The first step in planning an argument is to make some decisions. You need to settle on a claim— the idea that you will defend—and at least three reasons that show why your claim makes sense. You need to determine what kind of evidence will support each reason most effectively and then do some thinking and research to find the evidence. Finally, you will include a counterargument/counterclaim in which you explore viewpoints that are the opposite of your claim, reasons, and evidence.
Choose 1 one of the following questions to create a claim for your argumentative essay:
Which animal makes a better pet- a dog or a cat?
Why should your reader choose a particular book to read?
Why should your reader eat breakfast?
Why should your reader donate his or her old clothes?
Why should your reader volunteer at a particular place?
Do violent video games make people more likely to be violent in real life?
Should students be required to learn a second language in school?
Does the average American have a healthy diet?
Do girls or boys face more societal pressure—or do they face equal amounts?
Do schools do enough to prevent bullying?
What is the greatest challenge today’s students face?
Should children have restricted limits on the amount of screen time they should have?
Is climate change real, and is it happening?
Should uniforms be mandatory in educational settings?
Is it right to ask children to perform chores?
Is video gaming a sport?
Is online learning or face-to-face learning better?
Should students be given less homework?
Are printed books or ebooks better?
Should college athletes get paid?
What musician will be the next legendary performer?
Click Here to download Grammarly to help with spelling and punctuation.
Use this graphic organizer to help you during the writing process.
Remember to write 5 paragraphs in your essay- an Introduction Paragraph, 3 Body Paragraphs, and a Conclusion Paragraph.
**To write an argumentative essay, you will use sources for your research (Internet, books, magazines, etc.). You need to use at least 2 sources to provide evidence for your topic.** Besides publishing your work using a word processing program, you will need to include citations. A citation refers to the source of your information. Be sure to use MLA citation format for your Works Cited page.
Argumentative Essay Outline (5 paragraphs)
INTRODUCTION (1 paragraph, 5 sentences)
1. Use a hook (a question, statement, quote, description, ect.) to get the reader’s attention.
2. Introduce the topic
3. Why is this topic important?
4. Why should the audience care?
5. Thesis statement/Claim sentence
Fill in the blank formula for a thesis statement:
The subject of the essay + writer’s point of view/claim + reasons.
BODY PARAGRAPHS (3 body paragraphs, 5 sentences in each paragraph)
2 paragraphs in support of your topic, 1 paragraph against your topic (opposing claim)
The first sentence will be a statement that supports the thesis
Each body paragraph will provide evidence (4-5 sentences) that supports the above statement.
Your opposing claim paragraph will explore viewpoints that are the opposite of your claim, reasons, and evidence.
Make sure you include Facts, Statistics, Logic, Examples, and Anecdotes
Use the ICE Method (Introduce Your Reason, Cite Details and Evidence to support your reason, and Explain why the detail/evidence is important)
PURPOSE and AUDIENCE
Is my argument persuasive?
Have I clearly stated my claim and reasons that support that claim? Have I stated an opposing claim?
Have I provided sound and meaningful evidence to support my reasons?
Is my argument focused, or do I wander from my topic? Is there any information I should delete because it is irrelevant (even if it is information about the topic)
Does my audience already have an opinion about this topic? Do I acknowledge that opinion?
Do I explain my point of view clearly? Should I use more precise language or add evidence that my audience would find more persuasive?
Is my argument organized logically so that my audience does not get confused? How might I reorganize reasons or evidence to strengthen my argument?
Are the words and sentence structures I used appropriately for my audience?
Should I make my language simpler? More technical? More formal?
CONCLUSION (1 paragraph, 5 sentences)
Restate why the topic is important
Review the main points
Review the thesis/claim sentence
Prompt the reader to contemplate an idea or be inspired to learn more
Leave the reader with a takeaway from your essay, or something to remember!
EDITING: Concise and Precise Writing:
Are my ideas organized clearly and logically?
Are my reasons logical?
Are my reasons supported by evidence from credible sources?
Are the relationships between my ideas clear?
Are the sentences written in a way that gets my ideas across clearly?
Did I use the best word choice to express my ideas?
Are all the words spelled correctly?
Are there any errors in grammar?
Are there any errors in punctuation or capitalization?
Download Grammarly to help with spelling and punctuation.
Use this diagram to see what transition words and phrases to use in your argumentative essay:
Look at the first draft you wrote and read it again. Use the Unit 8 Portfolio Checklist to make additional improvements. Answer each group of questions and make revisions as needed.
Edit your draft for spelling, paying special attention to the rules in this lesson. Use a dictionary or other resource if it helps you to spell correctly. Please have your learning coach, a family member, or a friend read through your essay to give you feedback. You should edit and correct your essay at least once before turning it into the portfolio dropbox.
You can include pictures, images, graphics, and other multimedia in your essay!
MLA Citations:
Did you use online sources to help you with your essay? Locate those websites. On a sheet of paper, list the information you would need for citing each source. If there is no author or title or date of publication, leave those parts blank. Be sure to use MLA citation format for your Works Cited page.
Check My Work:
How To Use Check My Work: You need to have a Check My Work Link as a part of your essay. The Check My Work Link shows that your essay is free from plagiarism. (Go to your Connexus Homepage 🡪 Links 🡪 Check My Work 🡪 Upload your essay 🡪 Copy and paste the URL at the end of your essay).
**Last Step: Upload your essay to the Dropbox in Unit 8 Lesson 11.
Don’t forget MLA citations and the Check My Work Link at the end of your essay.**
How Your Essay Will Be Graded:
Ideas/Purpose (4): 3/3
Organization (4): 4/4
Voice and Word Choice (2): 1/1
Claim, Reasons, Evidence, and Counterclaim (2): 4/4
Conventions (4): 4/4
Check My Work Link/MLA Citations (4): 4/4
Total (20): 20/20
Title: Should College Athletes Get Paid?
INTRODUCTION:
Hook: Imagine dedicating countless hours to a sport, sacrificing personal time, and bringing in significant revenue for your university. Now, consider doing all of this without receiving any financial compensation. This is the reality for college athletes across the country.
Topic Introduction: The issue of whether college athletes should be paid has been a topic of debate for years. While some argue that athletes already receive scholarships and other benefits, it is essential to recognize the amount of time and effort they invest in their sport, often at the expense of academic and personal pursuits.
Importance of the Topic: The vast commercialization of college sports in recent years has resulted in universities generating substantial revenue from merchandise sales, broadcasting rights, and ticket sales. However, the athletes responsible for these profits do not receive any direct compensation for their contributions. This raises ethical and fair-play concerns that need to be addressed.
Thesis Statement: College athletes should be paid for their services because they work incredibly hard, generate revenue for their universities, and face financial hardships that can hinder their college experience.
BODY PARAGRAPHS:
Paragraph 1: Supporting Claim - College athletes work incredibly hard.
Introduce the Reason: College athletes dedicate numerous hours to their sport, including practices, workouts, and competitions.
Cite Details and Evidence: According to a study conducted by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), Division I college athletes spend an average of 40 hours per week on their respective sports, akin to a full-time job (Source 1).
Explain the Importance: Such a substantial time commitment leaves little room for athletes to focus on academics, personal relationships, or part-time jobs.
Paragraph 2: Supporting Claim - College athletes generate revenue for their universities.
Introduce the Reason: College sports generate sizable revenue for universities through ticket sales, sponsorships, and broadcasting rights.
Cite Details and Evidence: In 2019, the University of Alabama's football program generated over $111 million in revenue, while the University of Texas saw a profit of over $156 million (Source 2).
Explain the Importance: It is unfair for universities to profit significantly from athletes' performances while the players themselves receive no direct financial compensation.
Paragraph 3: Supporting Claim - College athletes face financial hardships.
Introduce the Reason: Many college athletes come from low-income backgrounds and struggle to meet basic needs while playing their sports.
Cite Details and Evidence: A study by the National College Players Association found that approximately 86% of college athletes live below the poverty line (Source 3).
Explain the Importance: Financial insecurities can hinder athletes' ability to focus on academics, leading to long-term consequences for their future careers.
Opposing Claim: Some argue that college athletes receive scholarships and other benefits that compensate for their services.
Exploration of Opposing Viewpoint: While scholarships provide valuable educational opportunities, they do not adequately compensate athletes for the time and effort they invest in their sports.
REFUTATION:
Rebuttal: Scholarships cover tuition fees, but they do not address other expenses such as housing, food, and personal needs.
Cite Details and Evidence: The average scholarship shortfall for student-athletes is estimated to be approximately $3,000 per year (Source 4).
Explanation: These financial gaps can significantly impact an athlete's overall college experience and well-being.
CONCLUSION:
Restate Importance: Ensuring fair compensation for college athletes is crucial to address the disparities in revenue distribution and the financial hardships they face.
Review Main Points: College athletes work incredibly hard, generate revenue for their universities, and face financial insecurities.
Review Thesis/Claim: College athletes should be paid for their services due to their dedication, revenue generation, and financial hardships.
Prompt the Reader: It is time for universities and governing bodies to reevaluate the current system and prioritize the welfare and fair compensation of college athletes.
Leave a Takeaway: By supporting the payment of college athletes, we acknowledge their contributions and create a more equitable environment within the world of collegiate sports.
Works Cited:
Source 1: [Insert Citation Here]
Source 2: [Insert Citation Here]
Source 3: [Insert Citation Here]
Source 4: [Insert Citation Here]
Check My Work Link: [Insert Check My Work Link Here]