Analyzing an Argument Prompt

 

Carefully read the following MY Access! prompts.  Explain each issue, your claim and how you will support it.

 

Example:

 

Do Pro Athletes Deserve High Salaries?

Many professional athletes and entertainers earn large sums of money. Do you agree or disagree with these individuals making high salaries? Use specific details and examples to convince others to support your position.

 

What is the issue?

What counterclaim must I address?

Should Pro Athletes earn large sums of money?

Pro Athletes do not deserve high salaries.

What is my claim and how will I support it?

How will I address thecounter claim?

Pro Athletes should make high salaries.  I will use specific details and example to support my position.

I will show how this argument hurts the sport.

 

  1. Extend the School Day?

The school board plans to add one and a half hours to school each day. Do you agree or disagree with extending the school day? Use specific details and examples to convince the school board to accept your position.

                                  

What is the issue?

What counterclaim must I address?

 

 

What is my claim and how will I support it?

How will I address the counterclaim?

 

 

 

 

  1. Is Napping Beneficial?

How much sleep do we need? Do we need different amounts of sleep depending on our age? Is it possible to sleep too much or too little? Can we make up for too little sleep by napping? People of all ages suffer from sleep deprivation sooner or later, so answers to the questions about the amount of sleep which is necessary for people to stay healthy are important to us all. Naps are sometimes suggested for making up for lost sleep, but there are opposing views on the value of naps.

 

What is the issue?

What counterclaim must I address?

 

 

What is my claim and how will I support it?

How will I address the counterclaim?

 

 

 

 

3. Helicopter Parents

Your school just created a new student organization called "Debate Club" which you have joined. The first topic up for debate is: Does too much parental involvement hinder a child's independence? To prepare for the first meeting, you must determine your opinion about this topic based on all of the information you have read and analyzed, as well as your own experiences.

 

What is the issue?

What counterclaim must I address?

 

 

What is my claim and how will I support it?

How will I address the counterclaim?

 

 

 

    4. Illegal Immigration

    There is much talk recently about illegal immigration from various countries. United States citizens and leaders    

    appear to be largely divided on this issue. What is your position on illegal immigration? Should the 

    government keep the U.S. borders open or closed?

 

What is the issue?

What counterclaim must I address?

 

 

What is my claim and how will I support it?

How will I address the counterclaim?

 

 

 

    5. “The American Dream”

    After carefully reading Mario Cuomo's "Achieving the American Dream" and Emma Lazarus's "The New 

    Colossus," write a letter to the editor of your local paper persuading the readers to agree with your position

    on this issue. Provide convincing arguments and specific details to support your claim. Be sure to address

    counterarguments and counterclaims. You may wish to conduct additional research on the topic to gather  

    facts and statistics to further support your argument.

 

What is the issue?

What counterclaim must I address?

 

 

What is my claim and how will I support it?

How will I address the counterclaim?

 

 

 

    6. Assigned Prompt – Before you begin to write, analyze the prompt and respond to the questions below:

 

What is the issue?

What counterclaim must I address?