Argumentative writing is an essential skill that middle school students need to develop. It involves presenting a claim and supporting it with evidence and reasoning. To help students excel in this area, a cheat sheet can be a handy tool. Below are some key points to include in a middle school argumentative cheat sheet:
The claim is the main argument that the writer is trying to prove. It should be clear, specific, and debatable. Encourage students to think critically about their claim and ensure that it is supported by evidence.
Evidence:
Evidence is essential to support the claim. This can include facts, statistics, examples, and expert opinions. Encourage students to use a variety of sources to back up their arguments and to cite their sources properly.
Reasoning:
Reasoning is the logical explanation of how the evidence supports the claim. Students should explain the connection between the evidence and the claim, making sure that their reasoning is clear and persuasive.