Ch 1: Write Arguments: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.11-12.1
About This Chapter
Standard: Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts, using valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence (CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.11-12.1).
About This Chapter
Students who exhibit mastery in this standard know how to conceptualize, structure, and compose a persuasive essay on a precise and cohesive topic. They use formal and effective language to introduce and explain their thesis, as well as to present a logical conclusion relating back to the content of their arguments.
The video lectures for this standard offer lessons in:
- Understanding and using basic essay structure
- Composing a strong introduction
- Tips for organizing an essay
- Using ethos, logos, and pathos to draw in the reader
- Understanding the importance of transitions
- Developing and expressing a cogent conclusion
Students show their grasp of this standard by writing clear and convincing essays complete with a compelling introduction, a body that outlines and defends their position, and a logical conclusion. Attention to transitions and an objective tone are evident, as are the anticipation and preemptive refutation of potential counterarguments. Essays that exemplify competency in this standard also include ample evidence compiled from multiple sources.
How to Use These Lessons in Your Classroom
Following are some suggestions for integrating these tutorials into class lectures relating to the CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.11-12.1 standard:
Lessons in Balancing Source Material and Original Ideas
Show the video lesson on writing a persuasive essay using several sources during class, or assign it as homework. Then provide students with two source articles with evidence on either side of an issue. Ask them to use whichever article supports their perspective to write one of the body paragraphs of a persuasive essay, focusing on finding the balance between expressing their own ideas (such as in the introductory and concluding sentences) and presenting quotes or paraphrased information from their source.
Introduction-Writing Lessons
After viewing the lesson on writing an essay introduction as a class, ask students to choose an essay topic that interests them. Preferably in a computer lab or other research-ready setting, request that students compose an introductory paragraph for their hypothetical essay, giving them a chance to practice constructing an attention-getter, bridge sentences, and a thesis statement.
Logos, Ethos, and Pathos Identification Lessons
Watch the lesson on logos, ethos, and pathos in class. Then give students a written piece that displays all three of these forms and ask them to identify instances of each. Recognizing the use of these appeals in others' writing can help students become familiar with them and learn more easily how to employ them in their own writing.
1. How to Write Well: What Makes Writing Good?
There isn't a specific answer to what makes writing good, but you can take some things into consideration to improve your writing. Learn how to write well by coming up with great ideas, using specific examples, giving organization and clarity to your ideas, giving your writings a good style and voice, and being careful with your spelling, punctuation, and grammar to prevent readers from distracting.
2. Basic Essay Structure: The Five-Paragraph Essay
The five-paragraph essay is a basic essay structure that provides writers with the necessary elements to create a successful essay. Learn how to include the thesis statement in the introduction paragraph, explore what should be in the body paragraphs, how to maintain the focus and make good transitions between paragraphs, and how to write an effective conclusion paragraph.
3. How to Organize an Essay
To be well-written, essays and other documents must be well organized. Learn about tools such as titles, introductory paragraphs, concluding paragraphs, main points, and transition statements. Understand how to use these to organize and produce well-written essays.
4. Essay Introduction: Write a Thesis and Capture Your Audience
An essay introduction should include a thesis and a form of attention-getter to capture the audience. Explore the importance and rules of introductions, different types of attention-getters, the bridge between the attention-getter and the thesis, and the thesis statement.
5. What is a Thesis Statement?
A thesis statement communicates the main point of an essay and expresses the writer's position. Explore common thesis misconceptions and the types of essays that do and don't require a thesis.
6. How to Write a Thesis Statement
A well-written essay includes a strong, specific thesis statement that establishes readers' expectations by answering a question and making a well-stated, supported argument. Learn how to write a thesis statement, including how to make revisions if needed.
7. How to Write a Strong Essay Body
Learn how to write a strong essay body by understanding what makes an essay confusing and recognizing how to organize an essay logically. Explore how to write an essay that has unity and coherence while staying on point.
8. How to Write and Use Transition Sentences
Transition sentences are a vital tool to enhance the flow of well-written documents. Learn about transition sentences and understand why they are important, plus explore ways to use them between paragraphs to create writing that flows smoothly.
9. Point of View: First, Second & Third Person
A point of view is defined as the perspective that a work--such as a dialogue--is written. Learn about the differences between the first, second, and third point of view, and how to properly use and identify them in writing.
10. How to Structure an Argument in Your Essay
Some essays are used to argue a perspective and persuade an audience. Learn how to structure and organize an argument in an essay and recognize the components needed to create a strong argument.
11. How to Write a Persuasive Essay and Use Several Sources
Persuasive essays often require multiple sources to support the essay's arguments. Explore how to research and review sources, prepare an outline of key points, and incorporate several sources to make an essay more persuasive.
12. Logos, Ethos and Pathos: 3 Ways to Appeal to an Audience in Essays
To be effective, documents should be well-written and appealing to an audience. Learn how to use the techniques of logos, ethos, and pathos to write powerful documents that persuade and appeal to an audience.
13. Evaluating Reasoning in an Essay or Article
As you read essays and articles, your reading comprehension and understanding of each writing's purpose and key points are enhanced if you understand the author's reasoning and logic. Explore deductive and inductive reasoning processes and learn techniques for evaluating reasoning in an essay or article.
14. Audience Opposition: Anticipating and Refuting Opposing Views in Your Essays
Regardless of how well an essay is written, some members of an audience likely will oppose the author's arguments. Learn how to write essays that have strong arguments, anticipate audience opposition, and address and refute opposing views.
15. Using Rhetorical Skills to Write Better Essays
Rhetoric can be an effective technique to persuade an audience. Learn about rhetoric, including its purpose and ways to use it. Understand how to use rhetoric in writing and develop rhetorical writing skills that lead to better essays by knowing the purpose of your writing and applying rhetorical skills.
16. Concluding Statements: Supporting Your Argument
Concluding statements are closing sentences that summarize the main points, findings, and arguments of an essay. Learn about persuasive essays, and understand how including conclusion and consequences support arguments in an essay.
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Other Chapters
Other chapters within the Common Core ELA - Writing Grades 11-12: Standards course
- Write Informative Texts: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.11-12.2
- Write Narratives: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.11-12.3
- Write Clear Essays: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.11-12.4
- Planning & Revising Writing: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.11-12.5
- Use Technology for Writing: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.11-12.6
- Conduct Research Projects: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.11-12.7
- Gather Relevant Information: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.11-12.8
- Write Routinely: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.11-12.10