Argument Text

What is the importance of structuring an argument text?

• To help organize the writer's ideas

• To include personal stories

• To confuse the reader

• To make it difficult to read

Which of the following is a feature of argument texts?

• Including rhetorical questions

• Starting with a conclusion

• Use of informal language

• Avoiding paragraphs

How are argument texts usually structured?

• Including personal anecdotes

• Using formal language

• Starting with the conclusion

• Without any breaks or paragraphs

Select ALL that are claims that support humans are to blame for the extinction of megafauna.

• "...archaeologists have come to a damning conclusion." p.3

• "Perhaps they would still be here if humans hadn't arrived on the scene." p.3

• "The arrival of modern humans in each new part of the world brought with it the extinction of all of those huge animals..."p.4

• "The hypothesis paints humans as a massive force of destruction..." p. 5

• "For many of these extinctions, humans probably aren't to blame, says archaeologist Ben Marwick." p. 6

How can including irrelevant information affect the author's argument?

• Irrelevant information can strengthen the argument.

• Irrelevant information is neutral-no impact either way.

• Irrelevant information can weaken the argument.

• Irrelevant information can be useful.

In paragraphs 10-12, which are claims that could be used to support that humans are to blame for the extinction of megafauna?

• "But for two scientists, the same data can tell vastly different stories." p. 10

• "The earlier arrival date gives humans time to grow in number over generations, spreading across the landscape, eating whatever they came across and transforming the environment." p. 12

• "There was an old argument against humans causing megafauna to die off. It said that humans first appeared in Australia 50,000 years ago, and that animals were gone almost immediately after, he says." p. 11

Read paragraph 15: "The history of humans settling Earth and hunting corresponds "perfectly" with the great death of megafauna, he says. "Humans move to a new place, [megafauna] suffer extinction." Does this support that humans are to blame or NOT to blame for the extinction of megafauna?

• Humans are to blame.

• Humans are NOT to blame.

Which of the following are counterclaims that show humans are NOT to blame for the extinction of megafauna?

• "...though never full agreement..." p. 5

• "For many of these extinctions, humans probably aren't to blame, says archaeologist Ben Warwick." p. 6

• "But over time it took hold..." p. 5

• "In other words, people were on the landscape well before megafauna showed signs of extinction..." p. 7

What is an ARGUMENT in a text?

• a statement believed to be true

• debating an issue and trying to support the idea with evidence

• directly concerned with what is proven

• enough evidence to support a claim

What is EVIDENCE in an argument?

• a statement believed to be true

• debating an issue

• expressing ideas in an unusual way

• factual information that supports reasoning