Argumentative Essay

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Argumentative Essay

• How to make your point on paper

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What Is an Argumentative Essay?

• When you have an opinion and try to convince your
  listener or reader to accept your opinion.
• When you are agreeing or disagreeing with
  something or someone.
• There are two types of argumentative
  compositions
• 1. Advantages and disadvantages
• 2. Expressing opinions/ providing solutions to
  problems
• 3. Expressing arguments for and against a topic

How convincing is this line?
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What is in a paragraph?

• A paragraph must include two parts
• A topic sentence
• Support sentences
• Also, paragraphs often include
• Transition words
• Example sentences
• Concluding sentences

• Which sentences must include specific facts?
• A. a topic sentence
• B. a basic support sentence
• C. a specific example sentence
• D. a concluding sentence
• E. a transitional sentence

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Heres whats in a paragraph

• Which sentences have specific, factual details?
• One of my favorite pastimes is reading.
• Every week, I read Time magazine.
• I also look through the news in USA Today twice a
  week.
• In it, I read the headlines and the money section.

• These sentences must include specific facts
• A. a topic sentence
• B. a basic support sentence
• C. a specific example sentence
• D. a concluding sentence
• E. a transitional sentence

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What is a topic sentence?

• A topic sentence is the essential main idea for a
  paragraph.
• It comes from one of the three points in the
  thesis itself.
• It states an opinion on the topic.
• It tells the reader what to expect from the
  paragraph.

• Which one is the topic sentence?
• One of my favorite pastimes is reading.
• Every week, I read Time magazine.
• I also look through the news in USA Today twice a
  week.
• In it, I read the headlines and the money section.

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Here is a topic sentence

• A topic sentence states an opinion.
• It proposes what the paragraph will prove.
• What is the paragraph proving?
• a. That reading is important.
• b. That the news is necessary.
• c. That reading is a hobby on mine.

• Here is the topic sentence
• One of my favorite pastimes is reading.
• Every week, I read Time magazine.
• I also look through the news in USA Today twice a
  week.
• In it, I read the headlines and the money section.

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Which ones are topic sentences?

• There is too much air pollution.
• There is a lot of air pollution.
• Some parents support their children.
• Parents must support their children.
• To me, a good meal is home-cooked.
• Anyone can find good food almost anywhere.

• Topic sentences express opinions.
• So we compare phrases like
• a lot of to too much.
• support to must support
• almost anything to home-cooked.
• The judgmental phrases allow the writer to
  express an opinion.

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What are transition words?

• Transition words are the logical connections that
  link your paragraphs together.
• Use transitions especially to introduce the main
  parts of the essay
• The thesis
• Topic sentences
• The conclusion

• Teens avoid driving the family mini-van. I, __,
  need to have my own sports car.
• Students do best working 10-15 hours per week.
  __, I should have a part-time job.
• a. consequently,
• b. therefore,
• c. however

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Here are the transitions

• Most college essays explain causes and present
  reasons.
• For this reason, cause-effect words such as
  therefore, thus, and consequently are among the
  most commonly used transition expressions that
  are used in essays.

• Teens avoid driving the family mini-van. I,
  therefore, need to have my own sports car.
• Students do best working 10-15 hours per week.
  I, consequently, should have a part-time job.

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Can you fill in the transitions?

• It seems that cows and whales are in a same
  situation. __, there are some differences to
  compare. __, many cows are slaughtered everyday.
  __ whales are protected by international laws.
  __, cows are important provisions for all over
  the world. __, whales are important edible
  animals only in a few countries. __, there is the
  biggest difference between cows and whales. While
  whales are free in the huge ocean until caught by
  people, cows are raised in the field to be eaten.

• Use these transition words and phrases to fill in
  the blanks in the passage on the right
• a. first
• b. second
• c. finally
• d. however
• e. yet
• f. in contrast

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Here are the transition words

• On the surface, it seems that cows and whales are
  in a same situation. However, there are some
  differences to compare. First, many cows are
  slaughtered everyday. Yet whales are protected by
  international laws. Second, cows are important
  provisions for all over the world. In contrast,
  whales are important edible animals only in a few
  countries. Finally, there is the biggest
  difference between cows and whales. While whales
  are free in the huge ocean until caught by
  people, cows are raised in the field to be eaten.

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Paragraphs develop the argument.

• Which sentence strengthens the argument?
• College students do best when they work 10-15
  hours per week. I, then, should have a part-time
  job.
• A part-time job will help me to keep busy and to
  avoid wasting my time.
• But part-time work might just get in the way of
  my social life.

• Use details to fully develop the main idea of
  your topic sentence.
• Facts help explain the significance of your topic
  sentence.
• Therefore, dont just state your opinion over and
  overargue your point with facts.
• Facts are names and numbers.

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Can you use real evidence?

• Support your idea with a realistic example.
• For instance, write down the persons name or the
  name of the object.
• You can use a quote from an expert.
• Numbers, including prices and dates, also count
  as specific proof.
• Which of the two sentences is better??

• College students do best when working 15 hours.
  I, then, need a part-time job. It will keep me
  from wasting time.
• Other friends, for instance, may need the time to
  develop social skills.
• My friend Mario, for example, works 12 hours
  weekly and gets good grades.

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End paragraphs with comments.

• College students excel working 15 hours a week.
  I, then, need a part-time job to keep me busy. My
  friend Mario, for example, works 12 hours weekly
  and gets As and Bs.
• Part-time work will help me, too.
• Who knows, maybe the job will be fun?

• Dont expect your examples to explain
  themselvesthey cant!
• Always analyze and comment on the evidence you
  have already presented.
• Finish the paragraph by connecting your ideas
  back to the thesis.
• Which sentence adds better? ?

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End paragraphs with comments.

• College students excel working 15 hours a week.
  I, then, need a part-time job to keep me busy. My
  friend Mario, for example, works 12 hours weekly
  and gets As and Bs. Part-time work will help
  me, too.

• Which evidential facts support the theory that
  part time work assists college students?
• In other words, what details exist in the brief
  passage on the right?
• Is it really that hard for you to write at this
  level?

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End paragraphs with comments.

• College students excel working 15 hours a week.
  I, then, need a part-time job to keep me busy. My
  friend Mario, for example, works 12 hours weekly
  and gets As and Bs. Part-time work will help
  me, too.

• How many facts are in this paragraph of just
  thirty-nine words?
• a. one
• b. two
• c. three
• d. four

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What are a paragraphs parts?

• __1. College students excel working 15 hr/week.
• __2. I, then, need a part-time job.
• __3. It will keep me busy.
• __4. My friend Mario, for example, works 12 hours
  weekly and gets As and Bs.
• __5. Part-time work will also help me to stay
  serious.

• Use these words to identify the paragraph parts
  on the right.
• a. transition
• support
• explanation
• comment
• topic sentence

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Here are the paragraph parts

• E 1. College students excel working 15 hr/week.
  
• A 2. I, then, need a part-time job.
• C 3. It will keep me busy.
• B 4. My friend Mario, for example, works 12
  hours weekly and gets As and Bs.
• D 5. Part-time work will also help me to stay
  serious.

• Use these words to identify the paragraph parts
  on the right.
• transition sentence
• support example
• explaining sentence
• comment sentence
• topic sentence

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What is in a paragraph?

• A paragraph must include two parts
• A topic sentence
• Support sentences
• Also, paragraphs often include
• Transition words
• Example sentences
• Concluding sentences

• Which sentences must include specific facts?
• A. a topic sentence
• B. a basic support sentence
• C. a specific example sentence
• D. a concluding sentence
• E. a transitional sentence

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Heres whats in a paragraph

• Which sentences have specifics?
• Dalton State offers many majors. With over 650
  students, health majors are the most popular.
  Business programs also boast about 530 students.
  Next comes Computing, with nearly 240 enrollees.
  A growing area is Law Enforcement, which has over
  100 majors. All these programs show the diverse
  offerings of DSC.

• These sentences must include specific facts
• A. a topic sentence
• B. a basic support sentence
• C. a specific example sentence
• D. a concluding sentence
• E. a transitional sentence

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Heres whats in a paragraph

• Which sentences have specifics?
• Dalton State offers many majors. With over 650
  students, health majors are the most popular.
  Business programs also boast about 530 students.
  Next comes Computing, with nearly 240 enrollees.
  A growing area is Law Enforcement, which has over
  100 majors. All these programs show the diverse
  offerings of DSC.

• Again, it is the body section of both the essay
  and the paragraphs themselves that carry the
  specifics information that proves the veracity of
  the opinionated topic sentences.