Reading and Writing Argumentative Essays

Rob conferring with students

Below find resources for helping middle school and early high school students read essays that are calls for action and to write about topics of interest from an argumentative viewpoint.  Argumentative essays ask readers to take a stance and/or take an action.


1. Paired Essays:
The first text provides background and invites the reader/writer to begin thinking about the topic generally. The second essay is to be deconstructed to see how the writer constructs his/her argument.

1. Does Technology Make Us More Alone? (from New York Times, 10.14.16)
2. Leave Your Laptops at the Door to My Classroom (from New York Times, 1.2.17)

You are about to read an Opinion essay by a college professor who doesn’t allow students to take notes or otherwise use laptops in his classes. Think about how you best take notes. Do you write them with a pen or pencil, type them or do you have a different system? What role, if any, does distraction play when you use a computer or other device?

Author's Claim:

Counterclaim: 

1. Trump’s Labor Pick, Andrew Puzder, Is Critic of Minimum Wage Increases (from New York Times, 12.8.16)
2. Trump's Pick for Labor Secretary Doesn't Think Workers Should Get Breaks (From Mother Jones, 12.28.16)

But this isn't some exotic new political creed introduced by Trump. It's warmed-over Republicanism.
Claim:
Counterclaim:

1. 7 real things you can do right now about the catastrophe in Aleppo. (from UpWorthy, 12.13.16)
2. How the World Closed Its Eyes to Syria’s Horror’ (from New York Times, 12.14.16)

Have you been following 7-year-old Bana’s tweets and her story from Aleppo, Syria? Have you seen images or videos of other people there on the news or social media? What is happening in Aleppo now?
Claim:
Counterclaim:

1. Teens are cutting back on drugs, alcohol, smoking and even electronic cigarettes, study finds (from Los Angeles Times, 12.12.16)
2. Video: Surgeon General Raises E-Cigarette Concerns
3. ‘Use of E-Cigarettes by Young People Is Major Concern, Surgeon General Declares’(from New York Times, 12.14.16)

Have you ever vaped or smoked a hookah? Do you know people who do? Watch this short video and then discuss with a classmate what you know about e-cigarettes from a personal, scientific and social standpoint.
Claim:
Counterclaim:

1. The latest ranking of top countries in math, reading, and science is out — and the US didn't crack the top 10 (from Business Insider, 12.6.16)
2. ‘What America Can Learn About Smart Schools in Other Countries’ (from New York Times, 12.8.16)

The United States is among the world’s biggest per-student spenders on education, but its 15-year-olds still trail in math against peers in most developed countries.
Claim:
Counterclaim:

1. The Superior Social Skills of Bilinguals (from New York Times, 3.11.16)
2. Why Bilinguals Are Smarter   (from New York Times, 12.1.16)

Using two languages strengthens the brain...
Claim:
Counterclaim:

1. Blue Feed, Red Feed: See Liberal Facebook and Conservative Facebook, Side by Side (from The Wall Street Journal) 
2. Social Media’s Globe Shaking Power (from New York Times, 11.17.16)

How are social networks helping to to fundamentally rewire human society and even alter global events?
Claim:
Counterclaim:

1. Origins of Agriculture (From Online Encyclopedia Britannica)
2. How The First Farmers Changed History (from the New York Times, 10.17.16)

What is the agricultural revolution? How did it change our species and planet?
Claim:
Counterclaim:

1. Disputes Over Environmental Impact of 'Fracking' Obscure its Future (from CNBC, 4.8.13)
2. Sorting Through the Claims, Counterclaims About Environmental Impact of 'Fracking' (from CNBC News, 4.8.13)

Claim:
Counterclaim:

2. Claims, Claims, Claims
Read and view the following.  What claims are being made  What counterclaims?

1. The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty Senior Counsel Lori Windham on a legal victory for common sense and public health. Photo credit: Associated Press. (Video from The Wall Street Journal, 1.4.17)
2. Texas judge halts federal transgender health protections (AP Top News, 1.1.17)
3. Judge blocks Obama mandate forcing doctors to perform abortions, transgender surgeries (from The Washington Times, 1.1.17)
4. Transgender Patients May Suffer After Texas Judge Blocks Obama's Policy (from Governing, 1.3.17)

3. Revising an online essay

What might you do to make this article more persuasive?  What call to action would you include? What counterclaim would be important to consider?
We'll Never See These Animals Again (From Mother Jones, 12.31.16)


4. Writing prompts from the NY Times 

200 prompts for Argumentative Essay Writing
301 Prompts for Argumentative Writing
650 Prompts for Narrative and Personal Writing

Examining Counterargument Using 15 Contemporary Essays

from The Atlantic

Below are links to essays from popular contemporary magazines . These essays have been composed with counterclaims.

1. From The Atlantic 4.1.16 Study: How Much of an Environmental Threat Is Ocean Garbage ... Apr 1, 2016 ... A new paper sifts through past research on marine debris to assess the true extent of the environmental threat.
2.  From The Atlantic 6.15.15 Do Teenagers Still Believe in the American Dream?  Jun 15, 2015 ... Compared to their counterparts in recent years, high-school seniors in the mid- 1990s appeared to have more faith in social mobility and less ...
3.  From The Atlantic 8.25.14 Students Aren't Getting Enough Sleep—School Starts Too Early ... Aug 25, 2014 ... A new report from the American Academy of Pediatrics says delaying the day may help teens get more rest.
4.  From Forbes, 12.16.16: Does Putin Not Understand That Trump Not Clinton Threatens His Petrostate? Paul Roderick Gregory Paul Roderick Gregory, Contributor What we do know is that Clinton lost and Trump won. We do not know what was going on inside Putin’s head. If Putin’s emotional demon dominated, he would be happy when Hillary lost. If his rational-choice side prevailed, he would be unhappy with Trump’s victory.
5. From Forbes, 12.15.16 No, The EPA Has Not Actually Changed Its Conclusion On Risks Of Fracking To Drinking Water
6. From The Nation, 10.18.16 The Debate Over Syria Has Reached a Dead End Two warring narratives now dominate discussions—and neither is sufficient. BASSAM HADDAD
7. From Newsweek 8.8.16 IS TRUMP A DUNCE? OR AN IGNORAMUS? AND DOES IT MATTER? BY MICHAEL C. DORF ON 8/8/16 AT 9:10 AM
8. From Salon 4.7.16 “Religious freedom? This is just discrimination”: Outraged Trevor ... Apr 7, 2016 ... “Daily Show” host Trevor Noah last night tackled so-called “religious freedom” bills, making headlines most recently in Mississippi, and which ...
9. from Salon 2.8.15 America's hip-hop travesty: How rap lyrics are being used in court  to police Black talk Feb 8, 2015 ... A New York Times columnist mocks the dead. Movies do the same. But when rap lyrics do it? Here's what happens.
10. From Time Magazine 3.6.15 States Battle Over Bathroom Access for Transgender People Katy Steinmetz @katysteinmetz  March 6, 2015 Legislatures across the country are fighting over issues related to gender identity and sexual orientation
11. From Time Magazine 11.24.15 Ferguson: In Defense of Rioting | TIME Nov 25, 2014 ... The violent protests in Ferguson, Mo., are part of the American experience. Peaceful protesting is a luxury only available to those safely in ...
12. from Time Magazine 7.8.13 Violent Video Games Don't Make Us Less Caring | TIME.com
13. Jul 8, 2013 ... Do violent video games make people more callous and less likely to help others? The latest study suggests not— but it likely won't be the last ...
14. From Time Magazine 12.21.12 School Shootings: Arming Teachers Isn't the Answer | TIME.com Dec 21, 2012 ... The tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School has led to a national conversation about guns, with many arguing that access to these weapons ...
15. From Time Magazine 6.6.12 Claim and Counterclaim: Who Is Bombing Damascus? By Rania Abouzeid / Beirut  Friday, Jan. 06, 2012