CORNELL NOTES

SHEET

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Name: ______

Date: ______/ _____/ ______Period ______
Topic: Elements of an Argument
Essential Question: How do the author’s claims affect the outcome of an argument?

QUESTIONS or COMMENTS

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NOTES

Claim / a writer's position on a problem or an issue.
A writer must prove the claim by providing reasons and evidence, also known as support.
How to identify the claim / Ask yourself: What does the writer want me to believe or do after reading this passage?
Sample claim / A policy that bans cell phones from school grounds will cause more problems than it will solve.
Sample claim / Our community center is in dire need of improvement.
Reason / Why you feel that way
Sample Reason / Such a policy would upset parents who depend on cell phones to stay in touch with their children.
Evidence / specific information that is used to prove a reason.
Types of Evidence / A fact is a statement that can be proved true. If you are unsure if a fact is true, try to confirm it using a reliable (or trustworthy) source, such as a book or a newspaper.
A statistic is a fact given in number form. Writers often include statistics in their texts, but statistics may also be presented in charts or graphs.
Quotations are the documented record of someone's comments about a topic. In a persuasive text, a writer may use an expert opinion, which is a statement made by an authority on a subject.
Sample Claim / CleanUp laundry detergent is the best detergent on the market.
Sample Reason / CleanUp laundry detergent can handle tough stains better than other leading brands.
Statistic example / A credible national survey found that 75 percent of households believe that CleanUp can handle tough stains better than the other leading brands.
Quote example / Are you tired of tough stains that refuse to go away? "I've raised seven rowdy boys, and CleanUp is the only detergent that I trusted to take out those tough stains," Ava Robins says.
Anecdote example / Tia Hale was strolling outside in her white linen dress. A car roared by, spraying mud all over her. CleanUp got the stains out. Since this incident, she will only use CleanUp.
Sample Evidence / Sixty percent of parents surveyed said that they would be upset if their kids could not carry cell phones.
Counterargument / A statement that acknowledges an opposing viewpoint and then "counters" that viewpoint with further reasons or evidence.
Sample counterargument for the claim that banning cell phones from school will cause problems / Many school officials maintain that cell phones cause too many distractions, often preventing students from paying attention in class.
Logical appeals / Statements that use sound reasoning and facts to convince readers.
Example: If we fix the sidewalks, property values will increase, and more new residents will be attracted to our neighborhood.
Example: If we widen the road, rush-hour traffic jams will be less of a problem.
Emotional appeals / Statements that use feelings, rather than facts, to persuade. Writers use strong words to tap into feelings of sympathy, fear, or vanity.
Example: Vote for the school board budget increase to ensure the necessary support and supplies for our students. Don't help to undercut the promising futures of our community's bright children.
Example: Without our state-of-the-art security system, robbers have easier access to your home.
Example: If the village does not receive medicine, hundreds of innocent children will suffer.
SUMMARY: Write 4 or more sentences describing specific learning from these notes.
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