“USING EFFECTIVE ARGUMENTATIVE TECHNIQUES TO

FACILITATE A SUCCESSFUL COLLEGE ADMISSIONS PROCESS”

Do Your Students Have

The WRITE” Stuff?

Presented by: Kim Jackson-Allen, Ed.D.

OBJECTIVES

To provide an effective argument to support an issue using a convincing voice.

To express an opinion, support it with evidence, and convey these thoughts using an intentional writing voice.

PURPOSE

The purpose of the argumentative essay

is to organize and present your well-reasoned conclusions in order to persuade the audience to accept—or at least seriously consider—your point of view.

2012 National Association of College Admissions Counseling (NACAC) commissioned a study of over 2000 college admissions officers that said college essays rank a close third after grades and standardized test scores. It is a tool to choose between similar candidates, with similar grades, and test scores. College essays reveal character about students.

What Colleges and Universities are saying….

•

A survey of 48 College Admissions Officers from selective colleges and universities look for three key things when reading the essay::

Shows how you see the worldWhat differences have been made through your actions Talk about moments that have changed you in a significant way... i.e. ordinary things that have an impact.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Narrow down this list. Colleges want to read about you as a person so share personal moments that impact you as a person.

A Unique Perspective…

A strong argument and correct grammar are important, but so is the narrative.

Strong Writing…

Sound like an individual.

Tell your story.

Make a connection to your audience.

Authentic Voice

College Admissions and the Argumentative Essay

Essential element of the admissions process, especially at the more selective colleges and universities.

Provide a personal window of who you are and how you feel about a certain topic, idea, issue, etc.

Tells what you believe in, care about, and imagine the future beyond college.

Adds value to how you can be a part of the college community.

May reveal personal qualities that go beyond measures such as grades and test scores.

Can vary in length, but depends on the topic and the intended audience.

Topic is usually pre-selected.

What does it mean to “argue”?

To provide a reasonable logical way to express or show the writer's position on a topic, belief, etc. Focus is not to prove, but to provide evidence to support it.

Contend …Disagree ……Dispute …….Wrangle………Debate ………...Discuss…………..Examine …………….Interpret ………………Analyze ………………...Incite …………...……..Stimulate

Buzz words related to the word “argue”…

The difference between Argue and Persuade….

Claims are based on factual evidence

Counter claims are used; their author considers opposing views

Attempts to have opposing ideas remain neutral

Convinces audience through the merit and reasoning of claims and evidence offered

Claims based on an opinion

Opposing ideas are not taken into account

Persuades by focusing on the emotions of the audience or by character of the writer; less on evidence

Argue Persuade

Continued…

Compares other texts, ideas to state a position

Logic-based

Emotion-based

Argue Persuade

Sample Activity

Students can develop examples of the key terms and provide and example, then place them on the board and

discussion for reflection.

Terms related to Arguments…

Terms

Claim: Your belief about a topic, idea, issue, etc.

Counterclaim: A sound argument that diametrically opposes your claim.

Rebuttal: A written or verbal response to a counterclaim. The goal is to explain why they aren’t persuasive enough.

Support: Detailed facts or evidence that support why your claim is true.

Terms (Cont.)

Refute: To argue against a position or prove it to be wrong.

Qualify: A partly agree stance in which you support another person’s argument or position , but may also disagree with a part of it.

Inaugural Address Speech by Nelson Mandela

Read the following(handouts) and divide into groups of ____ to answer the following?1. What is the speaker’s claim? What does he she want you to

believe?2. What reason(s) s does h/she give for his claim?3. What facts, quotations, evidence, or specific details does s/he give

to support those reasons?4. Is there a counterclaim? If so, what is it?

Sample Argumentative Essay/Small Group

Common Core Writing Standard 1•Seismic Shift•Applies to the world outside of School•Application of Depth of Knowledge(DOK) levels i.e. Level 3 Strategic thinking-Develop a Logical Argument•Text Complexity is based on Student Lexile Levels•Provides resources for teachers to adjust their teaching to reach a wide range of students•Uses student learning tasks to support students in developing skills for argumentative writing

Common Core and the Argumentative Essay

YouTube Video: “How To Write a Good Argumentative Essay” by Kevin DeLaplante

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7N_6tUKRTI&feature=player_detailpage

•Expectations are concise and clearly communicated.•Common set of standards.•Standards are clearly articulated.•Students are prepared to be college and career ready.•Focus on core concepts and understanding.•More time to teach the standards.

Implications for English/Language Arts Teachers

Questions/Comments