Section outline

  • Objective:

    Students will analyze how an author structures an argument and uses evidence to support their claims.

    Task:

    Select an argument-based article, analyze how the author structures the argument, and evaluate the effectiveness of the reasoning and evidence used. Write a 2-page analysis explaining how the argument is structured and how the evidence supports it.

    Outcome:

    Write a well-organized, 2-page analysis of the article’s argument structure, evaluating how the author uses reasoning and evidence to make their case.

    Measurable Objective:

    Students will correctly identify and evaluate at least three pieces of evidence and analyze how the structure of the argument influences its effectiveness.

    Materials List:
    1. Argument-based article (selected by the teacher or chosen from a provided list)
    2. Pen or pencil
    3. Notebook or digital document for note-taking
    4. Highlighter (optional)
    5. Dictionary or thesaurus (optional)
    6. Access to a computer for writing the response
    7. Printer (optional for hard copies)
    8. Printed rubric (for self-assessment)
    9. Printed outline template (optional)
    10. Citation guide (MLA or APA format as required)
    Evaluation Rubric

    Criteria

    4 (Excellent)

    3 (Good)

    2 (Needs Improvement)

    1 (Unsatisfactory)

    Identification of the Claim and Reasons

    Clearly identifies and explains the claim and reasons in detail.

    Identifies the claim and reasons, but may lack some detail.

    Identifies the claim and reasons, but with minimal explanation.

    Fails to identify the claim or reasons or misinterprets them.

    Evaluation of Evidence

    Thoroughly evaluates the quality, relevance, and credibility of the evidence.

    Evaluates the evidence well, but with minor gaps in analysis.

    Provides a limited evaluation of the evidence, lacking depth.

    Does not evaluate the evidence or fails to provide clear analysis.

    Analysis of Reasoning

    Provides a thorough analysis of the reasoning and identifies any logical fallacies.

    Analyzes the reasoning well, but may miss some logical fallacies.

    Provides a limited analysis of reasoning or misses logical flaws.

    Fails to analyze reasoning or misinterprets logical fallacies.

    Organization and Structure

    Well-organized response with clear and logical flow of ideas.

    Organization is clear, but may have minor issues with flow.

    Response lacks clear organization or has major structural issues.

    Response is disorganized or lacks structure.

    Grammar and Mechanics

    Writing is free of grammatical, spelling, and punctuation errors.

    Writing has a few minor errors that do not interfere with understanding.

    Writing has several errors that affect clarity.

    Writing has many errors, making it difficult to understand.

    By the end of this unit, you will be able to critically evaluate the structure of an argument and assess how well reasoning and evidence support the author’s position.