Definitions
Relevant or Irrelevant?
Look at the evidence
Claim or Counterclaim?
No, you're a rebuttal!
100

This includes a claim, counterclaim, evidence, and a rebuttal. It should also have an introduction and a conclusion.

What is an argument?

100

Argument: Ban cell phones in schools. Is this evidence relevant or irrelevant: "Teachers are now using applications on smartphones that allow students to work on collaborative projects, like Edmodo, which keep students engaged" (Patrick, 2015).

What is irrelevant?

100

If I were answering the question: "Why does the author not like war?", which is an important detail? A. The author shares that he enjoys running. B. The author shares that he had a brother who went to war and was killed. C. The author shares that he wanted to join the military when he was young.

B. The author shares that he had a brother who went to war and was killed.

100
Is this a claim or a counterclaim? Despite evidence to the contrary, it is clear that students prefer having their cell phones in class to check Facebook rather than use their phones for educational purposes they find boring or stupid.
What is a counterclaim?
100

What is a rebuttal?

What is an answer to the counterclaim? Answers may vary.

200

This part of an argument is a statement that says what the author thinks and why they think it.

What is a claim?

200

If I were answering the question: "Is Kayla a good student?", which of the following would be an important detail: A. Kayla is 13 years old. B. Kayla goes to a Catholic school. C. Kayla enjoys reading, and often asks the teacher if she can do more for extra credit.

C. Kayla enjoys reading, and often asks the teacher if she can do more for extra credit.

200

Evidence, or nah? "Researchers have stated that students who skip lunch has lower metabolisms, and are more likely to suffer from depression" (Gonzalez, 2014).

What is EVIDENCE

200
(Argument = for cell phones in school) Cell phones increase student engagement because students want to use their technology in the classroom and appreciate opportunities to use their phones.
What is a claim?
200

Does this rebuttal work? Counterclaim: Schools should not ban junk food in school because healthy food tastes bad. Rebuttal: This argument is flawed because there is no rule that says that healthy food has to taste bad! There are healthy snacks that are salty, crunchy, sweet, and delicious to eat, they should try them first.

What is yeah, you're a rebuttal?

300
This part of an argument includes some kind of verifiable fact or experience. More often than not it is cited directly from a text.
What is evidence?
300
In an argument FOR music piracy, is the evidence relevant or irrelevant? "Musicians make the majority of their money from ticket sales to live concerts, not from downloaded or purchased music" (Apple, 2015).
What is relevant?
300
Evidence, or no way? People who like tacos also tend to like burritos and nachos, because they're all Mexican food.
What is NOT EVIDENCE.
300

Argument = FOR year round schools: The opposing side claims having school year-round wastes tax-payer dollars because they pay higher teacher salaries, higher utility bills, and higher food costs during the summer months.

What is a counterclaim?

300
Counterclaim: We should ban cell phones in school because they cause a distraction. Rebuttal: Using cell phones during school can also lead to problems with cyberbullying, which can lead to teens committing suicide.
What is nope, not a rebuttal.
400
This part of an argument is opposing the claim and states what the opposing viewpoint thinks and why they think it.
What is a counterclaim?
400
FOR selling junk food at school: "Junk food is, without a doubt, terrible for students' health. However, with freedom comes responsibility, and choices should not be limited based on the possibility of future illness" (Smith, 2015).
What is relevant?
400
"Parents really need to chaperone their kids to school dances, because they really don't know what their kids are up to, and who they're with. Parental involvement is important, especially to teens," Jones stated in an interview with the Kansas City Star.
What is NOT EVIDENCE. That's just like, their opinion, man.
400

Argument = FOR using i-Ready as an assessment: i-Ready is necessary for student success because teachers can use diagnostic data to better support their students. 

What is a claim?

400
Counterclaim: Students should only go to school for 9 months of the year because year-round school is expensive. Rebuttal: In Germany, there are schools that only go for a half-day. Yet, students successfully complete 2 years of college before they ever graduate high school! There's no need to be in school more - just be better with the time you have.
What is nope, not a rebuttal.
500
This part of an argument answers the argument against their claims in hopes to convince the reader that their original claim is correct.
What is a rebuttal?
500
FOR banning marijuana sales to teens: "The article expressly states that there remains no evidence that using marijuana causes depression, suicide or dropping out of school," he said. "It simply shows that teens who are prone to developing these problems are more likely to have used marijuana."
What is irrelevant?
500
"The worst traffic in the world is in Istanbul, Turkey. Commuters there spend over 125 hours per year waiting in traffic" (Routers, 2015).
What is Evidence?
500

Argument = for recycling paper = yay recycling! There are many recycled paper goods available in stores, but some typically argue that recycled paper requires more energy to create than it does to dispose of the original paper. This is because of the gas used by cars transporting paper to recycling plants.

What is a counterclaim?

500

Counterclaim: Students should not have year-round school because it is expensive. Rebuttal: What the argument fails to consider is that most parents prefer students attend year-round school, saying they would gladly pay a few more dollars in taxes so their child can learn more during the summer.

What is yes - that's a rebuttal!

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