbara Kingsolver
Personal Article
Impacts of Social Media Articles
“The Stories that Bind Us” Bruce Feiler
“The Importance of Belonging” by Amanda Enayati
Consider the following questions when developing your claim:
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Are there specific ways that our family and our community shape us differently? How?
In what ways do our family and community influence who we become? In what ways do they help
us grow? In what ways do they hold us back?
In what ways do our interactions with family members and our community differ? How is that
good or bad?
Are there specific qualities or characteristics associated with being part of a family vs. being part
of a community?
Requirements
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Follow multi-paragraph essay format – intro, 3 body paragraphs, and a conclusion.
You need at least 3 pieces of evidence in your essay:
o At least 3 articles
o Type of your choice (short story, article, or personal example, as long as it supports your
claim based on the text).
Your essay must be MLA formatted and include a Works Cited page of your sources.
o You may use Noodle Tools to check your work. More info to follow.
Your essay must be written using formal language that is mechanically and grammatically correct.
o No personal pronouns (I, me, you, your, us, we, etc.) except in personal example & quotes
o Never use formulaic phrases like “I think,” “The evidence shows…” or “My paper is about”
o Write out all contractions (won’t, shouldn’t, etc.), except in quotes.
Brainstorm:
Claim: Based on the texts ____________________________, ______________________________________, and __________________________,
it is clear that _______________________________________ is more influential to our personal growth than
___________________________________________. ________________________________ is more influential because it impacts the
individual by _____________________________________________________.
Body Paragraph #1 Topic Sentence:
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Source _______________________________________________________________________________________
Evidence (direct quote):_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Body Paragraph #2 Topic Sentence:
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Source _______________________________________________________________________________________
Evidence (direct quote):_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Body Paragraph #3 Topic Sentence:
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Source _______________________________________________________________________________________
Evidence (direct quote):_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Conclusion:
Restatement of Thesis:
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Summary of each Body Paragraph:
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________