8 Steps to SuccessA Basic Formula for Argumentative Writing That Employs Bloom’s Taxonomy

Doral Academy Charter School

PART 1 - ORGANIZATIONArgumentative Writing

STEP #1: State your claim.

• Make a claim statement.• Claim statements are for argumentative

papers.• Thesis statements are for informative papers.

• A claim statement directly answers the topic question.

• Bloom’s Taxonomy - Knowledge

STEP #1: State your claim.

• Example Topic questions:• Should abortion be permitted?• Do non-human animals have rights?• Should the Confederate flag be banned?• Should cosmetic surgery be banned?• Is it ever justifiable to execute criminals?• Would warning labels on food make people eat

better?• Do schools have the right to search students' lockers?

STEP #1: State your claim.

•Example Claim Statement:

Abortion should not be permitted.

STEP #2: Premises

• Create TWO supporting premises for your claim statement• Premises are for argumentative papers.• Reasons are for informative papers.

• The first two premises should directly support the claim statement.

• Bloom’s Taxonomy – Comprehension & Application

STEP #2: Premises

• Example of two premises:

• Premise #1: Abortion causes permanent internal damage to the reproductive system.

• Premise #2: Abortion is immoral.

STEP #3: Sup. Evidence

• Provide TWO pieces of evidence for each premise and cite the source (identify where you got the evidence).• Evidence is used in an argumentative paper.• Supporting details are used in an informative

paper.

• Bloom’s Taxonomy – Application & Analysis

STEP #3: Sup. Evidence

• Example of Supporting Evidence:

• Premise #1 – Evidence #1: <quote>Source: Journal of American Medicine

• Premise #1 – Evidence #2: <quote>Source: WebMD.com

STEP #3: Sup. Evidence

• Example of Supporting Evidence:

• Premise #2 – Evidence #1: <quote>Source: Society for Pro-Life Advocacy

• Premise #2 – Evidence #2: <quote>Source: Encyclopedia of Religious

Action in American Democracy

STEP #4: Counter-Claim

• Make a counter-claim statement.• Note: Do not say “counter-argument” because

steps 4-6 is what forms the counter-argument.

• A counter-claim statement directly opposes the initial claim statement.

• Bloom’s Taxonomy – Knowledge & Synthesis

STEP #4: Counter-Claim

•Example of a counter-claim statement:

Abortion should be permitted

STEP #5: Counter-Claim Premise

•Create ONE opposing premise for your counter-claim statement•Note: This opposing premise should

directly support the counter-claim.

•Bloom’s Taxonomy – Comprehension, Application, & Synthesis

STEP #5: Counter-Claim Premise

•Example of a counter-claim premise:

•Opp. Premise #1: Abortion is about a woman’s right to choose.

STEP #6: Opp. Evidence

•Provide TWO pieces of evidence for the counter-claim premise and cite the source (identify where you got the evidence).• Note: These pieces of evidence should

directly support the counter-premises.

•Bloom’s Taxonomy –Application, Synthesis, & Evaluation.

STEP #6: Opp. Evidence

• Example of Opposing Evidence:

• C.C. Premise #1 – Evidence #1: <quote>Source: Society for Pro-Choice

Advocacy

• C.C. Premise #1 – Evidence #2: <quote>Source: Womensrights.org

STEP #7: 3rd Sup. Premise

•Create a third supporting premise to the initial claim statement that directly refutes the counter-claim statement.

•Bloom’s Taxonomy – Synthesis and Evaluation

STEP #7: 3rd Sup. Premise

•Example of a 3rd supporting premise:

•A woman’s right to choose is restricted when it comes to the life of a baby.

STEP #8: 3rd Sup. Premise Evidence

•Provide TWO pieces of evidence for this third premise and cite the source (identify where you got the evidence).

•Bloom’s Taxonomy – Synthesis and Evaluation

STEP #8: 3rd Sup. Premise EvidenceEXAMPLE:

•Premise #3 – Evidence #1: <quote>Source: Journal of Philosophy

•Premise #3 – Evidence #2: <quote>Source: Pro-Life Advocacy Magazine

PART 2 - DRAFTINGArgumentative Writing

STEP #1

•Connect the dots.

•Make sure that you are properly placing together the information from Part 1.

STEP #2

•Use transitional words and phrases.

STEP #3

•Maintain a consistent point-of-view.

•Do NOT shift in POV.

• The best POV is 3rd-Person.•Do NOT use:• “me” “my” “I” “you” “your” “you’re”

“myself” “yourself”

STEP #4

• Establish a proper tone (voice) for your audience.

• The higher the grade level, the academic in tone the paper should be.

• This can be established by incorporating higher level vocabulary.

STEP #5

•Draft the first paragraph.

•Make sure your claim is somewhere in the first paragraph.

STEP #6

•Review and revise the first paragraph.

STEP #7

•Draft the rest of your essay.

• The essay should follow the organization established in Part 1.

STEP #8

•Review and revise the whole essay.

MODIFICATIONSFSA & Literary Analysis

FSA Modifications

•When practicing this in class. The teacher should provide the sources for the students. Ensure that at least one of your sources presents a contrasting view of a topic.

• Refer to FSA Core Standards to determine the kind of sources and formatting for your appropriate grade levels. (i.e. length and difficulty of articles)

Literary Analysis Modifications• A basic literary analysis paper is an

argumentative paper about a topic related to a “text in study”.

• For basic literary analysis, teachers should restrict outside sources for students. The only sources allowed are those works of literature used in class.