Argumentative Essays
Chapter 9.
Argumentative Essays 2
Please note that all the data and most part of the discussions provided in the following PPT slides are drawn from Oshima and Hogue (2006) Writing Academic English (4th ed.).
Organization of Argumentative Essays
(cont’d)
• Model essay: Argumentation (pp.144-145)
– Read the model essay on whether boys and girls at middle school should be educated in the same class or not in the U.S.
– Then, try to answer the following writing technique questions (from p.145):
1. In which paragraph does the writer give background information to help readers understand the issue?
2. Does the thesis statement mention both sides of the issue, or does it give the writer’s point of view only?
3. How many opposing arguments are given? Where are they given?
4. Where does the writer rebut the opposing arguments—in one paragraph or in separate paragraphs?
5. Which type of organization does this essay use—block or point-by-point?
• Practice 1. Outlining (p.146): Complete the outline of the model essay—
In-class exercise
Organization of Argumentative Essays
(cont’d)
• Interim Summary: Five keys to argumentative essays
– An argumentative essay contains the following five key elements.
• An explanation of the issue.
• A clear thesis statement
• A summary of the opposing arguments
• Rebuttals to the opposing arguments
• Your own arguments
The Introductory Paragraph
• On effective ways to write an introductory paragraph – The introductory paragraph of the model contains an
explanation of the issue, which is a necessary part of an argumentative essay.
– However, you may also begin an argumentative essay with a more engaging (or attractive) introduction--with surprising statistics, or with a dramatic story.
• For instance, for the given model essay, the writer could have opened with a dramatization of typical boys’ and girls’ behavior in a mixed middle school class.
– If you write an ‘attention-getting’ introduction, you may need to
explain the issue in a second introductory paragraph and write
your thesis statement at the end of this (second) paragraph.
The Introductory Paragraph
(cont’d)
• Thesis statement
– The thesis statement in an argumentative essay states clearly which side you are for:
(1) Curfew laws are unfair and should be abolished.
(2) In may opinion, stem cell research should receive the full support of our government.
– A thesis statement often mentions the opposing point of view.
The Introductory Paragraph
(cont’d)
– Notice that the writer’s opinion is expressed in the main
(independent) clause, and the opposing point of view is normally put into a subordinate clause.
– Instances of thesis statement with an opposing viewpoint (NB:
DC = Dependent Clause; IDC = Independent Clause)
(3) [DC Despite the claims that curfew laws are necessary to control juvenile gangs], [IDC curfew laws are clearly unconstitutional].
(4) [DC Although there are certainly reasons to be cautious with stem cell research], [IDC I believe that its potential benefits far outweighs its dangers].
The Introductory Paragraph
(cont’d)
• Frequently used expressions for introducing the opposing viewpoint
– Use expressions such as the following to introduce opposing points of view.
(5) Some people feel that the United States should have a national health care plan like Canada’s.
(6) Many (may/might) think that genetically engineered crops are a grave danger to the environment.
(7) Smokers say that they have a right to smoke.
(8) It may be true that the U.S. constitution gives citizens the right to own weapons.
The Introductory Paragraph
(cont’d)
• Transition signals for connecting the opposing viewpoint to your own viewpoint
– Then connect the opposing point of view to your own with transition signals of contrast.
(9) Some people feel that the United States should have a national
health care plan like Canada’s; however, others feel that government should stay out of the health care business.
(10) Although/Even though many think that genetically engineered crops are a grave danger to the environment, such crops can have alleviate world hunger and malnutrition.
(11) Smokers say that they have a right to smoke in spite of the fact that/despite the fact that smoking will kill them.
(12) While/whereas it may be true that the U.S. constitution gives citizens the right to own weapons, the men who wrote the
Constitution lived in a different time.
The Introductory Paragraph
(cont’d)
• Practice 2. Thesis Statement (pp.148-149)—In-class exercise
• Practice 3. Supporting Arguments (p.149)—In-class exercise
Review
• The following are the important points covered in this chapter.
– An argumentative essay is a kind of essay in which you try to persuade your reader to agree with your opinion about a controversial topic.
– An argumentative essay contains the following five elements.
• An explanation of the issue
• A clear thesis statement
• A summary of the opposing arguments (from the writer’s view)
• Rebuttals to the opposing arguments
• Your own arguments
– Use either a block pattern or a point-by-point pattern; be sure to include the opposite point of view as well as your own.
– Use contrast transition signals to connect opposing arguments and your counter-arguments.