Argumentative Essays
Argumentative Essay
• A type of essay that attempts to persuade the
reader to your point of view.
• In an argumentative essay you must:
– State your view
– Give your arguments (reasons)
– Support your arguments with evidence, examples,
stories, etc.
– Present an opposing view and show why you
disagree with it.
• IELTS Writing Task 2 is an argumentative essay
Five Paragraphs
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Introduction
Argument 1
Argument 2 or Counter Argument
Counter Argument or Argument 2
Conclusion
1. Introduction
• A sentence or two to introduce your topic
• Your thesis statement
Example:
It has become fashionable in the world today to condemn
smoking. However, although I feel that smoking can be
harmful, I do not think it should be banned completely.
Red = Topic Introduction
Blue = Thesis Statement
Introduction (cont.)
It has become fashionable in the world today to
condemn smoking.
However, although I feel that smoking can be
harmful, I do not think it should be banned
completely.
Introduction: Thesis Statement
The thesis statement gives either your
opinion or an overview of your essay.
• Opinion Example:
… I do not think it should be banned
completely.
• Overview Example:
This essay will examine some of the reasons
for and against banning smoking.
2. Argument 1
• Topic sentence
• Supporting information
– Evidence
– Examples
– Stories
– Etc.
Argument 1
Let me deal first with the positive side
of smoking.
First, smoking undoubtedly helps
many people to relax. For some, it
even improves concentration.
Many people like to smoke before
exams or when they are relaxing
with friends.
2. Argument 1
Let me deal first with the positive side of smoking.
First, smoking undoubtedly helps many people
to relax.
For some, it even improves concentration.
Many people like to smoke before exams or
when they are relaxing with friends.
Orange = Supporting Information
Argument 1: Supporting Information
Let me deal first with the positive side of smoking.
First, smoking undoubtedly helps many people
to relax.
For some, it even improves concentration.
Many people like to smoke before exams or
when they are relaxing with friends.
3. Argument 2
A further point is that the tobacco industry also
employs tens of thousands of people throughout
the world, particularly in poorer countries like
Zimbabwe or India.
Without cigarettes, these people would have no
jobs.
4. Counter Argument
Presents the other side of the argument
• Counter argument: what those who disagree
with you say
• Refutation: your answer to those who disagree
with you
Counter Argument: Example
The arguments against smoking are well known.
Smoking has been shown to be dangerous to health.
Heart disease, bronchitis and lung cancer have all
been linked. But smoking is a personal decision; the
government should not be telling people what to do
with their lives.
Black = Topic Sentence
Red = Counter Argument
Blue = Refutation
Counter Argument: Example
The arguments against smoking are well known.
Smoking has been shown to be dangerous to
health. Heart disease, bronchitis and lung cancer
have all been linked.
But smoking is a personal decision; the
government should not be telling people what to
do with their lives.
Refutation
Gives your answer to the counter argument
Example:
But smoking is a personal decision; the
government should not be telling people what to
do with their lives.
Writing a conclusion
A conclusion should do some or all of these:
•
•
•
•
Restate the thesis
Summarize the main ideas
Restate argument or refutation
Look to the future – what will happen if your
argument is accepted or not accepted
Example: if smoking is banned, many people will
lose their jobs.
Writing a conclusion (cont.)
• A conclusion must not introduce anything
new:
– No new arguments
– No new examples, evidence or stories
– No new refutations
• A conclusion can only restate or
summarize what is in the first four
paragraphs or look to the future.
5. Conclusion
In general, I think the world would be a better
place without cigarettes.
However, the decision as to whether to smoke or
not should be for each individual to make.
TUST Formatting Standards
• At the top of the page you should have in bold:
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Your English name followed by your family name
Number of your class: 41, 42, 43, 44
Date in day, month, year: 21 February 2011
Title of the assignment (centered)
• The body:
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–
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Times New Roman 12 point font
Double spaced
First line of each paragraph indented at 1.27 cm or ½ inch
No extra space between paragraphs
Left and right margins at 2.54 cm or one inch
• At the bottom of the page you should have:
– The word count of the body. This does not include header information,
title, or the word count.
Example
Argumentative Essay Rubric
• Deadly Sins (-10 pts. each):
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Spelling, capitalization, etc., errors
TUST standards errors
Late: -10 for each day
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• Contents (60 pts.):
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Intro: Intro. topic, Thesis Statement
Argument 1: topic, examples, etc.
Argument 2: topic, examples, etc.
Counter argument & refutation
Conclusion
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• Organization (20 pts.):
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Ideas follow logically
Statements are relevant to the topic
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• Mechanics (20 pts.):
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Grammar, usage, punctuation:
• Comments:
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The Assignment
Write you own argumentative essay of at least 250 words
on one of these topics:
1. Should the wealthier people have to pay more in taxes
than the poor? If so, how much?
2. A rich man and a poor man commit the same type of
crime. The rich man is fined $10,000 while the poor
man is sent to jail for one year. Is this fair?
3. A rich man and a poor man commit the same type of
crime. They are both fined $10,000. Is this fair?
4. Why punish the theft of $1000 more than the theft of
$100?
5. Should attempted murder be punished the same as
murder?