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WRITING AN ARGUMENTATIVE PARAGRAPH

An argumentative paragraph shows the writers support toward a claim with clear

reasons relevant to evidences. The writer can agree or disagree with the claim. To write an argumentative paragraph effectively, you have to concern

on these elements: 1. Find a good topic.

You should consider several debatable topics and choose a

position you can back up with reasoning and evidence. 2. Consider both sides of your topic and take a position.

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After you have selected a topic, you should make a list of points for both sides of the

arguments. Then, you have to state your position on the argument whether you agree or

against the idea of the topic. You should have relevant and credible sources to support your

argument. 3. Gather some evidence.

You have to provide convincing evidences. Therefore, you have to explore two sides of

the topic and provide relevant and credible evidences to support your argument.

An argumentative paragraph contains three parts: topic sentence, supporting details, and reinforcements.

Study the following text.

Topic: Technological progress has made us lazy.

Technological progress doesnt make people lazy, instead it makes

people be more active both physically and mentally.

First of all, machines or high technology dont help people do less work

but help them complete tasks more quickly. With washing machines or

vacuum cleaners people can quickly complete trivial tasks and move on doing

other important tasks such as going out with their friends, family, doing

exercise, doing their jobs. For instance, parents have more time with their kids

after finishing household chores.

Second, machines as well as other technological achievements like the

Internet have helped human do and complete tasks more effectively, and

enjoyably. For example, instead of running on the roads in order to keep our

shapes, we can do excercise on running machines and other body building

machines while we still can stay at home.

Finally, we not only physically work harder but also mentally develop

along with the technological progress. Communicating means such as the

Internet, television and radio daily provide us with a large amount of

information. Our brains work harder to process the information unless we

want to be outdated. We mentally improve the ability to analyze, research,

and innovate to understand and get useful information among various

sources.

In

conclusion,

instead of

making us

lazy, the

technological

progress

helps us

effectively

work harder,

and develop

ourselves

both

physically

and

mentally.

The topic

Topic sentence Supporting

details Topic sentence

Supporting details

Topic sentence

Supporting details

Conclusion

To make a good paragraph, you have to consider the following points.

1. Topic

The general topic for your writing. It states in which position you are of the topic.

2. Topic sentence

Topic sentence is the supporting ideas that support your position on the topic. It states the

main idea of the paragraph.

3. Supporting details

Supporting details are sentences supporting the idea in the topic sentence.

4. Conclusion

Conclusion is the summary of the whole writing, and it usually restates the topic.

5. Transitional signal to give additional ideas:

firstly in summary

secondly in short

in addition in conclusion

furthermore accordingly

then

Complete the rubric below as the outline of your argumentative paragraph.

ELECTRONIC VOTING Definition : .............................................................................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................................................................

Advantages Disadvantages

Most ballots will be tabulated into the results. Paper-

Electronic voting can include viruses and hacking.

based voting machines can actually miss ballots Electronic voting machines are not different from web

because of human error. sites or software; they can be penetrated and altered by

a hacker.

Tabulating process becomes easier. Machines could be tampered physically, with foreign

software being uploaded into the machine by

someone trying to corrupt the election results.

Voting machines also have the advantage of never The overall costs are very expensive.

running out of paper ballots at a polling center.

When dealing with people with disabilities, such as

Computer software and systems can have problems

blindness, electronic voting machines can

provide

that may delay or even halt voting, or may cause

errors headphones to read off instructions to the blind user. in calculations.

Take the position of the topic and shape your draft to build a good argumentative paragraph.

Agree Disagree

Electronic voting is................................................. Electronic voting is................................................. ...............................................................................

........ ..............................................................................

.........

I agree with the implementation of electronic voting. I disagree with the implementation of electronic

Firstly, by using electronic voting most ballots will voting.

be tabulated into the results. Paper-based voting First of all, electronic voting can include viruses

machines can actually miss ballots because of human and hacking. Electronic voting machines are not error. Another advantage is........................................... different from web sites or software; they can be ........................................................................................ penetrated and altered by a hacker. Another ........................... Thirdly, ......................................... diadvantage of e-voting ........................................................................................

is....................................................................................

Lastly, ........................................................................

...............................................................................

....... .......................................................................................

........................... Thirdly,

........................................ .......................................................................................

...............................................................................

......... In conclusion, I definitely agree with ....................

Lastly, ........................................................................

..............................................................................

.......... .......................................................................................

In conclusion, I diagree with ................................

........................................................................................

Choose one of the following topics and develop an argumentative paragraph.

1.

Qwerty phones

are worse than

touch-screen

phones.

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2. Society nowaday

is too dependent

on technologies.

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3.

Electronic

Identity Card (E-

KTP) is more

effective than

the old one.

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4.

Ebooks are

better than

paper books.

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