Essential Knowledge with Argumentative Essays
Define the term 'thesis'
What is a specific, arguable claim that serves as the main argument for an essay?
(Answers May Vary)
This is the analytical goal when evaluating the primary point of an argumentative essay/article:
A) What is a Topic Sentence?
The main idea of a single paragraph.
B) What is the Central Argument (Thesis)?
The main, controlling idea of the entire article that presents a specific, debatable position.
C) What is an Empirical Fact?
An objective, verifiable piece of data or information.
D) What is a Summary?
A brief statement of the main points of a text without evaluation or interpretation.
What Is:
B) What is the Central Argument (Thesis)?
The main, controlling idea of the entire article that presents a specific, debatable position.
True or False:
Strong essays have a clear line of reasoning where the commentary effectively and logically explains how the evidence supports each claim, ultimately tying back to the main thesis.
What is true?
Define the term 'rhetorical style'
What is the deliberate choice of language, including vocabulary, sentence structure, and tone, to make a message more effective and persuasive?
(Answers May Vary)
What is a viewpoint that opposes your main argument.
(Answer May Vary)Fill in the Blank:
The sequence of paragraphs in a text reveals the ________'s line of reasoning.
What is argument?
True or False:
It is advised to not use evidence older than 7 years.
What is false?
Correct Statement: It is advised to not use evidence older than 5 years.
This term is your own interpretation and analysis that explains how the evidence proves your thesis, not just a summary of the evidence.
What is commentary?
True or False:
The diction, syntax, tone, and figurative language contribute to the argument's persuasiveness and the author's purposes.
What is true?
True or False:
The author's bias affects the validity of their claims in an argumentative essay.
What is true?
Define the term 'exigence'.
What is the moment or event that motivates someone to write or to speak about a specific issue, problem, or situation?
Answers May Vary
Name three (3) types of evidence that is used in argumentative essays.
What is statistics, historical examples, personal anecdotes, and logic?
Define the term 'warrant'
What is the logical connection/a guarantee that explains why your evidence supports/justifies your claim. It acts as the bridge between your evidence and your argument, showing how the two are related.
Short form: It's how the evidence links to the commentary
(Answers May Vary)
Define the term 'syntax' (in the context of argumentative essays)
What is the strategic arrangement of words, phrases, and clauses to form clear, logical, and persuasive sentences.
(Answers May Vary)
Fill in the blank:
In a counterargument, the author (1) ________ and (2) _______ opposing viewpoints
Hint: (1) starts with the letter 'a' and (2) starts with the letter 'r'
What is
(1) acknowledges
(2) refutes
What is the key area for evaluation in an argumentative essay that includes:
-Who is the author?
-What's the purpose?
-What is the context or exigence?
- What/How do these factors influence the choices in the article?
What is Rhetorical Situation?
Consider the paragraph below and answer the question that follows.
There is a huge difference between living in an apartment and living in a house, and the biggest factor that makes living in a house superior to an apartment is the ambiance. A house can offer more space that an apartment generally cannot at the same cost, with houses costing about $233 per square foot and apartments costing $274 per square foot, and this additional space can make a house feel more relaxed. There's also less chance of a house being cluttered, since the larger space can reduce the density of objects and furniture. Finally, houses tend to have more outdoor space, which allows you to grow plants and trees, which all contribute to a better environment at home.
What is the main claim being made in this paragraph?
A) Living in a house is better than living in an apartment.
B) Living in an apartment is better than living in a house.
C) A house offers a better ambiance than an apartment.
D) A house is often larger than an apartment.
What is
A) Living in a house is better than living in an apartment.
Fill in the Blank:
The local government should invest heavily in expanding bike lanes throughout the city (Claim). A recent study shows that cities with extensive bike lane networks have 30% lower obesity rates than cities without them (Evidence). _____ (Warrant). Therefore, this project should be a top priority.
Which of the following statements best fills the blank to serve as the warrant (the underlying reasoning or assumption) that logically connects the claim and the evidence?
A) The new bike lanes would be expensive to install and maintain, potentially requiring a tax increase to fund the project fully.
B) The study was conducted by reliable researchers at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and involved thousands of participants across 50 cities.
C) If an infrastructure project can demonstrably improve public health outcomes like lowering obesity rates, then the local government has a responsibility to prioritize that investment.
D) Many residents currently do not own bikes and would need to purchase them before they could make use of the new infrastructure.
What is
C) If an infrastructure project can demonstrably improve public health outcomes like lowering obesity rates, then the local government has a responsibility to prioritize that investment.
List four (4) techniques of rhetorical choices/styles that can be used in argumentative essays.
What is
1. Parallelism
2. Antithesis
3. Irony
4. Persuasive Appeals (Logos, Pathos, Ethos)
5. Any literary devices (Ex. Figurative Language and Tone)
What is the most logical assumption:
Argument: "These wildfires are out of control, therefore global warming is real."
Hint: The missing link that explains the relationship between the two events.
A) All wildfires are caused by humans.
B) The government should spend more money fighting fires.
C) Global warming is the best explanation for an increase in wildfires
D) Wildfires only happen in the summer.
What is C) Global warming is the best explanation for an increase in wildfires?
Fill in the blank:
Flaws in a line of reasoning, may _______ an argument specious (superficial) or illogical.
What is render?
Consider the paragraph below and answer the question that follows.
There is a huge difference between living in an apartment and living in a house, and the biggest factor that makes living in a house superior to an apartment is the ambiance. A house can offer more space that an apartment generally cannot at the same cost, with houses costing about $233 per square foot and apartments costing $274 per square foot, and this additional space can make a house feel more relaxed. There's also less chance of a house being cluttered, since the larger space can reduce the density of objects and furniture. Finally, houses tend to have more outdoor space, which allows you to grow plants and trees, which all contribute to a better environment at home.
Which of the following is evidence provided in the paragraph that supports the paragraph's main claim?
A) The price of a house per square foot is lower than the price of an apartment.
B) An apartment has better lighting compared to the lighting of a house.
C) A house usually costs more than an apartment per square foot of space.
D) Houses will always come with plants and trees when you move in.
What Is
A) The price of a house per square foot is lower than the price of an apartment.
The local government should invest heavily in expanding bike lanes throughout the city. A recent study shows that cities with extensive bike lane networks have 30% lower obesity rates than cities without them. If an infrastructure project can demonstrably improve public health outcomes like lowering obesity rates, then the local government has a responsibility to prioritize that investment. Therefore, this project should be a top priority.
Which of the following would best serve as a commentary to the argumentative essay segment provided in the prompt?
A) The evidence is from a peer-reviewed journal and is widely accepted by health professionals.
B) The 30% reduction in obesity rates highlights a powerful, tangible benefit that far outweighs the initial infrastructure costs. This public health improvement translates to lower healthcare expenditures and more productive citizens, solidifying the argument that the project is crucial.
C) The claim argues for investment, and the evidence supports the health benefits of bike lanes. The warrant connects the responsibility of the government to the health outcomes.
D) The study surveyed multiple cities across different demographics and socioeconomic backgrounds to ensure the results were not skewed.
What is
B) The 30% reduction in obesity rates highlights a powerful, tangible benefit that far outweighs the initial infrastructure costs. This public health improvement translates to lower healthcare expenditures and a more productive citizenry, solidifying the argument that the project is crucial.
This rhetorical device involves the second part of a sentence meaning the exact opposite of the first part. Ex: "Object there was none. Passion there was none. I loved the old man." (Edgar Allan Poe, "The Tell-Tale Heart")
What is antithesis?
Read the passage excerpt:
(Paragraph 1) "The written word is weak. An ordinary reader, if he is a thing, is a mere thing, and the printed word will not make him anything else."
(Paragraph 2) "However, some critics argue that film is an inferior art form, lacking the depth and complexity of literature. They contend that the passive nature of watching a film prevents the kind of imaginative engagement that reading a book demands."
(Paragraph 3) "While this perspective has merit in certain contexts, it overlooks the unique capacity of visual storytelling to evoke powerful, immediate emotional responses and to reach a broader audience, which serves a different, but equally valid, artistic purpose."
Which of the following best describes the rhetorical function of the second paragraph in relation to the author's main argument (established in Paragraph 1 and developed in Paragraph 3)?
A) It presents the author's primary claim regarding the weakness of the written word.
B) It offers a digression to a separate, though related, topic.
C) It acknowledges a potential counterargument that the author will subsequently refute.
D) It provides a specific example to support the author's general assertion.
E) It uses an appeal to authority to bolster the author's claims about film.
What is C) It acknowledges a potential counterargument that the author will subsequently refute.