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Lesson 3

We will complete our initial draft of our final argument, developing an introduction that will move readers into the topic and display our positions. Our conclusion will leave those readers with final thoughts and a suggested response to the issues and problems the essay has discussed.

Lesson Goals

  • Can I draft introductory and concluding paragraphs that introduce my topic and issue, draw my audience in, lead to or restate my position, and end my argument with a strong statement, suggested response, or call to action?

Texts

Core

  • Unit Reader
    • “Mandate Vaccination with Care,” Saad B. Omer, Cornelia Betsch, and Julie Leask, Springer Nature Limited, 2019
    • “Vaccination and Free Will,” Jeffrey A. Singer, Reason Foundation, 2014
    • “What Would Happen If We Stopped Vaccinations?,” Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Public Domain, 2018

Materials

Tools

Editable Google Docs

Activity 1: Discuss

We will reread the draft of the body of our argument, and consider what additionally needs to be done to introduce our topic, issue, and position to the audience we have designated.

Participate in a class discussion of ways to introduce an argumentative essay.

  1. How do you introduce your intended audience to your issue and position in a compelling or interesting way? What unique ways can you use to get your reader’s attention right away?

  2. What background information about the topic will your reader need in order to understand your argument?

  3. How will you preview what is to come in your argument in order to further hook and inform the reader?

  4. What organizational structure are you using to compose your argument and how does that impact what you will include in your introduction?

Consider models from arguments read in this unit. See examples below:

  • Note how Roald Dahl, Janet Stemwedel, and Christopher Tollefsen all use narrative examples from their own lives to frame and begin their arguments.

  • Note how the CDC article "What Would Happen If We Stopped Vaccinations" begins with a series of relevant and striking historical statistics about deaths from infectious diseases.

  • Note how "Mandate Vaccination with Care" begins by referencing the impact of a recent measles outbreak.

  • Note how Jeff Singer in "Vaccination and Free Will" uses a useful metaphor to introduce his argument against coercive vaccination by referencing Steven Spielberg's 2002 sci-fi film, Minority Report.

Activity 2: Write

We will draft or redraft a first paragraph of the argument to effectively move our intended readers into the topic and position.

Based on the previous discussion, look at your Section 4 Diagnostic. What information have you already included in this synopsis that could help you write your introduction? What do you need to add something to get your readers’ attention?

Using the Section 4 Diagnostic, outline ideas for your introduction based on the necessary components of an introduction.

Write or revise an effective introduction for your argumentative essay.

Activity 3: Read – Discuss – Write

We will reread our revised draft, thinking about how to conclude it in a way that will leave our intended readers with final thoughts or calls to responsive action.

Reread your revised draft, paying attention to whether it builds to a powerful conclusion and finish.

Participate in a class discussion about ways to conclude an argumentative essay, including the following options:

  • Use the final paragraph as the argument’s position paragraph in an inductive reasoning approach, such as Tollefsen used in the model argument. His position is fully expressed as the final point of the claims that have preceded it.

  • Move from a restatement of the position to a suggested response or call to action related to the issue, problem, or controversy that the argument has addressed, and the designated context, purpose, and audience.

  • Directly link the conclusion to the introduction to complete the circle and increase the argument’s sense of unity.

  • Use a final example, story, or quotation to add a dramatic finish to the essay.

  • Use other options suggested by your teacher or classmates.

Consider models from arguments read in this unit.

Write or revise an effective concluding paragraph for your argumentative essay.

Activity 4: Write

For homework, we will complete a full review draft for our argument.

Finalize the content of your draft essay so that it can be reviewed for key writing issues as you progress to a final draft.

Review your Vocabulary Journal. Ensure you use at least 4 terms from your journal in your final essay.