Writing Workshop: Exploring Argument

Read the thesis statement about text messaging.

Text messaging while driving is dangerous, and making it against the law in many states would be a good idea.

Which is the best revision of the underlined portion of the sentence?

An effective argumentative essay must provide evidence because

Read the introduction and first paragraph of an essay about energy sources.

(1) The nation’s energy use is largely dependent on fossil fuels. (2) These fuels are nonrenewable resources, and they cause pollution. (3) We cannot continue our reliance on a fuel that will eventually run out. (4) Thus, we must find other ways to sustain our energy demands. (5) Pursuing alternative fuel sources is the key to solving our energy crisis.

(6) Through different technologies, such as solar cells, scientists have learned to use the sun’s radiation to create electricity. (7) Currently, about 1 percent of energy in the United States is produced by the sun, and solar energy has the potential to become a more widely used energy source. (8) Solar energy is both inexhaustible and clean. (9) The major limit to this alternative source is that equipment is expensive. (10) Developing a cost-effective way to harness the power of the sun will be a significant development in solving our energy crisis.

Which sentence references a counterclaim against the use of solar energy?

Which is a step in writing an argumentative speech?

A counterclaim is included in argumentative writing to

An effective thesis statement should

(1) The nation’s energy use is largely dependent on fossil fuels. (2) These fuels are nonrenewable resources, and they cause pollution. (3) We cannot continue our reliance on a fuel that will eventually run out. (4) Thus, we must find other ways to sustain our energy demands. (5) Pursuing alternative fuel sources is the key to solving our energy crisis.

(6) Currently, about 1 percent of energy in the United States is produced by the sun, and solar energy has the potential to become a more widely used energy source. (7) Through different technologies, such as solar cells, scientists have learned to use the sun’s radiation to create electricity. (8) Solar energy is both inexhaustible and clean. (9) The major limit to this alternative source is that equipment is expensive. (10) Developing a cost-effective way to harness the power of the sun will be a significant development in solving our energy crisis.

Which sentence is the author’s thesis statement?

The purpose of presenting a counterclaim is to

Read the paragraph about conducting school locker searches.

A school has the right to search student lockers to keep things safe for all students and the community at large. Education and safety are a school’s biggest responsibilities. Unfortunately, lockers can become a container for dangerous items that do not belong in a school setting. Studies have shown that when a safety issue regarding one or more students arose, evidence relating to the situation was often found in student lockers—notes, weapons, and other items that had to be confiscated. However, when students are aware that lockers are subject to unscheduled searches, they often think of other ways to store their belongings; items are instead concealed in backpacks, pockets, and purses, which are much more accessible to students.

Which text from the paragraph is a counterclaim to the author’s thesis statement?

Jamie is writing a letter to the mayor, arguing that the nighttime curfew for youth under eighteen should be eliminated. Which is the best evidence to support her claim?