Argumentative

Essay
• To get the reader to acknowledge that
your side is valid and deserves
consideration as another point of view.

Goal of argumentative
writing
It is a text where the writer …
•Expresses an opinion and supports it with facts,
statistics, authorities.
•Tries to persuade the readers to change their
beliefs or behaviour.
•Includes both pro statements (supporting ideas)
and counter arguments with a refutation.

What is an Argumentative
Essay?
• Use facts, statistics, authorities
• Avoid:
- Generalizations: all, always, never
• All people believe that riding a bike is good.
• It is obvious that bike riding is good for you.
- Feelings/Emotions:
• It makes people feel…
- Irrelevant examples:
• Riding a bike through the park is pretty.
- Faulty logic (The argument goes around and around with the reason
making the same claim as the original argument)
John Updike is a wonderful writer because he writes so well

Supporting the opinion

• After you have supported the opinion with
positive examples, you go against your thesis
statement and present an opposite or
counterargument.

• The important point is to refute the

counterargument (prove that it is wrong)

The Counterargument
• Pros:
• Bike riding is cardiovascular exercise.
• Efficient use of time - you have to go to work anyway
so you might as well exercise while you go.
• Costs less money than driving your car or catching the
public transports.

Topic: Riding your bike to

work is a great way to get
fit.
• Cons (counterargument)
• It is dangerous to ride a bike in the city.
• You get sweaty while riding a bike and then have to
work all day.
• It takes longer to get to work and to get home.

Topic: Riding your bike to

work is a great way to get
fit
 It is dangerous to ride a bike in the city.
- There are ways to make it safe: helmets, mirrors, whistles,
road awareness
- You get sweaty while riding a bike and then have to work all
day
- Many work places have showers, you can take a change of
clothes
It takes longer to get to work and to get home.
- It might take longer but you’re being efficient with your time
(doing two things at once)

Refutation
• 1st paragraph – Introduction -
You may want to give  a brief explanation of
the historical background or define central terms. You may want to state your
opinion firmly and clearly at the beginning or your may prefer to invite the
reader to look at the pros and cons together with you.
• 2nd paragraph - Supporting argument 1 - Arguments for the side you agree
with.  
• 3rd paragraph - Supporting argument 2 – Additional arguments
• 4th paragraph - Counterargument and refutation – Arguments against
(from the weakest to the strongest to leave the reader with a strong impression at the
end).
• 5th paragraph – Conclusion - Clearly express your opinion. Sum up your main
arguments in your own words but do not repeat any sentences that have already been
used. Do not introduce new arguments here. Think about possible consequences and
effects of your opinion. If you can establish a natural connection to the introduction of the
essay, that produces a good effect.

What does it look like?

• Always collect your ideas on a mind-map before
starting to write.
• You must really be aware of  what you are going
to write  before you write the first sentence.
• It is wrong to change your attitude in the middle
of the text, as if you were writing an inner
monologue.
 Language functions / Language exponents
 
Expressing opinion

In my opinion / view … It’s quite obvious that …

As I see it … I’m pretty / quite sure that …
To my mind… Personally I think …
I think / believe / feel(strongly) that …  
It appears / seems to me …
 Starting off 

For/As a start… The first point I would like to

Firstly, … make is …
To begin with …
First of all…
And what’s more… And don’t forget that …
And that’s not all! And finally you’ve got to bear in
mind (that) …

Building up an argument stage

by stage
 Adding more points

And what’s more… The first point I would like to

And that’s not all! make is …
And don’t forget that …
And finally you’ve got to bear in
mind (that) …

Building up an argument stage

by stage
 Changing the subject
As for … To turn to the question of …
Turning to … As far as X is concerned …

Introducing the counter argument

However, …
Nevertheless, …
Although …
On the other hand, …
On the contrary, …
… opponents of this idea
claim/maintain that…
… those who disagree with these
ideas may say…
… some people disagree with this
idea…

Building up an argument stage by stage

  
LANGUAGE REFERENCE – Connectors
 
To express
 Addition  Change of subject
In addition, Besides, Moreover, as for, as regards
Furthermore
 Contrast / Concession
 Cause and Effect/ Reason and but, However, Nevertheless,
Consequence Still, Yet, Although, In spite of
because, as, therefore, so (the fact that), Despite (the fact
that)
 Exemplification
for example, such as  Conclusion
In conclusion, To sum up, All in
 Reformulation all, Finally,
in other words, that is  

 
• Avoid unjustified generalisations by using “may” and “might”.
• Avoid bringing disadvantages that are merely the opposite of the
advantage.
• Clearly indicate where your paragraphs start and where they end. You may
want to leave a line empty between paragraphs.
• The quality of an essay very much depends on whether a  writer has
something to say and expresses his/her thoughts and opinions clearly and
logically.
• It helps to know how to use certain linking devices to connect sentences
logically. Don’t use them slavishly, though, or even wrongly, especially 
words like “furthermore” or “moreover”.
• Beware of using BUT too often!
• Present your own opinion, and don’t aim to express what you think your
teacher’s/other people’s opinion might be. It’s interesting to disagree.

Some hints
• Bibliography:

• Writing in English, Book 3, Anita Pincas, Macmillan

Press Ltd