The basics of Argument RI 8.5, RI 8.8

Boost ELA skills with our Argument Basics worksheet! Learn claims, evidence, and more for middle schoolers.

What is your first and last name? In an argumentative essay, the author's goal is to... Avoid addressing the counterclaim Summarize an issue in your own words persuade the reader to agree with your point of view Entertain the reader with personal anecdotes Which of these is NOT crucial to an effective argument? Interesting topic Strong evidence Emotional language Expert sources Which of these will cause the author to lose credibility? Evidence from expert sources Personal bias Refuting a counterclaim Persuasive language Basic Argument Terms - Matching Credibility The quality of being believable or trustworthy Refute Prove to be false or incorrect Cite Refer to a source to give proof or credit Pro an argument in favor of the author's claim Con an argument opposed to the author's claim Evidence The specific pieces of information that support a claim backed up by expert sources Thesis Statement A sentence that states the purpose and main point of a paper or essay Claim What you are trying to prove; states the author's viewpoint on an issue. Counterclaim The opposite view of the author. Reason A statement that supports your claim; why you believe something is true; justification Key argument terms are found in each section of Toulmin's argument framework. All five sections of the framework are provided below, as well as a list of key argument terms.Place the terms with the section of the framework in which they belong. Each section will contain TWO TERMS. Claim Author's viewpoint Thesis statement Warrant Reasoning Pros for your claim Backing Evidence Citing expert sources Rebuttal Refute Counterclaim Conclusion Closing your argument by restating its main points Providing closure for the reader How does providing evidence from expert sources contribute to your credibility as the author? Please respond to the question to the best of your ability, using complete sentences and correct spelling and grammar. What is the purpose of using Toulmin's Argument Framework? Please respond to the question to the best of your ability, using complete sentences and correct spelling and grammar. Which of these is an example of refutingthe counterclaim? (all quotes come from Ms. Harris' presentation from today) "Not everyone is a dog person." "Dogs are worth the extra attention, however. The time you spend nurturing your dog will come back to you tenfold." "[dogs] won’t suit every person’s lifestyle." "According to The Official Service and Support Animal Registration, dogs are the most common support animal."