Team Polaris
American History
Name ________________
Date _________________
The American Revolution
Argumentative Writing Assignment
Prompt: There are many reasons why America won the American Revolution and
Sample Claim: The foreign help the Americans received was the most important
Due Dates:
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
th

st

Your CREATIVE Title: __________________________________________
This opening paragraph should gain your reader’s interest and identify the claim you plan to develop .
Grabber:
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Three Sentence Summary on the Background of the Revolution:
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Claim: Identify the reason you believe is the most important to America winning the war and why.
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Good Transition Starters:
 First 

One important
Most importantly
 A significant  Of greatest significant
This supporting paragraph should present the first reason supporting your claim.
Topic Sentence :
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Explanation of reason:
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How this reason helped the Americans win the war:
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Concluding Sentence:
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Good Transition Starters:
 Second
 Additionally


Equally important
Most important
 Another significant
 Of greatest significant
 Next
 Last
This supporting paragraph should present the second reason supporting your claim.
Topic Sentence :
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Explanation of reason:
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How this reason helped the Americans win the war:
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Concluding Sentence:
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Good Transition Starters:
 Third
 Additionally


Equally important
Most important
 Another significant
 Of greatest significant
 Next
 Last
This supporting paragraph should present the third reason supporting your claim.
Topic Sentence :
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_______________________________________________________
Explanation of reason:
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How this reason helped the Americans win the war:
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Concluding Sentence:
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This paragraph should present the counter argument and your rebuttal to this argument.
Opposition Reason (Transition Sentence):
“Some people would say…”
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Explanation of opposition reason:
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Why those who disagree with you are wrong:
(Counter argument transition + counter argument)
Good Counter Argument Transitions:
 However  On the contrary  Nevertheless  On the other hand
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Concluding Sentence:
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Conclusion Transitions:
 All in all
 In short
 As you can see
 Finally
 In summary
 Clearly
 In closing
 The logical conclusion is
 In conclusion
 To conclude
This concluding paragraph should restate the claim, tie the main points in the essay together, and leave the reader with something to think about.
Restated Claim:
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Summary of argument:
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Zinger: ___________________________________________________________
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Essay Score Sheet
4 substantial, specific, and/or illustrative content
Content demonstrating strong development and sophisticated ideas counter argument is clearly identified
Counter-
Argument and specifically explained with strong explanation of why argument is wrong
3 sufficiently developed content with adequate elaboration or explanation counter argument is identified and explained with explanation of why argument is wrong
2
Score/Grade ______
1 Score limited content with inadequate elaboration or explanation counter argument is identified with mention of argument being wrong superficial and/or minimal content counter argument is identified
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X 2
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Organization sophisticated arrangement of content with evident and/or subtle transitions functional arrangement of content that sustains logical order with some evidence of transitions confused or inconsistent arrangement of content with or without attempts at transitions minimal control of content
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Conventions evident control of grammar, mechanics, spelling, usage and sentence formation sufficient control of grammar, mechanics, spelling, usage and sentence formation limited control of grammar, mechanics, spelling, usage and sentence formation minimal control of grammar, mechanics, spelling, usage and sentence
____ formation
Scale: 20=A+ 19=A 18=A- 17=B+ 16=B 15=B- 14=C+ 13=C 12=C- 11=D+ 10=D 9=D- 8<=F
Strengths: Suggestions: