Argumentative Research Paragraph Instructional Materials

Sometimes students just aren't ready to write an entire research paper. Working with many different levels of freshmen for the last ten years, I've found it easier to begin with a simple research paragraph rather than diving head-first into an overwhelming essay. This product is perfect for anyone who is looking to introduce students to the elements of argumentative writing, to review writing expectations, to differentiate a larger argumentative writing assignment, to warm up for a bigger paper to come, to allow for daily writing practice, and more. It has so much versatility and potential for use.

This zip file contains six separate documents:

1. A PDF presentation mini lesson (complete with information about the difference between persuasive and argumentative writing, the structure of an argumentative research paragraph, ideas for how to support an argument, and guidance for how to evaluate 2 sample argumentative paragraphs. MLA guidelines for citing sources are not included.)

2. Guided notes for the presentation (student friendly with room for students to evaluate the sample paragraphs)

3. A graphic organizer for prewriting so that students can write their own argumentative paragraphs

4. A user-friendly rubric based on the 6+1 Traits of Writing with a category added for research and MLA format.

5. A second version of a rubric that is ideal for at-risk or struggling writers. This document is editable in Microsoft Word.

6. A peer-reviewing sheet students can use to give one another feedback. This document is editable in Microsoft Word.

This lesson is very successful for my freshmen. I use it as a stepping stone to teach them the basics of high school writing before they write a larger research essay. I have also successfully used it with my co-taught classes as a differentiation option.

This tool will help you to introduce writing in a way that won't overwhelm your students (and that's quick to grade!).

Please note that this product does not contain topics for an argumentative writing paragraph at this time, although I may add a topic list in the future.

If you like this product, you might also be interested in other writing materials available in my store...

Writing an Effective Thesis Statement Lesson

Writing Pre-assessment for Middle and High School

Color-Coded Essay Graphic Organizer

The Writing Games! Engaging MLA Research and Writing Skills Dice Game

Embedding MLA Quotations Station Activities

Plagiarism Minilesson

MLA Research and Writing Skills Unit Assessment or Final Exam or Question Bank

The Writing Process Minilesson

Seven Deadly Sins of Sentence Fluency

Rules for Commas & Semicolons

Playlist of My Year: An Engaging and Relevant End-of-the-Year Writing Assignment

Verbals Practice or Review Worksheet, Activity, & Task Cards

Sentence Types Practice

Conjunctions Review Bundle

Grammar Games Bundle for Test Review

And more here!

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Duplication limited to single classroom use only.
Electronic distribution limited to single classroom use only.