Argumentative text

What is it?

You should differenciate between opinion and argument

Before you start, you must organize your ideas.

Title

Link 1

Introductions and conclusions

Link

• A good introduction should 
• make the topic interesting
• have enough background information to open the topic
• Content a clear, strong thesis statement.

Thesis statemement in 3 steps

1.       Make the topic specific	2.       Continue with a database phrase	3.       Explaining the significance to the audience
Exactly who?	Does…. Does not… Should Should not Highlights ignores	Providing that…
When?		Resulting in…
How many?		Making us doubt…
Which ones?		Reminding us that…
Where?

• A conclusion should 
• sum up
• Or make a recomendation
• Or conclude the topic somehow
• But it shouldn't have new information

Worksheet1
Worksheet 1 answer 

Worksheet 2
Worksheet 2 answer

Model thesis statements for compare and contrast essays 

1. There are ___________ similarities (differences) between ______________ and __________.

There are three major differences between lap top computers and desktop computers. There are a number of similarities between Canadians and Americans. 

2. ____________ and _____________ are similar (different) in _________ ways. 

Korea and Japan are similar in many ways. Fruits and vegetables are different in three important ways. 

 3. _______________ and ___________ have ____________ in common. 

Christianity and Islam have many things in common. 

Magazines and newspapers have several things in common. 

4. ____________ is different from (is similar to) ________ in ___________. 

American football is similar to rugby in several ways. 

Cable TV is different from public access TV in a number of ways. 

5. A comparison between ___________ and __________ ________ _____ similarities (differences).

 A comparison between hotels and motels reveals many similarities. 

 A comparison between dolphins and porpoises shows several surprising differences. 

Compare and Contrast Essay Guidelines Point-by-point method 

Introductory paragraph 

1. Does the paragraph include background information about the topic being discussed? 

2. Does the paragraph explain the reason for making the comparison and/or contrast? 

3. Does the paragraph contain interesting facts, statements, or anecdotes that grab the reader’s attention? 

4. Does the flow of sentences move from the general to the more specific? 

5. Does the thesis statement identify the items or situations things being compared and/or contrasted?

Supporting paragraphs  

1. Is the first facet in the thesis statement of the items being compared and/or contrasted identified in the first paragraph(s)? 

2. Is the second facet in the thesis statement of the items being compared and/or contrasted discussed in the next paragraph(s)? 

3. Does each paragraph clearly state that a comparison and/or contrast is being made? 

4. Do all paragraphs relate to and support the thesis statement?

5. Does the topic sentence of each paragraph have a controlling idea? 

6. Is unity achieved by having all the sentences in the paragraphs relevant to the topic?

7. Is there a logical concluding sentence for each paragraph? 

8. Are appropriate transition signals used to indicate comparisons and/or contrasts?

Concluding paragraph 

1. Does the paragraph summarize the reason for making the comparison and/or contrast? 

2. Does the paragraph summarize the main points in the comparison and/or contrast? 

3. Does the paragraph restate the thesis statement? 

4. Does the paragraph contain any final thoughts of the writer? 

5. Does the paragraph effectively indicate the end of the essay?

A Concluding paragraph must

1. Answer any question set in the title (if it is a pros and cons essay, you will need to say which argument is stronger).
2. Link back to introduction
3. Summarise the main points.
4. Give a sense of an ending.

Giving examples

Language

We

show exemplify illustrate

this ....

by

...

For example, For instance,

...

A key experiment

shows exemplifies illustrates

this.

...

This is shown by the following examples, The following are examples of this: The following is a case in point:

...

...	is a case in point.

...

institutions

such as

the family

...

Counterclaim Starters

Ending

Language

In short, In a word, In brief, To sum up, To conclude, To summarise In conclusion, On the whole, Altogether, In all,

...

It is

generally widely

accepted argued held believed

that .

Therefore, Thus, On this basis, Given this,

it

can may

be

concluded deduced inferred

that .

From	Table 1		it	can may	be	seen concluded shown estimated calculated inferred	that .
	the	table figures data results information

In conclusion, Finally

we/may say it can/may be said

that .

Talking about your experiences

Vocabulary link 1

Activity
Presentation and speaking
Current affairs related topics

Proofread

Taken from: 

Prezzi presentation

Persuasion map

Guided Writing

Online exercises
Fill in the gaps
Fill in the gaps 2

For and Agaist 

Link

PDF with explanation and exercises

Vocabulary

Presenting an argument

• 
  
• Y argues that…
• Y suggests that…
• Y contends that….
• Y makes a case that …
• X develops the argument further by suggesting that …
• X maintains that …
• X claims that…
• X asserts that…
• In contrast, Y states that
• According to X..

Putting forward your own opinion using the passive voice

• The evidence suggests that …
• It will be argued ….
• The paper argues …
• The findings indicate ….
• These findings suggest ….
• This seems to imply….
• One view is that….
• It is generally accepted that …
• It is widely agreed that …
• Most people appear …
• It is probable that…
• 
  

Providing a counter argument

• Despite claims that…
• Some would argue that … but
• It has been argued that …., however ….
• However,
• While a lot of evidence points to this conclusion … there is another aspect to be considered …
• On the contrary….
• On the other hand …
• Some assert that … but this underestimated the influence of ….

Emotive language

Link 1 with exercises