ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY

ENSAYO ARGUMENTATIVO

The Importance of Knowing How to

Argue• "Give me liberty to know, to utter, and to

argue freely according to conscience, above all liberties."--John Milton, poet

• "Denme la libertad para conocer, pronunciar y discutir libremente según conciencia, sobre todo las libertades". --John Milton, poeta

• An argumentative essay asks you to take a stand on a debatable issue or an idea

• That means you either have to prove the idea wrong, prove the idea right or show that the truth is somewhere in between

• Un ensayo argumentativo te pide tomar una posición sobre un tema debatible o una idea que significa que tiene que demostrar la idea equivocada, demostrar la idea correcta o mostrar que la verdad está en algún lugar entre medio.

ARGUMENTATION• The aim of writing argumentative essays

is to convince or persuade the reader.

• One attempts to change the reader’s mind and convince the reader to agree with the point of view or claim of the writer.

• So an argumentative essay needs to be highly persuasive and logical.

• El objetivo de escribir ensayos argumentativos es convencer o persuadir al lector. Uno intenta cambiar la mente del lector y convencer al lector de acuerdo con el punto de vista o reclamo del escritor. Así un ensayo argumentativo necesita ser muy persuasivo y lógica.

Parts of an Argument• Issue-problem or

controversy about which people disagree

• Claim-the position on the issue

• Support-reasons and evidence that the claim is reasonable and should be accepted

• Refutation-opposing viewpoints

• Tema-problema o controversia sobre el cual la gente en desacuerdo

• reclamo-la posición sobre el tema

• apoyo-razones y evidencias de que la reclamación es razonable y debe ser aceptado

• refutación-opuestos puntos de vista

HOW TO WRITE ARGUMENTATIVE

ESSAYS• STAGE 1: CHOOSING A TOPIC AND WRITING THE THESIS STATEMENT

Decide on a controversial topic (debatable and interesting)

- Write an argumentative thesis statement.

- Generate ideas (free writing or brainstorming

ETAPA 1: ELEGIR UN TEMA Y ESCRIBIR LA TESIS

Decidir sobre un tema polémico (discutible e interesante) escribir una tesis argumentativa. Generar ideas (escritura libre o lluvia de ideas

Introduction• Get the attention of

the audience• Attention Getter or

Hook

• Provide background information to orient the reader to the issue

• What does the reader need to know about this issue?

• Define terms

• Create a thesis statement or assertion to guide the reader

• Conseguir la atención de la audiencia

• atención o gancho

• Proporcionar información para orientar al lector a la pregunta de fondo

• que necesita el lector saber acerca de este tema?

• Definir términos

• crear una tesis o afirmación para guiar al lector

The Argumentative Thesis Statement

• The thesis statement should define the scope of the argument and make an assertion that is open to debate.

Sample Thesis Statements

Something should be done on media bias. Algo debe hacerse en prejuicio de los medios de comunicación.

This is not an effective argumentative thesis statement because it does not clearly state the writer’s idea. The answers of questions like “what is that ‘something’ that should be done?” or “who should do it?” are not clear.

Sample Thesis Statements

Snickers is the best candy. Chocolate es el mejor caramelo.

This is not an effective thesis statement. This sentence is not debatable as it involves personal choice or preference.

Sample Thesis Statements

There are 3 ways of media censorship.

Existen 3 maneras de la censura de los medios de comunicación.

This is not an argumentative thesis statement as the writer aims at listing the types of media censorship. Therefore, the writer’s purpose of writing this essay is not to persuade the reader but to give information. Also, the ways of media censorship are not open to debate, thus, not suitable for argumentation.

Sample Thesis StatementsNewspapers should not identify people by color, race, or religious faith in any way.

Periódicos no deben identificar a las personas por el color, la raza o la fe religiosa de cualquier manera.

This is an effective argumentative thesis statement. Firstly, the topic is open to discussion. There may be people who would oppose this argument claiming that this kind of restriction would damage the objectivity of the news. Therefore, the writer holds a clear stance. Above all, it is obvious that the writer’s aim is not simply to inform the readers but to convince them to take his / her side in the debate.

THE EXPOSITORY THESIS STATEMENT VS.

THE ARGUMENTATIVE THESIS STATEMENT

• Both expository and argumentative thesis statements express a certain opinion about a topic.

• However, an expository thesis statement does not include a sharp opinion; rather, it discusses advantages, disadvantages, types, reasons, results, problems, solutions, processes, or categories of an issue often in the form of listing, enumeration, classification, or sequencing.

• An argumentative thesis statement, on the other hand, has a clear stance on a debatable topic, fiercely argues that the writer’s opinion is correct and reflects this subjectivity both in its style and tone.

Now its your turn

• Take out your research packets and turn to page 4. We have already begun to do some research on our topic of animal testing/cruelty. As you know the thesis statement is an important part of your writing. Now you may begin brainstorming and create your thesis statement.

• Saca tus paquetes de investigación y vaya a la página 4. Ya hemos empezado a hacer una investigación sobre nuestro tema de prueba/crueldad hacia los animales. Como ya sabes la tesis es una parte importante de su escritura. Ahora puede comenzar el intercambio de ideas y crear su tesis.

You Try …

• Is the following thesis a good thesis statement for an argumentative essay? Why? Why not?

There are three main reasons why the media manipulate the news.

Hay tres razones principales por qué los medios de manipulan las noticias.

More Examples to Show the Difference

• There are three main reasons why the media manipulate the news.

Hay tres razones principales por qué los medios de manipulan las noticias.

This thesis statement is not argumentative. Although the writer has the assumption that the media manipulate the news, the aim of this essay is not to convince the reader on this issue, but to simply list the three reasons for media manipulation. The reader, too, expects to learn the three reasons.

You Try…• Is the following thesis a good thesis

statement for an argumentative essay? Why? Why not?

The media should not manipulate the news in any way.

Los medios de comunicación no deben manipular las noticias de cualquier manera.

More Examples to Show the Difference

• The media should not manipulate the news in any way.

• Los medios de comunicación no deben manipular las noticias de cualquier manera.

This thesis statement is acceptable as an argumentative thesis statement because the writer clearly takes a stand in the debate about whether the media should manipulate the news or not. Here, the writer intends to influence the mind of readers rather than to merely inform them.

You Try…

• Is the following thesis a good thesis statement for an argumentative essay? Why? Why not?

It is essential that media literacy be taught in schools.

Es esencial que la alfabetización mediática enseñarse en las escuelas.

More Examples to Show the Difference

• It is essential that media literacy be taught in schools.

Es esencial que la alfabetización mediática enseñarse en las escuelas.

This is clearly an argumentative thesis statement. Firstly, the topic is debatable. Secondly, the writer is clear about where in the discussion he stands. Finally, the purpose of the writer is to affect the readers’ ideas on this issue.

On the Whole

• On the whole, while writing argumentative thesis statements, be sure to have a debatable topic, state your claim and stance as strongly as possible and make the reader understand that your aim is to persuade rather than only to inform.

Time to Practice! Which are Argumentative? 1. ________ Censorship is the best way of controlling the

minds of the citizens. (La censura es la mejor manera de controlar las mentes de los ciudadanos.)

2. ________ Newspapers should not identify victims of sexual assault without their consent. (Los periódicos no deben identificar a víctimas de agresión sexual sin su consentimiento.)

3. ________ Parents control their children’s TV viewing habits in many ways. (Los padres controlar TV sus hijos hábitos de visualización de muchas maneras.)

4. ________ In war journalism, it is never appropriate to show on the news how a country’s soldiers suffer in combat. (En el periodismo de guerra, nunca es apropiado Mostrar en las noticias cómo sufren los soldados de un país en el combate.)

5. ________ The only way to receive high ratings for a TV series is to cast attractive actors or actresses.(La única manera de recibir altas calificaciones para una serie de televisión es fundición atractivos actores o actrices.)

Results: Time to Practice!

1. ________ Censorship is the best way of controlling the minds of the citizens.

2. ________ Newspapers should not identify victims of sexual assault without their consent.

3. ________ Parents control their children’s TV viewing habits in three ways.

4. ________ In war journalism, it is never appropriate to show on the news how a country’s soldiers suffer in combat.

5. ________ The only way to receive high ratings for a TV series is to cast attractive actors or actresses.

ARG.

ARG.

INF.

ARG.

ARG.

Time to Practice!

Choose two of the topics, and write an argumentative thesis statement for each.

1. war journalism2. advertisements / commercials3. reality programs4. radio programs5. the government6. newspapers

STAGE 2: GENERATING IDEAS

• After formulating your argumentative thesis statement, you need to brainstorm a variety of supporting ideas, counter arguments and ways to refute these opposing views.

• Después de formular su declaración controvertida tesis, tienes que pensar una variedad de apoyar ideas, contrarrestar los argumentos y formas para refutar estas visiones opuestas.

When Supporting your Argument

One important concern in writing an argumentative essay is to strengthen your argument. To do this, you need to base your argument on sound evidence. In supporting your argument, the evidence that you include can be facts, examples, support from authority (testimony), and statistics.

• Facts: data that have been objectively proven and are generally accepted (such as historical facts, scientific data, statistics etc.)

• Examples: should be sufficient number of examples to prove the case.

• Opinions of experts

Counter ArgumentsOne way to strengthen your argument is to show that you have a deep understanding of the issue and also to show that you can anticipate and address the counter arguments or objections that your audience may have. In this way you show that you have thought the issue in detail.

Una manera de fortalecer su argumento es mostrar que tiene un profundo conocimiento del tema y también para mostrar que puede anticipar y dirección los otro argumentos o objeciones que pueda tener su público. De esta manera demuestras que has tomado el asunto en detalle.

Pro-Con Chart

• After finding pro and counter ideas for your topic, it may be a good idea to put these on a pro-con chart.

• Después de encontrar pro y contador ideas para tu tema, puede ser una buena idea poner estos en un gráfico Pro con.

Refuting the Counter Arguments

Refuting Counter Arguments by Claiming that they are:

Refutando argumentos contador de reivindicación que son:

1. Incorrect(Incorrecto): demonstrating that your opponent’s reasoning is wrong because it is based on incorrect or misleading information

2. Irrelevant(irrelevante): showing that your opponent’s viewpoint is inappropriate and unrelated because it is not relevant to the key point

3. Insufficient (insuficiente) : showing that your opponent’s reasoning is weak because it is based on insufficient information or ignores significant information. Partially agree with the opponent’s point of view but on the whole prove that it is weak

STAGE 3: ORGANIZING IDEAS INTO AN

OUTLINE• Argumentative Outline

I.Thesis statement

II. Argument I

III.Argument II

IV. Counter Argument

V.Conclusion

Final Tips• Find a debatable topic.(Encontrar un tema

discutible)• Word your thesis carefully to provoke thought or

action.(Palabra tu tesis cuidadosamente para provocar pensamiento o acción.)

• Do research.( Encuentra information)• Make a pro-con chart. (Hacer un gráfico Pro con)• Outline your arguments so that they are focused

and organized. ( Organza tu argumento)• Anticipate objections/differing viewpoints and

show why your argument is stronger even if the others have some merit. (Anticipe diferentes objeciónes)

• Support all your claims with convincing evidence and reasoned analysis.(Apoyar todas sus reclamaciones)

• Avoid logical fallacies; they weaken any argument.

(Evitar falacias lógicas; debilita cualquier argumento.)