Argumentative Writing A fast food example will be used as an
example to show you what you should do with your Argumentative
Essay on the topic of Leadership for World History.
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Argumentative Writing Argumentative (or persuasive) writing is
writing that tries to convince a reader to do something or to
believe what you believe about a certain topic. It takes a position
for or against something.
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BRAINSTORM YOUR TOPIC CHARLIE MANUEL PHILLIESMOTIVATES PALYERS
CLEVELAND GREAT LOCKER ROOM WORLD SERIESSPEACHES PLAYER1,000 WINS
GREAT BATTING COACH LOYAL TO PLAYERS FIGHTS WITH UMPIRES
WELL-LIKED
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Persuasive/ Argumentative writing follows a certain format:
INTRODUCTION with a hook and thesis statement BODY where the
argument is explained CONCLUSION where main points are summarized
and reviewed and the reader is left with something to think
about.
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FirstKnow Your Audience Before you start writing, you should
know your audience: Who will read your writing? Who do you need to
convince? The audience may be your friends, your teacher, your
parents, your principal, the readers of a newspaper or the
President of the United States! Will you be graded? On What? Should
you be casual or professional?
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Should you write in a casual or professional style?
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Second Pick a side! The writer must clearly state his/her
position and stay with that position. Choose one leader and stay on
that topic. HAMMURABINELSON MANDELLA HATSHEPSUT CHARLIE MANUEL
Generally, the position is stated in the opening paragraph or
introduction.
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In order to convince the reader you need more than just an
opinion; you need facts or examples to back your opinion. So, be
sure to include and explain supporting details! Three: Do Your
Research TEAMYEARWINSLOSSESGAMES CLEVLAND INDIANS 20009072162
PHILA. PHILLIES 20089270162 WORLD SERIES CHAMPS PHILA. PHILLIES
20099369162 NATIONAL LEAGUE PENNANT PHILA. PHILLIES 20135367120
CHARLIE MANUEL COACHING STATS
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Four: MAKE A PLAN, then write! The 6 Paragraph Essay: 1.
Introduction/Hook/Thesis 2. Argument 1 with support 3. Argument 2
with support 4. Argument 3 with support 5. Show the
counter-argument and make an argument against it 6. Conclusion
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DOS and DONTs of Argumentative Writing: Do: Divide into 6
paragraphs Have a thesis statement in your introduction Have a
grabber in your introduction Come up with 3 main points to support
your argument these will be your 3 body paragraphs Show the counter
- argument Have a conclusion that has a clincher statement Dont :
Dont begin with Hello my name is___ and Im going to write about____
Dont use the word I (Instead of I think we shouldnt wear uniforms
say Uniforms shouldn't, Dont be wishy-washy. Pick a side! Dont
forget to support your opinions with facts and examples from the
text. Dont thank your reader for reading your paper.
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The Great Introduction What makes an good introduction? It
grabs or hooks the readers attention by using one or more of the
following strategies: An anecdote or scenario A quotation An
interesting fact or statistic A question It tells how the writing
will be organized. The authors position is clearly stated in a
thesis statement.
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Grabbing Your Audience Good strategies used in introductions:
Use an Anecdote/ Scenario The writer provides a personal experience
or made-up situation to introduce the position. Questioning The
writer asks thought-provoking questions to capture the readers
interest. Interesting fact or statistic The writer gives an
interesting piece of information to grab the readers attention.
Lets Take A Look.
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You Could Begin with a Strong Statement : Example: Fast food
consumption has risen 500 percent since 1970 and today reaches
nearly every part of society, including some public school
cafeterias.
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You Could Open with a Quotation: Example: University of
Delaware professor states: Advertising, including television ads,
billboards, and other advertising, including toys in boxed meals,
has had an effect upon children as never before. Children these
days are growing up with low concern for their health and more
concern for what tastes good.
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You Could Open with a Question: How many times have you eaten
fast food this month?
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Next: Creating a Thesis Statement A thesis statement is one
sentence at the end of your introduction that states your opinion.
It needs to be strong. First, choose 3 main focus points to discuss
in your essay. These points will become the focus of three
paragraphs in the body of your paper. Lets use fast food as an
example again. Fast food(3 Discussion Points) rapidly increases
weight causes high blood pressure leads to sluggishness
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Writing the Thesis Statement Now take your three main focus
points and summarize them. Put your completed thesis statement at
the end of your first paragraph. THREE MAIN FOCUS POINTS Fast food
is harmful because it rapidly increases weight, causes high blood
pressure, and leads to lethargy. COMPLETED THESIS STATEMENT Fast
food has negative health effects.
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Create a thesis sentence THESIS STATEMENT EXAMPLE WITH 3 MAIN
FOCUS POINTS YOUR THESIS SENTENCE WITH 3 MAIN FOCUS POINTS Fast
food is harmful because it rapidly increases weight, causes high
blood pressure, and leads to lethargy. __________________ should be
recognized as an exceptional leader because of
______________________, ________________, and
_________________________.
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Our Introductory Paragraph: Did you know that a typical child
needs 2,000 calories for an entire day and Burger Kings Whopper
with triple cheese has 1,230 calories? That is far more calories
than anyone needs for one meal! Fast food consumption has risen 500
percent since 1970 and today reaches nearly every part of society,
including some public school cafeterias. Fast food is harmful
because it rapidly increases weight, causes high blood pressure,
and leads to sluggishness. Fast food is bad for your health! HOOK
THE READER THESIS STATEMENT YOUR THREE ARGUMENTS Walsh Publishing
Co. 2009
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Three Supporting Paragraphs: Use each of the main arguments you
used in your introductory paragraph and expand on each giving facts
and reasons. In our example, you would write one paragraph on how
fast food increases weight, one paragraph on how it causes high
blood pressure and one on how it leads to sluggishness. Walsh
Publishing Co. 2009
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Youll Need to Show The Other Side How many of you have been in
a discussion with someone and you remember saying, Yes, thats true,
but This is called a counter-argument. Its the other side of the
argument. Youll need to tell your reader what the counter- argument
is and prove why it shouldnt matter. Lets take a look using our
example of fast food
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The Other Side of the Story This is where you should explain
why your opposition believes what they believe. For example: A fast
food company wouldnt agree with the points in this essay. They
would have lots of reasons why fast food is good. They may sayits
convenient or Its fine if eaten in moderation. These arguments just
dont hold up when you take all the facts into consideration! The
high fat content and empty calories of these highly processed meals
contribute to many health problems. Walsh Publishing Co. 2009
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Conclude or End Your Essay What makes an good conclusion? Last
paragraph summarizes your main point. End using one or more of the
following strategies: Call the reader to action Anecdote or
scenario Make a Prediction The last paragraph wraps up the writing
and gives the reader something to think about. Walsh Publishing Co.
2009
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Strategies for Conclusions Call to Action Ask the reader to do
something or to make something happen American should watch what
they eat and avoid fast food. Provide a solution Provide an answer
to the problem Fast food doesnt have to be bad food. Make better
choices like salads, fruit and low fat treats. Make a Prediction
Explain what might be the consequences of action or inaction If
people continue to eat lots of fast food, they put their health at
risk. If kids dont make better choices today, they wont grow into
healthy adults. Walsh Publishing Co. 2009
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Concluding Paragraph: Restate your thesis. In closing, its
important to remember that too much fast food can have negative
effects on your health. If not eaten in moderation, you can gain
weight, suffer from high blood pressure and become slow and
sluggish. Is it worth the risk to your body? Eat Healthy and Make
good choices End with A comment (Dont make your body suffer!) A
question (Are you willing to risk your health?) A call to action (I
highly recommend you consider your options the next time your faced
with a decision about what to eat.) ! Walsh Publishing Co.
2009
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Review: The Argumentative Essay: Introductory paragraph with a
hook, three main arguments and a thesis statement. One paragraph
for each of your three arguments. Address the counter-argument in a
paragraph. Closing paragraph that re-states your thesis and
challenges the reader to think about it. Walsh Publishing Co.
2009
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Dont Forget Make sure to read over your work and edit for
mechanics and spelling. Write neatly! Include detail and great
vocabulary. Follow proper format: Look at the rubric so you can
earn full credit! An Outstanding Leader Essay Topic:
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Thesis Brainstorm Hammurabi ruled well because he used power,
not just for its own sake, but to bring justice, mercy and peace to
the Babylonian Empire. The courage, persistence and captivating
public speaking skills of Malala Yousafzai make her an outstanding
world leader. His years of winning records, the confidence he
instilled in his players, and his uncanny ability to teach hitting
make Charlie Manuel an exceptional leader in the world of
baseball.
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Counter-argument for Charlie Manuel It must be acknowledged
that Manuel does have his critics. Some say Manuels in-game
decisions were less than brilliant. In 2012 the Phillies were
playing the Pirates and the score was very close. Laynce Nix known
for his power against right-handed pitching was told to bunt. The
play and the game did go well.
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Counter-argument for Charlie Manuel Others criticize Manuel's
decision to put Carlos Ruiz 7 th or 8 th in most of the 2012
batting line-ups and point out that with Carlos hitting.313 Ruiz
should be no lower than 6 th in the Phillies line-up. Nevertheless,
Manuels ability to get his players to work together, to teach
hitting and his considerable experience in baseball far outweigh
any minor or supposed weaknesses.