Arguments
What is an argument? An argument is where you say something is true or provable, provide evidence/support to prove it, and show how any arguments against yours are wrong.
For our purpose, arguments have three basic parts: claim, evidence, and counterclaim. The claim is a statement you're trying to prove. Evidence is your reasoning for why your claim is true. Counterclaim is the section where you can shoot down your opponent's ideas.
Goals:
We are now going to take the three parts of an argument (claim, evidence, and counterclaim) and work through each one, finding the example in the argument below, and then finding the parts of the argument in a new argument.
1. Let's start with Claim. What is a claim? Remember, a claim is what you're saying is true or you're trying to prove. Which part of this example is the claim? Which part of the new argument is the claim?
2. Next, what is evidence? Evidence is what you say or use to prove that what you're CLAIMing is true, actually is true. Which part of this example is the evidence? Which part of the new argument is the evidence?
3. Finally, what is a counterclaim? A counterclaim is when you've already made your claim, and someone else is saying your claim is wrong and trying to use evidence to show why. The counterclaim is when you show whey their evidence is wrong. Which part of this example is the counterclaim? What is a counterclaim in the new argument?
Here's an example from last year:
1.Superman is by far the single, most greatest superhero in the history of comic books. 2.Why? 3.Good question. 4.Superman can't die as long he is under the yellow sun. 5.The only other things that can kill him is magic (which is very rare to come across a person who has magical powers), and kryptonite (which is one of the rarest rocks anyone will come across). 6.Another reason why Superman is greatest superhero is that Superman is the symbol for hope, as compared to Batman who is a old, mean, grumpy, hateful person. 7.My last reason why Superman is the greatest superhero is that he was the first superhero ever. 8.If there was no Superman, there would be no Batman, Wonder Woman, The Incredible Hulk, Wolverine, or any other hero you can possibly think of. 9.Some people think that Batman greatest superhero in the history of comic books because he doesn't need powers to fight crime; he just uses money and gadgets. 10.On the other hand, Batman can be killed just like any other human being. 11.Batman could collapse of a heart attack in the middle of a fight. 12.Superman cannot die at all (other than magic and kryptonite). 13.That is why I think Superman is the single, most greatest superhero in the history of comic books.
For our purpose, arguments have three basic parts: claim, evidence, and counterclaim. The claim is a statement you're trying to prove. Evidence is your reasoning for why your claim is true. Counterclaim is the section where you can shoot down your opponent's ideas.
Goals:
- I will be able to evaluate arguments and the evidence that supports them.
- I will be able to write arguments with clear claims and plenty of relevant evidence; they also address counterclaims.
We are now going to take the three parts of an argument (claim, evidence, and counterclaim) and work through each one, finding the example in the argument below, and then finding the parts of the argument in a new argument.
1. Let's start with Claim. What is a claim? Remember, a claim is what you're saying is true or you're trying to prove. Which part of this example is the claim? Which part of the new argument is the claim?
2. Next, what is evidence? Evidence is what you say or use to prove that what you're CLAIMing is true, actually is true. Which part of this example is the evidence? Which part of the new argument is the evidence?
3. Finally, what is a counterclaim? A counterclaim is when you've already made your claim, and someone else is saying your claim is wrong and trying to use evidence to show why. The counterclaim is when you show whey their evidence is wrong. Which part of this example is the counterclaim? What is a counterclaim in the new argument?
Here's an example from last year:
1.Superman is by far the single, most greatest superhero in the history of comic books. 2.Why? 3.Good question. 4.Superman can't die as long he is under the yellow sun. 5.The only other things that can kill him is magic (which is very rare to come across a person who has magical powers), and kryptonite (which is one of the rarest rocks anyone will come across). 6.Another reason why Superman is greatest superhero is that Superman is the symbol for hope, as compared to Batman who is a old, mean, grumpy, hateful person. 7.My last reason why Superman is the greatest superhero is that he was the first superhero ever. 8.If there was no Superman, there would be no Batman, Wonder Woman, The Incredible Hulk, Wolverine, or any other hero you can possibly think of. 9.Some people think that Batman greatest superhero in the history of comic books because he doesn't need powers to fight crime; he just uses money and gadgets. 10.On the other hand, Batman can be killed just like any other human being. 11.Batman could collapse of a heart attack in the middle of a fight. 12.Superman cannot die at all (other than magic and kryptonite). 13.That is why I think Superman is the single, most greatest superhero in the history of comic books.
This example has all the three parts of an argument.
For this part of the lesson, I want all of you to get out at least a half-sheet of paper, read through the example argument, and write down which sentences are the claim, the evidence, and the counterclaim.
Remember, the claim is what you're saying is true. The evidence is what you're using to prove that your claim is true. The counterclaim is the part where you prove arguments against your claim wrong.
Now that we know the different parts of what makes an argument, we need to look at what you're using in your arguments. Evidence in an argument is incredibly important. I can say that the sky is actually bright pink and have some famous person come and say that it's true, it really is bright pink, but would you believe me? Would you go check for yourself?
Where you get your evidence and what type of evidence it is is important. On the half sheet of paper from earlier, rank these on a scale of 1-5; 1 is least convincing and 5 is most convincing.
One final note about evidence: You have to know how to differentiate between fact and opinion. Your claim can be an opinion, because you're trying to provide it. But your evidence MUST be fact!
Try these examples:
For this part of the lesson, I want all of you to get out at least a half-sheet of paper, read through the example argument, and write down which sentences are the claim, the evidence, and the counterclaim.
Remember, the claim is what you're saying is true. The evidence is what you're using to prove that your claim is true. The counterclaim is the part where you prove arguments against your claim wrong.
Now that we know the different parts of what makes an argument, we need to look at what you're using in your arguments. Evidence in an argument is incredibly important. I can say that the sky is actually bright pink and have some famous person come and say that it's true, it really is bright pink, but would you believe me? Would you go check for yourself?
Where you get your evidence and what type of evidence it is is important. On the half sheet of paper from earlier, rank these on a scale of 1-5; 1 is least convincing and 5 is most convincing.
- One normal person's story or experience
- A scientific study
- A licensed teacher
- An expert in a field
- A famous person's opinion
One final note about evidence: You have to know how to differentiate between fact and opinion. Your claim can be an opinion, because you're trying to provide it. But your evidence MUST be fact!
Try these examples:
fact_and_opinion.rtf | |
File Size: | 42 kb |
File Type: | rtf |
Argument Activities
richard_sherman.docx | |
File Size: | 96 kb |
File Type: | docx |
killer_robots_article_1.docx | |
File Size: | 16 kb |
File Type: | docx |
wrestling.docx | |
File Size: | 14 kb |
File Type: | docx |