Argumentative Writing:

Logical Progression
Grade 6

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Score LLC

Review:
Elements of
Argumentative Writing
Claim (versus thesis)
Logic (versus emotion in persuasive

writing) based on evidence

Explanation of how evidence supports the

claim

PERSUASIVE WRITING
ARGUMENTATIVE WRITING

A PERSUASIVE paper often relies on

EMOTION.

An ARGUMENTATIVE paper has to rely

on LOGIC. Evidence must be factual.

Logical Progression:
- the flow of ideas in the
essay, particularly in the
body paragraphs

Argumentative Essay

Contain the papers claims, evidence,

and elaboration.
Can be structured in a variety of ways
one possible structure follows
Should flow from one to the next in
order to help the reader understand

Lets take a look at signal

words/phrases
before we move on.

Signal Phrases introduce the support and

evidence
(summaries, direct quote, or paraphrases).
Here are a few examples
The first passage states that.
The article ____________ explains how.
The author of _________ agrees by explaining
____________
According to ____________________

Other signal words/phrases

addresses adds
agrees
believes claims
confirms declares estimates focuses on
implies
mentions notes
observes points out questions
recommends reports
says
sees
states

WRITING TASK
Write an argument paper for or against
year-round schooling.
Be sure to use evidence from the texts in
your response.
Assume that you are writing FOR yearround school.

Argumentative Essay
The BODY of an argumentative paper: Please note
that the number of paragraphs is completely dependent
on the content of your paper and the time/length
requirements.

Topic Sentence: Include a sentence with

one reason that supports your claim.
Introduce and State Evidence: Use a
signal phrase and provide evidence
(reasons, examples, facts, statistics, and/or
quotations) from the text to support your
claim.

Argumentative Essay
Elaborate on Evidence: Show how the
evidence supports the point you are trying
to make in this paragraph. Give more detail.
Concluding Sentence: End your paragraph
with a concluding sentence that wraps up
this paragraph and moves into your next
point.

Topic Sentence: Include a sentence with

one reason that supports your claim.

Claim: Year-round school is better

Reason: Students remember more
Topic Sentence: When students are only
out of school for one or two weeks at a
time, they can remember the material
easier.

Introduce and State Evidence: Use a

SIGNAL PHRASE and provide EVIDENCE
(reasons, examples, facts, statistics, and/ or
quotations) from the text to support your
claim.

When students are only out of school for one

or two weeks at a time, they can remember
the material easier. In the article , The
Benefits of Year-Round School, the
author explains how students in
Spanish classes have to use their skills
regularly in order to improve.

Elaborate on Evidence: Show how the

evidence proves the point you are trying to
make in this paragraph. GIVE MORE
DETAIL.

When students are only out of school for one

or two weeks at a time, they can remember
the material easier. In the article , The
Benefits of Year-Round School, the author
explains how students in Spanish classes
have to use their skills regularly in order to
improve. When they are gone for three
months over summer, students often do
not remember much of what they
learned and they have to learn it all
over again.

Concluding Sentence: End your paragraph

with a CONCLUDING SENTENCE that
wraps up this paragraph and moves into
your next point.

When students are only out of school for one

or two weeks at a time, they can remember
the material easier. In the article , The
Benefits of Year-Round School, the author
explains how students in Spanish classes
have to use their skills regularly in order to
improve. When they are gone for three
months over summer, students often do not
remember much of what they learned and
they have to learn it all over again. Not only
does year-round school help students

 Write two additional body paragraphs

that progress logically.
Use the texts to decide on the claims
you
will use; the sample paragraph
is set up to transition to a paragraph
about focus.

Write a body paragraph using these

elements:

Topic sentence: Include a sentence with one

reason that supports your claim.
Introduce and State Evidence: Use a signal
phrase/word and provide evidence (reasons,
examples, facts, statistics, and/or quotations)
from the text to support your claim.
Elaborate on Evidence: Show how the
evidence proves the point you are trying to
make in this paragraph. Give more detail.
Concluding Sentence: End your paragraph
with a concluding sentence that wraps up this
paragraph
and moves into your next

Checklist for Logical

Progression and Elaboration
of your paper.
Use the following questions
to revise and elaborate your
essay.

____What is the most important thing I want to say about my

subject?
____ Is my claim clear?
____ How many reasons did I give for my claim?
____ Did I overlap or repeat any points?
____ How many paragraphs did I use to talk about each point?
____ Did I use evidence from the text?
____ Did I introduce the evidence with a signal word or phrase?
____ Why did I talk about them in this order?
____ Should the order be changed?
____ Can I substitute better examples, reasons, or details?