So You Think You Can All About Writing Persuasively ARGUE

So You Think You CanSo You Think You Can

All About Writing PersuasivelyAll About Writing Persuasively

ARGUEARGUE

What is an Argument?What is an Argument?

An An argumentargument is just a statement is just a statement that someone believes is true or that someone believes is true or should be true.should be true.

Kids should be in school Kids should be in school Monday through Monday through Saturday!Saturday!

Hey, wait a minute!Hey, wait a minute! A A counterargumentcounterargument expresses expresses

the opposite point of view.the opposite point of view.

Kids should Kids should notnot have to go have to go to school on Saturdays.to school on Saturdays.

I need backup!I need backup!

A main argument all by itself is A main argument all by itself is not very strong. not very strong. Supporting Supporting argumentsarguments explain why the explain why the main argument is true.main argument is true.

Main ArgumentMain Argument

Supporting ArgumentsSupporting Arguments

Kids should not have to go to school Kids should not have to go to school on Saturdays.on Saturdays.

Students need a rest.Students need a rest.

Most working parents have weekends Most working parents have weekends off, and students need to be with their off, and students need to be with their families.families.

Some students have jobs.Some students have jobs.

Students need time for other activities.Students need time for other activities.

Are You Laboring Under aAre You Laboring Under a

Arguments can be very calm. An argument in Arguments can be very calm. An argument in writing is silent!writing is silent!

Common Myths about Arguing

MisconceptionMisconception??

MYTHMYTH

REALITYREALITY

An argument is just people yelling at each other.An argument is just people yelling at each other.


Making an argument has nothing to do with how Making an argument has nothing to do with how you feel. (Bet you can think of you feel. (Bet you can think of oneone reason why reason why school school shouldshould be on Saturdays…) be on Saturdays…)



MYTHMYTH

REALITYREALITY

You have to totally believe in what you are You have to totally believe in what you are arguing.arguing.


Most of the time, the two sides of an argument Most of the time, the two sides of an argument are just different points of view. Neither side is are just different points of view. Neither side is really right or wrong.really right or wrong.



MYTHMYTH

REALITYREALITY

Every argument has a right and wrong side.Every argument has a right and wrong side.


A lot of great arguing takes place on paper, A lot of great arguing takes place on paper, where you can take as much time as you need where you can take as much time as you need to think everything through.to think everything through.



MYTHMYTH

REALITYREALITY

You can’t be good at arguing unless you You can’t be good at arguing unless you can think fast on your feet.can think fast on your feet.

Argue on paper? Why Argue on paper? Why would I want to do would I want to do that?that?

Your state legislature is thinking about passing a Your state legislature is thinking about passing a law that says frogs can’t drive until they are 18. law that says frogs can’t drive until they are 18. You want to write a letter to convince your state You want to write a letter to convince your state senator to vote against the idea. senator to vote against the idea.

What would you say?What would you say?

Imagine this:Imagine this:

Your city decided to close the park where you Your city decided to close the park where you always hang out and play basketball. The city always hang out and play basketball. The city officials say there was too much trouble at the park officials say there was too much trouble at the park and there was trash everywhere. Would you know and there was trash everywhere. Would you know what to write in a letter that would convince them to what to write in a letter that would convince them to re-open the park?re-open the park?

Uh-oh…Uh-oh…

Or this:Or this:

You bought a used truck from the car lot downtown, You bought a used truck from the car lot downtown, but the truck didn’t have a stereo. The salesman but the truck didn’t have a stereo. The salesman told you they would take a stereo from a differenttold you they would take a stereo from a different

You called the car lot, but they refuse to fix the You called the car lot, but they refuse to fix the problem. You want to write a letter demanding they fix problem. You want to write a letter demanding they fix the stereo or else you will take them to court!the stereo or else you will take them to court!

truck and install it in your truck and install it in your truck. He said it would work truck. He said it would work great. You drove your truck great. You drove your truck home and discovered the home and discovered the stereo doesn’t work at all!stereo doesn’t work at all!

What?!

What about this:What about this:

The mall rules say people can’t do anything that interferes with business. You and four friends were standing outside a store window talking about what store to visit next. All of a sudden, mall security came over and asked you to leave. They said you were interfering with business! Someone hadcomplained that a gang of frogs was blocking the entrance to the store. Now you aren’t allowed to return to the mall for 6 months! You want to convince the mall headquarters that you were not interfering with business and you should be allowed back to the mall immediately.

Bet you can’t argue your way out of this one…

Help!

Or even this:Or even this:

You’re gonna need…You’re gonna need…

Hey—What word do you see inside the word Hey—What word do you see inside the word “persuasive”?“persuasive”?

Answer: “ Persuade”Answer: “ Persuade”

What does it mean to “persuade” someone?What does it mean to “persuade” someone?

(A) To disturb someone about something

(B) To sweat on someone

(C) To convince someone that something is true

(D) To cause someone to be confused about something

When you write persuasively, you When you write persuasively, you use arguments to convince the use arguments to convince the reader that something is true.reader that something is true.

Two Kinds of Two Kinds of ArgumentsArguments

Should/Should NotShould/Should Not Does/Does NotDoes/Does Not

Argue why something should or should not be true.




Argue why something does or does not violate a rule.





Use this kind of argument when you are arguing your opinion about something.






Use this kind of argument when there is already a rule in place.







Example: Should school be held Monday through Saturday?







Example: Should school be held Monday through Saturday?

Example: The mall rule says no interfering with business. A group of kids was standing in front of a store. Were they interfering with business?

Let’s Practice!Let’s Practice!The school rules say students are not allowed to wear hats inside the building. The rules say a hat is anything that covers and protects a person’s head.

Susie wore a giant ribbon in her hair and got in trouble for violating the no-hat rule!

Did Susie really violate the rule?Did Susie really violate the rule?

There are two possible main arguments:

1) Susie did not violate the rule because her ribbon is not a hat, or

What do you think?

2) Susie did violate the rule because her ribbon is a hat.

That was a trick question.That was a trick question.

Making arguments is a skill that you learn. “What you think” doesn’t really matter at all. You should be able to argue for both sides no matter which side you think is right.

HA!HA!

Try another one:Try another one:

The park rules say “Don’t walk on the grass.” Misti avoided a neatly-mowed lawn but cut across another mowed area that was mostly weeds. Did Misti violate the rule?

(You may have to think a little harder with this one…)

What are the two possible arguments?

Two possible main arguments:Two possible main arguments:

1) Misti did not violate the rule because she walked on a weedy area, not on the grass.

(You could also argue that the park rule meant for people to stay off any green, mowed area.)

2) Misti did violate the rule because there was grass in the area where she walked.

Here’s another:Here’s another:

The beach rules say “Don’t feed the ducks.” Jason ate all but the corner of his sandwich, then tossed the last bite to a goose standing nearby. Did Jason violate the rule?

What are the two possible arguments?

Two possible main arguments:Two possible main arguments:

1) Jason did not violate the rule because a goose is not a duck.

2) Jason did violate the rule because the beach rule means any water bird and a goose is a water bird (in other words, a goose is like a duck).

Hat or Not?Hat or Not?

Argument #1:

The ribbon is something on her head.

Let’s look at some arguments about Susie’s ribbon. Remember, Let’s look at some arguments about Susie’s ribbon. Remember, the school rule says a hat is anything that covers and protects a the school rule says a hat is anything that covers and protects a person’s head. For each argument, choose A or B.person’s head. For each argument, choose A or B.

(A) This argument supports the idea that Susie did not violate the rule because her ribbon is not a hat.

(B) This argument supports the idea that Susie did violate the rule because her ribbon is a hat.


Argument #2:

The ribbon is too flimsy to protect Susie’s head.





Argument #3:

The ribbon does not cover all of Susie’s head.





Argument #4:

The ribbon could protect Susie’s head from rain or dust.





Argument #5:

The ribbon would not keep Susie’s head warm.





Argument #6:

The ribbon covers most of Susie’s head.





Argument #7:

The ribbon could protect Susie’s head from sunlight.





Argument #8:

The ribbon is not fitted to Susie’s head.




If you’ve seen one argument…

Some arguments are better than others. Look at the four arguments below. Which one do you think is the strongest? Weakest?

A. The ribbon doesn’t look like a hat.

… you have not seen them all!

D. The ribbon is dumb.

C. The ribbon would not keep Susie’s head warm.

B. The ribbon does not cover all of Susie’s head.

Mini Quiz

True or False?

1. You can only make an argument about something if you feel very strongly about it.

MINI QUIZMINI QUIZTrue or False?True or False?

1.1. You can only make an argument You can only make an argument about something if you feel very about something if you feel very strongly about it.strongly about it.

FALSEFALSE


TRUETRUE

2. Persuasive writing is meant to 2. Persuasive writing is meant to convince someone that convince someone that something is true.something is true.


FALSEFALSE

3. All arguments are equally 3. All arguments are equally strong.strong.


FALSEFALSE

4. If there is already a rule in 4. If there is already a rule in place, you will use a should or place, you will use a should or should not argument.should not argument.


TRUETRUE

5. An argument is a statement 5. An argument is a statement that someone believes is or that someone believes is or should be true. should be true.


TRUETRUE

6. An argument can take place 6. An argument can take place without any yelling at all.without any yelling at all.


FALSEFALSE

7. There is a right and wrong side 7. There is a right and wrong side to every argument.to every argument.


Oops! That’s an Oops! That’s an opinion question!opinion question!

8. Susie looks very cool in her big 8. Susie looks very cool in her big ribbon.ribbon.


TRUETRUE

9. People often use persuasive 9. People often use persuasive writing when writing letters writing when writing letters about important issues.about important issues.


TRUETRUE

10.10. You use arguments to persuade You use arguments to persuade someone that your viewpoint is someone that your viewpoint is correct.correct.

Next time:Next time:

What would you do if your school suddenly changed the rules and banned something you like to wear?

This sounds like trouble…

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So You Think You Can All About Writing Persuasively ARGUE