Sixth Grade · Writing · week 4

Drafting the Full Argument

Draft a complete argument essay with an introduction, body paragraphs built from claim-evidence-warrant, and a conclusion.

This week you assemble everything so far into a full first draft. An argument essay has three parts: an introduction that hooks the reader and states your claim, body paragraphs that each give one reason with evidence and a warrant, and a conclusion that reminds the reader why your claim matters.

Do not aim for perfect sentences yet -- a first draft's job is to get the whole structure down on paper. You will revise the style, add a counterargument, and fix citations in the coming weeks.

📋 For the teacher
Teach it (10–15 min):
  • Sit beside your writer for the first paragraph, then let them draft body paragraphs more independently.
  • Remind them: one reason per body paragraph, each with its own claim-evidence-warrant sentence, not everything crammed into one paragraph.
  • If they get stuck, have them say the paragraph out loud first, then write down what they just said.
  • Protect this as a low-pressure drafting week -- circle awkward spots to fix later rather than stopping to perfect them now.
Talk about it:
  • What are the three parts of an argument essay, and what job does each one do?
  • Which body paragraph came together most easily for you, and why?
  • Where did you get stuck, and what helped you get unstuck?

Mastery looks like: They produce a complete first draft with an introduction stating a claim, at least two body paragraphs using claim-evidence-warrant, and a conclusion.

Common stumbles: Combining multiple reasons into one crowded paragraph instead of giving each reason its own paragraph; stopping to perfect sentences instead of finishing the draft.

See it visually

Interactive, spoken-aloud tools that show this idea in motion.

Persuasive AppealsBuild an argument with ethos, pathos, and logos.try →Inference & PredictionRead the clues, add what you know, and figure out the unsaid.try →Paragraph BuilderStack a paragraph: topic sentence, details, closing.try →
Homework for this lessonType it, write it with a stylus, or print it for pencil & paper.open →
Records attendance + 15 min of Writing for this learner.
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