Argumentative Writing
6th Grade Reading
Ms. Merjech
An argument in writing
• IS DIFFERENT THAN
ARGUING WITH A
PARENT OR FRIEND
Characteristics of Argument
Writing
• Convinces reader claim is true
• Uses evidence—facts and data
• Acknowledges counterclaims—the other side of the
argument
An Effective Claim
• Takes a clear position
• Has two sides
• Is narrow enough to be supported within essay
• Can be supported by facts or citations from a text
Prewriting
• Choose an appropriate, focused topic (ex: Airport Security)
• Explore and decide your position for this topic
• Predict opposing arguments
• Consider your audience and occasion
• Decide on which points you will argue (ex: Safe Traveler Card,
etc.)
• Decide on which points you will refute in the concession (ex:
Loss of privacy, etc.)
• Write a thesis that is focused, arguable, and opinionated
Claims for Written
Argument
• The thesis for your argument needs to be opinionated
or debatable.
• The thesis will usually fall into 4 different categories
or claims. Sometimes, an arguable thesis may
overlap and use 2 or even 3 different claims.
• The more claims you incorporate into your thesis,
the longer your essay will be.
Types of Claims
1) Claims of Fact or Definition
2) Claims About Cause & Effect
3) Claims About Solutions or Policies
4) Claims About Value
Claims of Fact or
Definition
• If you choose to make a claim of fact or definition,
be sure that you choose a DEBATABLE fact or
definition. For example, if a student claimed that the
Brazilian Samba was a slow graceful dance, it would
only take a few moments of research for me to find
that it is actually a fast-paced, rhythmic, and lively
dance. So clearly, this claim would not be debatable;
there is no argument.
• One debatable claim is whether or not a lie-detector
test is really accurate.
Claims about Cause and
Effect
• A cause is why an event happens. An effect is an
event that happens because of a cause.
• Similar to the claims about fact or definition, claims
about cause and effect need to be opinionated or
debatable. It is obvious, for example, that smoking
causes lung cancer, but one could debate whether or
not secondhand smoke causes lung cancer.
• Other more typical controversial cause-and-effect
topics range from the effect television has on teens.
Claims about Solutions or
Policies
• This claim is a perfect example of how 2 different
claims can overlap each other. Claims about
solutions or policies usually work hand in hand with
claims about fact or definition.
• For example, any policy relating to under-aged
minors is always controversial because it is difficult
to define when an adolescent is capable of making a
deliberate decision, just as an adult would.
Claims about Value
• Anytime a writer places value on someone or
something as "the best" or "superior", that writer is
making a claim about value. While writers should
always anticipate how to respond to the opposing
viewpoint, it is particularly crucial to do so when
dealing with a claim about value.
• For example, people who are blind have a unique
culture of blindness, and many believe that living a
visionless life is better than living a seeing-life. But to
properly address this topic and claim, one must
anticipate and respond to the opposing viewpoint,
that seeing-life has significant benefits.
Addressing the
counterclaim…
• Refutes or proves wrong, another point
• Recognizes the other side’s points
• Lends credibility to the writer’s claims