Argumentative

essay
 Argumentative Essay
O Tries to change the reader’s mind
by convincing the reader to agree
with the writers point of view.
 Argumentative Essay
O It attempts to be highly
persuasive and logical.
O It usually assumes that the
reader disagrees with the writer
but it should be noted that the
reader is no less intelligent than
the writer.
 Argumentative Essay
O Hence, an argumentative essay
should be written objectively and
logically.
 Characteristics of an
Argumentative Essay
O Presents and explains the issue
or case
O Gives reasons and supports
these reasons to prove its point
O Refutes (proves wrong) opposing
arguments
PARTS of an Argumentative
Essay
O 1. Introduction
O First is the introductory
paragraph
O It introduces the problem and
gives the background information
needed for the argument and the
thesis statement
PARTS of an Argumentative
Essay
O 2. Body
O It contains the reasons. Each
paragraph talks about one
reason.
O The reason is included in the
topic sentence and is supported
by details or materials.
PARTS of an Argumentative
Essay
O 2. Body
O These materials can be
examples, statistics, personal
experiences or quotations.
PARTS of an Argumentative
Essay
O 3. Conclusion
O It restates the main claim and gives
one or two general statements that
exactly summarize the arguments and
support the main premise.
 Types of questions
For developing a good argumentative
essay
QUESTIONS OF FACTS
O Are those that ask you to answer
whether or not something is true.
O These questions are always
answered with either “YES”or
“NO” and then you must
construct paragraphs to support
the facts.
 Example

O Is the wall blue? (Yes or no, then

your evidence)
QUESTIONS OF VALUE
O Address the relative merit
(goodness or badness) of
something.
O Here you are usually asked to
choose between things, ideas,
beliefs, or actions, and explain
why you did so.
 Example

O Which is more valuable, love or

money? (which and then why?)
QUESTIONS OF POLICY
O Ask the writer to explain what they
would do.
O The key word in these topics is
usually “should” as in “what should
we do?.....”
O The question asked the writer to
make a plan of action to solve
some sort of problem.
QUESTIONS OF POLICY
O The answer is a breakdown of
the plan and a justification that it
fixes the problem.
 Example

O What should be done to combat

the drug problem? (Plan and
justify)
 LIST OF TOPICS
O Resolving Conflict
O Unity in Diversity
O Harmonizing Relationship with
others
O Recognizing Interpersonal
Convergence
O Bridging the gap
TOPIC: ______________
CLAIM OF FACT CLAIM OF POLICY CLAIM OF VALUE
 TOPICS
O Can death penalty be effective
O Can smoking be prevented by making tobacco
illegal?
O Are we to dependent on computers?
O Does social media fame impact one’s life?
O Is reading e-books worse than reading paper
books?
O What are the drawbacks of online dating apps
O Is fair to control the time a teenager dedicates to
playing computer games or using internet?