Writing to Argue: Technical Skills

Writing to Argue: Technical Skills

L.O. To understand the skills needed to successfully write to argue

Open Ended

What writing skills do you feel will be necessary to succeed in your writing to argue piece?

We will go through the main skills now:

• Powerful vocabulary (today)

• Sentence structure (today)

• Discourse markers

• Punctuation

Powerful Vocabulary

• It is important to use, not only strong and powerful words, but words that explain your ideas as clearly as possible

• Vary your vocabulary widely

• Make sure your vocabulary is suited to the task and audience

• Show you have a strong grasp of the English language

Multiple Choice

You are writing an article for a teen magazine in response to Chua. Read the extract from your imaginary article and choose the most suitable vocabulary choice, both for context and audience.

Imagine your parents ..... to allow you to your friend's birthday sleepover. How would you feel?

• rejected

• refused

• reflected

• repudiated

Multiple Choice

You are writing a letter to the editor of a newspaper that published an extract from Chua's book. Read the extract and choose the most suitable vocabulary choice for both context and audience.

I was absolutely ... to read the views of Amy Chua on parenting young daughters.

• shocked

• disgusted

• appalled

• shook

Multiple Choice

You are writing a speech to be presented to a group of new parents interested in different parenting styles on your view of Amy Chua's new book: The Tiger Mother. Read the extract below and choose the most appropriate vocabulary based on context and audience.

I know you are all beginning to ... how you will parent your children as they ... an age where they are seeking independence.

• wonder & reach

• think & become

• explore & are

• deviate & get to

Poll

Which best describes your confidence level in regards to your vocabulary use:

• Rock star level

• Mediocre ;)

• I am running away...

Sentence Structure

• You need to use a variety of sentences (simple, compound, complex)

• Vary your vocabulary widely

• Make sure your vocabulary is suited to the task and audience

• Show you have a strong grasp of the English language

Multiple Choice

This is an example of what kind of sentence:

Amy Chua is a moron.

• Simple sentence

• Compound sentence

• Complex sentence

Multiple Choice

This is an example of what kind of sentence:

I was appalled to read Amy Chua's views on parenting in The Times this weekend.

• Simple sentence

• Compound sentence

• Complex sentence

Multiple Choice

This is an example of what kind of sentence:

Amy Chua, in my humble opinion, is the epitome of elitist motherhood.

• Simple sentence

• Compound sentence

• Complex sentence

Multiple Choice

This is an example of what kind of sentence:

Not only is Chua preventing her daughters from having any kind of normal childhood, she is bullying them in the process.

• Simple sentence

• Compound sentence

• Complex sentence

Open Ended

How can we best describe what a simple sentence is and what we can use it for?

Open Ended

How can we best describe what a compound sentence is and what we can use it for?

Open Ended

How can we best describe what a complex sentence is and what we can use it for?

Poll

Which best describes your confidence level in regards to your understanding of sentence structure:

• Rock star level

• Mediocre ;)

• I am running away...

Time to Apply Yourself

Go back to your arguments you have written so far. Can you develop your vocabulary use and sentence structure?