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Lesson 3

We will complete the first drafts of our final arguments, develop introductions that describe our positions to our audiences and conclusions that leave our readers with our final thoughts or suggested responses to the prompt our essays discuss.

Lesson Goals

  • Can I develop my Culminating Task draft into a focused, structured, and coherent argument by using an organizing structure appropriate to purpose, audience, topic, and context?

  • Can I compose argumentative essays using genre characteristics and craft?

Texts

There are no texts for this Lesson.

Materials

There are no materials for this Lesson.

Activity 1: Discuss

We will reread the body paragraphs we drafted for our arguments and consider the next steps for introducing our positions.

As a class, discuss how to introduce and conclude an argumentative essay.

Determine if your argument presents an effective introduction for your argumentative essay or if you need to add something to get the attention of your readers and to welcome them into your essay. Consider models from arguments we have read in this unit.

Activity 2: Write

We will draft or revise the first paragraphs of our arguments to effectively introduce our intended readers to our topics and positions.

Step 1

As a class, discuss what components should be in an effective introduction. Answer the following questions:

  1. How do you introduce your intended audience to your 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 Antigone, and specifically the conflict between Creon and Antigone, 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?

Step 2

Write or revise an effective introduction for your argumentative essay.

Activity 3: Discuss – Write

We will reread the drafts we revised, thinking about how to conclude them to leave our intended readers with final thoughts or calls to responsive action.

As a class, discuss how to conclude an argumentative essay, considering models from arguments read in this unit, including the following approaches:

  • Transition from restating the position to suggesting a response or offering implications based on your chosen thematic idea. Keep in mind your argument’s purpose and audience.

  • Address opposing viewpoints and re-emphasize why readers should align with your position.

  • 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 another approach suggested by your teacher or classmates.

Write or revise an effective conclusion for your argumentative essay.

Activity 4: Write

For homework, we will complete the drafts of our arguments for review in the next lesson.

For homework, finalize your draft essay so that it can be reviewed for key writing issues in the following lessons.