ARGUMENTATIVE
ESSAY PRESENTATION
English 2 – Week of Nov. 2, 2015
Topics: Unit 2 Common Performance Task,
Paragraph Writing Review
THIS WEEK’S SCHEDULE
Day
Overview
Monday
• Seating Chart Randomization
• Common Performance Task Overview
• How to Write Paragraphs
Tuesday
• Introduction Paragraph
Wednesday
• Body Paragraph 1
Thursday
• Body Paragraph 2
• Notebook Check #2
Friday
• Counter-claim Paragraph
• Friday Reflection
UNIT 2
COMMON PERFORMANCE TASK
10th Grade
UNIT 2 COMMON PERFORMANCE TASK
After viewing “Rivers and Tides”
and reading the priority texts within
the unit, write an essay in which you
argue whether the authors of each
text portray the idea of change as
mostly positive, mostly negative, or a
combination of the two.
Support your position with evidence
from the texts.
Note: Presentation option for extra credit!
ESSAY REQUIREMENTS
Minimum of four quotes from the text(s)
Citations should be the line number of text:
(line 57-60)
Include at least two academic vocabulary words
Rough draft will be peer edited
Edited draft will be typed per MLA format
ELEMENTS OF A PARAGRAPH
10th Grade
ELEMENTS OF A PARAGRAPH
Unity: “Oneness”
Coherence: Logically consistent
Topic Sentence: General idea
Adequate Development: Full Discussion
UNITY
“Oneness”
Single focus – begin with one and end with
same one
Do not wander within different ideas
COHERENCE
Logically consistent
Understandable
“Bridging”
Logical Bridges
Same idea of a topic carried over from sentence to
sentence
Parallel structuring.
Verbal Bridges
Key words repeated in several sentences
Synonymous words repeated
Pronouns referring to nouns in previous sentences
Transition words used to link ideas in different
sentences
TOPIC SENTENCE
Indicates in a general way what idea or thesis
the paragraph is going to deal with
Can occur anywhere in paragraph (but the
beginning is the usual place)
Quick summary of the paragraph
ADEQUATE DEVELOPMENT
Full discussion of the topic
Examples, illustrations
Citation of data, facts, evidence, or details
Anecdotes or stories
Definition of terms
Compare & contrast
Evaluation of causes and reasons
Examination of effects and consequences
Topic analysis
Topic description
Chronology
WRITING AN INTRODUCTION
10th Grade
WRITING AN INTRODUCTION
Ideas
should go from general to specific.
Paragraph should be four to five sentences
including thesis statement.
Begin with something to catch the reader’s
attention, i.e. “feeling” or “emotional” words
or a question/anecdote/interesting or
provocative statement/famous quotation, etc.
Must include the author & title of the
text(s)
THESIS STATEMENT / CLAIM
Thesis=Answer
to prompt + your opinion
Shows your opinion about an arguable topic
When writing an argumentative essay, the
thesis is called the “claim”
Thesis should go at the end of the paragraph
EXAMPLE INTRODUCTION
Change in life is inevitable. Sometimes, change
brings with it happiness and positivity, while at
other times it can be chaotic, dark, and negative.
Change seems to exist as both positive and
negative, and it is this mixture that is described
by many artists and authors. Change is
portrayed as both positive and negative in
Franz Kafka’s novella Metamorphosis,
Peter Kuper’s adaptation of Kafka’s
novella, and Andy Goldsworthy’s art as
shown in the documentary Rivers and
Tides.
PICK-A-THESIS
Franz Kafka’s novella The
Metamorphosis and Andy Goldsworthy’s
art in the documentary Rivers and
Tides show the idea of change to be:
A.
B.
C.
mostly positive.
mostly negative.
a combination of negative and
positive.
WRITING BODY PARAGRAPHS
10th Grade
WRITING BODY PARAGRAPHS
Five
sentences minimum.
Topic Sentence: the first sentence in your
paragraph and lets the reader know what the
main focus of the paragraph will be.
Concluding Sentence: the last sentence in
your paragraph. Sums it up and ties back to
the thesis/claim (As a result,…)
WRITING BODY PARAGRAPHS
Detail Sentence: the stuff from
the text – the evidence for your argument!
Concrete
Plot References/Paraphrasing
Facts, examples from story (what happened).
Quote Sentence: word for word from
the text, including citation
Commentary Sentence: the stuff from inside
your head! Your words and explanations.
Direct
Also called analysis, interpretation, opinion,
inference, insight, reasons, elaboration
WRITING BODY PARAGRAPHS
Sent. #1 - Topic Sentence
Sent. #2 - Concrete Detail - starts with “For
example”
Sent. #3 - Direct Quote - From the text, must be cited
with line numbers
Sent. #4 - Commentary - (It also indicates…; This is
because…; This is important because…This shows
that)
Sent. #5 - Concluding Sentence - Sums it up and
ties back to the thesis (As a result,…)
EXAMPLE BODY PARAGRAPH
In Franz Kafka’s Metamorphosis, Gregor Samsa’s
isolation is increased due to changes in his voice.
For example, Samsa has difficulty communicating
because his voice is barely understandable (line
95-96). In fact, the metamorphosed salesman’s
voice is little more than a “painful and
uncontrollable squeaking” (line 92). Due to this,
Samsa becomes even more separated from his
father, mother, and sister. As a result, the changes
in Samsa’s voice cause him to fall even further
into anxiety, despair, and seclusion.
WRITING A COUNTERCLAIM
10th Grade
WRITING A COUNTER-CLAIM
On the other hand, some may argue (counterclaim).
This point of view makes sense because (evidence for the
counterclaim). However, (rebuttal). Therefore,
(conclusion).
On the other hand, some may argue (Kafka’s
Metamorphosis displays change as positive).
This point of view makes sense because (Gregor Samsa
seems to enjoy being separated from his family).
However, (it is clear from the text that Gregor’s
transformation causes anxiety and confusion).
Therefore, (it can be said that Kafka’s novella displays
change as negative).
WRITING CONCLUSION
PARAGRAPHS
10th Grade
WRITING CONCLUSION PARAGRAPHS
Four to five sentences
All Commentary; no Concrete Details
Do NOT repeat your thesis statement or
introductory paragraph, RESTATE it using different
words.
Reflect what your essay said & provide closure, moving
this time from specific to general.
Try to relate your thesis to the world at large.
Do NOT add any new information!
MLA QUICK FORMAT
10th Grade
Format: General
Guidelines
An MLA Style Paper should:
• Be typed on white 8.5“ x 11“ paper
• Double-space everything
• Use 12 pt. Times New Roman (or similar) font
• Leave only one space after punctuation
• Set all margins to 1 inch on all sides
• Indent the first line of paragraphs one half-inch
Format: General
Guidelines (cont.)
An MLA Style Paper should:
• Have a header with page numbers located in the
upper right-hand corner
• Use italics for titles
• Place endnotes on a separate page before the
Works Cited page
Formatting the 1st Page
The first page of an MLA Style paper will:
• Have no title page
• Double space everything
• List your name, your instructor's name, the course, and
date in the upper left-hand corner
• Center the paper title (use standard caps but no underlining,
italics, quote marks, or bold typeface)
• Create a header in the upper right corner at half inch from the
top and one inch from the right of the page (list your last name
and page number here)
Sample 1st Page
In-Text Citation
When citing from the textbook, include only
line numbers:
• “The first thing [Samsa] wanted to do was to get
up in peace without being disturbed” (lines 116117).
• Samsa, a travelling salesman, “woke from
troubled dreams [and] found himself
transformed…into a horrible vermin” (lines 1-3).