QUARTER 4-ENGLISH 10

INTERVENTION MATERIALS
MELCS: COMPOSE AN ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY

What Is an Argumentative Essay?

An argumentative essay is a piece of writing that takes a stance on an issue. In a good argumentative essay, a
writer attempts to persuade readers to understand and support their point of view about a topic by stating their reasoning
and providing evidence to back it up.

A. Argument Writing: Parts of an Argument

When you write an argument, you are trying to convince your reader that your opinion is correct. A strong
argument has five key parts.

Claim A statement of opinion. This is the topic of your argument.

Evidence Proof or facts that support your claim.

Counter-Argument An argument that your reader would make if they disagreed with your claim.

Rebuttal Your response to the counter-argument.

Conclusion A strong restatement of the original claim

Activity 1: Underline each part of the following argument using the colors listed above.

Dear Mom,

I think we should get a pet dog. Dogs make great pets because they are loyal. They help deter criminals, like

thieves. They also help boost people’s moods because they are friendly and playful. Doctors have even found that owning

a dog can improve a person’s health. They reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and they help prevent allergies,

asthma, and eczema in children! You might think that I am not responsible enough to have a pet dog. But, I have

demonstrated responsibility by making my bed every morning and doing my homework every afternoon. I know that I

would be responsible for walking our pet dog and cleaning up after it. Getting a pet dog would be good for our whole

family!

Love,

Nena

B. Argument Writing: Removing Irrelevant Evidence

For strong argument writing, it's important to select evidence that is directly related to your claim. Information that is
extra or that doesn’t relate directly to the claim can distract the reader from the main point.
 QUARTER 4-ENGLISH 10
INTERVENTION MATERIALS
MELCS: COMPOSE AN ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY

Each argument below has one sentence that is not relevant to the claim. Cross out that sentence to strengthen the
argument.

1. Having a pet is a rewarding experience. For example, dogs offer companionship and opportunities for physical
exercise. Hamsters' silly antics make people laugh, and watching fish or petting a cat can be relaxing. Some
parrots can live for over 100 years. Caring for a pet teaches the value of responsibility. Furthermore, taking care
of a pet enables the owner to experience love, loyalty, and affection. For all these reasons, taking care of a pet is
truly a worthwhile adventure.
2. More teachers should use video games as part of their instruction. Although some people believe video games are
a source of mindless entertainment, playing video games can actually help your brain by improving hand-eye
coordination and problem-solving skills. Including video games in lessons would also get students more excited
about learning. Popular game genres include action-adventure, role-playing, and racing games. Finally, there are
lots of video games that include academic content and give immediate feedback to students. This is why video
games should be encouraged in the classroom.
3. Every neighborhood should have a farmers market so that people can buy fresh, delicious, healthy produce. Since
food loses flavor and nutrients over time, local produce is tastier and more nutritious than what you can get at
grocery stores. Some produce in grocery stores is stored for weeks or even months before being sold. In contrast,
local farmers can sell you fruits and vegetables that were picked fresh from the field that morning. Farmers
markets also support the local economy by keeping money in the community. If you want the freshest, best-
tasting produce, try to establish a farmers market in your town.
4. Sleep is more important than most of us realize. Studies have shown that getting enough sleep helps us pay
attention, learn and remember things more easily, and generally feel better as we go through our day. There is
some debate over whether soft or firm pillows lead to the best sleep. Consistent, high-quality sleep is crucial for
our bodies to heal and repair from our daily activities. Even though it might seem fun to stay up late, we usually
pay for it the next day by feeling tired and cranky. The better we sleep, the better prepared we are to take on each
day!
5. Reading a printed book is better for you than reading a book on an e-reader. First, reading printed books is better
for your eye health than reading books on e-readers. Looking at screens for too long can cause eye fatigue, blurred
vision, and eye irritation. Since reading is so important, most people learn to read when they are very young.
Reading printed books can also help you feel more relaxed and get better sleep than reading books on an e-reader
can. Finally, studies have shown that people remember more of what they read when looking at printed pages,
helping them learn more. For all of these reasons, printed books are the superior choice for reading.
C. Argument Writing Practice
Scenario:
Imagine you and your friends have been stranded on a deserted island for days and have finally been
rescued! Everyone wants to be taken directly to a fast food restaurant to eat! In order for that to happen,
you must all agree on which restaurant it should be. Fill in the areas below to make a strong case for the
restaurant you believe would be the best for everyone. You will need three reasons for your choice.

The FAST FOOD RESTAURANT I would choose: _______________________________________________

(My Claim)
Here’s my first REASON (Why you choose your claim?):

Here’s an example (or more details) to strengthen my reason:

 QUARTER 4-ENGLISH 10
INTERVENTION MATERIALS
MELCS: COMPOSE AN ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY

Here’s my second REASON (Why you choose your claim?):

Here’s an example (or more details) to strengthen my reason:

Here’s my first REASON (Why you choose your claim?):

Here’s an example (or more details) to strengthen my reason:

An opposing viewpoint . . . (sometimes called a counter-claim)

Why might one of the other friends in the group disagree with your ideas? State what he or she might be thinking:

His/her claim…

 What could you say to this person to emphasize that your viewpoint is more acceptable than his or hers?
 QUARTER 4-ENGLISH 10
INTERVENTION MATERIALS
MELCS: COMPOSE AN ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY

Time for Closure:

Imagine you decide to stand up on a chair and “sum up” all your key points so that your restaurant will be
chosen! Write your final words that will really convince everyone to head to your restaurant choice.