Skip to Main Content

Lesson 2

We will draft one or more paragraphs that present and explain our claims and then develop and support our claims by citing evidence from our research and other arguments.

Lesson Goals

  • Can I draft a set of claims and counterclaims in a sequence of paragraphs that clearly present, explain, and support with evidence the position I am taking in my argument, considering the purpose and audience I have specified?

Texts

There are no texts for this Lesson.

Materials

Tools

Reference Guides

Editable Google Docs

Activity 1: Discuss – Read

We will review and finalize our claims and counterclaims in light of the position paragraph we have drafted.

Participate in a class discussion of the writing issues of unity and coherence in an argument, and how connections and transitions among ideas contribute to those desired characteristics.

Reread and review the sequence of claims and counterclaims you have previously developed, thinking about their relationship to your position paragraph.

Consider one or more of the arguments you have previously read, and think about how that argument has connected and unified its claims. Note, for example, in the Tollefsen model argument, "Measles, Mumps, and Religious Freedom: Mandatory Vaccination and the Limits of Parents Rights," how his argument has built connections and transitions among its claims, opposing claims, and counterclaims.

Revise any claims and their sequence, thinking about connections and transitions among ideas, and the overall unity and coherence of your argument.

Activity 2: Write

For each claim or counterclaim, we will write one or more paragraphs that present and explain the claim and then develop and support it by citing evidence from our research and other arguments.

Using your Organizing Evidence Tool as an outline, draft one or more paragraphs for each of the claims and counterclaims you will develop in your argument. For each claim, consider the following:

  • how you will state the claim in a clear and concise way

  • what language from your Vocabulary Journal will you incorporate

  • how you will explain what your claim means and how it connects to your issue and position

  • what information, examples, or statistics you will use and cite to support the claim

  • what quotations from other writers you want to integrate directly or paraphrase within your writing

  • what writing techniques from your Mentor Sentence Journal will you incorporate

Be sure to provide parenthetical citations for the sources of information and quotes you use.

Activity 3: Read – Discuss

We will learn how to provide parenthetical citations for the sources of information and quotations we use.

Step 1

Individually, read through pages 1-3 of the Integrating Quotations Reference Guide and then respond to the following questions in a whole-class discussion.

  1. What are the two ways in which you can cite evidence in a sentence?

  2. Why is citing evidence important? How does it support your credibility as a writer?

  3. What is included in the parenthesis after you cite your evidence? What is that information linked to?

Step 2

Now look through the rest of the reference guide. As you draft your body paragraphs for your argument, you will want to think strategically about how you want to present your evidence through either quoting or paraphrasing. It will be important to cite all your evidence with parenthetical citations no matter how you include the evidence. Use the Integrating Quotations Reference Guide for support.

Activity 4: Read – Discuss

With an editing partner, we will read, review, and discuss our draft paragraphs, again considering our purpose and audience.

Review the writing criteria for the unit and the Culminating Task to get into clear focus what each of your paragraphs needs to accomplish.

Using those criteria as an organizer, engage in a peer review with a writing partner.

Activity 5: Write

For homework, we will complete the drafting or redrafting process for the body of our argument.

For homework, revise the body paragraphs of your argument, including the paragraph that presents and explains your position based on feedback from your editing partner and your own reflection on the criteria for the Culminating Task essay.