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Lesson 2

For each claim and counterclaim, we will draft 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.

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

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

Participate in a class discussion about unity and coherence in an argument and how connections and transitions among ideas contribute to those desired characteristics.

Review the sequence of claims and counterclaims you developed, thinking about their relationship to your position paragraph.

Consider one or more of the arguments from the unit materials and think about how that argument has connected and unified its claims.

Revise any claims or your sequence of claims, 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 questions:

  1. How will you state the claim in a clear and concise way?

  2. How you will explain what your claim means and how it connects to your topic and position?

  3. What information, examples, or statistics will you cite to support the claim?

  4. What quotations will you integrate directly or paraphrase within your writing?

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, 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 parentheses 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 Checklist to narrow your focus on what your paragraphs need 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. Base your revision on feedback from your editing partner and the Culminating Task criteria.