Classroom Resource

Argumentative Essay: Narrow Your Research Topic

Subject Area

English Language Arts

Grade(s)

6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

Overview

A strong argumentative essay starts with a clear and concise topic that you care about and can research. Get tips for forming and developing an argument that will hook your audience and set the platform for a convincing essay.

This tool will assist students in selecting and narrowing a topic.

English Language Arts (2021) Grade(s): 6

ELA21.6.7

Produce clear, coherent narrative, argument, and informative/explanatory writing in which the development, organization, style, and tone are relevant to task, purpose, and audience, using an appropriate command of language.

Unpacked Content

UP:ELA21.6.7

Vocabulary

  • Narrative writing
  • Argument writing
  • Informative/explanatory writing
  • Writing development
  • Writing organization
  • Style
  • Tone
  • Task
  • Purpose
  • Audience
  • Command of language

Knowledge

Students know:
  • A narrative is a piece of writing that tells a story.
  • Informative or explanatory text is a piece of writing that provides factual information that was gathered from multiple research sources.
  • The purpose of argumentative writing is to convince the reader to take action or adopt a particular position.
  • The development, organization, style, and tone of writing will change depending on the writing task, the purpose of the writing, and the intended audience.
  • Formal academic writing should demonstrate an appropriate command of language.

    Skills

    Students are able to:
    • Produce clear, coherent narrative, argument, and informative/explanatory writings.
    • Identify the writing task, the purpose of writing, and the intended audience in order to appropriately adapt the development, organization, style, and tone of the writing.
    • Demonstrate command of the written language.

    Understanding

    Students understand that:
    • There are different genres of writing that serve various purposes.
    • The writing task, purpose, and audience should be considered in the development, organization, style, and tone of the writing.
    • Formal academic writing should display their command of the English language.
    English Language Arts (2021) Grade(s): 7

    ELA21.7.7

    Produce clear, coherent narrative, argument, and informative/explanatory writing in which the development, organization, style, and tone are relevant to task, purpose, and audience, using an appropriate command of language.

    Unpacked Content

    UP:ELA21.7.7

    Vocabulary

    • Narrative writing
    • Argument writing
    • Informative/explanatory writing
    • Writing development
    • Writing organization
    • Style
    • Tone
    • Task
    • Purpose
    • Audience
    • Command of language

    Knowledge

    Students know:
    • A narrative is a piece of writing that tells a story.
    • The purpose of argumentative writing is to convince the reader to take action or adopt a particular position.
    • Informative or explanatory text is a piece of writing that provides factual information that was gathered from multiple research sources.
    • The development, organization, style, and tone of writing will change depending on the writing task, the purpose of the writing, and the intended audience.
    • Formal academic writing should demonstrate an appropriate command of language.

    Skills

    Students are able to:
    • Produce clear, coherent narrative, argument, and informative/explanatory writings.
    • Identify the writing task, the purpose of writing, and the intended audience in order to appropriately adapt the development, organization, style, and tone of the writing.
    • Demonstrate command of the written language.

    Understanding

    Students understand that:
    • There are different genres of writing that serve various purposes.
    • The writing task, purpose, and audience should be considered in the development, organization, style, and tone of the writing.
    • Formal academic writing should display their command of the English language.
    English Language Arts (2021) Grade(s): 8

    ELA21.8.8

    Produce clear, coherent narrative, argument, and informative/explanatory writing in which the development, organization, style, and tone are relevant to task, purpose, and audience, using an appropriate command of language.

    Unpacked Content

    UP:ELA21.8.8

    Vocabulary

    • Narrative writing
    • Argument writing
    • Informative/explanatory writing
    • Writing development
    • Writing organization
    • Style
    • Tone
    • Task
    • Purpose
    • Audience
    • Command of language

    Knowledge

    Students know:
    • A narrative is a piece of writing that tells a story.
    • The purpose of argumentative writing is to convince the reader to take action or adopt a particular position.
    • Informative or explanatory text is a piece of writing that provides factual information that was gathered from multiple research sources.
    • The development, organization, style, and tone of writing will change depending on the writing task, the purpose of the writing, and the intended audience.
    • Formal academic writing should demonstrate an appropriate command of language.

      Skills

      Students are able to:
      • Produce clear, coherent narrative, argument, and informative/explanatory writings.
      • Identify the writing task, the purpose of writing, and the intended audience in order to appropriately adapt the development, organization, style, and tone of the writing.
      • Demonstrate command of the written language.

      Understanding

      Students understand that:
      • There are different genres of writing that serve various purposes.
      • The writing task, purpose, and audience should be considered in the development, organization, style, and tone of the writing.
      • Formal academic writing should display their command of the English language.
      English Language Arts (2021) Grade(s): 9

      ELA21.9.9

      Compose both short and extended narrative, informative/explanatory, and argumentative writings that are clear and coherent, use an appropriate command of language, and demonstrate development, organization, style, and tone that are relevant to task, purpose, and audience.

      Unpacked Content

      UP:ELA21.9.9

      Vocabulary

      • Short writings
      • Extended writings
      • Narrative writing
      • Argumentative writing
      • Informative/explanatory writing
      • Writing development
      • Writing organization
      • Style
      • Tone
      • Task
      • Purpose
      • Audience
      • Command of language

      Knowledge

      Students know:
      • Writing pieces can be short, such as a paragraph, or extended, such as constructed responses and essays.
      • A narrative is a piece of writing that tells a story.
      • The purpose of argumentative writing is to convince the reader to take action or adopt a particular position.
      • Informative or explanatory text is a piece of writing that provides factual information that was gathered from multiple research sources.
      • The development, organization, style, and tone of writing will change depending on the writing task, the purpose of the writing, and the intended audience.
      • Formal academic writing should demonstrate an appropriate command of language.

      Skills

      Students are able to:
      • Compose short and extended clear, coherent narrative, argument, and informative/explanatory writings.
      • Identify the writing task, the purpose of writing, and the intended audience in order to appropriately adapt the development, organization, style, and tone of the writing.
      • Demonstrate command of the written language.

      Understanding

      Students understand that:
      • There are different genres of writing that serve various purposes.
      • The writing task, purpose, and audience should be considered in the development, organization, style, and tone of the writing.
      • Formal academic writing should display their command of the English language.
      English Language Arts (2021) Grade(s): 10

      ELA21.10.9

      Compose both short and extended narrative, informative/explanatory, and argumentative writings that are clear and coherent, use an appropriate command of language, and demonstrate development, organization, style, and tone that are relevant to task, purpose, and audience.

      Unpacked Content

      UP:ELA21.10.9

      Vocabulary

      • Short writings
      • Extended writings
      • Narrative writing
      • Argumentative writing
      • Informative/explanatory writing
      • Writing development
      • Writing organization
      • Style
      • Tone
      • Task
      • Purpose
      • Audience
      • Command of language

      Knowledge

      Students know:
      • Writing pieces can be short, such as a paragraph, or extended, such as constructed responses and essays.
      • A narrative is a piece of writing that tells a story.
      • The purpose of argumentative writing is to convince the reader to take action or adopt a particular position.
      • Informative or explanatory text is a piece of writing that provides factual information that was gathered from multiple research sources.
      • The development, organization, style, and tone of writing will change depending on the writing task, the purpose of the writing, and the intended audience.
      • Formal academic writing should demonstrate an appropriate command of language.

      Skills

      Students are able to:
      • Compose short and extended clear, coherent narrative, argument, and informative/explanatory writings.
      • Identify the writing task, the purpose of writing, and the intended audience in order to appropriately adapt the development, organization, style, and tone of the writing.
      • Demonstrate command of the written language.

      Understanding

      Students understand that:
      • There are different genres of writing that serve various purposes.
      • The writing task, purpose, and audience should be considered in the development, organization, style, and tone of the writing.
      • Formal academic writing should display their command of the English language.
      English Language Arts (2021) Grade(s): 11

      ELA21.11.11

      Compose and edit both short and extended products in which the development and organization are relevant and suitable to task, purpose, and audience, using an appropriate command of language.

      Unpacked Content

      UP:ELA21.11.11

      Vocabulary

      • Compose
      • Edit
      • Short products
      • Extended products
      • Writing development
      • Writing organization
      • Task
      • Purpose
      • Audience
      • Command of language

      Knowledge

      Students know:
      • Writing products can be short, such as a paragraph, or extended, such as constructed responses and essays.
      • The skills required by the writing process.
      • The development and organization of writing will change depending on the writing task, the purpose of the writing, and the intended audience.
      • Formal academic writing should demonstrate an appropriate command of language.

      Skills

      Students are able to:
      • Compose short and extended writing products.
      • Identify the writing task, the purpose of writing, and the intended audience in order to appropriately adapt the development and organization of the writing.
      • Demonstrate command of the written language.

      Understanding

      Students understand that:
      • There are different genres of writing that serve various purposes.
      • The writing task, purpose, and audience should be considered in the development and organization of the writing.
      • Formal academic writing should display their command of the English language.
      English Language Arts (2021) Grade(s): 12

      ELA21.12.11

      Compose, edit, and revise both short and extended products in which the development, organization, and style are relevant and suitable to task, purpose, and audience, using an appropriate command of language.

      Unpacked Content

      UP:ELA21.12.11

      Vocabulary

      • Compose
      • Edit
      • Revise
      • Short products
      • Extended products
      • Writing development
      • Writing organization
      • Writing style
      • Task
      • Purpose
      • Audience
      • Command of language

      Knowledge

      Students know:
      • Writing products can be short, such as a paragraph, or extended, such as constructed responses and essays.
      • The skills required by the writing process.
      • The development, organization, and style of writing will change depending on the writing task, the purpose of the writing, and the intended audience.
      • Formal academic writing should demonstrate an appropriate command of language.

      Skills

      Students are able to:
      • Compose, edit, and revise short and extended writing products.
      • Identify the writing task, the purpose of writing, and the intended audience in order to appropriately adapt the development, organization, and style of the writing.
      • Demonstrate command of the written language.

      Understanding

      Students understand that:
      • There are different genres of writing that serve various purposes.
      • The writing process is a series of steps that improve writing over time.
      • The writing task, purpose, and audience should be considered in the development, organization, and style of the writing.
      • Formal academic writing should display their command of the English language.
      Link to Resource
      https://aptv.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/66491289-4532-454d-980b-4954b87f6b04…

      CR Resource Type

      Audio/Video

      Resource Provider

      PBS
      Accessibility
      License

      License Type

      Custom

      Custom License Type (URL)

      https://aptv.pbslearningmedia.org/help/terms-of-use/#restrictions

      Comments or Notes

      Handouts and additional materials are located to the right of the video. 

      Approved Date

      ALSDE LOGO

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