Purpose of this type of writing:

To change someone's points of view or persuade them to accept new points of view and/or to persuade someone to a particular action or new behavior.

Introduction:

An appropriately constructed argument helps us arrive at what is fair or true. This is especially important, because people don’t always agree on what is right or reasonable. Argument is used to settle disputes and discover truth. Argumentative writing can help us learn to examine our own and other’s ideas in a careful, methodical way. Argument teaches us how to evaluate conflicting claims and judge evidence and methods of investigation. Argument helps us learn to clarify our thoughts and articulate them honestly and accurately and to consider the ideas of others in a respectful and critical manner.

Understanding Argument by Building Rubrics

Argumentative writing shouldn't be new to any of you. It is part of the curriculum starting in junior high. So we are going to build on what we know, by collaboratively building criteria that make for effective arguments.

Today, I am going to ask each group to take on a specific criteria and to build out a rubric that defines what qualities make that component effective. These criteria are:

• CLAIM (the main point you are arguing - it needs to be both controversial and defensible)

• DATA/EVIDENCE (the proof you have to support your claim, should come from credible and diverse sources)

• WARRANT/COMMENTARY (an interpretation of your evidence, its significance, and how it supports your claim)

• REBUTTAL/RESPONSE (an acknowledgement of opposing points and a respectful pointing out of flaws in logic)

• VOICE (choices an author makes to create a sense of who the author is and to create a tone - of feeling in the audience)

• SIGNIFICANCE (rule of "So What?", tells audience why a discussion on this topic matters in a broader sense).

• ORGANIZATION (how you lay out your ideas in a way that best helps you achieve your purpose)

Please use this Jamboard Template to build a 3 point rubric for each criteria: 3 - Effective, 2 - Mediocre, 1 - Ineffective. Then turn in your rubrics to Google Classroom. I will post these rubrics after they are turned in and ask each group to present their thinking to the class.

I will then combine all of these elements from each of my classes into one rubric we can use to help us better write arguments. Please find this document below.

Our Collaborative Argument Rubric

Let's review this rubric together. You will then put this rubric to use, to revise your David Cash or Killings at the Canal argument. Please mark these revisions by bolding them (this will be used to track your growth)

Revising for Organization

Thinking about organization beyond a 5 paragraph essay can be difficult. In order to help you think beyond this type of organization and explore how the the layout of your ideas can actually help you achieve your purpose. We are going to complete a "Cut and Paste" Revision. Details for this are laid out in the Google Slides below. Please follow the directions and then make any changes to your draft that are necessary.

Workshopping for Growth

The first step will be getting into groups. If you are in class, I will help you do this. If you are at home, online. Follow these steps:

1. If you are not finished with your draft, leave the meet and go work. You cannot workshop without a working draft. To make up the points for today's class period you will need to make an appointment at the Writing Assistance Center, or the WAC. To do this, please follow this link to sign up: https://sites.google.com/boiseschools.net/boisehighwac/home

2. If you are finished, stick around. I will briefly assign you to breakout groups. There you will meet and follow the protocol below.

3. FILL OUT A RUBRIC FOR EACH GROUP MEMBER - Please note these rubrics are being scored based on the quality of your feedback (they will be graded following our criteria of being both helpful and specific.

Workshop Protocol:

In order for you to have a successful workshop, please follow this protocol.

1. Decide on an order for the presenters and an order for the reporters/recorders

2. Whoever is the first presenter shares their screen, so that your group can see your draft.

3. Presenter read your draft out loud. This is a non-negotiable. Your groupmates will follow along on the screen.

4. When you are finished, the recorder will share their screen of a blank rubric that they will fill out, based on the group's discussion.

5. The group reporter will lead a group discussion using the rubric as a guide and the group members will provide feedback on each point of the rubric.

6. When you are finished discussing, then share the rubric with the presenter so that they can have access to it as they revise.

7. Then you will all switch roles and repeat this process until every group member has had their draft workshopped. Each group member should play each role at least once.

Revising for Growth

When you have received and reviewed your feedback, your task will be to draft meaningful revisions and work to make your argument better than it was when you started. After you have finished revising, please complete the following:

1. Mark the revisions you made to your draft (these are the changes you made between your first and second drafts, hopefully as a result of your peer workshop) by bolding the changed text. Remember I am grading you based on growth and I already have a copy of your first draft. Bolding with help me find evidence of your growth.

2. Using the highlight tool on Google Docs, please highlight each element of your argumentative essay the following color (see the attached rubric to help you identify these parts):

• Claim: green

• Data/Evidence: yellow

• Warrants/Commentary: red

• Rebuttal/Response: blue

• Voice (examples of where you made specific word choices, created sentence structure, used metaphors or other figurative language to create a mood/tone): Orange

• Significance: Purple

*** It is possible that a portion of what you write may be more than one thing - for example, voice and commentary. If this is the case, please highlight the whole portion of commentary blue, but the specific phrases within the commentary that offer voice in orange. I will figure out what you mean.

3. For your organization, please explain your organization strategy at the end, why you made the organization choices you did, and how you think it helps your essay.

When you are finished, please submit your final draft to Google Classroom.

Argument Graphic:

Below is a graphic that helps explain the relationship between each part of argument.