Grade 8 Argumentative Essay Examples
I gave an argumentative prompt for Unit One, feeling confident because of the massive document diving we’ve done. I had students’ peer score to help get used to the FRQ I received from Dan Devitt at my APSI this summer. I often like to use peer scoring and teacher grading so that students feel comfortable with the rubric and understand exactly what is expected of them. After grading essays, I saw a HUGE issue. The thesis that students were writing were NOT defensible. The evidence they used was mere quoting. The analysis demanded more. Back to the drawing board, we go.
AP Lang is a timed exam, so you have to pick and choose what you want to focus on in the limited time you're given to write the synthesis essay. Keep reading to get our expert advice on what you should focus on during your exam.
I realized that for the whole essay to be legit, a great thesis was needed. Now, when I taught APUSH {for one year because wow! I bow down to all APUSH teachers} We did a 2-1-1 for our thesis statements, and it worked out. So, I needed to develop a formula for AP Government and, in particular, for my students who seem to struggle. First, I developed a prewriting for the thesis:
Argumentative Essay Examples for high school pdf
Despite losing one point in the last category, this example synthesis essay is a strong one. It's well-developed, thoughtfully written, and advances an argument on the exam topic using evidence and support throughout.
I plan to build using evidence during the Presidency and analysis during the Judiciary, which all happen within the next few weeks. The ultimate goal of my Civil Rights and Liberties Unit is to have 90% of students write an argumentative essay at least a 4/6. Lofty? Maybe. Not enough? Probably. But, with the redesign and the shift in mindset away from and more application, I think it’s a reasonable goal that will evolve as we move through our semester.
For example, in the following sentence from the 5th paragraph of the sample essay, the writer misses the opportunity to state specific possibilities that power companies should consider for wind energy. Instead, the writer is ambiguous and non-committal, saying, "As with most things, wind power has no easy answer. It is the responsibility of the companies building them to weigh the benefits and consequences."
Note: the video discusses a particular persuasive essay situation, the Advanced Placement timed essay. The same advice also applies more broadly to other persuasive writing tasks, however.
Argumentative Essay Examples - 5 Paragraph
Artistotle developed a model in which the author/speaker/writer tries to win the audience over. Based on the rhetorical triangle, this method includes clearly stating a position, getting the audience’s concerns out of the way, and then presenting clear reasons supported by relevant examples, facts, and statistics. It is within this model that you appeal not only to logos but also to ethos and pathos. There is an argument to be made that this method should be called persuasion, not argumentation.
AP Lang Argumentative Essay Examples
Finally, the writer of the essay also received points for evidence and commentary because the writer developed and supported a consistent line of reasoning throughout the essay. This line of reasoning is summed up in the fourth paragraph in the following sentence: "One thing for power companies to consider is working with turbine manufacturing to make the machines less aesthetically impactful, so as to garner greater public support."
Aristotelian Argumentative Essay Example
Though personal examples in persuasive writing can serve multiple purposes, they most often (and most powerfully) tend to underscore emotional appeals to readers. Emotional arguments are known by the term pathos, and serve as a way to help convince readers to agree with your thesis.
Rogerian Argumentative Essay Example
On top of that, the writer does a good job of connecting the incorporated evidence back to the claim made in the thesis statement through effective commentary. The commentary in this sample essay is effective because it goes beyond just summarizing what the provided sources say. Instead, it explains and analyzes the evidence presented in the selected sources and connects them back to supporting points the writer makes in each body paragraph.
Toulmin Argumentative Essay Example
According to the CollegeBoard grading guidelines for the AP Lang synthesis essay, a strong thesis statement will respond to the prompt—restate or rephrase the prompt. A good thesis will take a clear, defensible position on the topic presented in the prompt and the sources.