Argumentative Essay
What is the writer’s main position called?
*Hint: Starts with a letter C
Claim
What is evidence?
Facts, examples, quotations, statistics, or information that supports a claim
What punctuation mark separates items in a list?
Commas
Who wrote Fish Cheeks?
Amy Tan
Who wrote My Mother’s Garden?
Kaiylyn Greenidge
What is the purpose of a thesis statement?
States the writer’s position/main argument
What makes evidence relevant?
It directly supports the claim
What punctuation mark, other than a period, can join two independent clauses?
Semicolon ;
Why is the narrator embarrassed at the Christmas dinner?
he worries that Robert and his family will judge her and her Chinese culture.
What does the narrator learn about “objectivity”?
She realizes that what is presented as objective can still be influenced by people's identities and experiences.
What is a counterclaim?
An opposing viewpoint
What should a writer explain after giving evidence?
Explain how/why the evidence proves or supports the claim
Add the comma: “After school we went home.”
After school, we went home.
What conflict does the narrator experience?
he struggles between being proud of her Chinese heritage and wanting to fit in.
How does the author develop the idea that identity affects perspective?
By showing that discussions about social issues can ignore the experiences of people affected by race, class, and gender.
What is a rebuttal?
response that challenges or disproves the counterclaim
Which is stronger evidence: an opinion or a fact from a reliable source? Explain why.
A fact from a reliable source
Which is correct?
a.) I studied hard; I passed the test.
b.) I studied hard, I passed the test.
a.) I studied hard; I passed the test.
How does Amy Tan develop the theme of cultural identity?
Through the narrator’s embarrassment, family interactions, and her realization about her mother’s actions.
How do examples of race, class, and gender support the author’s message?
hey provide examples showing that supposedly neutral ideas can be shaped by social and personal perspectives.
Explain how a strong argument uses a claim, evidence, and reasoning together.
Claim + relevant evidence + reasoning explaining how the evidence supports the claim
Create a claim and provide one piece of evidence that would support it.
Answers Vary.
Claim: Students should have less homework.
Evidence: Too much homework can make students feel stressed and leave them with less time to relax or spend with their families.
Correct: Although I was tired I finished my homework.
Although I was tired, I finished my homework.
What message does the author communicate through the narrator’s embarrassment and later understanding of her mother’s actions?
Cultural identity should be valued rather than hidden because of embarrassment or pressure to fit in.
Explain how the author’s experiences as a scholarship student help develop the central idea of the text.
Her experiences as a scholarship student expose her to the difference between claiming to be “objective” and recognizing how identity shapes people's understanding of issues.