Wednesday, June 11, 2014

ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY


Type 1 Agree or Disagree Useful words/ phrases
Introduction - State the controversy





















- Thesis statement (personal view)











- Include a transferring sentence
- (be) a controversial issue
- (be) under debate
- (be) in a dispute
- (be) the subject of (a) heated/ intense/ fierce/
ongoing debate
- (a) debate over/ about

Examples:
There has been a widespread public debate over
the introduction of genetically modified food.

There is much lively debate about whether women
should spend more time in the home.

A fierce debate raged (= continued) over which
artists work should be chosen for the prize.

- Personally, I advocate the view that
- I am partially convinced that
- I am of the opinion that
- It is my belief that
- I am convinced by the formers point of view that/
the latters point of view that .
I am of the opinion that women should be equal to
men in all aspects of life.

- This essay will grant us a chance to discuss the
issue in more detail.

Body - State a counter-argument





(denying the opponents point)





- State your argument 1

- State your argument 2



(opinion expressions)
- The critics/ opponents/ skeptics/ sceptics of ...
- Those who are opposed to
- Those who criticize
- Those who are critical/ sceptical of

- To some extent, they seem to make a point in
their argument; however, .
- More or less, there seem to be a point in their
argument. Nonetheless, .

- The supporters/ adherents/ defenders/
promoters/ advocates/ proponents of this view
- Those who support/ advocate/ promote sth this
view

- Hold/ share/ take/ advocate the view that
- Put forward an argument that
Wednesday, June 11, 2014

- Be of the opinion that
- Argue/ maintain/ allege/ acknowledge that
- It is commonly believed/ alleged/ acknowledged/
claimed/ admitted that

Examples:
The critics of educating children with a rod usually
put forward an argument that it might adversely
affect the mental development of children.
The advocates of educating children with a rod
hold the view that it helps to prevent children
from making the same mistakes.

Conclusion - Confirm your opinion once again. - In conclusion,
- In short,
- In brief,
- To sum up,
- To conclude,

Type 2 Discuss both views Useful words/ phrases
Introduction - State the controversy





















- Thesis statement
(Neutral view/ No personal view)



- Include a transferring sentence
- (be) a controversial issue
- (be) under debate
- (be) in a dispute
- (be) the subject of (a) heated/ intense/ fierce/
ongoing debate
- (a) debate over/ about

Examples:
There has been a widespread public debate over
the introduction of genetically modified food.

There is much lively debate about whether women
should spend more time in the home.

A fierce debate raged (= continued) over which
artists work should be chosen for the prize.

- It is widely maintained that the issue has both
advantages and disadvantages/ brings about both
pros and cons/ has both benefits and drawbacks.

- This essay will grant us a chance to discuss both
views of the issue in more detail.

Body - State one of the two sides - The critics/ opponents/ skeptics/ skeptics of ...
- Those who are opposed to
- Those who criticize
- Those who are critical/ skeptical of
- On the bright side,
- On the one side/ hand,
Wednesday, June 11, 2014






- State the other side (opposite)








Some useful opinion expressions




- The supporters/ adherents/ defenders/
promoters/ advocates/ proponents of this view
- Those who support/ advocate/ promote sth this
view
- On the dark side,
- On the other side/ hand,

- Hold/ share/ take/ advocate the view that
- Put forward an argument that
- Be of the opinion that
- Argue/ maintain/ allege/ acknowledge that
- It is commonly believed/ alleged/ acknowledged/
claimed/ admitted that

Examples:
The critics of educating children with a rod usually
put forward an argument that it might adversely
affect the mental development of children.
The advocates of educating children with a rod
hold the view that it helps to prevent children
from making the same mistakes.

Conclusion - Confirm the NEUTRAL opinion
once again.
- In conclusion,
- In short,
- In brief,
- To sum up,
- To conclude,
Example:
A television itself is neither useful nor harmful. It is the way
the television is used that should be taken into account. In
other words, television viewers should be conscious/ wise
enough to choose what and how to watch in order to take
the best advantages.

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Wednesday, June 11, 2014