SAGE Prep: Argumentative Essay March 17-19th

We'll be in the D Lab Monday and Tuesday to practice on-demand Argumentative Writing in preparation for the SAGE. Here are the links you will need to access the articles for the writing prompt.  This will be good practice in organization, reading multiple articles and writing.  I think you all will enjoy these articles and I'm excited to see how you do!

Article #1:  Schools May Ban Chocolate Milk Over Added Sugar

Article #2:  Sugar in Chocolate Milk Compared to Other Treats

Article #3: National Dairy Council Poster

Article #4:  The Hard Facts about Flavored Milk

Prompt (remember to use your Unpacking the Prompt Foldable):
It’s no secret that more students prefer chocolate milk compared to regular milk.  But do the benefits of chocolate milk outweigh the health risks from consuming all that extra sugar?  Children need many of the nutrients that are found in chocolate milk.  Some people argue that schools should continue providing chocolate milk to students because the students love the taste and receive all the healthy nutrients contained in milk.  Others argue that when students consume the large quantities of sugar contained in chocolate milk more harm is done to the students than good.  Should schools continue to provide chocolate milk as an option for students to drink?

Write an essay in which you take a position on whether or not schools should continue to provide chocolate milk as an option for students to drink.  Use the information presented in the passages to support your points.  Make sure to include information from all the passages in your essay.

Manage your time carefully so that you can

·         Plan your essay

·         Write your essay

·         Revise and edit your essay

Be sure to

·         Include a claim

·         Address counterclaims

·         Use evidence from multiple sources

·         Do not over rely on one source

Here is what my Prompt Unpacking looked like today:

Handout on Foldables & The Argumentative Essay Process Remember, you will need to have the foldables memorized so you can use them in the SAGE Test.

Handout for Foldable/Essay Activity

Final Product:  On Wednesday, we will use the evidence you have gathered and write an Argumentative Essay (recommended length is 6 paragraphs). This will go on your academic grade and be worth 30 points.  I will be scoring your essay based on the same rubric that your SAGE essay will be graded by.  Here is a copy of the rubric, it's worth becoming familiar with:

Argumentative Essay Rubric

As some preparation, we will also view these YouTube videos to introduce the chocolate milk controversy.  You may watch these at home as well.

Jamie Oliver Chocolate Milk Controversy

Celebrities Endorse Chocolate Milk

As you know from the SAGE practice, you'll be presented with an Argumentative Essay prompt and 4 pieces of text.  I'll be teaching you strategies to unpack the prompt, read and organize each article and organize and write your essay.  If you practice and understand these steps, the SAGE is going to be a piece of cake!  Please come ready to work hard and be in school each day.

After examining the evidence, you make the choice!