Argumentative Essay and Counter Arguments

1. Argumentative Essay and Counter Arguments 9-16-2013

2. Goals • Content Goal: Students will gain an understanding of the argumentative essay assignment and will work on developing counter arguments in various ways. • Language Goal: Students will be able to define counter arguments and use them in context. • Social Goal: Students will transition between activities well without causing any major disruptions or distractions.

3. Reading Check/Quiz • Define the term counter argument • Describe what a turn against is • Describe what a turn back is • Describe one of the examples included in the reading and how they used a counter argument in the example

4. Argumentative Essay Assignment Sheet

5. Essay Layout • Intro • Con Body Paragraph • Pro Body Paragraph #1 (weakest) • Pro Body Paragraph #2 (weak) • Pro Body Paragraph #3 (strongest) • Conclusion

6. The Counter Argument Paragraph • When you write an academic essay, it is your chance to make an argument. You state your thesis, and then you find evidence to support that thesis. One useful tactic when writing an academic essay is to think about the possible arguments which could be made against your thesis. These are called counter-arguments. • The Turn Against: Summarize all of the best arguments on the side opposite that which you are defending (the con side) • The Turn Back: Transition that states why the con side are not good options, and brings the reader back to your side (the pros)

7. Example: Obama – Romney dueling debate • Pick out the counter arguments that both former candidates used in their speeches.

8. Silent Debate • There will be two sets of teams that represent each side of the argument that we are looking at. Each team will be for or against the overall statement • The for group will go first and offer up their argument supporting the statement • The against group will then go up and debate that topic • Groups will go back and forth until the time has finished (groups will have 2-3 minutes) • Whichever group has more support/arguments will win a prize • There is one big rule: nobody can talk throughout the entire debate process

9. 5 Strategies for Counter Arguing • Attacking validity of the logic • Attacking the truth of the stated premises • Identifying a problematic unstated assumption • Offering an alternate explanation of the same pieces of evidence • Providing additional evidence in support of a different conclusion

10. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day

11. Summer is the best season of the year

12. Counter Argument Speech • Find a debate/problem/argument in either your book or the community/school, choose a specific side of the debate, and formulate an argument. • Your debate must include a specific thesis statement and argument. • Your argument must consist of an introduction, a supporting body paragraph, a con body paragraph, and a conclusion. • Paragraph = section of your speech • Speech must be at least 1 and a half minutes, and no more than 3 minutes. • *Optional*: Use some type of visual aid, such as a PowerPoint, drawing, prop, etc.

13. Structure • Intro: including attention getter, background info, thesis statement. • Pro Body Paragraph: information supporting your side of the argument. • Con Body Paragraph: information supporting the other side of the argument, including a turn against and turn back. • Conclusion: turns back to your side of the argument and offers up a final argument to back up your topic

14. Remaining Time/Homework • Start to work on your counter argument speech/brainstorm on your topic • Speech work day on Wednesday in class • Lab on Thursday and Friday • Writing Circle rough drafts due Friday