Page 21 - SpringBoard_Writing_Workshop_Grade8_Flipbook

Writing Workshop 2 (continued)
Drafting
8. Working with your teacher and classmates, draft the introduction to your argumentative essay. Be sure to include the following elements:
• Lead, or hook (the attention grabber)
• Context (the situation that establishes the topic and its importance)
• Thesis (the position of the class on the topic), using a complex sentence as in the model
9. You have learned how to develop paragraphs that form the body of your essay using
• Topic sentence—a reason in support of your claim
• Evidence—facts, stories, experiences, etc., that support your reasoning • Commentary—an explanation of the significance of the evidence or its
connection to the topic sentence
• Transitions—words or phrases that make the relationship between ideas
obvious for the reader
With your class, use these elements as you draft the body paragraphs for your class essay.
10. Working with your teacher, draft the conclusion to your argument. In this last paragraph, be sure to provide a call to action (encouragement to the audience to take action based on your claim). The conclusion should follow from and support your argument without introducing any ideas that have not already been addressed.
Check Your Understanding
Now that the class essay has been drafted, read the completed draft. • Underline the topic and the claim or thesis in the introduction.
• Identify the reasons in each paragraph that support the claim.
Consider the following:
• What concerns and opposing viewpoints of the audience are addressed?
• Is there a strong connection (relevance) between the evidence and the claim in
each body paragraph?
• Are the body paragraphs placed in a logical order that clearly supports the claim?
• How does the conclusion include a call to action and offer closure?
• What transitions connect the ideas being developed?
Now, refer to the Scoring Guide to help determine how well the essay meets the expectations.
Revising the Draft
Once you have examined and evaluated your drafted essay and used the Check Your Understanding questions, it is time to consider elements you may want to revise.
Revising for Language and Writer’s Craft
Correct and varied use of verbs characterizes sophisticated writing. Verbs are the powerhouses of sentences and help create the mood and the tone in any mode, whether narrative, expository, or argumentative writing. A related form, the verbal, is another important grammatical element.
6 SpringBoard® Writing Workshop with Grammar Activities Grade 8
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