Answer the questions and fill in the blanks. Keep answers short and simple (one sentence answers for questions that aren’t asking you to write stuff)

Question

What is the purpose of an argument?
What is a claim?
To build a persuasive argument, what does a writer need to understand?
What should a writer consider when thinking about the audience's needs?
What is bias?
What are counterarguments?
What three things should the introduction of an argument do?
1.
2.
3.
The ____ in an introduction should be surprising or interesting, so readers want to learn more.
An argument is a written discussion in which reasons and evidence are given to support an______
What 3 qualities should the opening statement of an argument have?
1.
2.
3.
_____are pieces of information that can be proven true and serve as convincing evidence
that can support the writer's argument.
Practice:
Alex is writing an argument to present to his class about how having a pet can improve a person's mental health. Before Alex begins his essay, he needs to identify his audience. Help Alex identify his audience by answering the questions below.
Once you have helped Alex determine his audience, help him write an opening statement (1-2 sentences) for his argument. Remember, an opening statement should be debatable, should specifically state the writer's opinion, and should be logical and reasonable.
Answer the following questions to identify the audience:
1. What age(s) are my readers?
2. Does my audience's gender matter for this issue?
3. Does my audience hold a bias?
4. Is that bias in line with my argument or in opposition to it? 5. Do audience members generally share the same bias, or do they have differing opinions?
6. What specific concerns might the audience have?
Alex's Opening Statement: (write one)
Key Concepts:
What do we call facts, statistics, quotations, or other pieces of information that can be verified by a source and support the writer's claim?
Why must writers of an argument use reasoning?
Why is it important for writers to acknowledge and address the counterclaims to their argument?
What does it mean to refute a counterclaim?
What is at least one way that claims and counterclaims could be organized in an argument?

Answer 1

Answers:

What is the purpose of an argument?
To persuade the audience to accept a particular point of view.

What is a claim?
A statement or assertion that expresses a viewpoint or position.

To build a persuasive argument, what does a writer need to understand?
The needs, values, and beliefs of the audience.

What should a writer consider when thinking about the audience's needs?
The audience's background, interests, and potential objections.

What is bias?
A tendency to favor one side over another, often leading to a skewed perspective.

What are counterarguments?
Arguments that oppose or challenge the main claim.

What three things should the introduction of an argument do?

1. Grab the reader's attention.
2. Present the main claim.
3. Provide context or background information.

The ____ in an introduction should be surprising or interesting, so readers want to learn more.
Hook.

An argument is a written discussion in which reasons and evidence are given to support an ____
Assertion.

What 3 qualities should the opening statement of an argument have?

1. Clarity.
2. Debatability.
3. Logical reasoning.

_____ are pieces of information that can be proven true and serve as convincing evidence that can support the writer's argument.
Facts.

Practice:

1. What age(s) are my readers?
Teenagers and young adults.

2. Does my audience's gender matter for this issue?
No, gender is not a significant factor in this issue.

3. Does my audience hold a bias?
Yes, they may have biases toward pets or mental health.

4. Is that bias in line with my argument or in opposition to it?
It may be in line with it.

5. Do audience members generally share the same bias, or do they have differing opinions?
They may have differing opinions based on personal experiences.

6. What specific concerns might the audience have?
Concerns about the responsibilities and costs of pet ownership.

Alex's Opening Statement:
"Having a pet not only brings joy to our lives but can also significantly enhance our mental health, making it a worthy consideration for anyone seeking emotional support."

Key Concepts:

What do we call facts, statistics, quotations, or other pieces of information that can be verified by a source and support the writer's claim?
Evidence.

Why must writers of an argument use reasoning?
To logically connect their claims to the evidence presented.

Why is it important for writers to acknowledge and address the counterclaims to their argument?
It builds credibility and demonstrates an understanding of the complexity of the issue.

What does it mean to refute a counterclaim?
To argue against or disprove the opposing view with evidence or reasoning.

What is at least one way that claims and counterclaims could be organized in an argument?
By presenting the main claim followed by supporting evidence, then addressing counterclaims in a separate section.