Genre: Argument

Note: Early grades standards/curricula typically ask students to write opinions rather than arguments. Although they are similar in terms of organization and language features, opinions do not necessarily share the purpose (to persuade) and they may not have an authentic audience.

Purpose: To persuade the audience about a position or point of view or to do something.

Organization:

Arguments begin with a thesis statement/claim; the beginning of an argument may also include background information and a preview of the reasons
Ideas are then organized into reasons backed by evidence
- Reasons support the thesis/claim and show an awareness of audience (i.e., reasons would be compelling to the chosen audience)
Finally, there is a reinforcement of the thesis to close the argument

Language features:

Evaluative language: shows the writer’s positive or negative attitude
- “Your smart and mature kid, Alex” (from I Wanna Iguana)
Graduation: turning up or down the intensity of attitude
- "The risks of getting vaccinated are small/tiny/ miniscule compared to the benefits."
- "Recycling is somewhat/ fairly/rather/very/extremely important."

Mentor Text Examples for Primary Grades

Note: Illustrated argument mentor texts for the primary grades are limited. These mentor texts are fictional narratives in which the characters send each other letters, and (most of) the letters contained within the texts are examples of arguments. See the time codes below each video for some examples of arguments embedded within these texts.

I Wanna Iguana

by Karen Kaufman Orloff

(for examples of arguments - go to 0:23 or 1:40)

Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type

by Doreen Cronin

(for an example of a very simple argument - go to 1:14)

Dear Mrs. LaRue: Letters from Obedience School

by Mark Teague

(for one example of an argument - go to 2:48)