Teaching Argument Writing, Grades 6-12: Supporting Claims with Relevant Evidence and Clear Reasoning

If you aren't a fan of inquiry yet, this book should do the trick. Hillocks shows how you can use questions, curiosity, and discussion to teach students the finer points of argument. It's no understatement to say that your existing persuasive unit will pale by comparison to goings-on in this book. It's an eye-opener (not to mention a mind-opener!).Written for Grades 6-12, the book follows a progressively more difficult agenda. Hillocks starts with the basics of argument writing, including "whodunit" cartoons for arguments of fact. Kids scrutinize the drawings of murder scenes and draw conclusions based on visual details, trying their ideas out in group discussions. Such "fun" work is teaching them the relationships between evidence, claims, "warrants" or rules (e.g. "As a rule, when people fall down stairs, they drop what they are carrying to save themselves."), and conclusions. The mystery solving is followed by writing exercises, wherein the conclusions of the students are carefully justified in paragraph form. Hillocks provides a chart to ensure that all elements of good argument writing are logged.From here, Hillock moves to simple arguments of judgment (he uses examples of what makes a good school mascot and what makes a good leader) and simple arguments of policy (here the students gather data on gum chewing). The latter example is especially good because the students do not simply jump on-line to cut and paste (yes, and sometimes plagiarize) material. Instead, students create their own data by interviewing the principal and custodians on the reasons for forbidding gum on school grounds plus its costs in time and money. They also create a survey to find out why students stick gum under chairs and desks or throw it on the floor. Invested? I guess! And it's so much better than the dreary Google search method of research. You'll think so, too, as you read Hillocks account of the students wrestling data into a logical, coherent form in an attempt to change the principal's mind.In the second part of the book, Hillocks moves to more complex arguments of judgment. Using transcripts from classes along with ready-to-go handouts, he shows how students grappled with developing criteria about such abstract terms as "courage" and "freedom of speech." Numerous scenarios are provided, complete with instructions on how to use them and how it went in Hillocks' classes. To wrap up, he takes the skills students hone in argument writing and shows you how they can be applied to literary analysis. This final chapter is regrettably brief, but if you consider it a "bonus" chapter and remind yourself that the goal of this book is to focus on writing argument, you feel no reason to complain.It's popular to say that technology is the key to changing education in the future, but I see technology is a mere tool. What will really change teaching and make it relevant to kids is work like this. Updating technology, then, takes a backseat to updating teachers. This book is a classic example of one way you can do that. If you're a teacher -- the most important technology in any classroom -- you owe it a look.

When I looked at the CCSS for my English classes, I was concerned to see that students needed to be able to write solid arguments. I had taught persuasive writing, but arguments, no. After reading the book, I know that these two areas are not the same! Argument involves thinking and not just amassing piles of research by others that seems to prove a point. Actual thinking for themselves and reasoning out an issue which can go either way and backing it up with warrants that are in turn backed up or supported is real argument. As pure coincidence (believe it or not) I also bought two of Lawrence Treat's Crime and Puzzlement books and was amazed to find that George Hillocks Jr. uses these in his beginning argument classes! Hillocks's cover states that the book is for grades 6-12, and mostly, I agree. There are some cases discussed that I do not think work for junior high students in my area, but that is not really an issue as he provides plenty of ideas with his other examples and ample fodder for me to create or find my own cases.

This is a great book if you are looking for ideas or ways to teacher Argument Writing. The author's basic key/chart about the elements of Argument Writing, were helpful, I used this information to create foldables for my students before we started our Argument Writing unit and he has been right on the money. Many teachers in my school used the informtation provided in chapters 1-2 as the basis for our unit. The author does a great job of breaking down the key concepts of argument and providing great examples. You can also use this book for a long-range lesson on building an argument. For example, the author uses the who-done-it case study approach to explain the concepts. I did not go that route but it does help explain the material so you can break it down with your students. I used one of his model for an introduction worksheet students used to build background/prior knowledge on the subject.

This is a great resource to start you off with teaching argument writing to students who may have had little to know prior experience with this type of writing. I like that it starts off with an engaging way of introducing the idea and gives suggestions throughout for how to make things more challenging or more accessible depending on your students abilities. I would recommend this to any teacher who needs ideas on how to approach teaching argument writing. The one thing that would have made this a five for me would have been if the examples that were shown throw out the book were included as an appendix at the end so that worksheets, etc. could be made of them but other than that a really great book.

When it comes to argumentative writing, Hillocks is an expert and the material offered here shows why. As education puts more of an emphasis on argumentative writing, students are in need of ways of seeing how such writing is put together and effectively used. This book dazzles in doing just that. It's helped my students to explore, discuss, analyze, and eventually argue and write their way to improving their argumentative writing. You'll get no argument from me: this is a worthwhile resource to have if you want to teach argumentative writing.

Simply put, you have to buy this book if you want to really learn how to teach Argument Writing to middle or high schoolers. Step by step, real-life examples and the best researcher in the field - oh yeah, he can also write so it's an enjoyable read. Buy it, read it, implement his suggestions and your students writing will soar.