Lab Activity 25: Arguing a Position

Lab Activities
Lab Activity 25: Arguing a Position

Objective To identify thesis statements and develop support points and specific details.

Step 1: Write a thesis statement for an argument essay about each of the following topics. Then, list three support points to back up each argument. An example has been done for you.

Example:
Thesis statement: Pirating can help the music industry.
a. It gives creative newcomers exposure for their music to large audiences.
b. It tremendously expands the audience for music in general.
c. It will break the music industry's tendency to distribute just a few big-selling artists.


		1. Thesis statement: Online video games are (or are not) addictive. To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.

		2. Thesis statement: Home schooling offers children better (or worse) for high school preparation than public schooling. To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.

		3. Thesis statement: Cloning of humans should (or should not) be banned. To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.

		*Step 2:* Choose a thesis statement for an argument essay. You may write your own thesis statement on a topic of your choice, or you may pick from the following: The Internet should (or should not) be censored in schools. Drug companies are overcharging Americans for their prescriptions. Watching violent TV shows and movies encourages children to do violent acts. A college education is overrated in today's society. Academic standards for student athletes are different from the standards for other students. Some of today's mainstream religions were once cults. The government should (or should not) encourage gambling. Left-handed people are more (or less) creative than right-handers. America's enormous national debt is a time bomb that we must deal with. Your thesis statement: To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.

		*Step 3:* Do some prewriting about your thesis statement to get yourself started. You may want to try a few different prewriting strategies to come up with support points and specific details. Draw from your own experiences, other people's experiences, and trusted sources as necessary. Then, write your support points and examples or specific details. To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.

		*Step 4:* Review the prewriting, thesis statement, support points, and details you wrote in Steps 1 through 3. Then, write a rough draft of an introductory paragraph for your argument essay. You may want to start by exposing the weaknesses of the opposing point of view. Or, you may want to plainly state and begin to defend your point of view right here. To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.

		*Step 5:* Next, write a rough draft of the body paragraphs for your essay. Use your support points to write topic sentences and back them up with the details and examples you developed. You may also want to do more prewriting to come up with more support points and details. To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.

		*Step 6:* Now, write a rough draft of a concluding paragraph for your essay. You may want to include a summary of your argument. Or, you may choose to add final thoughts or end with a question. To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.