Professional Documents
Culture Documents
2013
Argumentative essays
An argumentative essay is an essay in which you agree or disagree with an issue, using reasons to support your opinion. Your goal is to convince your reader that your opinion is right.
Argumentation is a popular kind of essay question because it forces students to think on their own: They have to take a stand on an issue, support their stand with solid reasons, and support their reasons with solid evidence.
Argumentative (supp.)
Attitudes on an important issue: 1. For/against 2. why (reasons) 3. Steps of persuasion 4. Levels of presentation
Argumentative (overview)
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
Focus Thesis: taking a stand Opposing views Supports: reasons Refuting & conceding Structure Transitions
The U.S. Declaration of Independence states that "all men are created equal. Agree or disagree with this statement. Support your opinion with reasons and examples.
The most important element in a friendship is trust. Agree or disagree with this statement. Support your opinion with reasons and examples.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Thesis statement Essay map Opposing views Rebuttal The writers point of view
An argumentative essay is one that attempts to change the readers mindto convince the reader to agree with the point of view or opinion of the writer. Frequently, it also proposes a course of action.
1. Curfew laws are unfair and should be abolished. 2. In my opinion, stem cell research should receive the full support of our government.
1. Thesis statement: taking a stand A thesis statement often mentions the opposing point of view.
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 structure.
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2. Opposing views
Aware of your readers Write: objectively, logically, respectfully.
Consider why your opponents hold their opinion and what reasons you think they might use to support their opinion. If you do not understand your opponents reasons and you just argue your own reasons, you are not likely to convince the reader at all.
2. Opposing views
(supp.)
Use expressions such as the following to introduce opposing points of view. 1. Some people feel that the United States should have a national health care plan like Canada's. 2. Many think that genetically engineered crops are a grave danger to the environment. 3. Smokers say that they have a right to smoke. 4. It may be true that the U.S. Constitution gives citizens the right to own weapons.
2. Opposing views
(supp.)
Then connect the opposing point of view to your own with transition signals of contrast. 1. 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. 2. Although/Even though many think that genetically engineered crops are a grave danger to the environment, such crops can alleviate world hunger and malnutrition.
3. Supports
a) Facts
1. historical facts, scientific data, statistics, etc.. 2. Research 3. Evaluation the value of your sources.
b) examples
1. effective 2. typicalselected from a sufficient number of examples to prove the case 3. extended example. 4. examples from personal experience: generalizable to a larger group.
c) Opinions of experts
3. Supports
There are many reasons for restricting the methods and quantity of pesticides used in farming, but one of the most compelling reasons is that pesticides kill not only harmful insects which destroy crops and damage property, but also those insects which are helpful to farmers and the environment/such as ladybugs and honeybees. In fact, the case of the honeybee is an excellent example of the damage that pesticides can do.
3. Supports
Therefore, we must restrict our use of harmful pesticides before we discover that we will not have enough food to feed the world's growing population.
3. Supports
According to Dr. Herbert Kleber, who is currently with the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, "Today ten times more Americans use alcohol and five times more use tobacco than illegal drugs" (DEA, Claim III, 1). He quotes a recent survey stating that 98 million Americans had used alcohol in the previous month and 54 million had used cigarettes, while only 11 million had used illicit drugs (DBA, Claim III, 1).
3. Supports
Drug Enforcement Administration figures indicate that currently about half a billion people are addicted to nicotine and 18 million are addicted to alcohol. In contrast, only 5 million are addicted to illegal drugs (DEA> Claim IV, 1). These numbers clearly show that if drugs are legal, people are more likely to use them, since, by being legal, they are accepted by society. Thus, legalizing drugs like cocaine and heroin would most likely result in more drug use and more drug addiction.
3. Supports
Giving football scholarships is really just a wise investment on the part of the university. What the university really needs and wants is money in the form of football ticket sales, contributions and endowments from alumni, and allotments and grants from the state legislature,. By giving football scholarships, many smaller, struggling universities, North University for example, can attract talented, sought-after football players.
3. Supports
These players build a winning football team, and the university builds a reputation. The university's football games may be on television, and the team may be asked to play in a bowl game. With this publicity, fans and alumni are eager to attend the games, thus boosting ticket sales. Rich alumni, who are proud of their school, give endowments and grants. And for state schools, members of Congress and representatives at the state Capitol are pleased with the publicity the school, and thus the state, receives.
3. Supports (p 269)
As a result, the states coffers are a little more open and the money flows, enabling the university to pay its faculty higher wages, build new buildings, and maintain the quality of its teaching. Yes, the football scholarship is a small investment from which the university hopes to reap big gains.
Rebut: to point out problems with the other sides reasons to prove that they are not good reasons. Refute means to prove wrong by argument or to show that something is erroneous.
If the opponent makes some valid points, you will want to concede them or agree that they are valid and then go on to argue your own points.
fundamental right stated in the U.S. Bill of Rights. b. Public morality is relative-what is objectionable in some cultures is acceptable in others. c. Many masterpieces-books, sculptures, and paintings-would be banned.
Example 2: thesis statement (supp.) Despite the fact that education's primary responsibility is to train minds, not bodies, I believe that schools should require students to practice a sport at least one hour each day.
Although some people think that curfew laws will help control teenage gangs, they are wrong for several reasons.
Review (supp.)
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.
Reason 1
First, plagiarism is socially unacceptable. Students are expected by teachers and their classmates to do their own work. If a student plagiarizes, he or she violates that trust. This may damage the relationship between the student and the teacher, as well as the relationship with classmates.
I remember once when a student was discovered to have plagiarized his essay. We were mad that our classmate had lied to us. It was an embarrassment for everyonethe institution, the instructor and the studentto discover that he had been cheating all along.
Although the prospect of having canned notes looks inviting to many students, our administration should nevertheless ban these services from campus. Not only do such businesses give certain students unfair advantages and discourage class attendance, but they also prohibit the development of students important learning skills, despite the services claims to the contrary.
Sample essay (2)-handouts Taking your own notes teaches you how to listen and how to spot the important concepts; organizing your own notes teaches you how to pull ideas together in a logical way, all skills students will need in other classes, on jobs, and in life in general
By appealing to students who believe professional notes will help them accomplish their educational goals easier and quicker, a variety of note-taking services now have franchises across the country.
Sample essay (3)-handouts 1. Thesis statement Although some parents and educators oppose same-sex classes, there is some evidence that separating boys and girls in middle school yields positive results.
Opposing argument 1:
Opponents of single-sex education claim that test scores of students in all-girl or all-boy classes are no higher than those of students in mixed classes ().
Rebuttal 1 to opposing argument 1 However, the research is inconclusive. Despite the fact that some research shows no improvement in test scores, other
More important, many psychologists believe that test scores are the wrong measuring sticks. They believe that selfconfidence and self-esteem issues are more important than test scores. In same-sex classes, girls report increased confidence and improved attitudes towards math and science, for example ().
Opposing argument 2
Opponents also maintain that separate classes (or separate schools) send the message that males and females cannot work together. They say that.. ().
Rebuttal to opposing argument 2 However, such an argument completely ignores the fact that children constantly interact with members of the opposite sex outside school. 1. Playing and squabbling with siblings 2. Negotiating with their opposite-sex parent
opposing argument 3
The final argument advanced by opponents of same-sex education is that it is discriminatory and, therefore, unconstitutional.
Rebuttal to opposing argument 3 However, research supports exactly the opposite conclusion: that discrimination is widespread in mixed classes. 1. boys dominate discussions and receive more attention than girls. 2. teachers call on boys more often.
Writers own points of view On the contrary: 1. same-sex classes provide a better learning environment. 2. Schoolchildren do have contact with the opposite sex outside the school setting. 3. Discrimination occurs in mixed classes as well.