UNIT 3

The Art of Argument: Research-Based Essays

Starter Resource Set

Competitive Sports Text Set

Text Set Bibliographies

Additional Texts on Competitive Sports

Bottled Water

Child Labor

Eco Carbon Footprint

Green Energy

Pets in the Classroom

Whaling

BEND I: Establishing and Supporting Positions

Session 1 — Weighing Evidence to Form Considered Positions

Sample Teacher Essay: "Get Off That Couch and Play!"

Competitive Sports Text Set

Anchor chart: How to Write an Argument

Session 2 — Take Your Argument into a Scrimmage: Debating to Test and Strengthen a Position

Competitive Sports Text Set

Anchor chart: How to Write an Argument

Session 3 — Bam! Bolstering Positions by Adding Relevant Evidence

Chart:  How to Write a Literary Essay about Character

Argument Writing Checklist, Grades 6 and 7

Chart: When Ranking & Choosing Evidence, Writers Ask...

Anchor chart: How to Write an Argument

Chart: Make Quotes Work

Chart: Guidelines for Source Citations and References

Session 4 — Stay with Me Now: Balancing Evidence with Analysis

Chart: Guidelines for Source Citations and References

Chart: Ways to Analyze Evidence and Get Others to Follow Your Argument

Anchor chart: How to Write an Argument

FIG. 4-3 chart: Transitions to Analyze Quotes

Session 5 — Taking Stock

Argument Writing Checklist, Grade 7

Link: Examples of Punctuation Changing Meaning

BEND II: Composing More Focused and Nuanced Arguments

Session 6 — Forming Coalition Groups

Competitive Sports Text Set

Additional Texts on Competitive Sports

Alternate Version of Session 6

Session 7 — Bringing a Critical Perspective to Your Research

Chart: Questions to Ask the Text When Reading with a Critical Eye

Additional Texts on Competitive Sports

Graph: Total Female Emergency Room Visits by Sport

Anchor chart: How to Write an Argument

Links: "Flavored Milk" video and quantitative data resources

Session 8 — Debating to Prepare to Draft

Chart: Let's Argue About Texts

Session 9 — Introducing and Writing Your Argument

Chart: Ways to Introduce an Argument

Example of an introduction

Chart: Checklist for Creating Body Paragraphs

Samples of three conclusions

Chart: Ways to Conclude Argument Writing

Chart: Techniques for Powerful Conclusions

Anchor chart: How to Write an Argument

Session 10 — Self-Assessment with an Eye Toward Counterargument

Argument Writing Checklist, Grade 7

Mentor essay: Argument

Anchor chart: How to Write an Argument

Learning Progression for Argument Writing

Chart: Phrases to Use to Acknowledge and Rebut Counterclaims

Session 11 — Studying Author's Craft, Including Rhetorical Devices

Chart: Argument Writers Aim Toward Goals Such As...

Chart: Argument Writers Use Techniques Such As...

URL for Dan Pink's TED talk, "The Puzzle of Motivation"

Argument Writing Checklist, Grades 7 and 8

Chart: Team Policy Debate Format

Chart: Panel Format

Session 12 — When Company Comes: Knowing When and How to Maintain a Formal Tone

Examples of Formal and Informal Writing

Anchor chart: How to Write an Argument

Argument Writing Checklist, Grades 7 and 8

Session 13 — Celebration: Symposium

Argument Writing Checklist, Grades 7 and 8

FIG. 13-1 Jillian's essay arguing against competitive sports

FIG. 13-2 Gracie's essay on the risks of competitive sports

BEND III: Taking Arguments to a Global Audience

Session 14 — Taking Opportunities to Stand and Be Counted

Text Set: Bottled Water

Text Set: Child Labor

Text Set: Eco Carbon Footprint

Text Set: Green Energy

Text Set: Pets in the Classroom

Text Set: Whaling

Chart: Steps Activists Take to Make a Difference

Anchor chart: How to Write an Argument

Session 15 — Revising by Qualifying Your Claim

Argument Writing Checklist, Grades 7 and 8

Session 16 — Revising with Logical Fallacies in Mind: Evaluating Evidence

Chart: Some Common Logical Fallacies

Anchor chart: How to Write an Argument

Session 17 — Cyberactivism

Learning Progression for Argument Writing

FIG. 17-1 Hayley's final essay on childhood obesity  

FIG. 17-2 Emma's final essay on libraries   

FIG. 17-3 Ryan's final essay on libraries or the Internet    

FIG. 17-4 E'najeona's final essay on reality TV