What makes a good argumentative essay?

Is it the topic itself?

The passion of the author?

The length of the text?

While all the above are beneficial, the format is the most critical feature when delivering a thoughtful, well-researched argumentative essay.

In this presentation, your students will look at writing examples to examine the necessary characteristics of an argumentative essay, including:

• The purpose for writing argumentative text
• How to establish a claim based on facts
• How to justify your text’s claim with supportive reasoning

By the end of the lesson, students will be able to identify a text’s strongest claim and whether it includes enough crucial facts to elevate the essay’s thesis.

How to Discuss the Features of an Argumentative Essay with Your Students

This resource is designed to be used as a refresher for students on identifying argumentative texts with well-written claims and evidence. Students will practice reading argumentative writing examples with the teacher. They will discuss with partners and as a class why some evidence is better than others and why some do not fully support a claim in an argumentative text.

Take the Discussion Further with Your Students

Challenge your class to put themselves in the shoes of the author by going deeper into what goes into writing an argumentative essay:

• What are some of the words in the text that persuade the reader to continue reading?
• Is there anything that could have supported the argument better?
• What would you research to find supporting facts and data?
• How would you conduct your research?

Before You Download

Please note this resource will download as a PowerPoint presentation.

This resource was created by Taylor Provencher, a teacher in Florida and a Teach Starter Collaborator.

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