ARGUMENTATIV

E ESSAY
Mr. Jefferson S. De Guzman, LPT
 ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY
is a genre of writing that requires you to:

 investigate a topic;
 collect, generate, and evaluate evidence; and
 establish a position on the topic in a concise manner.
 APPLYING IN REAL LIFE SCENARIO:
When we argue:

CLAIM: Mike: That was a lame movie!

Princess: Why?

EVIDENCE: Mike: The special effects were bad. The monsters were obviously fake.

COUNTERCLAIM: Princess: I thought the movie was good because the acting was
believable.

REBUTTAL: Mike: Yes the acting was good but the horrible special effects were too
distracting and caused some awkward moments.
 Persuasion vs. Argumentation
Persuasion: the goal is to convince someone to believe on what
you believed in and that appeals more on the emotional factor.

Argumentation: pertains to the process of establishing a claim

and then proving it with the use of logical reasoning, examples,
and research.
 Persuasive Essay vs. Argumentative Essay
A PERSUASIVE ESSAY AN ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY

May make a claim based on opinion Makes claims based on factual evidence (research)

Makes counterclaims – the author takes opposing

May not take opposing ideas into account
views into account.
Persuades by appealing to the audience’s
Convinces audience through the merit and rationality
emotion or by relying on the character or
of the claim and proofs offered.
credentials of the writer.

Emotion-based. Logic-based.
 ELEMENTS OF ARGUMENTATION

1. Argument/Claim
An argument states a claim and supports it with
reasons and evidence from sources.

Arguing your side makes you the proponent.

 ELEMENTS OF ARGUMENTATION

2. Counterclaim
An argument that stands in opposition to your
argument/claim. The counterclaim is your opponents
argument that tries to explains why you are wrong.
 ELEMENTS OF ARGUMENTATION

3. Evidence
Pertains to gathered data, facts, and supporting details
to the claim.
 ELEMENTS OF ARGUMENTATION

4. Rebuttal
Simply disproving an opposing argument. It is an
important skill because it is how a writer successfully
convinces the audience of the validity of higher own
argument.
 Why is Organization Important in
Argumentative Writing?

 Guides an audience through your reasoning process.

 Offers a clear explanation of each argued point.

 Demonstrates the credibility of the writer.

Organizing Your Argument!
Title
Introduction
 Catchy
 Background information (if necessary)
 Thesis Statement
 State at least three (3) arguments
Body Paragraphs
 Explanation of main Points
 Factual evidence
 Counterclaims
Conclusion
 Re-state thesis statement
 Re-state powerful arguments
 End hook (concluding sentence)
What is a Thesis Statement?
 The MOST IMPORTANT SENTENCE in your paper.

 Let the reader know the main idea of your paper.

 Answers the question: “What am I trying to prove?”

 ARGUMENTS
 series of statements that provide reasons
to convince the reader or listener that a
claim or opinion is truthful.
 FALLACIES
 arguments that may be based on faulty
reasoning.
 may be intentional, as the person making the
claim is desperate to convince you to accept his
or her argument.
 FALLACY CHARACTERISTIC EXAMPLE
“You’re too ugly
and shallow to
attacking the person
understand my
presenting the
1. ad hominem point, I am just
argument instead of
wasting my time
the argument itself.
dealing with a low
class like you.”
FALLACY CHARACTERISTIC EXAMPLE
“Is there any other
way to pass my
subject, Sir? I came
2. appeal to using emotions such
from a poor family
emotion as pity or sympathy.
and I can’t afford
to failed my
study”.
 FALLACY CHARACTERISTIC EXAMPLE
“You’re
graduated from a
assuming that what
3. fallacy of top-performing
is true of a part is
composition school, I guess
true for the whole.
you’re very
smart.”
 FALLACY CHARACTERISTIC EXAMPLE
“Since the day
we went to
assuming a “cause-
4. cause-and- Baguio, our
and-effect” between
effect relationship
unrelated events.
turned as cold as
the weather”.
 FALLACY CHARACTERISTIC EXAMPLE
the idea is “Every boy at
presented as your age has a
5. appeal to
acceptable because girlfriend, you
popular
a lot of people should go find
accept it. one!”.
How do we know if
something is true?
WE KNOW IF SOMETHING IS TRUE WHEN…

1. If it can be justified or proven through

the use of one’s senses.
Example: “Am I a Filipino?”

If you look up the word “Filipino” in a dictionary,

you will come across the following definitions;

FILIPINO (noun)
 a native of the Philippine Islands.
 a citizen of the Republic of the Philippines.
WE KNOW IF SOMETHING IS TRUE WHEN…

3. Getting a consensus or having people

agree on a common claim.

 This approach has certain limitations.

 Getting everyone to agree on something may
not make that claim to be true.

Example: “If you can get your classmates to agree

that you do not need to study to become successful in
life, it does not make that belief is to be true.”
WE KNOW IF SOMETHING IS TRUE WHEN…

2. If it is based on facts.
Let’s back to our example; “Am I a Filipino?”
If you’re still unsure to call yourself as a
Filipino you can try to do the following;

 Ask your parents and other relatives.

 Look for official documents that will prove your
citizenship.
WE KNOW IF SOMETHING IS TRUE WHEN…

4. Determining truth in this case requires a

person to prove a statement through an
action.

 statements therefore are only true if it can

be applied in real-life situation.

 stresses the idea of “show not tell”

WE KNOW IF SOMETHING IS TRUE WHEN…

5. Claims should also be subjected to

tests to determine truth.

 practicing the “trial and error” concept.

Example:
I understand the lesson.
I do not understand the lesson.