How to Argue

Lesson Plan - Get It!

Audio:

The best way to present an argument is to state your claim (thesis) and provide proof.

In the video above, Tanner argues that many people have a cell phone addiction and that this is very unhealthy.

You can identify an argument writer's thesis, or claim, by asking yourself these questions.

• What is the writer arguing for or arguing against?
• What are they trying to prove?
• What are they trying to persuade the reader to do or stop doing?

Having a claim is not enough to win an argument. To be persuasive, a writer must convince us that they know something about the subject and can treat it fairly, not just criticize those who disagree.

A good argument writer will also appeal to the reader's mind, making a clear and convincing argument based on facts and not just appealing to emotions.

Read the following paragraph and decide what the claim is and whether the argument is persuasive.

• Did you find this argument persuasive?
• Does the writer know something about the subject?
• Does the writer treat the subject fairly?
• Does the argument appeal to the reader's mind with facts and evidence?

Look at another example on the same topic.

• Did you find this argument persuasive
• Does the writer know something about the subject?
• Does the writer treat the subject fairly?
• Does the argument appeal to the reader's mind with facts and evidence?

You probably noticed that the second example relies on an emotional appeal and lacks evidence. It also criticizes those who disagree, calling it a "crazy idea."

Now that you've seen good and poor arguments, move on to writing some arguments!

Head over to the Got It? section now!