Introductions

Argument Writing

Sit with your writing partner from your guided reading group who shares the same stance as you do on trampolines.

Learning Target (W 6-1)

We are learning to organize/write the introduction of our trampoline argument pieces.

There are five different types of nonfiction leads we are learning about today.

1. You are There2. The Question3. The Quotation4. The Startling Fact5. The Anecdote: A Fictional Approach

Anecdote: a short and amusing or interesting story about a real incident or person.

Example: You are There Lead

You are outside in your backyard with your best friend. You are both jumping on your brand new trampoline. Your heart is pumping and you feel as if you could reach the sky! All of the sudden, your heart is pumping because your feet are not about to hit the trampoline…they’re about to hit the concrete. In that brief moment, you realize trampolines are not as safe as you thought they were.

Example: You are There Lead

What did you notice about this lead?

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Likes Dislikes- -- -- -

• You and your partner are going to work together on a lead that I give you.

• I’d like you and your partner to talk and then jot down your thinking (what you notice, likes, dislikes, etc.)

• Then, you will try to write that type of lead.

Questions?

Sixth Grade Student Example: I think that trampolines are not dangerous and you should own one.  Most of the time when people are getting hurt is when they are not using common sense, like a 14 year old boy tried to do a double backflip and he broke his neck leaving him paralyzed.  He could have thought, "I could get hurt.¨  And would have stopped him for being paralyzed for the rest of his life.

-Some background information that makes the topic seem important.

- A clear description of the sides of the issue so that the reader understands that there are two sides to this argument.

- A very clear, explicit, BIG, BOLD, claim! (Makes it totally clear what side you support.) and a summary of your reasons so the reader knows what to expect.

- Something catchy that gets the reader engaged, such as a surprising fact or statistic, or a spicy quote (decide where you want to place this in your introduction.)

Powerful Introductions Often Include: