Argumentative Essay Packet

Argumentative Essay Packet

Name: ______Hour: 5th

This is due Tues 12/12/17!

Writing Prompt:

Do you think Stargirl should have stayed Stargirl or should have stayed Susan?

“Cell Phones? Yay or nay?” by Rachel Forrester

As technology becomes even more present in our daily lives, the issue of cell phones in the classroom becomes a bigger and bigger problem. Some teachers love to let the kids use phones in the classroom and some teachers are absolutely against it. There’s a large divide in opinion! As a teacher of 5 years I have faced the benefits and the issues that come with cell phone use in the classroom. I believe cell phones should be used in public schools because students can read on them and use them for computer work.

Students should be allowed to use cell phones in the classroom so that they can read on them and use them for computer work. Many students have downloaded apps so that they can read books on their phones. The Tulsa library even has an app so that you can check out books for free. Some textbooks offer online textbooks that can be accessed from a phone (Watters 4). If we allow children to type and research on their phones, we could spend less time in the lab and more time in the classroom. There’s also the issue that the school computers are slow. “Many students already carry a powerful computing device in their pockets, while oftentimes much of the technology hardware at schools is woefully out-of-date” (Watters 7). The laptops here at school are incredibly old, it is far easier to let the kids use their phones.

Many teachers may disagree with my opinion because allowing cell phones in class can cause a lot of issues. “A student with a cell phone is an uninterested student, one with a short attention span who cares more about socializing than education” (Scaccia 1). While I agree that cell phones can be distracting, I think that their benefit outweighs the problems. Also if I allow them to use a cell phone for a project, they’ll be excited about that and they’ll be more interested in my project and pay more attention to the lesson. Technology increases engagement, the more engaged my students are, the more they learn.

If there was a way for teachers to lock cell phones so that only educational content could be accessed during school hours I think we would all be excited about that. However that’s not possible. Cell phones will always cause issues in class, but they can also open up a world of educational learning opportunities for kids in the classroom. Those educational opportunities are invaluable and far outweigh the possible issues. After looking at this issue from both sides I think that cell phones should be used in public schools because students should be able to read on them and use them for computer work.

Argument Notes Chart (page 1)

So…What is your argument? What claim are you making?

Argument Notes Chart (page 2)

So now that you know your argument…

Can you prove it using texts from the novel?

Your Claim / Proof from the Novel
Write a quote here! Use quotation marks! / Cite it!
(Author’s Last Name Page Number)
Example:
(Spinelli 62).
Stargirl should have continued trying to be Susan.
OR
Stargirl should have never tried to be Susan.

Argumentative Essay Pre-Write!

Name: ______Hour: ____

Rough Draft!

DIRECTIONS: Write a rough draft of your essay here!

Need more paper?

Self-Editing Checklist

DIRECTIONS: Write your INITIALS on the line if you did what the question is asking you. If you didn’t do it, please go back to your Rough Draft and fix it, then write your initials on the line. DO NOT WRITE YOUR INITIALS DOWN IF THE STATEMENT ISN’T TRUE.

PARAGRAPH #1 The Introduction:

_____1. Did you indent?

_____2. Is it at least 5-8 sentences long?

_____3. Is each sentence a complete sentence with a capital letter and punctuation mark?

_____4. Is the 1st sentence a Hook?

_____5. Is the last sentence the Thesis Statement?

PARAGRAPH #2 Your Claim:

_____6. Did you indent?

_____7. Is it at least 5-8 sentences long?

_____8. Is each sentence a complete sentence with a capital letter and punctuation mark?

_____9. Is your 1st sentence a Topic Sentence explaining your reasons?

_____10. Did you include at least 1 quote from the novel?

_____11. Did you use an In Text Citation for the quote? (Author Name Page Number)?

PARAGRAPH #3 The Counter Claim:

_____12. Did you indent?

_____13. Is it at least 5-8 sentences long?

_____14. Is each sentence a complete sentence with a capital letter and punctuation mark?

_____15. Is your 1st sentence a Topic Sentence explaining the Counter Argument?

_____16. Did you explain why the Counter Argument is wrong?

_____17. Did you include at least 1 quote from the novel?

_____18. Did you use an In Text Citation for the quote? (Author Name Page Number)?

PARAGRAPH #4 Conclusion:

_____19. Did you indent?

_____20. Is it at least 5-8 sentences long?

_____21. Is each sentence a complete sentence with a capital letter and punctuation mark?

_____22. Did you restate your Thesis Statement?

Peer-Editing Checklist

Peer-Editor’s Name: ______

DIRECTIONS: Give your packet to a friend and ask them to edit it for you. Peer Editors! Please write all over their rough draft and fix their mistakes! Give them compliments, criticism and help!

DO NOT WRITE YOUR INITIALS DOWN IF THE STATEMENT ISN’T TRUE.

PARAGRAPH #1 The Introduction:

_____1. Did they indent?

_____2. Is it at least 5-8 sentences long?

_____3. Is each sentence a complete sentence with a capital letter and punctuation mark?

_____4. Is the 1st sentence a Hook?

_____5. Is the last sentence the Thesis Statement?

PARAGRAPH #2 Their Claim:

_____6. Did they indent?

_____7. Is it at least 5-8 sentences long?

_____8. Is each sentence a complete sentence with a capital letter and punctuation mark?

_____9. Is their 1st sentence a Topic Sentence explaining your reasons?

_____10. Did they include at least 1 quote from the novel?

_____11. Did they use an In Text Citation for the quote? (Author Name Page Number)?

PARAGRAPH #3 The Counter Claim:

_____12. Did they indent?

_____13. Is it at least 5-8 sentences long?

_____14. Is each sentence a complete sentence with a capital letter and punctuation mark?

_____15. Is their 1st sentence a Topic Sentence explaining the Counter Argument?

_____16. Did they explain why the Counter Argument is wrong?

_____17. Did they include at least 1 quote from the novel?

_____18. Did they use an In Text Citation for the quote? (Author Name Page Number)?

PARAGRAPH #4 Conclusion:

_____19. Did they indent?

_____20. Is it at least 5-8 sentences long?

_____21. Is each sentence a complete sentence with a capital letter and punctuation mark?

_____22. Did they restate your Thesis Statement?

RATE THEIR ESSAY!

Final Draft

DIRECTIONS: Write your Final Draft on google docs. Use Size 12 Times New Roman font. The title should be Argumentative Essay by First and Last Name (5). Share it with me at

by Tues 12/12/17 BEFORE class starts!

TEACHER GRADING RUBRIC

Grading Objectives / Points Possible / Points Earned
Cover Page / First & Last Name 1
Hour 1
Essay Example / 1st Paragraph 2
2nd Paragraph 3
3rd Paragraph 4
4th Paragraph 1
Thesis Statement / Claim 1
Reason 1
Argument Notes
page 1 / So what do you think? 1
Reasons 2
Argument Notes
page 2 / Circle your claim 1
Quotes 3
Cite it 3
Pre-Write / 1st Paragraph 3
2nd Paragraph 3
3rd Paragraph 4
4th Paragraph 2
Rough Draft / 4 Paragraphs 4
Self-Editing Checklist / Worksheet 22
Peer-Editing Checklist / Peer editor’s name 1
Worksheet 22
Rate it 1
Final Draft / 1st Paragraph:
Indent 1
5-8 sentences 1
Hook 1
Thesis Statement 1
Does it look nice? 1
2nd Paragarph:
Indent 1
5-8 Sentences 1
Topic Sentence Claim 1
Quote 1
Cite it 1
Does it look nice? 1
3rd Paragraph:
Indent 1
5-8 Sentences 1
Topic Sentence Counter Claim 1
Why they’re wrong 1
Quote 1
Cite it 1
Does it look nice? 1
4th Paragraph:
Indent 1
5-8 Sentences 1
Restated thesis statement 1
Does it look nice? 1