Argumentative Writing
Educator Resources • Lesson Plans / Student Activities
"The ability to write logical arguments based on substantive claims, sound reasoning and relevant evidence is a cornerstone of the writing standards, with opinion writing - a basic form of argument - extending down into the earliest grades." (Source: Key Shifts in English Language Arts Common Core State Standards)
Here are some resources to help your students improve their argumentative writing skills.
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The Common Core State Standards place special emphasis on writing logical arguments as a particularly important form of college- and career-ready writing.
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Sample Student Performance Assessments for Secondary English Language Arts.
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Student samples of argumentative writing from the Common Core State Standards Appendix C. Kindergarten, Grade 2, Grade 4, Grade 7, Grade 9, Grade 10 and Grade 12.
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This handout from ReadWrite Think clarifies the goals, techniques, and methods used in the genres of argument, persuasion, and propaganda.
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This Gale resource offers pro/con perspectives on hundreds of social issues. Use the "Gale Reference Collection - Grades 9-12" link on Utah's Online Library.
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A generally accepted structure for introductions, body paragraphs, and conclusions in an academic argument paper.
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This resource covers using logic within writing - logical vocabulary, logical fallacies, and other types of logos-based reasoning.
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Supporting Claims with Relevant Evidence and Clear Reasoning - This book teaches us not only what an argument is, but how to teach it and why we should.
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This handbook covers 21st century skills, the inquiry process, project-based instruction, argumentative writing, and more. (Correlations to ELA Core.)
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This is an explanation and model for argument writing, including descriptions of argument writing terms. This PDF has more info about the Toulmin Method.
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The 7 C's (Converse, Convey, Consider, Concentrate, Concretize, Convince, Conclude) may help your students write effective argumentative essays.
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This TeachingChannel video demonstrates how to use debate to help 9-12 students support claims and address counterclaims.
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A concise explanation of argumentative essays from the Purdue Online Writing Lab.
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This grading rubric will help you assess your students' argumentatative essays. Here is another rubric developed by Washington County educators: PDF - Word
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Learn how the argumentative essay is similar, yet clearly different, than the persuasive essay.
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UEN gathered these resources to help students write effective persuasive essays.
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Lesson Plans / Student Activites
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Students will select a famous speech and write an essay that identifies and explains the rhetorical strategies that the author deliberately chose while crafting the text to make an effective argument. (Grades 9-12)
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Students analyze World War II posters, as a group and then independently, to explore how argument, persuasion and propaganda differ. (Grades 9-12)
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Use this scenario to prompt student writing about both sides of the argument. (Grades 9-12)
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Using Logical, Audience-Specific Arguments
Students generate arguments from opposing points of view, discover areas of commonality, and construct arguments to persuade their opponents. (Grades 9-12)
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This worksheet prompts students to create a list of arguments for and arguments against their selected issue.
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Students can use this online tool to compare any two items, including varying positions on an argument.
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This lesson helps students discover there's a difference between "arguing" and making an argument in support of a position. (Grades 5-12)
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Here are several videos on how to write an argument paper essay. (Note: many are YouTube videos.)