Name___________________________________________Date______________________Period___________________
Directions:
You’ve read that an article that discusses liability (responsibility) for concussions suffered by high school
athletes. Your task is to pick a side on this issue and argue your claim. Choose:
□ Yes, the IHSA is responsible for concussion suffered by high school athletes.
□ No, the IHSA is NOT responsible for concussions suffered by high school athletes.
1. Utilize all elements of Argumentative Writing:
-Clear position, Sound Reasoning, Back up your Argument, Reveal Opponent’s Weaknesses, Use Voice
2. Begin with an engaging lead to “hook your reader.”
3. Use what you have learned about the sentence fluency trait: vary sentence beginnings, vary sentence lengths, and
use proper grammatical structure.
4. Use at least 3 transitions in each paragraph. Highlight transitions as you use them.
5. Employ what you learned from the word choice trait: striking words and phrases, strong verbs, and specific and
accurate words.
Paragraph Breakdown:
Paragraph 1: -Include an engaging lead to “hook” your reader”
-Preview your main points. Do NOT explain all of your arguments, but briefly introduce your main
arguments.
-2-3 sentences
Paragraph 2: -Provide your first argument/reason
-Support with text evidence
-5-7 sentences
Paragraph 3: -Provide your second argument/reason
-Support with text evidence
-5-7 sentences
Paragraph 4: -Provide a counter-argument (refute or reveal weaknesses in your opponent’s position)
-Support with text evidence
-5-7 sentences
Paragraph 5:-Briefly re-state your main points
-Leave your reader with a closing thought (possibly use a rhetorical question)
-2-3 sentences
Brainstorming Box
Argument
□ Yes, the IHSA is responsible for concussion suffered by high school athletes.
□ No, the IHSA is NOT responsible for concussions suffered by high school athletes.
Argument #1
Argument: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Type of Support: ___________________________________________________________________________________________________
(Facts/Statistics, Expert Testimony, Comparisons, Specific Examples)
Argument #2
Argument: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Type of Support: ___________________________________________________________________________________________________
(Facts/Statistics, Expert Testimony, Comparisons, Specific Examples)
Counter Argument/Refutation
Counter-Argument: ________________________________________________________________________________________________
Type of Support: ___________________________________________________________________________________________________
(Facts/Statistics, Expert Testimony, Comparisons, Specific Examples)
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Rubric:
Requirement
1 Point
2 Points
3 Points
Argument
#1
(Paragraph
2)
-Less than 5-7 sentences
-Argument is illogical or unclear
-No text support is included or it
does not clearly support the
argument
-Less than 5-7 sentences
-Argument is illogical or unclear
-No text support is included or it
does not clearly support the
argument
-Less than 5-7 sentences
-Counter-argument is illogical or
unclear
-No text support is included or it
does not clearly support the
argument
-5-7 Sentences
-Argument may be illogical or unclear
to a reader
-Includes text support, but does not
clearly tie it to argument
-5-7 Sentences
-Argument may be illogical or unclear
to a reader
-Includes text support, but does not
clearly tie it to argument
-5-7 Sentences
-Counter-argument may be illogical or
unclear to a reader
-Includes text support, but does not
clearly tie it to the counter argument
-5-7 Sentence
-Clear, logical argument
-Includes text support that is wellexplained
Argument
#2
(Paragraph
3)
CounterArgument
(Paragraph
4)
Conventions
Introduction
(Paragraph
1)
: Conclusion
(Paragraph
2)
Word Choice,
Organization,
and Sentence
Fluency
-5-7 Sentence
-Clear, logical argument
-Includes text support that is wellexplained
-5-7 Sentences
-Clear refutation of opponent’s
argument
-Includes well-explained text
evidence
0 Points
-Many errors in spelling, punctuation,
capitalization, and grammar.
-Less than 2-3 complete sentences
-Does not preview main points
-Not engaging to a reader
-Less than 2-3 complete sentences
-No closure for a reader
-Does not briefly re-state main points
0 Points
1 Point
1 Point
-Spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and grammar
are correct throughout
-2-3 complete sentences
-Previews main points
-Engages/Hooks the reader
-2-3 Sentences
-Gives closure to a reader
-Briefly re-states main points
2 Points
3 Points
-All word choice is
bland and boring
-No transitions
-Repeatedly uses same
sentence beginnings and
lengths
-Word choice is not
interesting or varied
-Some transitions are used
-Some similar sentence
beginnings and lengths
-There is little attempt
made to vary word
choice
-Few or no transitions
are used
-Most sentence
beginnings and lengths
are similar
-Word choice is interesting
and striking
-Transitions are used
throughout
-Sentence beginnings and
lengths are varied
Total Points_______/15
Writing Standards: 7.1a & 7.2f