Research-Based Argument Essay

1. Research-Based Argument Essay Session 4: Using Quotations to Bolster an Argument

2. Argument writers… • …give compelling evidence to prove their point • …pour over research, finding the evidence will really support their claim • …start by putting that evidence in their own words • …search their texts for quotations that will bring their side of the argument to life.

3. Listen to answer the question: “What makes a quotation powerful?” • Sarah was so brave just now! She heard a bully say to a second grader, “You nerd!” • So Sarah called out the the bully, “Stop picking on little kids, will you?” • I called, “You go, girl!” to Sarah. (You gotta have your friends’ backs!) • Someone else called, ‘Yes! Girl power!” I’m not sure who said that, but we were all cheering. • Sarah went right up to the bully and said “You don’t scare me! You’re just a bully.” He didn’t even argue! He took 3 steps and then another 2 steps, back! Then Sarah turned to the second graders and said, “We can’t let bullies rule.” They acted like she was their hero. Which quotations are powerful? What is the writer doing that you could do?

4. What Makes a Quotation Powerful? • Choose quotations that are surprising, even shocking, to spice things up. • Choose quotations that are life lessons, especially if the words are just right. • Explain what’s important about the quotation.

5. Write, thinking of:How to Write an Argument • Collect evidence that allows you to think through various sides of an argument. • Rehearse by explaining your position and listing your reasons point by point. • Plan your claim and reasons into boxes-and-bullets structure. • Use evidence to support your reason. • Paraphrase, putting it in your own words. • Quote, and then unpack the quote, showing how it relates to the claim

6. Mid-Workshop Point: Using Transitional Phrases between Writing and a Quotation • Don’t just PLOP a quote into your piece. • Use tranistional phrases in between quotes and your own writing. • Example: • In the article “Schools May Ban Chocolate Milk Over Added Sugar” it says… • .According to a video on NBC News called “Milk Dud: Schools rule out chocolate milk,” it says that… • Do any of you use transition phrases? Share.

7. Phrases that Set Up Quotations • According to the text… • In the article/video… • The text states… • Research shows/indicates… • Experts demonstrate… • Evidence suggests…

8. Setting Up a Quotation and Introducing a Source • One reason why schools should stop selling chocolate milk is because it has too much sugar. According to famous chef Jamie Oliver, “the sugar is coming and it just ain’t stopping!” When Jamie showed a school bus full of sugar, he makes you stop and think about how much sugar kids are getting from chocolate milk. It makes me realize that even though one bottle of milk might not have much, if you drink it all the time, it’s a lot of added sugar.

9. Can you come up with different ways to set up and introduce the quote by Jamie Oliver? • You can give information about the person by saying their name, and then some information, set off by commas. • You can almost give a little biography of the person, telling us why this person is so important or reliable.

10. How to Write an Argument • Collect evidence that allows you to think through various sides of an argument. • Rehearse by explaining your position and listing your reasons point by point. • Plan your claim and reasons into boxes-and-bullets structure. • Use evidence to support your reason. • Paraphrase, putting it in your own words. • Quote, and then unpack the quote, showing how it relates to the claim • Introduce the source and explain the connection • Use “set-up” language (transitional phrases) to prop up your sources.