Curs Propedèutic Estudis

Anglesos 2015

UAB

General characteristics

Argumentative Essays

Generating ideas

Thesis Statement

Parts of an Essay

Connecting ideas

Problems and Tips

Between 250-300 words long.

Typed.

Paragraphs.

No ONE-SENTENCE paragraphs.

Topic given; title to be provided.

No contractions.

Formal style.

Argue: v. 1. to persuade someone to do or not do

something.

2. to give the reasons for your opinion,

idea, belief, etc.

Argumentative: adj. someone who is argumentative

often argues or likes arguing.

Argument: n. a set of reasons that show that

something is true or untrue, right or wrong etc.

Advantages and disadvantages

Expressing opinions/providing solutions

to problems

Expressing arguments for and against a

topic

Compare and contrast something or

somebody

To change the reader’s mind, to convince the reader to agree with the point of view of the writer.

Arguments of preference, belief or faith are NOT the appropriate type of arguments. The kind of argument that can be argued logically is one based on an opinion that can be supported by evidence, such as facts.

For that reason, the argumentative essay

attempts to be highly persuasive and

logical. For example, a thesis such as

“My first experiences with Americans

were shocking” has a central idea

‘shocking’ but it is not really strongly

persuasive, and it is certainly not

argumentative.

So write objectively and logically.

Where to start?

Brainstorming/Clustering of ideas

Look for connections of ideas,

relationships, possible causes, reasons,

consequences, refutations, conclusions…

Organise ideas into possible paragraphs.

Choose three topics from the list below

and brainstorm them in pairs: • Television

• Sports

• Divorce

• Peer pressure

• Family

• Working and studying

The argumentative essay should introduce and explain the issue or case. The reader needs to understand the issue that is going to being argued. Provide a thesis statement.

The essay should offer reasons and support for those reasons. In other words, the essay should prove its point.

The essay can refute possible opposing arguments.

Provide a conclusion paragraph summarising your main points with other words. Don’t introduce new ideas here!

A thesis statement is a sentence that explicitly identifies the purpose of the essay or previews its main ideas.

• It (implicitly) expresses your opinion about a topic.

• It’s the basis of the introduction of your essay.

• It’s going to be supported all throughout the essay.

• It’s a single complete sentence.

• It can be analytical (scientific papers/reports), explanatory (descriptive essays) or argumentative.

TOPIC+FINDING/CHARACTERISTICS/OPINION=

THESIS STATEMENT

It’s never an open question.

It should be limited to the points that will

be discussed (not too broad)

It should present ONE main idea.

It should give one point of view, not

conflicting ideas.

Topic Opinion Thesis Statement

High school graduates and lack of

maturity

High school graduates should

become more mature before

entering university.

High school graduates

should be required to pursue

community service projects

before entering college in

order to increase their

maturity.

School children and obesity Parents do not pay attention to

what their kids eat.

Parents should educate their

children on how to eat

healthily in order to avoid

future obesity problems.

The World’s Fair in New Orleans was a disaster because of the way the press criticized the way it was run, but it was exciting for little children and had many good food booths.

TV commercials are obnoxious to the person who is intent on watching a good show; on the other hand, they provide entertainment and they provide a good opportunity to take a snack break.

Since politicians are constantly bombarding each other, how do they expect anyone to know who is right and who is wrong?

Rap music is a popular form of art because it is creative and original and because it follows the traditions of other spontaneously developed music like jazz.

Unless people are conscious of pollution, the world will be destroyed by the year 2050.

Introduction

Body

Conclusion

1. Develop the body part (two to three

paragraphs) from your thesis statement.

How will I support the opinion in my thesis statement?

a.Think of three reasons or examples to support it.

High school graduates should be required to pursue community service projects before entering college in order to increase their maturity.

- Working without being paid. - Teamwork. - Helping others.

b. Develop each of the reasons by linking it

to the main idea of your essay.

A topic sentence organises an entire paragraph. Although topic sentences may appear anywhere in a paragraph, in academic essays they often appear at the beginning.

It might be helpful to think of a topic sentence as working in two directions simultaneously. It relates the paragraph to the essay's thesis but it also defines the scope of the paragraph itself.

Paragraph: • Topic Sentence

First supporting detail or example

Second supporting detail or example

Concluding sentence if needed

2. Introduction: It should present the topic (not

explicitly), provide a context, include the thesis statement and grab the reader’s attention.

Students finishing high school are still teenagers nowadays. They are not ready for the challenges and responsibilities that university entails and this often results in lack of interest and school failure. Doing community work would help them grow and become aware of adulthood. High school graduates should be required to pursue community service projects before entering college in order to increase their maturity.

3. Conclusion:

Wrap up and close the essay.

- Restate the thesis statement (in other words).

- Summarize main points.

- Draw a final conclusion.

- Leave your reader with a statement that

makes them think or that offers them closure on

the topic.

Conclusion:

Community service is thus the ideal task to

pursue when finishing high school in order to

successfully enter university. It allows

youngsters to become aware of social issues

and become more responsible. This will surely

make them grow and gain world knowledge,

which cannot be taught in university but is

essential to succeed in life.

Use linkers and connectors to facilitate the transition of ideas! • To show a time relationship

• To add an idea or example

• To show contrast

• To show comparison

• To show cause and effect

• To show conclusion

• To clarify or exemplify

Avoid wordiness. Don’t be explicit about your essay (This

essay is about…/This paragraph will discuss…)

Avoid Run-on sentences or sentence fragments: • That teachers assign too much homework. • Students complain about homework, they do not see

that it helps them learn. Avoid contractions. Avoid starting sentences (or paragraphs)

with “And” or “But”. Avoid colloquial language.

Avoid strong feelings (don’t say: nobody does this, or it is impossible to disagree with me)

Use generalizations (e.g. people say/believe/consider) but don’t use: “everybody believes that…..”

Do not use strong personal expressions (e.g. I think)

Use linking words (e.g. therefore, although, however etc.)

Use sequencing (e.g. firstly, secondly, lastly)

Make reference to other sources (e.g. The government claims that…)

Give examples – not personal thoughts (e.g. products such as sprayer can destroy the environment)

Give up banal introductions. Write something more original (Don’t write: This topic has been important since ancient times. When? Too vague = unclear)

Add support sentences to this topic sentence: • Changing eating habits helps people lose

weight in a healthy way.

Write a thesis statement for the topic you chose and try to come up with possible topic sentences: Exams are not useful. Television has destroyed communication among

friends and family. Boys and girls should attend separate schools.