ARGUMENTATIVE WRITING PRACTICE PAPER- Class Copy
ARGUMENTATIVE WALK-THROUGH INSTRUCTIONS
PLEASE DO NOT WRITE ON + CLASSROOM COPY + PLEASE DO NOT WRITE ON
1. Read the Articles on Resource A and Resource
B.
2. Complete the instructions (see the boxes at the
base of pages and accompanying info at top) on
the following pages to do the following:
a. Marking Resource A
b. Producing a guided argumentative essay
based upon Resource B (for or against).
i. You will need to have both page B-1
and B-2 filled out to get credit for this.
3. Turn in your packet at the close of class.
As is protocol, be on your best behavior today.
Any missteps will result in an automatic U.
PLEASE BRING YOUR NOTEBOOKS FOR
THURSDAY’S AND FRIDAY’S CLASSES AS WE WILL
DO MIDTERM NOTEBOOK CHECKS THEN. THANKS
AND HAVE A GOOD ONE.
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ARGUMENTATIVE WRITING PRACTICE PAPER- Class Copy
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ARGUMENTATIVE WRITING PRACTICE PAPER- Class Copy
 Central
Claim/ Thesis:
The most general statement in the argument
that you are asking people to accept.
eg “Michelle may carry too much debt.”
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A thesis is the central idea of the essay.
In an argumentative essay, the thesis is a
definitive stance on the controversial matter
being debated.
It is important to note that in an
argumentative essay, the thesis must be
debate-able.
◦ If there is not an opposing side to the thesis, you
are not writing an argumentative essay.
RESOURCE A
RESOURCE B
Find the central claim
On Page B-1, write a
or thesis of the
thesis for your
argument presented in argument. Essentially
the article. Circle the
choose the side of the
sentence(s) that you
argument you believe.
identify as the thesis.
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ARGUMENTATIVE WRITING PRACTICE PAPER- Class Copy
 Claim:
A general statement in the argument that
you are asking people to accept that
supports your thesis.
eg “Michelle has too many credit cards.”

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Claims are smaller positions that support
the thesis by showing the thesis to be true.
Once again, a claim is a statement that can
be argued against.
Claims function as topic sentences for your
body paragraphs.
◦ That is to say, the rest of the information in the
same paragraph should show the claim to be
true
RESOURCE A
RESOURCE B
Find the supporting On Page B-1, write
claims for the thesis
at least three
in the article.
claims to support
Underline these
the thesis of your
claims.
paper.
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ARGUMENTATIVE WRITING PRACTICE PAPER- Class Copy
 Evidence/Data:
The support for the claim.
eg “Michelle has 3 credit cards in her purse.”
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Evidence shows the claim to be true.
Evidence must be factual. It must be true. Because
the evidence is true it supports the truthfulness of
the claim.
Evidence can take the form of many things:
◦ Statistical Evidence Numbers, research, etc.
◦ Testimonial Evidence expert opinion
◦ Anecdotal Evidence stories
◦ Analogical Evidence a comparable example to better illustrate the argument.
RESOURCE A
RESOURCE B
For each claim, find at
least one piece of
evidence presented
the argument
presented in the
article. [Bracket] these
pieces of evidence.
On Page B-1, write at
least one piece of
evidence to support
each of your claims.
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ARGUMENTATIVE WRITING PRACTICE PAPER- Class Copy
 Reasoning/Warrant:
Explains why the evidence/data
supports the claim (shows the
relationship between the two)
eg “There is a relationship between the
number of credit cards and personal debt. For
example, Kim and Devaney (2001) cite a
positive relationship between the number of
credit cards a person has and a consumer’s
debt.”
RESOURCE A
RESOURCE B
For each evidence,
note the warranting or
backing offered by the
artist place
(parentheses) around
these warrants.
On Page B-1, write a
warrant showing the
connection between
each of your claims
and the thesis.
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ARGUMENTATIVE WRITING PRACTICE PAPER- Class Copy

Counter Claim:
Objectively reporting on opposing perspectives; both you
and your opposition will make counter claims.
eg “Perhaps Michelle has chosen to open 3 credit accounts
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
in order to establish a positive credit history.”
At some point, we should acknowledge the opposition and
their claims in our paper.
We do this by carefully presenting the opposing claims
(“The opposition may say..”) and then launching a
counterclaim (“However..”) attacking the truthfulness of
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the opposition’s claim.
A counterclaim is essentially a statement saying the
opposite of the other side’s claim.
Evidence should then be used to show the counterclaim is
true.
Finally, the author should warrant and show reasoning
between
RESOURCE A
RESOURCE B
Look for a place in the
On Page B-1, pick one of
author’s argument
your opposition’s claims
where they entertain the
to refute. Write their
opposing side. Place a
claim, a counterclaim,
star on each end of this. evidence, and warrant to
refute it.
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ARGUMENTATIVE WRITING PRACTICE PAPER- Class Copy

Introduction/Conclusion
• The introduction paragraph should include an
attention getter (or hook), a bridge or
connecting sentence that helps ease the reader
toward the paper’s subject, and a thesis
statement that clearly states the central idea
about the subject of the paper.
• Hook (AGD)- This can take the form of a quote,
statistic, anecdote, definition, or any other item that
will grab the attention of the reader. This should be
able to be related to the thesis of the paper. If you are
hung up here, feel free to leave a blank and do this
last.
• Transition/Bridge- This sentence should help bring
the reader from the hook into the general topic
explored in the paper. The subject of the paper should
be health care.
• Thesis- A thesis is a specific statement about the
subject that you will illustrate throughout the
remainder of the paper. This specific statement is the
one thing you want your reader to walk away from
the paper knowing. The rest of your paper should
prove this point true. It is your position on the topic.
BELOW ARE SOME POSSIBLE FORMATS FOR A GOOD
INTRO/CONCLUSION:
Sample Argumentative Introduction/Conclusion Paragraph Format 1- They Say/I Say Style
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ARGUMENTATIVE WRITING PRACTICE PAPER- Class Copy
When it comes the topic of _________(arguable topic)_______ a great deal of people
believe _________(opposition thesis)__________. While there is some merit to this idea
I would argue that there is greater merit in ______(your thesis)__________.
Sample Argumentative Introduction/Conclusion Paragraph Format 2- They Say/I Say Style
The idea of _________( arguable topic)_______ is a very controversial topic. One side
of the argument feels that ___________________(one opinion/thesis in the
argument)___________. Whereas others believe __________(the opposing thesis in the
argument)_____________. While both sides have valid points, I believe
that___________(thesis: Your opinion on the argument)_________.
Sample Argumentative Introduction/Conclusion Paragraph Format 3- Generic
______________(Hook: quote, story, definition, or other interesting piece of info tied to
the subject of the paper)__________. This topic of _____(arguable topic)_______ has
become a hotly debated subject of late. To my point of view though, there is only one
reasonable conclusion on the matter: ____________(Thesis of Essay)________.
Sample Argumentative Introduction/Conclusion Paragraph Format 4- Generic
For ages man has asked ___(general and wide-arching philosophical question covered by
your text)___. This question continues to be asked today about the matter of
__(arguable topic)___. Despite the division in thought on the matter, I have concluded
there is only on right answer for me to that question, and that answer is clearly
______(thesis)_________.
ON PAGE B-2
In the Intro space, write an introduction
for your argument. Feel free to use the
templates or create your own.
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ARGUMENTATIVE WRITING PRACTICE PAPER- Class Copy

Since, Therefore, Because
 The following is a good
organizational structure for argument:

Since_________(EVIDENCE)_______________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
therefore
___________________(CLAIM)_____________
_______________________________________
___________________,
because
___________(WARRANT)_________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________.
On Page B-2
In the space of at least one of the body paragraphs
(and possibly in a second body paragraph spot if
you so choose) use this format with the information
on sheet B-1 to craft a body paragraph.
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ARGUMENTATIVE WRITING PRACTICE PAPER- Class Copy
 THEY SAY/I SAY- Your Side
Writer and professor Gerald Graff and Cathy
Bernkenstien have published a book called They
Say/I say. Many of their ideas and the templates they
have suggested are invaluable to helping create fluid
and smooth writing. They have proposed the
following templates for framing and delivering an
argument:
Sample Argumentative Body Paragraph Format 1
The truth of the matter is __________________(claim)_________________________.
For Example _____________________(evidence)_________________________. Clearly,
______________(warrant)________________________________.
Sample Argumentative Body Paragraph Format 2
I believe ___________________(claim)____________________________. This can be
seen from the fact that ______________(evidence)_____________________. In general,
____________(warrant)____________________.
Sample Argumentative Body Paragraph Format 3
At the core of this argument, __________________________(claim)_______________.
For instance, ____________________(evidence)____________________________. As a
rule, _____________________________(warrant)____________________________.
On Page B-2
In the space of at least one of the body paragraphs
(and possibly in a second body paragraph spot if
you so choose) use these templates and the
information from page B-1 to craft a body
paragraph.
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ARGUMENTATIVE WRITING PRACTICE PAPER- Class Copy
 THEY SAY/I SAY- Their Side
Writer and professor Gerald Graff and Cathy
Bernkenstien have published a book called They
Say/I say. Many of their ideas and the templates they
have suggested are invaluable to helping create fluid
and smooth writing. They have proposed the
following templates for framing and delivering an
argument:
Sample Counter-Argument Body Paragraph Format 1- Disagree
The opposition to my point of view may say _____(opposition’s claim or
opposition counterclaim)________. They may cite also
_______________(opposition’s evidence)_____________ as the basis for
their ideas. However, It is important to note
that_________(CounterClaim)____________. This can be seen in the fact
that _______(evidence supporting counterclaim)______________. Thus,
the oppositions claims fall short because
______________________(warrant)______________________.
Sample Counter-Argument Body Paragraph Format 2- Agree But Twist It
Others may believe that ________________(opposition’s claim)_________.
They may even substantiate their claims with ___________(opposistion’s
evidence)______________. I agree that this evidence/claim is true, but I
believe my opponent’s logic, _________(opposition’s warrant)________ is
faulty. In fact, I believe the fact that ________(opposition’s claim and/or
evidence)________ actually confirms my idea that
_______(thesis)____________ because ___________(Your Warrant of the
opponent’s claim and evidence supporting your thesis)_________.
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ARGUMENTATIVE WRITING PRACTICE PAPER- Class Copy
Sample Counter-Argument Body Paragraph Format 3- Secede Truthfulness;
Argue Importance
Some may say ______(opposition’s claim)_________ citing the fact that
_____(opposition’s evidence)________. And while they are, in fact, correct
when they make this assertion, the more important issue at hand is that
____________(claim)______________. In fact, ______(evidence)
___________ supports this idea. Clearly ___________(warrant supporting
your claim and its importance as compared to your opposition’s
claim)_____.
Sample Counter-Argument Body Paragraph Format 4- Agree & Disagree: Yes,
but No
Many people may hold the assumption that ________(opponent’s
claim)______. The fact that _____(opponent’s evidence)____ even supports
that idea. But I’d say yes and no to the conclusions they draw from that
piece of evidence: Yes to ______(the part of your opponent’s warrant you
agree with)________; But no to the idea that _____(the part of your
opposition’s warrant you don’t agree with)______. Actually,
___(counterclaim to the part of the argument you don’t agree with)____.
This idea is bared out in the fact that _____(evidence supporting your
counterclaim)_________. Thus, _____(warrant supporting counterclaim
and negating opposition’s warrant)___________.
On Page B-2
In the space of one of the body paragraphs, use
these templates and the information from page B-1
to craft a counter-argument body paragraph.
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ARGUMENTATIVE WRITING PRACTICE PAPER- Class Copy
• CONCLUSION
• The paper should wrap up soundly with
a good conclusion.
• The conclusion should bring the reader
back to the thesis (restated in different
words), restate the key points, and bring
the reader full circle by tying the back
into the attention getter.
• Restate Thesis- Put your thesis in other
words. This phrase should encapsulate the
same central idea of your original thesis.
• Restate Key Points (claims)- Once again,
using different wording, recap the key
points that illustrated the truthfulness of
your thesis.
• Reconnect to Hook/ AGD- This should bring
the reader full-circle to your introductory
hook thus giving the reader a sense of full
closure.
On Page B-2
In the space for the conclusion write a conclusion
paragraph on page B-1 to adequately and
eloquently wrap up your argument.
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