So You Think You Can

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So You Think You Can
ARGUE

• All About Writing Persuasively

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What is an Argument?

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

Kids should be in school Monday through Saturday!
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Hey, wait a minute!

• A counterargument expresses the opposite point
  of view.

Kids should not have to go to school on Saturdays.
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I need backup!

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

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Main Argument
Kids should not have to go to school on Saturdays.
Supporting Arguments
Students need a rest.
Most working parents have weekends off, and
students need to be with their families.
Some students have jobs.
Students need time for other activities.
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Are You Laboring Under a
Misconception?
Common Myths about Arguing
MYTH
An argument is just people yelling at each other.
REALITY
Arguments can be very calm. An argument in
writing is silent!
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Are You Laboring Under a
Misconception?
Common Myths about Arguing
MYTH
You have to totally believe in what you are
arguing.
REALITY
Making an argument has nothing to do with how you
feel. (Bet you can think of one reason why
school should be on Saturdays)
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Are You Laboring Under a
Misconception?
Common Myths about Arguing
MYTH
Every argument has a right and wrong side.
REALITY
Most of the time, the two sides of an argument
are just different points of view. Neither side
is really right or wrong.
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Are You Laboring Under a
Misconception?
Common Myths about Arguing
MYTH
You cant be good at arguing unless you can think
fast on your feet.
REALITY
A lot of great arguing takes place on paper,
where you can take as much time as you need to
think everything through.
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Argue on paper? Why would I want to do that?
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Imagine this
Your state legislature is thinking about passing
a law that says frogs cant drive until they are
18. You want to write a letter to convince your
state senator to vote against the idea.
What would you say?

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Or this
Your city decided to close the park where you
always hang out and play basketball. The city
officials say there was too much trouble at the
park and there was trash everywhere. Would you
know what to write in a letter that would
convince them to re-open the park?
Uh-oh
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What about this
You bought a used truck from the car lot
downtown, but the truck didnt have a stereo.
The salesman told you they would take a stereo
from a different
truck and install it in your truck. He said it
would work great. You drove your truck home and
discovered the stereo doesnt work at all!
What?!
You called the car lot, but they refuse to fix
the problem. You want to write a letter demanding
they fix the stereo or else you will take them to
court!
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The mall
rules say people cant 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 had
Or even this
complained that a gang of frogs was blocking the
entrance to the store. Now you arent 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 cant argue your way out of this one
Help!
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Youre gonna need
Persuasive Writing
HeyWhat word do you see inside the word
persuasive?
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Answer Persuade
What does it mean to persuade someone?

1. To disturb someone about something
2. To sweat on someone
3. To convince someone that something is true
4. To cause someone to be confused about something

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When you write persuasively, you use arguments to
convince the reader that something is true.
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Two Kinds of Arguments
Should/Should Not Does/Does Not
Argue why something should or should not be true.


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Two Kinds of Arguments
Should/Should Not Does/Does Not
Argue why something should or should not be true. Argue why something does or does not violate a rule.


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Two Kinds of Arguments
Should/Should Not Does/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.

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Two Kinds of Arguments
Should/Should Not Does/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.

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Two Kinds of Arguments
Should/Should Not Does/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?
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Two Kinds of Arguments
Should/Should Not Does/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 The mall rule says no interfering with business. A group of kids was standing in front of a store. Were they interfering with business?
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Lets 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
persons 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?
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There are two possible main arguments

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

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

• What do you think?

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That was a trick question.
HA!
Making arguments is a skill that you learn.
What you think doesnt really matter at all.
You should be able to argue for both sides no
matter which side you think is right.
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Try another one
The park rules say Dont 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?
What are the two possible arguments?
(You may have to think a little harder with this
one)
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Two possible main arguments
1) Misti did not violate the rule because she
walked on a weedy area, not on the grass.

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

(You could also argue that the park rule meant
for people to stay off any green, mowed area.)
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Heres another
The beach rules say Dont 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?
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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).
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Hat or Not?
Lets look at some arguments about Susies
ribbon. Remember, the school rule says a hat is
anything that covers and protects a persons
head. For each argument, choose A or B.
Argument 1 The ribbon is something on her
head.

1. This argument supports the idea that Susie did
   not violate the rule because her ribbon is not a
   hat.
2. This argument supports the idea that Susie did
   violate the rule because her ribbon is a hat.

?
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Hat or Not?
Lets look at some arguments about Susies
ribbon. Remember, the school rule says a hat is
anything that covers and protects a persons
head. For each argument, choose A or B.
Argument 2 The ribbon is too flimsy to
protect Susies head.

1. This argument supports the idea that Susie did
   not violate the rule because her ribbon is not a
   hat.
2. This argument supports the idea that Susie did
   violate the rule because her ribbon is a hat.

?
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Hat or Not?
Lets look at some arguments about Susies
ribbon. Remember, the school rule says a hat is
anything that covers and protects a persons
head. For each argument, choose A or B.
Argument 3 The ribbon does not cover all of
Susies head.

1. This argument supports the idea that Susie did
   not violate the rule because her ribbon is not a
   hat.
2. This argument supports the idea that Susie did
   violate the rule because her ribbon is a hat.

?
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Hat or Not?
Lets look at some arguments about Susies
ribbon. Remember, the school rule says a hat is
anything that covers and protects a persons
head. For each argument, choose A or B.
Argument 4 The ribbon could protect Susies
head from rain or dust.

1. This argument supports the idea that Susie did
   not violate the rule because her ribbon is not a
   hat.
2. This argument supports the idea that Susie did
   violate the rule because her ribbon is a hat.

?
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Hat or Not?
Lets look at some arguments about Susies
ribbon. Remember, the school rule says a hat is
anything that covers and protects a persons
head. For each argument, choose A or B.
Argument 5 The ribbon would not keep Susies
head warm.

1. This argument supports the idea that Susie did
   not violate the rule because her ribbon is not a
   hat.
2. This argument supports the idea that Susie did
   violate the rule because her ribbon is a hat.

?
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Hat or Not?
Lets look at some arguments about Susies
ribbon. Remember, the school rule says a hat is
anything that covers and protects a persons
head. For each argument, choose A or B.
Argument 6 The ribbon covers most of Susies
head.

1. This argument supports the idea that Susie did
   not violate the rule because her ribbon is not a
   hat.
2. This argument supports the idea that Susie did
   violate the rule because her ribbon is a hat.

?
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Hat or Not?
Lets look at some arguments about Susies
ribbon. Remember, the school rule says a hat is
anything that covers and protects a persons
head. For each argument, choose A or B.
Argument 7 The ribbon could protect Susies
head from sunlight.

1. This argument supports the idea that Susie did
   not violate the rule because her ribbon is not a
   hat.
2. This argument supports the idea that Susie did
   violate the rule because her ribbon is a hat.

?
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Hat or Not?
Lets look at some arguments about Susies
ribbon. Remember, the school rule says a hat is
anything that covers and protects a persons
head. For each argument, choose A or B.
Argument 8 The ribbon is not fitted to
Susies head.

1. This argument supports the idea that Susie did
   not violate the rule because her ribbon is not a
   hat.
2. This argument supports the idea that Susie did
   violate the rule because her ribbon is a hat.

?
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If youve seen one argument
you have not seen them all!
Some arguments are better than others. Look at
the four arguments below. Which one do you think
is the strongest? Weakest?
A. The ribbon doesnt look like a hat.
B. The ribbon does not cover all of Susies head.
C. The ribbon would not keep Susies head warm.
D. The ribbon is dumb.
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Mini Quiz
True or False?

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

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MINI QUIZ
True or False?

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

FALSE
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MINI QUIZ
True or False?
2. Persuasive writing is meant to convince
someone that something is true.
TRUE
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MINI QUIZ
True or False?
3. All arguments are equally strong.
FALSE
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MINI QUIZ
True or False?
4. If there is already a rule in place, you will
use a should or should not argument.
FALSE
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MINI QUIZ
True or False?
5. An argument is a statement that someone
believes is or should be true.
TRUE
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MINI QUIZ
True or False?
6. An argument can take place without any
yelling at all.
TRUE
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MINI QUIZ
True or False?
7. There is a right and wrong side to every
argument.
FALSE
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MINI QUIZ
True or False?
8. Susie looks very cool in her big ribbon.
Oops! Thats an opinion question!
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MINI QUIZ
True or False?
9. People often use persuasive writing when
writing letters about important issues.
TRUE
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MINI QUIZ
True or False?

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

TRUE
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Next time
What would you do if your school suddenly changed
the rules and banned something you like to wear?
This sounds like trouble