Adversity v Talent 2009

Question 1

argumentative essay - generating information

Answer 1

when you are writing an argumentative essay, you can’t go to a text and pull out everything you will be telling about. instead, you have to pull from what you know including what you’ve read, watched, or experienced. You can even pull from your history courses or the news

Question 2

where to start

Answer 2

look for hints in the prompt. make sure you consider the background information or any clarification or examples that are given

Question 3

brainstorm ideas

Answer 3

the first step, after reading the prompt, is brainstorming your ideas. consider the pros and cons of the argument. you may come up with 50 ideas, but you only need to use a couple of them

Question 4

choose a position

Answer 4

consider the ideas in your brainstorm. choose a position that you can support. make sure you pick the ideas from your brainstorm that best support the position your essay will focus on

Question 5

a qualifying essay

Answer 5

if you decide to write a qualifying essay (where you have an opinion with exceptions), it’s a good idea to write about the exceptions first and finish the essay by telling your opinion

Question 6

if you were writing an argumentative essay to agree with this statement, which claim would be most appropriate to use?

Answer 6

• Immigrants that are born in the Untied States should be granted citizenship regardless of origin
• American students should be mandated to spend one year abroad in order to graduate from High School
• Students should be required to wear school uniforms because they prevent bullying
• American medical students should be required to donate a month of their time in third world nations
• Major League baseball players should be required to use wooden bats and not aluminum
• The United States should not have opened relations with Cuba because it will increase immigration
• Doctors develop skills from study and practice, not because they have sicknesses to cure
• Space exploration should be commercialized because small businesses have cost effective objectives
• Public school lunches should be infused with super foods, to help children be healthy
• Students should not be required to take standardized tests because they are too stressful