By Robin Mellom(Without the Overwhelm)
If you teach 5th grade or above, you’ve probably faced this challenge:
Teach argumentative writing... and make it stick.
But let’s be honest...between the structure, thesis, evidence, counterclaims, and formatting, it’s a lot to teach and even more for students to juggle.
That’s why I developed a clear, step-by-step method inside The Structured Writer’s Workshop® that walks students through the argumentative essay in just 10 days with activities that actually engage them.
Here’s exactly how I do it!
🎬 Step 1: Start With a Hook They Care About
Before students write a single sentence, I start with a question they actually want to argue:
👉 “What have you binge-watched lately?”
This sparks a lively class conversation around popular shows like Wednesday or Stranger Things. Then we dive into a debate about the effects of binge-watching, discussing health, school performance, and whatever else comes to mind!
Next: We read a high-interest article (like one from Newsela) and compare our ideas to the text. They read to see if THEIR idea made it into the article. Students are hooked before we even mention “claim” or “evidence.”
💡 Other engaging topics: phones in class, social media rules, texting with emojis.
🧩 Step 2: Deconstruct the Essay Structure
Once students are invested, we shift to structure, but I don’t overwhelm them with everything at once.
Here’s how we ease in:
- I provide a chopped-up sample essay.
- Students work in groups to reassemble it like a puzzle.
- They debate what goes where and why.
They learn structure through logic and discussion, not memorization.
✅ I use my Deconstructing Essays resource with labels and moveable parts for this activity.
🧠 Step 3: Teach the Thesis Like a Blueprint
We zoom in on the thesis, which is the sentence that builds the whole essay. Students learn to write:
“We should/should not [claim] because [reason 1] and [reason 2].”
Those reasons turn into body paragraphs.
Then I bring out the rubric... but here’s the twist:
Instead of handing it to them, I ask:
📢 “If you were grading this, what would you look for?”
We co-create the rubric together. And now they own the expectations.
🖥️ Step 4: Structure the Drafting Process Digitally
I use Classkick to manage the drafting process, give feedback, and keep students moving forward.
Here’s what it looks like:
- Slides release one at a time
- Students pick a topic from a short list
- Articles are pre-vetted (no rabbit holes!)
- Flexible planning: list, mind map, or sketch
- Drafting follows our familiar Claim → Evidence → Reasoning model
They feel supported without being micromanaged.
✍️ Step 5: Drafting With Confidence
When it’s time to write, I remove the pressure:
👉 “Don’t worry about spelling or grammar yet. Just write.”
Students draft:
- A bold hook (without naming the topic)
- A clear thesis
- Body paragraphs with reasoning
- A counterclaim + rebuttal
- A strong conclusion that sticks the landing
🏅 We even talk gymnastics here, and I point out the best conclusions loop back to the hook and leave a strong final impression. Like Simone Biles. :)
📐 Step 6: Format, Revise, and Finalize
Formatting matters. I do not accept walls of text or skipped indentations.
Students:
- Format in Google Docs using MLA style
- Read their essays aloud
- Revise with a peer
- Submit a polished final version
And the results?
🎯 Most students succeed because expectations are clear and the structure is embedded in every step of The Structured Writer’s Workshop®.
🧰 Want to Try It Yourself?
Save time with the Deconstruct Argumentative Writing resource:
- Rebuild essay structure
- Scaffold every step
- Keep students engaged
🎥 Want to See It in Action?
Watch my full teaching breakdown in this video:
Happy Writing!
~Robin