DefinitionArgumentative WritingDefinitionAn argumentative essay is attempt tochange the readers mind,to convincethe reader to agree with the point ofview or opinion of the writer.Therefore, it is supposed to be highlypersuasive and logical.Writing in argumentative styleWriting in argumentative stylerequires :requires :1. Introduction1. Introduction2. Body2. Body3. Conclusion3. Conclusion- -debatable statementsdebatable statementsthe difference between debatable and non-debatable statementsDebatable statementsDebatable statementsStatements with which other people mightor might not agree . These are sometimescalled arguments, assertions,propositions or premises.eg. Solar energy is the best way of meetingChinas energy needs in the 21st century.Non-debatable statementsStatements with which no-one wouldnormally disagree or argue. These aresometimes called facts.e.g. Coal and oil are the mainsources of energy in China in the 20thcentury.Task 1Which of the following statements aredebatable and which are non-debatable?Computers and automation increaseComputers and automation increaseunemployment.unemployment.2. Smoking is harmful to peoples health.2. Smoking is harmful to peoples health.3. Plants produce oxygen that the3. Plants produce oxygen that theworld needs to sustain life.world needs to sustain life.4. Australia has some of the most4. Australia has some of the mostvenomous snakes in the world.venomous snakes in the world.5. A good education is necessary5. A good education is necessaryfor a successful and happy life.for a successful and happy life.Task 2Now write a debatable and a non-debatable statement about each of thefollowing topics:1. AlcoholAlcohol2. TelevisionTelevision3. Public transportPublic transport4. The Chinese education systemThe Chinese education systemYou now know that debatable statementsare not statements of fact but arestatements or premises with which otherpeople may or may not agree.When you are writing an argumentativeessay your aim is to make your readersagree with your debatable statements orpremises. You need to convince yourreaders of the value or truth of yourpremises.But by themselves, they are not convincing- they need support.In this section, you will learn how toprovide supporting statementsprovide supporting statements foryour premises. (We will use the termpremise from now on for anydebatable statement or assertion inyour argumentative essay).You will also learn how to useconnectives to linkconnectives to link thesestatements to each other and to thepremise.Example 1Premise:Premise: Marijuana should be legalizedSupporting statement 1:Supporting statement 1:It is less harmful to peoples health thanalcohol.Supporting statement 2:Supporting statement 2:A very large percentage of thepopulation uses it.Both supporting statements provideinformation that helps prove orsupport the premise.We can use connectives to link thesestatements together:Example 2Premise:Premise: Marijuana should be legalizedSupporting statement 1:Supporting statement 1:FirstlyFirstly, it is less harmful to peopleshealth than alcohol.Supporting statement 2:Supporting statement 2:In additionIn addition, a very large percentage ofthe population uses it.FirstlyFirstly tells the reader that this is the firstsupporting statement. (There are no otherformal connectives that can be used in thisplace. It is, however, acceptableacceptable to haveno connectiveno connective here)In additionIn addition tells the reader that this is anextra supporting statement. Otherconnectives that you could use here areFurthermoreFurthermore, , MoreoverMoreover and SecondlySecondly.Task 1The following premises (P) have onesupporting statement (SS1). Rewritethem adding a second supportingstatement (SS2).Also use connectives for the first andsecond supporting statementsSmokingSmoking(P) Smoking should be banned in restaurants and pubs.(SS1) It will help people to give up this unhealthyhabit.(SS2)FreewaysFreeways(P) The government should build more freewaysinstead of public transport.(SS1) It keeps traffic off residential streets.(SS2)Public TransportPublic Transport(P) The government should build more public transportinstead of freeways.(SS1) It provides cheap transport to people who cantafford cars.(SS2)Using connectives and paragraphsUsing connectives and paragraphsin a larger argumentative textin a larger argumentative textIn this section you will learn how toorganize supporting statementsorganize supporting statementsor arguments in a paragraph.You will learn that it is important touse connectivesuse connectives to list yourarguments and to signal the relationsbetween them.Task 1: The main thesis, supporting argumentsand conclusion.a. What is the main thesis?a. What is the main thesis?Circle or highlight the main thesis. Then writemain thesis in the margin next to it.b. What are the three supporting arguments?b. What are the three supporting arguments?Circle or highlight each of the three supportingarguments. Then write argument 1, argument2 and argument 3 nextto each one. (Note: each of these consists ofmore than one sentence)c. What is the conclusion?c. What is the conclusion?Circle or highlight the conclusion and writeconclusion in the margin next to itTask 2: Adding information torelevant argumentsThe following three sentences each add furtherinformation to the three supporting arguments.Your task is to add the sentences to the text.You will first need to work out which of the threesupporting arguments they relate to.a. Recent studies indicate that the parent-a. Recent studies indicate that the parent-child relationship can be improved by the usechild relationship can be improved by the useof high-quality childcare facilities.of high-quality childcare facilities.b. A whole range of learning occurs inb. A whole range of learning occurs inchildcare centers.childcare centers.c. Non-working parents can become a drainc. Non-working parents can become a drainon the tax system through dependent spouseon the tax system through dependent spouseand other rebates.and other rebates.arguments.You have seen that we can usedifferent connectives to list thesupporting arguments in the text.These listing connectives are:Mark the beginning of the threesupporting arguments withconnectives from the above list.FirstlyFirstlySecondlyThis can be used for the firstsupporting argumentThese can be used for any furthersupporting arguments (except, ofFurthermorecourse, for Secondly which can onlybeMoreoverused for the second)In additionFinallyFinallyused for the last supportingargument. also you canuse Furthermore, Moreover orIn addition for the lastargument if you wishTask 4: Concluding connectivesThree common concludingconnectives are:Mark the conclusion of your argumentwith a concluding connective.In conclusionIn conclusionIn summaryIn summaryThusThusThese all carryroughly the samemeaning. They shouldbe used to indicatethat you are makingfinal statements thatcover all thesupporting argumentsin a very general way.Task 5: In fact / Indeedalmost the same meaning and both can be used inthe following situations:1. To connect a more detailed statement with apreceding general statement.E.g.E.g. Today is very warm. In fact (or Indeed)In fact (or Indeed) it is35 degrees Celsius.2. To connect a statement which is more factualand exact with a preceding statement that is moredebatable and generalE.g.E.g. The internet is very popular in Australia.IndeedIndeed (or(or In factIn fact),), Australia has the highestproportion of Internet users per head of populationof any country in the world.Find three places in the text where you could useIn fact or Indeed.Task 6 ParagraphsThe structure of the text is now well markedby connectives so that the reader canclearly identify the main thesis, supportingarguments and conclusions.You can also use paragraphs to mark thestructure of the text so that it is even moreclear and easy to read.Using connectives and paragraphs in alarger argumentative textMark the places in the text where you wouldstart a new paragraph with a large (NP)which stands for new paragraphTask:Find the correct specific/detailedstatement in the second column (a-h)to match the general statements inthe first column (1-8).Join the matching pairs with In factor IndeedIntroductions are very important. Theintroduction gives the reader his/herfirst impression of the text. The firstimpression that you are aiming togive the reader is of a high-qualityargumentative text written in aprofessional, academic style.Task 1: The Main PremiseFirst we will look at paragraph 1: theintroduction.In the previous version of this textparagraph 1 was made up of only onesentence. This sentence was the mainpremise. Now the paragraph is muchlonger but the main premise is stillonly one sentence.What is the main premise?Task 1: The four parts of anintroductionA simple introduction to an argumentativeassignment has four parts. Read thefollowing description of the parts.1. IntroduceIntroduces the topic2. States why the topic is importantimportant3. States that there is a difference ofa difference ofopinionopinion about this topic4. Describes how the assignment will bestructured and clearly states the writersmain premisemain premise.Find the other 3 parts in Paragraph 1.Task 2: Ordering sentences inan introductionNow put the following sentences intothe correct order. They make up theintroduction to an argumentativeessay about the issue of whetherAustralia should become a republic.Task 3: The four parts of anintroduction (again)Try to find the sentences which covereach of the four parts ofargumentative essay introductions