Part 1/2

Identification and Application:

• Find the main or central idea or topic to identify the argument in a text.

• Trace and identify the claims the author makes to build his or her argument.

• Determine if the claims are sufficient to build the author’s argument effectively.

• Evidence may appear in a text as a series of facts, statistics, or quotes from a reliable source.

Model: In the point/counterpoint text “The Dangers of Social Media” two authors each take one side of a debatable topic—in this case, whether preteens should have access to social media. To support his or her position, each writer builds the argument through claims based on evidence in an effort to persuade the reader to adopt his or her point of view. Because the goal of such an article is to persuade the reader to accept one side or the other of an issue, it is important for readers to trace and evaluate each argument and specific claims, assessing whether the reasoning is sound and the evidence is relevant and sufficient to support the claims. In order to trace and evaluate an argument, a reader must first determine the topic, or claim, of the argument. The title of the article indicates the broad topic. However, since this article contains two opposing arguments and viewpoints, the reader must identify the claim of each argument and each author’s point of view. Consider the first paragraph of the “Point” argument:

• In today’s world, social media has become a tool with many uses. In addition to being a way for people to connect all over the world, websites such as Facebook and Twitter have become important ways for people to share useful information. By denying preteens access to social media, we are denying them access to a large amount of information. Currently, the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), created in 1998, prohibits children under the age of 13 from creating accounts on social media websites such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest. This law is outdated and should be changed. Preteens should be allowed access to social media for a variety of reasons.

To identify the claim, readers must focus on the main points in the paragraph and determine what they have in common. In this case, the points are about the importance of social media as a tool, and the limits placed on preteens in accessing social media. Readers learn that the “Point” writer thinks social media has many uses and is a necessary means of sharing “useful information.” Readers also learn that COPPA makes it unlawful for “children under the age of 13” to open social media website accounts. In the writer’s opinion the “law is outdated and should be changed.” Readers can infer that the writer believes that because the law prevents preteens from participating in social media, they are being denied access to “useful information.” Readers can conclude that the “Point” writer’s position is that preteens should be granted access to social media. This is confirmed by the last sentence in the paragraph. Readers must continue reading to determine whether the “Point” writer presents relevant and sufficient reasons and evidence to support this claim. Read paragraph 2:

• Because social media has become so prevalent in our society, it is important for adolescents to learn how to use these tools appropriately. By the time children reach the age of 11 or 12, they have already become quite aware of the allure of social media. Eleven is old enough for children to understand the consequences of their actions, both online and off. During the preteen years, children should begin participating in the world of social media so that they will be well prepared to interact in this world by the time they become teenagers and adults.

Part 2/2

The writer states a sound reason for believing that preteens need access to social media: Given the prevalence of social media “in our society,” it is important for adolescents to learn how to use "social media appropriately.” The writer thinks that preteens should participate in social media so that they will know how to “interact in this world” as teenagers and adults. The writer also makes a claim that “[e]leven is old enough for children to understand the consequences of their actions, both online and off.” However, the writer presents no relevant evidence to support this claim. Up to now, the “Point” writer has been relying primarily on reasoning rather than evidence to make his or her case. In paragraph 3, the writer presents some evidence to support a claim:

• With appropriate adult supervision and guidance, preteens should have no trouble navigating the world of social media. Facebook is currently working on launching a version of the site that would allow special parental supervision for children under 13. If children are aware that their parents can see everything they do, they are more likely to behave appropriately. Besides Facebook, there are already a lot of preteen-friendly social media sites that include many parental controls. Many of these sites don’t require much personal information in order to sign up.

The writer begins by claiming that preteens should be able to navigate social media “[w]ith appropriate adult supervision and guidance.” The writer then presents evidence that Facebook is working to launch a child-friendly version of the site allowing “special parental supervision for children under 13.” He or she goes on to note that there are already “preteen-friendly social media sites” with “many parental controls” and that many sites “don’t require much personal information in order to sign up.” The writer includes this evidence to support his or her claim that, with supervision, preteens should be able to navigate social media. In the remaining paragraphs, the author continues to build an argument for allowing preteens to have access to social media sites by presenting claims and supporting them with sound reasoning and evidence. It is up to the reader to assess the claims, reasons, and evidence to determine whether the author has effectively made his or her case.

Read this section (the first paragraph) from the “Counterpoint” writer’s argument in “The Dangers of Social Media” Then answer the follow-up questions.

• "The world is becoming more and more fast-paced, and the time that children are able to spend just being kids is shrinking all the time. Everyone knows that social media has become a huge part of our everyday lives. Facebook allows children as young as 13 to create accounts, even though there are currently no special provisions for parental supervision. The Internet is still in its infancy, and it can be a dangerous place for children. Preteens should not be allowed on social media websites." (Counterpoint)