Question: Do Changes to Physical (Abiotic) Or Biological (Biotic) Components of an Ecosystem

Question: Do Changes to Physical (Abiotic) Or Biological (Biotic) Components of an Ecosystem

Argument Piece

Task: Create an Argumentative Essay for the question below. You will need to complete research to find empirical evidence to defend your claim. You will also need to make sure you include a counter claim and rebuttal (it would be wise to find this while you are researching).

Question: Do changes to physical (abiotic) or biological (biotic) components of an ecosystem affect populations?

Possible Research Topics

The following is a short list of possible topics you could research to find evidence to support your claim:

  • Asian Carp (US River Systems)
  • Gray wolves (Yellowstone National Park)
  • Emerald Ash Borers (Eastern United States Forests)
  • Water Temperature (Maine Lakes)
  • Pollution Level in waterways (River systems in US)
  • Rainfall amount (across the US)
  • Others (must be approved by teacher) : ______, ______, ______Teacher Initials: _____

Use the table below to help you during your research. Keep in mind you will be writing a 5 paragraph Argumentative Essay.

Claim:
Evidence: This should be empirical data collected from multiple (credible) sources. Be sure to include evidence that defends your claim. You will need at least 2 pieces in order to write your paper.
First Piece: / Source:
Second Piece: / Source:
Counter Claim and Rebuttal:

Argumentative Writing Organizer

Step One: PAM the Prompt!

Purpose – Why are you writing the piece? Is it to inform? Is it to explain? Is it to make an argument?

Audience – Who are you writing to? Audience will change how the piece is written.

Mode – What form is it? A letter? An editorial? A blog? An essay?

Step Two: 5 Box Organizer

Paragraph One: Introduction
  1. Hook
  2. Thesis- Claim
  3. Points one and two both in one sentence. (Evidence that supports your thesis)
  4. Conclusion / Transition
/ Paragraph Two: Point One
  1. Point One
  2. First piece of Evidence of Point One
  3. Reasoning for evidence one
  4. Second piece of Evidence of Point One
  5. Reasoning for second evidence
  6. Third piece of Evidence of Point One
  7. Reasoning for third evidence
  8. Point One / Transition

Paragraph Three: Point Two
  1. Point Two
  2. First piece of Evidence of Point One
  3. Reasoning for evidence one
  4. Second piece of Evidence of Point One
  5. Reasoning for second evidence
  6. Third piece of Evidence of Point One
  7. Reasoning for third evidence
  8. Point Two / Transition
/ Paragraph Four: Counter Argument/Claim
  1. Restate your thesis in other words
  2. Explain that even though you know that your thesis is correct, that you understand that not everyone agrees with you on this topic.
  3. Give an example of what other people may believe, with evidence they may use to back their claim.
  4. Explain why your thesis is better than the example you just provided, include your BEST pieceof evidence to disprove thecounter claim.

Paragraph Five: Conclusion
  1. Restate your thesis
  2. Restate point one
  3. Restate point two
  4. Revisit counter claim briefly
  5. Reiterate your side

Hints: This is just an organizer, it is not the only way arguments can be written. If you think it may be easier in a different way, please share it with me before you complete your rough draft.

Example of a change: If you make a point and can only find 2 pieces of evidence to support your claim, you may still have a good point to use in a paragraph. It would just be a 6 sentence paragraph instead of 8.

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