Argumentative Essay

Claim

Your claim is the most important part of your essay! It is the answer to your prompt and the main idea behind your essay. You cannot write an essay or find evidence until you have a claim.

Begin your claim by restating the prompt, and then write your answer.

Claim – Example 1

Prompt: Which is the best type of pizza: pepperoni or cheese?

Claim: The best type of pizza is _________ because ________________ , _____________, and _______________ .

Claim – Example 2

Prompt:Should the death penalty be used in the state of Florida?

Claim:

The death penalty should/should not be used in the state of Florida because __________ , ___________, and _____________ .

Writing a Claim for our Prompt

Is reaching a consensus always a good idea, or are there times when it is better to disagree?

Claim

Reaching a consensus is always a good idea because _________, _________, and __________.

It is better to disagree than to reach a consensus because ________, _________, and __________.

What belongs in an introduction?

1. Hook your reader with a FADDQQ!2. Introduce or explain your topic.3. State your thesis.

1. Hook your reader with a FADDQQ!

We always want our essays to have an interesting beginning sentence that hooks our reader’s attention. We call this sentence the hook or the FADDQQ.

What is a FADDQQ? Fact Anecdote (a short personal story) Declaration Description Quote Question

FADDQQ - Examples

Prompt: What is the best kind of pizza?

Fact More than one million pepperoni pizzas are ordered each year.

Anecdote I remember the first time I ever ate pizza…

FADDQQ - Examples

Prompt: What is the best kind of pizza?

Declaration Pizza is one of the world’s best foods.

Description Gooey cheese, spicy pepperoni, delicious sauce – the three ingredients that make the best pizza.

FADDQQ - Examples

Prompt: What is the best kind of pizza?

Quote Barack Obama once said, “Pepperoni pizza is my favorite kind of pizza.” (cite your source!)

Question What could be better than a nice, hot pepperoni pizza?

FADDQQ - Examples

Prompt: Which season is the best?

FactAnecdote (a short personal story)DeclarationDescriptionQuoteQuestion

Write a FADDQQ for your essay.

Prompt: Is reaching a consensus always a good idea, or are there times when it is better to disagree?

FactAnecdote (a short personal story)DeclarationDescriptionQuoteQuestion

2. Introduce or explain your topic.

Give background information that transitions from the FADDQQ to describe your topic.

3. Claim

Write your claim! Remember to restate the question in your answer and give 3 reasons.

Sample introduction

Imagine that you are given a choice. You could end someone’s life, or you could save them. Now imagine that the person whose life you hold in your hands committed a horrible crime. Would you still save them? Many believe that even the worst among us deserve a chance for redemption. However, many states within the U.S. still use the death penalty. The death penalty should be abolished in all states in the United States because everyone deserves a second chance, many states have already abolished the death penalty, and individuals who are wrongfully accused may be executed by mistake.

What comes next???

The body of the essay is the portion of the essay in which the claim is supported with reasons and evidence.

The last paragraph of the body of your essay will include a rebuttal, which is the paragraph in which you will present a counterclaim and refute it.

The purpose of the body of your essay is to support your claim with evidence from your sources.

Body Paragraphs – Supporting Reasons and Evidence

Your 3 reasons from your claim ARE the first 3 paragraphs of your essay.

We follow the following format for body paragraphs:

T-ICE

Topic sentence with transitionIntroduce your evidence (background info)Cite textual evidence Explain how your evidence supports your

topic

Body Paragraphs: T-ICE

Topic SentenceYour paragraph should begin with a sentence that explains the main idea of the paragraph. Remember to use a transition word!

You will write your topic sentences using the 3 main reasons from your claim.

EXAMPLES:To begin with, pepperoni pizza is the best kind of pizza because of its heavenly taste.

As a matter of fact, the death penalty has been abolished in many states.

Body Paragraphs: T-ICE

Introduce your evidence

Add information to lead up to your quoted evidence. You should clearly describe who is talking or thinking in your quote and what the situation is before the quote appears in your paragraph.

Body Paragraphs: T-ICE

Cite textual evidence

Cite textual evidence to support your point. Remember to embed your quote in a sentence and include a sentence starter.

Body Paragraphs: T-ICE

Explain how the evidence supports your topic sentence.

Sample T-ICE Body Paragraph

As a matter of fact, the death penalty has already been abolished in many states. Recently, a national organization conducted a survey to determine which states still use the death penalty. According to the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty, “18 States do not have the death penalty” (National Coalition to Abolish the Dealth Penalty 2). This statistic shows that many states have recognized that there are other, better methods of dealing with heinous crimes than the death sentence. Other states should follow this example and abolish their death penalties as well.

The Rebuttal

In the rebuttal, you present the counterargument: the point of view that is the opposite of the claim you chose for your essay.

How to Write a Rebuttal

There are 3 steps to a good rebuttal:1. Counterargument: Present the opposite side of

the argument. State the main points of this argument in an accurate and fair manner. (If you show too much bias, it makes your argument seem less credible.)

2. Your position on the issue: Clearly state why you disagree with the counterargument.

3. Refute the counterargument: When you refute something, you disprove it. Present evidence to show why you disagree with the counterargument.

Some helpful transitions…

On the other hand,…At the same time,…One cannot deny that,…However,…Admittedly,…Certainly,…Of course,…Nevertheless,…

Sample Rebuttal

Admittedly, there are those who believe that the death penalty actually prevents death. Many argue that because criminals fear the death penalty, it prevents future murders. However, studies have shown that the threat of the death penalty is no more effective at preventing murder than the threat of a life sentence (Bedau 4). If this is the case, then there are clearly more humane options than the death penalty.

Conclusion

Your conclusion is a summary of the main points of your essay.

You should restate your claim and your main three reasons USING DIFFERENT WORDS.

End your essay with a call for action or future possibilities. Challenge your reader to do something or think about something life-changing.

Sample Conclusion Paragraph

Taking all of this into account, it is clear that the death penalty should be abolished. Everyone deserves a second chance, many states have already abolished the death penalty, and individuals who are wrongfully accused may be executed by mistake. If we cannot show forgiveness or find alternative options to the gruesome punishment of death, then we really are no better than those criminals we condemn. We must work towards a reality in which death is not the answer.

Finalize your rough drafts!