Practice: Parts of an argument

Master argument parts! Practice identifying claim, counterclaim, reasons, and evidence.

Vocabulary Matching Match the vocabulary word to the correct definition. Purpose of an argument To convince or persuade Claim Stating what you think is true based on what you know and on your research Counterclaim The opposite of your claim. It is provable and supportable by reasons and evidence. Reasons Why you believe in your claim. Tell why, tell importance, and make someone care Evidence Supports the reasons with facts, research, and experiences. Now match the the evidence to a stated claim. Wild animals should be protected. It’s been proven that diversity in wildlife helps maintain a healthy ecosystem. High-fructose corn syrup should be banned. Studies show that if we consume too much, it can cause health problems, like obesity and diabetes. Kids who are 12 and over should be allowed to vote for the president. The president, and the president’s decisions, affect everyone− including kids. Video games help kids learn. Some studies have shown that certain types of games can help kids learn problem-solving skills. We should be allowed to choose what we want to learn in school. We will be more interested and involved at school if we get to make our own choices. Not all junk food is bad. Doctors agree that it is okay to eat sweets in moderation, as long as you have a balanced and healthy diet overall. Now, for each of the claims above, find the counterclaim to it and then a rebuttal. Click on the ORANGE BOX to find an answer bank to choose from. Claim Counterclaim Rebuttal Video games help kids learn. Video games have no educational value. They take time away from learning and just waste hours of the day. Some researchers say kids who play video games improve in three areas: planning, organization, and flexible thinking . Kids who are 12 and over should be allowed to vote for the president. Kids 12-18 are too inexperienced and uneducated to be allowed to vote for the president. One of the major jobs of the president is to make policies for public education. These policies affect kids and they should have some say in them. High-fructose corn syrup should be banned. High fructose corn syrup provides better flavor enhancement, stability, freshness, and consistency in foods in comparison to regular sugar. Intake of high fructose corn syrup leads to increased liver fat. One study in men and women showed that drinking high fructose corn syrup-sweetened soda for 6 months significantly increased liver fat, compared to drinking milk, diet soda, or water Wild animals should be protected. We need to focus on supporting and protecting people who are dying from hunger and malnutrition and not worry about the animals. If we don't protect the animals, our ecosystem will be ruined and we won't be able to produce the food needed to feed people. We should be allowed to choose what we want to learn in school. Teachers and parents know what children need to study and learn in order to succeed in the world and so they should choose what students study. If students are able to choose what to study, they will be more motivated to study and do well in the classes.