In an argumentativetext, the author makes a claim about a debatable issue and uses evidence to support that claim. The author is trying to convince the audience to agree with his or her claim.
When reading an argumentative text, ask yourself —
What is the author's claim? In other words, what does the author want the reader to agree with, believe, or do?
Who is the author's intended audience? In other words, to whom is the author directing his or her argument? Authors may write differently to different audiences, and they may provide different evidence to support their claims.
What facts does the author use to support his or her claim? Why? An author may provide information and quotations from experts to show credibility. He or she may use anecdotes to demonstrate a point. Make sure that the "facts" are really provable facts, not just opinions.