The Argumentative Paragraph

The Argumentative Paragraph*

Have a clear topic sentence: TS. The TS should clearly state your argument.  Have at least two good reasons why the reader should believe the TS.  These reasons are labeled as MP for major points.  The MPs can be your own ideas or can be facts.  Then give two elaborations (E or Elab) for each MP.  Finish with a sentence that wraps it up (sometimes can be easily incorporated in the last Elab). All paragraphs should be seven to eight sentences long.  As students become proficient with this process, you may incorporate sentence combing skills and remove the sentence-count criteria.

In our grades 6, 7, and 8 ELA argumentative paragraphs, students always usse MP2 for a counter argument.

Try this outline as a graphic organizer:

TS:

     MP1:

          Elab 1

          Elab 2

     MP2:

          Elab 1

          Elab 2

Concl.

Here are possible patterns students may apply:

Pattern 1:

TS:    Topic Sentence

MP1: Fact

Elab 1: student idea that explains the importance of the fact

Elab 2: student idea that explains the importance of the fact

MP2: Fact

Elab 1: student idea that explains the importance of the fact

Elab 2: student idea that explains the importance of the fact

Concl.: one more statement that brings closure

Pattern 2:

TS: Topic Sentence

     MP1: Student idea

          Elab 1: fact that backs up the idea

          Elab 2: fact that backs up the idea

     MP2: Student idea

          Elab 1: fact that backs up the idea

          Elab 2: fact that backs up the idea

Concl.: one more statement that brings closure

Pattern 3:

TS: Topic Sentence

     MP1: Student idea

          Elab 1: fact that backs up the idea

          Elab 2: fact that backs up the idea

     MP2: Fact

          Elab 1: student idea that explains the importance of the fact

          Elab 2: student idea that explains the importance of the fact

Concl.: one more statement that brings closure

Pattern 4:

TS: Topic Sentence

     MP1: Fact

          Elab 1: student idea that explains the importance of the fact

          Elab 2: student idea that explains the importance of the fact

     MP2: Student idea

          Elab 1: fact that backs up the idea

          Elab 2: fact that backs up the idea

Concl.: one more statement that brings closure

 *This format and the terms are adapted from AP English A to Z from Athena Publishing that I used from 2008-2011 school years.  Unfortunately I cannot find the product online, otherwise I would link it.