Argumentative Writing Resources
GRAB THE HOW TO TEACH ARGUMENTATIVE WRITING REFERENCE SHEET HERE
Example Teacher Directions for an Argumentative Writing Project
Sometimes, we just need to see how someone else is teaching argumentative writing or have a sort of guide to follow. This is one example way (out of hundreds of ways) to teach argumentative writing. It is a starting point. My hope is that you find inspiration from an example process and make it your own for your own classroom.
Argumentative Writing Project Example Instruction Steps:
Assign a general topic that can be argued.
Show mentor papers as examples. Students should see an end goal before they jump into the project to show them that writing is 1.) possible and 2.) directions are clear.
Help students narrow down a topic with reasons for why they think the way they do.
Review argumentative essay vocabulary terms.
Students develop a claim statement.
Introduction paragraph lesson. An introduction has 3 parts: A hook/opener/attention grabber, a summary of the topic, debate, or reading material, and the claim statement.
Body paragraphs lesson. A typical argumentative body paragraph has 6 parts: A topic sentence that goes back to the claim, an introduction to evidence, a piece of evidence, an explanation or elaboration of evidence, an address of counter-claim or opposing idea, and a transition to a new topic or idea.
You may have to show students how to find source information and how to insert sources into their writing if they are using an outside source for support.
Students can outline body paragraphs and organize their writing.
Students can revise their introductions and create drafts of their body paragraphs.
Conclusion paragraph lesson. A conclusion typically has 3 parts: A review of the claim or argument, a “what does the reader do with this information now,” and a call to action.
Students can create a complete draft of their argumentative paper.
Revise and edit.
Free Example Argumentative Essay Guide
Now with Canva Template Link! Modify the packet for use in your own classroom!
Lesson Ideas
Example Assignment #1: Should People Own Wild Animals/Exotic Pets?
Example Assignment #2: Should Parents or Other Adults Be Able to Ban Books from Schools and Libraries?
Example Assignment #3: Multi-Genre Project Using Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred Taylor
Example Introduction Sequence: How to Make an Introduction Paragraph
Example Body Paragraph Support: Using Sentence Frames to Help Build Body Paragraphs
Whenever I sat down with my middle school English team, met with a colleague for curriculum planning, or chatted with teachers across departments, one question always surfaced: “How do you teach the essay?” or “What parts need to be taught to students?”
As I continue working with more and more teachers, I’ve noticed that the academic essay is often assigned based on a teacher’s own learning experiences, their mentor’s approach, or a set of commonly accepted skills that are rarely questioned. I’m not claiming that my method of teaching essays is better than anyone else’s. Instead, this post serves as a starting point for a larger conversation about how the academic essay is implemented across grade levels. The goal, ultimately, should be consistency.
In this post, I’ll use the Six Traits of Writing as a shared language for teaching writing in the classroom. I’ll also outline the essential components of an academic essay—what I refer to as the building blocks.
Just like physical building blocks, these parts can be removed, rearranged, or used differently depending on the purpose of the assignment. The same concept applies here: consider each part as an area where you can choose to emphasize, adapt, or even skip depending on what your students need. I like the Six Traits of Writing because they provide flexible, universal terminology that applies across genres and writing types.
The academic essay can feel overwhelming to teach because it’s often viewed as a rigid form. But in reality, there’s quite a bit of flexibility, depending on the teacher’s experience, the grade level, and the writing genre. In my experience, success in teaching essay writing comes from two things: using a consistent structure and adopting a shared language. When teachers have a common understanding of these areas, it leads to better conversations about writing—and more clarity, purpose, and structure for students.