Argumentative Essay

Group members:• Truong Hai Ha• Tran Kieu Hanh• Truong Thi Phuong• Nguyen Thi Thinh

Overview1. Definition

2. Exposition vs. argumentation

3. Argumentative essay3.1 Purposes of the essay

3.2 Argumentative topics

3.3 Organization of the essay

3.4 Evidence in the development

3.5 Counter-argument and the refutation

1. Definition

“ An argumentative essay defends a particular position on a debatable subject. When you write an argumentative essay, your purpose is to persuade readers that your position has merit”

<Writing course book for sophomore-HULIS 2008>

Overview1. Definition

2. Exposition vs. argumentation

3. Argumentative essay3.1 Purposes of the essay

3.2 Argumentative topics

3.3 Organization of the essay

3.4 Evidence in the development

3.5 Counter-argument and the refutation

2. Exposition vs. argumentation

Exposition Argumentation

Purpose • To provide information• To explain a particular subject

• To defend your assertion (opinion, theory, hypothesis)

Forms • Exemplification• Process• Cause and effect• …

• Combine various paragraph forms in developing its ideas (cause and effect, definition,…) more complex

Overview1. Definition

2. Exposition vs. argumentation

3. Argumentative essay3.1 Purposes of the essay

3.2 Argumentative topics

3.3 Organization of the essay

3.4 Evidence in the development

3.5 Counter-argument and the refutation

3.1 Purposes of the essay

The writers want the readers to

• Accept or reject an idea

• Realize that action should be taken to solve a problem

• Try a new way of doing something

3.2 Argumentative topics

• Be narrowed down

• Contain an argument

• Be adequately supported (with statistics, outside source citations, etc.)

Be narrowed downX: Marijuana should be considered

illegal. (Too general. In some medical cases, marijuana is prescribed by the doctors and the patients are encouraged to use it in case of suffering from too much pain)

√: Selling and using marijuana in public places should be considered illegal.

Contain an argument

X: We should decide whether we want a bicycle or a car. (our stand is not clear: do we support having bicycles or cars?)

√: If we are under the age of 30 and want a healthy life, we should definitely get a bicycle instead of a car.

Be adequately supported

• I feel that writing an argumentative essay is definitely a challenging task. 

feelings cannot be supported; we cannot persuade other people

 

If you believe that you can find enough evidence to support your idea and refute others effectively,

you can choose challenging topics as well

Organization of the essay I. Introduction - Give background of the

subject and thesis of your essay II. Presentation of your argument - build your

case one point at a time, perhaps devoting one paragraph to the defense of each of your premises, or setting forth your evidence in separate, meaningful categories. III.Conclusion - pull your whole argument together in the last paragraph. Also add here some conventional device to finish your essay, such as a prediction, a new example, a reference to the example with which you began (now seen in a new light) etc.

Pattern 1: I. Introduction: Thesis statement II. Body:

PRO idea 1 PRO idea 2 CON(s) + Refutation(s)

III. Conclusion

Pattern 2:

I. Introduction:

Thesis statement

II. Body:  CON(s) + Refutation(s)        PRO idea 1        PRO idea 2

       III. Conclusion

Pattern 3:        I. Introduction: Thesis statement II. Body:

CON idea 1     ----->        Refutation        CON idea 2     ----->        Refutation        CON idea 3     ----->        Refutation

         III. Conclusion

Evidence in the argument development

Kinds of evidence Some problems with evidence

Kinds of evidence• Fact: information that can be verified as

objectively true

• Example: a specific illustration of a general statement

• Authority: someone who is generally recognized as an expert on a particular subject

Some problems with evidence and logic

• False conclusion: the conclusion is not based on evidence

• Misplaced causes and effects: Just because one thing follows another doesn’t mean it is an effect of it and vice versa

• Bad evidence: Evidence is used that comes from an outdated, incompetent, or bias source

Counter-argument and the refutation

Counter-argument, refutation Methods of refutation

Counter-argument, Refutation

• Counter-argument: the opposing viewpoint that disagrees with the writer’s opinion

• Refutation: the writer’s response to the counter-argument

Methods of refutation

• Method 1: Demonstrate that the counter-argument is wrong

• Method 2: Show that the counter-argument is weak

• Method 3: Agree that the counter-argument is valid, but show that the writers’ point of view is more compelling

References

• D.T.Mai, Writing skill course book, Hanoi 2008

• http://www.buowl.boun.edu.tr• http://essayinfo.com/essays/argumentative

_essay.php

• http://essayinfo.com/essays/expository_essay.php

• http://depts.gallaudet.edu/englishworks/writing/argumentative.html

Sample 1

HEALTH AND HEALING AT YOUR FINGERTIPS

Work in your group:

• Identify pattern of the essay

• Identify the thesis statement

• Pros, cons and refutation in which paragraphs?

• Write the outline of the essay

Thesis: Do Reiki instead of taking medicine.

“This new theory argues that healing is at our fingertips: we can be healthy by doing Reiki on a regular basis.”

Counter arguments1. People should trust

medicine since it is effective and scientifically proven.

2. Serious illnesses such as HIV/AIDS and cancer cannot be treated without medicine.

3. Reiki, like alternative healing methods, requires a lot of time.

Refutation1. Reiki is also

scientifically proven and does not have side effects. (refutation method: insufficient claim)

2. Medicine also cannot treat serious illnesses if not diagnosed at an early stage. (refutation method: opponents are partially correct)

3. Reiki requires less time if done regularly. (refutation method: opponents are completely wrong)

Thanks for your cooperation!