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Argument Notes Bethers

The videos discuss developing a clear thesis statement that takes a stance and can be supported throughout the essay. Students should use specific evidence from their research and explanation of how the evidence relates back to the thesis. Strong arguments acknowledge other perspectives but ultimately refute them with evidence. Common mistakes to avoid include vague generalizations, irrelevant examples, and failure to clearly connect ideas for the reader.

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95 views3 pages

Argument Notes Bethers

The videos discuss developing a clear thesis statement that takes a stance and can be supported throughout the essay. Students should use specific evidence from their research and explanation of how the evidence relates back to the thesis. Strong arguments acknowledge other perspectives but ultimately refute them with evidence. Common mistakes to avoid include vague generalizations, irrelevant examples, and failure to clearly connect ideas for the reader.

Uploaded by

api-562628548
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Ben Bethers

McKay Period 4
IB English
22 October, 2021

Argument Notes

Video One: Line of Reasoning Tips (14:06)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAa-JfSuaNk&list=PLRC2dgq_mKP9R-vHpdEi2-23BwGZ
JODPY&index=5
- After reading a prompt, brainstorm your evidence from personal experience, history,
current events, and more
- Brainstorming allows you to clarify and think through your ideas
- After you brainstorm, prioritize your evidence and then put it in order
- They and break down your evidence and the prompt if the prompt is broad
- If you are using historical arguments. Make sure they are historical
- Plan a rebuttal or counter claim in advance and where it will go in your essay
- Write an outline before you write your essay
- Outlines include notes about evidence how it will appear in your essay and your thesis
and reasoning as well
- Try and make your evidence more detailed and chronological
- Include commentary in your outlines
- Use words like suggests, implies, highlights, demonstrates, and more to lead your
audience into commentary
- Sometimes you could outline essays in venn diagrams or t-charts for comparing and
contrasting essays
- Use transition words
- Use topic sentences effectively by using them as bridge sentences to connect paragraphs
- Sometimes you can use personal experiences to make your argument stronger
- “When considering…” can be a good way to end an essay

Video Two: How to Write an Argument Essay Thesis (9:45)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2uYzT8nvrc&list=PLRC2dgq_mKP9R-vHpdEi2-23BwGZ
JODPY&index=11
- A defensible thesis statement is a claim that could be argued for and may be
controversial, because defensible theses are usually the only arguments worth making
- You cannot be wishy washy and argue for both sides of the argument, you need to make a
stance, you cannot equivocate
- You need to be able to support your thesis throughout the essay
- You need to make sure that your thesis answers the prompt, one way to make sure this
happens is by restating the prompt in your answer
- Develop a complex claim in your thesis by avoiding absolutes and acknowledging ahead
of time that your claim may have exceptions
- If you use evidence in your thesis, never state your evact evidence in your thesis
statement because if you do this, your reader will already know what evidence you have
and when they read this evidence again in your body paragraphs and see it as repetitive
- Use varying sentence structure to make it more sophisticated to strengthen your claim
- Think about the big picture when writing your essay
- A counter argument thesis can be used to show more sophistication (Addressing the
opposing side)
- You can use therefore sentences in order to make your rebuttal or counter argument more
clear

Video Three: Stable Wording (11:29)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59gskFm9Q2E&list=PLRC2dgq_mKP9R-vHpdEi2-23BwG
ZJODPY&index=3
- The synthesis essay is where students are asked to read sources and then use at least three
sources to make an argument and develop a position of an issue
- A synthesis essay needs you to make a position and a defensible thesis
- You need to be able to explain how your position related to the thesis
- Use appropriate grammar and punctuation
- Avoid using cliches and words like very
- Do not only use elevated vocabulary just because, make sure it fits and you know
completely what the word means
- You may be presented with a rhetorical essay prompt in question three
- Students may be asked to analyse the author's choices in their sources
- Student will be made to include evidence from a passage by an author
- You need to make sure you explain how your evidence related to the prompt
- Make sure to only use evidence that supports your claim
- Proofread your essay if you have time for grammar and punctuation
- Question three is an argumentative prompt, you need a defensible thesis statement
- You need to have specific evidence in order to score high in your evidence and
commentary
- Make sure that you use commentary in order to explain how your evidence relates back
to your thesis
Video Four: Common Mistakes on Quarter Three of the AP English Exam (11:28)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-S75Y-CNv_c&list=PLRC2dgq_mKP9R-vHpdEi2-23BwGZ
JODPY&index=1
- Make sure you have specific evidence that is relevant in your evidence and commentary
section in your argumentative essay
- Make sure you avoid generalizations and ranting
- Use specific examples in your essay in order to get a three or four in this section
- Make sure you elaborate on your commentary if needed to catch the audience up
- You do not always need a super formal or intelligent concept in order to have a more
convincing essay, use topics that you like
- Make sure you have a rebuttal or a refutation, this is where you acknowledge that your
opposition has merit but then refuting it using evidence and reasoning
- Use transitions to inform your reader of when you are switching from acknowledgement
to rebuttal and refutation
- It is better to include historical evidence of current events in order to make your argument
sound more formal, however you can use personal experiences if they fit well in the essay
- Avoid hypothetical situations
- Make sure that you connect the dots for your reader, make sure that they do not need to
infer anything
- Make sure that your evidence and examples are related to each other and that they do not
detract from each other

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