8 Steps to Success
A Basic Formula for Argumentative Writing That Employs
Bloom’s Taxonomy
Doral Academy Charter School
Argumentative Writing
PART 1 - ORGANIZATION
STEP #1: State your claim.
• Make a claim statement.
• Claim statements are for argumentative
papers.
• Thesis statements are for informative papers.
• A claim statement directly answers the topic
question.
• Bloom’s Taxonomy - Knowledge
STEP #1: State your claim.
• Example Topic questions:
• Should abortion be permitted?
• Do non-human animals have rights?
• Should the Confederate flag be banned?
• Should cosmetic surgery be banned?
• Is it ever justifiable to execute criminals?
• Would warning labels on food make people eat better?
• Do schools have the right to search students' lockers?
STEP #1: State your claim.
• Example Claim Statement:
Abortion should not be permitted.
STEP #2: Premises
• Create TWO supporting premises for your claim
statement
• Premises are for argumentative papers.
• Reasons are for informative papers.
• The first two premises should directly support the
claim statement.
• Bloom’s Taxonomy – Comprehension & Application
STEP #2: Premises
• Example of two premises:
• Premise #1: Abortion causes permanent internal
damage to the reproductive system.
• Premise #2: Abortion is immoral.
STEP #3: Sup. Evidence
• Provide TWO pieces of evidence for each
premise and cite the source (identify where you
got the evidence).
• Evidence is used in an argumentative paper.
• Supporting details are used in an informative
paper.
• Bloom’s Taxonomy – Application & Analysis
STEP #3: Sup. Evidence
• Example of Supporting Evidence:
• Premise #1 – Evidence #1: <quote>
Source: Journal of American Medicine
• Premise #1 – Evidence #2: <quote>
Source: WebMD.com
STEP #3: Sup. Evidence
• Example of Supporting Evidence:
• Premise #2 – Evidence #1: <quote>
Source: Society for Pro-Life Advocacy
• Premise #2 – Evidence #2: <quote>
Source: Encyclopedia of Religious Action
in American Democracy
STEP #4: Counter-Claim
• Make a counter-claim statement.
• Note: Do not say “counter-argument” because
steps 4-6 is what forms the counter-argument.
• A counter-claim statement directly opposes
the initial claim statement.
• Bloom’s Taxonomy – Knowledge & Synthesis
STEP #4: Counter-Claim
• Example of a counter-claim
statement:
Abortion should be permitted
STEP #5: Counter-Claim Premise
• Create ONE opposing premise for
your counter-claim statement
• Note: This opposing premise should
directly support the counter-claim.
• Bloom’s Taxonomy – Comprehension,
Application, & Synthesis
STEP #5: Counter-Claim Premise
• Example of a counter-claim
premise:
• Opp. Premise #1: Abortion is
about a woman’s right to choose.
STEP #6: Opp. Evidence
• Provide TWO pieces of evidence for
the counter-claim premise and cite
the source (identify where you got
the evidence).
• Note: These pieces of evidence should
directly support the counter-premises.
• Bloom’s Taxonomy –Application,
Synthesis, & Evaluation.
STEP #6: Opp. Evidence
• Example of Opposing Evidence:
• C.C. Premise #1 – Evidence #1: <quote>
Source: Society for Pro-Choice Advocacy
• C.C. Premise #1 – Evidence #2: <quote>
Source: Womensrights.org
STEP #7: 3rd Sup. Premise
• Create a third supporting premise
to the initial claim statement that
directly refutes the counter-claim
statement.
• Bloom’s Taxonomy – Synthesis
and Evaluation
STEP #7: 3rd Sup. Premise
• Example of a 3rd supporting
premise:
• A woman’s right to choose is
restricted when it comes to the
life of a baby.
STEP #8: 3rd Sup. Premise Evidence
• Provide TWO pieces of evidence
for this third premise and cite the
source (identify where you got
the evidence).
• Bloom’s Taxonomy – Synthesis
and Evaluation
STEP #8: 3rd Sup. Premise Evidence
EXAMPLE:
•Premise #3 – Evidence #1: <quote>
Source: Journal of Philosophy
•Premise #3 – Evidence #2: <quote>
Source: Pro-Life Advocacy Magazine
Argumentative Writing
PART 2 - DRAFTING
STEP #1
• Connect the dots.
• Make sure that you are properly
placing together the information from
Part 1.
STEP #2
• Use transitional words and phrases.
STEP #3
• Maintain a consistent point-of-view.
• Do NOT shift in POV.
• The best POV is 3rd-Person.
• Do NOT use:
• “me” “my” “I” “you” “your” “you’re”
“myself” “yourself”
STEP #4
• Establish a proper tone (voice) for your
audience.
• The higher the grade level, the academic
in tone the paper should be.
• This can be established by incorporating
higher level vocabulary.
STEP #5
• Draft the first paragraph.
• Make sure your claim is somewhere in
the first paragraph.
STEP #6
• Review and revise the first paragraph.
STEP #7
• Draft the rest of your essay.
• The essay should follow the
organization established in Part 1.
STEP #8
• Review and revise the whole essay.
FSA & Literary Analysis
MODIFICATIONS
FSA Modifications
• When practicing this in class. The teacher
should provide the sources for the
students. Ensure that at least one of your
sources presents a contrasting view of a
topic.
• Refer to FSA Core Standards to determine
the kind of sources and formatting for
your appropriate grade levels. (i.e. length
and difficulty of articles)
Literary Analysis Modifications
• A basic literary analysis paper is an
argumentative paper about a topic related
to a “text in study”.
• For basic literary analysis, teachers should
restrict outside sources for students. The
only sources allowed are those works of
literature used in class.