English Language - Argumentative Writing

ENGLISHLANGUAGEARGUMENTATIVE WRITING

Argumentative

Opinions

Purpose

ARGUMENTATIVE• Used to persuade the

reader that your opinion is correct

Purpose

ARGUMENTATIVE• Used to persuade the

reader that your opinion is correct

• Opinion is clearly stated, rather than appearing neutral.

Focus

Focused on an

OPINIONa debatable claim

Convince

your readers

Convince

of the validity of your opinion using

your readers

Concrete Evidence

Studies

Concrete Evidence

Studies News Articles

Concrete Evidence

Studies News Articles

Expert Opinions

Concrete Evidence

Studies News Articles

Expert Opinions

Statistics, etc.

3 Questions

What real-world

examples can I use to support

my thesis statement?

3 Questions

What real-world

examples can I use to support

my thesis statement?

What expertsin the field

might agreewith me?

3 Questions

What real-world

examples can I use to support

my thesis statement?

What expertsin the field

might agreewith me?

How can I address and refute the

opposition’s claims?

Structure

Introduction

Structure

Introduction Body

Structure

Introduction Body Conclusion

Introduction

Leads the reader to your

opinionon the topic,

Paragraph

1

Introduction

which is clearly stated in a thesis statement of

1-3sentences

Leads the reader to your

opinionon the topic,

Paragraph

1

Thesis Statementis your

CLAIM

Your claimis your

your position or stand on the issue

Your claimis your

your position or stand on the issue

What view you want your readers to

accept

Your claimis your

your position or stand on the issue

What view you want your readers to

accept

What action you want your readers to

take

Body

Discusses the ways in which external sources (eg. studies, news articles, journals, interviews, etc.)

are evidencethat support your thesis statement.

Paragraph

2

Paragraph

3

Paragraph

4

Body

Discusses the ways in which external sources (eg. studies, news articles, journals, interviews, etc.)

are evidencethat support your thesis statement.

Refutesopposing arguments, saying why counterarguments are incorrect.

Paragraph

2

Paragraph

3

Paragraph

4

Explanationand

of your claim to explain

Justification

Explanationand

of your claim to explain

Justification

Why?

Explanationand

of your claim to explain

Justification

Why? How?

EVIDENCE

You will need

which are credible.

Credibility

depends on

Relevant to the topic

Credibility

depends on

Relevant to the topic

Provided by a credible source (an

expert in the field)

Credibility

depends on

Relevant to the topic

Provided by a credible source (an

expert in the field)

Reputable(i.e.available contact information, up-to-

date source etc.)

Opposition

Addressopinions that may oppose

your claims

Opposition

Addressopinions that may oppose

your claims

Understand differingviewpoints

Rebuttal

Refutes differing

viewpoints with logical

evidence and reasons

Rebuttal

Refutes differing

viewpoints with logical

evidence and reasons

Uses the opposition’s reasons to win your own argument (i.e.

find areas of weakness or

irrational logicin their argument to

strengthen your own)

Rebuttal

Refutes differing

viewpoints with logical

evidence and reasons

Uses the opposition’s reasons to win your own argument (i.e.

find areas of weakness or

irrational logicin their argument to

strengthen your own)

Let them see your side

Appealto Audience

Ethos–

Credibility

Pathos–

Emotions

Logos–

Logic

Aristotle developed

these 3 appeals to

audience which are often used in arguments.

Ethos

Ethos (Greek for 'character') refers to the trustworthiness or credibility of the writer or speaker.

Ethos

Ethos (Greek for 'character') refers to the trustworthiness or credibility of the writer or speaker.

Ethos is built through honesty.

Pathos

Pathos (Greek for 'suffering' or 'experience') is often associated with emotionalappeal.

Pathos

Pathos (Greek for 'suffering' or 'experience') is often associated with emotionalappeal.

Pathos pulls on the heartstrings of your audience to take action.

LogosLogos (Greek for 'word') refers to the message internal consistency

• clarity of the claim• logic of its reasons • effectiveness of its

supporting evidence

LogosLogos (Greek for 'word') refers to the message internal consistency

• clarity of the claim• logic of its reasons • effectiveness of its

supporting evidence

Logos refers to the logic.

Conclusion

Restates overall

argumentand gives a sense of closure.

Paragraph

5

Conclusion

Restates overall

argumentand gives a sense of closure.

Do

not introduce a new argument.

Paragraph

5

Remember

1It is not enough to simply state whether you agree/ disagree with the author or speaker. Instead, you must clearly articulate why you agree/ disagree.

Remember

1It is not enough to simply state whether you agree/ disagree with the author or speaker. Instead, you must clearly articulate why you agree/ disagree.

2Always provide evidencefrom valid external sources (newspaper articles, studies, interviews, statistics, etc.) to support your thesis.

Checklist

• Be clear• Be focused• Take a position

Thesis Statement

Checklist

• Be clear• Be focused• Take a position

Thesis Statement

• Support thesis statement using external sources (newspaper articles, interviews, studies, statistics, etc.)

• Clearly explain how these external sources support your thesis statement

• Refute counterarguments

Body Paragraphs

Checklist

• Be clear• Be focused• Take a position

Thesis Statement

• Support thesis statement using external sources (newspaper articles, interviews, studies, statistics, etc.)

• Clearly explain how these external sources support your thesis statement

• Refute counterarguments

Body Paragraphs

• Free of spelling, and grammar errors• Avoid first person narration• Overall paper is not expository

• Does not extensively summarise the text or speech• Does not repeat what the author or speaker has already

stated• Does not just compare and contrast

General

Created by

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