The following is a sample argumentative essay. Notice its organization and development
of arguments
THE NECESSITY OF KOREAN FOREIGN LANGUAGE
EDUCATION FOR KOREAN-AMERICAN CHILDREN
Korean permanent residents in the U.S face the problem of
children who do not speak their native language. While the
new immigrants feel relieved from their hard live, the speed
Background
of their English proficiency is slow like a turtle’s pave; on
information
the other hand, that of their children is as fast as a rabbit.
Here the necessity of Korean language education becomes an
object of controversy. Some parents do not want their
children to learn Korean; they want their children only to
learn English. In my opinion, Korean language education not
Thesis statement
only promotes the development of children but also brings
of intent
domestic peace, which is a common aim of immigrant Controlling idea
homes; furthermore, Korean language education makes
children understand the culture of their ancestors.
Introduction
con #1
pro: technique
= incorrect
concluding
sentence
paragraph
hook
pro: technique
= insufficient
Some parents insist that they need not teach the Korean
language to their children. Their opinion is that if children
learn two languages at the same time, they will have low
language ability because they will divide their ability.
However, we have nothing to worry about on that point.
According to psychological research, children who learn two
(or more) languages at the same time can improve their
thinking faculties and creative abilities. For example, in
Canada, children who spoke only English learned their
school subjects in French in elementary school. The results
were that these children not only could speak French
proficiently after two or three years, but also had increased
creative power, more sophisticated thinking faculties, and
greater adaptability and intellectuality than other children
who spoke only one language. Therefore, children who learn
both Korean and English may be better, not worse, students.
Topic sentence
Method of
development:
contrast
Supporting
techniques:
facts, example
Transitions
Method of
development:
cause-effect
Other parents refuse to teach Korean to their children Topic sentence
because the children are unwilling to study and learn.
Consequently, family problems occur when the parents insist
that the children learn Korean. In contrast, however, Korean
language education can be positively related to domestic
peace. First, children tend to adapt themselves to American
culture and to the English language quickly and easily, but Transitions
their parents often have difficulty expressing their thoughts
Concluding
sentence
con #3
pro: technique
= insufficient
concluding
sentence
in English freely. If the parents cannot understand English
well, and the children cannot understand Korean, a
generation gap occurs. This gap can become wider and wider
each day, and finally it will bring about family troubles. If
the communication between parents and their children is
poor because of the language, children will surely live in a
world different from their parents. To prevent their children
being lost from them, parents should teach the Korean
language to their children.
Many Korean immigrant parents think that their children
should become Americans as quickly as possible; therefore,
they refuse to interfere with the assimilation process by
teaching the children the language and culture of Korea. This
is a serious mistake. Koreans are a minority in the U.S., and
keeping in touch with their culture and ancestors is necessary
in order to keep their pride and security. While assimilation
of the new culture is good, keeping the old culture is just as
important. Someday the children will ask themselves where
they came from; they will have a need to know about their
culture. To understand that culture, they must learn their
native tongue because the language is the most important
element that forms the spiritual value and racial
consciousness.
Paragraph
hooks
Topic sentence
Method of
development:
cause-effect
Techniques of
support: facts,
examples
Conclusion:
summary
In conclusion, Korean language education is desirable for the
children themselves and for domestic peace. What is most
important is that the language is not only a means of
recommendation communication but also a kink to the mind and soul of the
culture. Therefore, Korean language education in immigrant
homes is important and should be required.
Transitions
Sung Sik Pak
(Korea)