Teach English Writing
One way to help ESL students learn English writing is to teach them how to write arguments following a simplified version of the Toulmin model. When students learn how to write claims with evidence and warrants, they are able to create clear arguments that sound persuasive.
The ability to construct a clear argument is a skill that can serve students well beyond the writing classroom. It can help them in ESL conversation classes, and in the workplace. For example, writing arguments can be very helpful for students who work in a foreign company and need to communicate with buyers and suppliers.
Warrants are a Challenge
Every argument needs a claim and a premise. (The premise is sometimes called by a different word, such as grounds or reasons.) The claim tells us what we should believe. The premise gives evidence or reasons and tells us why we should believe the claim.
Claim plus premise is a basic argument. Toulmin (in the simplified model) says we have to add one more step. We need to say how or why the premise is connected to the claim. Usually, that connection is obvious or commonly understood, so we don’t need to say it. But not always. Indeed, many disagreements about arguments are not about the claim or the premise, but in the way they are connected. That is why strong arguments – clear and persuasive arguments – include a warrant.
Here is an example.
The Los Angeles Dodgers will win the major league championship this year. They have the best pitching in all of professional baseball. Usually, the team with the best pitchers wins the championship.
- Claim: The Los Angeles Dodgers will win the major league championship this year.
- Premise: They have the best pitching in all of professional baseball.
- Warrant: Usually, the team with the best pitchers wins the championship.
Most of my ESL writing students are able to understand the meaning of claim and premise with a couple of practice sessions. Understanding the importance of warrants – and how to construct them – takes more effort.
Read and Identify
Open the Google slide show and read the passages. Identify the claim, premise, warrant. If required, here is a pdf file with the same passages.
Other Argument Lesson Ideas
Here are two other lesson ideas that provide students with more activities to practice argument writing.
- A great writing lesson that uses a 5 minute TED Talk video.
- A one hour critical thinking lesson that expands argument writing by introductory the concept of questions and criteria and asks students to write an argument that answers the question, “What is a good leader?”
- A lesson that teaches students the difference between correlation and causation.
Teach writing?
Get the ebook Teach Essential Writing Skills. Transform the quality of EFL student writing by focusing on four essential skills. Click here for details about the ebook that should be part of every writing teacher’s resource library.
Save time. Teach well.
Cut your lesson prep time with this colossal collection of ESL resources that stimulate language learning and critical thinking. Simplify your lesson planning because teaching should be a joy, not a chore.