supplementary Material for Argumentative Writing 1401.pdf

SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL ARGUMENTATIVE WRITING
ISLAMIC AZAD UNIVERSITY - CENTRAL BRANCH
Supplementary Material for Comparison and Contrast Paragraph Writing
Developed
By:
AmirHossein Karami (amir.h.k102@gmail.com)
&
Fahime Heydari
Advisor: Forouzan Dehbashi sharif (Ph.D.)

SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL FOR ARGUMENTATIVE WRITING
 Topic
 Learning objectives
 age
 Students’ level
 supplementary material for students to
improve their writing ability
 learning argumentative writing style
 18 and over
 Intermediate /CEFR B1

ARGUMENTATIVE WRITING
 An argumentative essay is written with the goal
of persuading the audience to agree with the
validity of a claim on a particular topic. Sometimes,
though, it’s even more difficult than it sounds; you
might be making a claim that you know to be highly
controversial or opposed, so your goal is to present
an argument in which your audience can find little to
no fault.
 The majority of the writings written at university are
some sort of argumentative writing. Unless
otherwise specified, you can assume that the goal of
any essay you’re asked to write is argumentative:To
convince the reader of your position using evidence
and reasoning.

ARGUMENTATIVE WRITING STRUCTURE
 The structure of an argumentative essay is similar to other essay types, and it looks like this:
 I. Introduction
A. Hook
B. Introduce the topic
C.The main claim (thesis)
 II. Body Paragraphs (number of paragraphs included and organized to suit your needs)
A.Topic sentence (mini claim)
B. Evidence
C. Concluding Sentence
 III. Conclusion
A. Restate thesis
B. Summarize main points
C. Call to Action

FEAR A DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD
 Introductory paragraph
A. Hook
B. Introduce the topic
C.The main claim (thesis)
 Fear is the bad feeling that one has when he is in danger or when a particular thing frightens
him.A German proverb goes,“Fear makes the wolf bigger than he is.” This is absolutely true
as fear will often cause people to imagine the worst and act irrationally. In that case, can fear
be any good? Personally, I think a small amount of fear is good and even necessary as it not
only acts as a form of control and deterrence but also serves to motivate oneself.
Nonetheless, being overly fearful is bad as it will severely hamper man’s progress. In this
essay, I will discuss how fear can be a double-edged sword, bringing both advantages and
disadvantages to man.

TASK
 You are going to read a text. Pay close attention to the underlined sentences and answer the
questions.
The text is an introduction paragraph and by answering the questions, you are going to learn how to
write an introduction paragraph.

MALARIA
 Malaria is an infectious disease caused by parasites that are transmitted to people through female
Anopheles mosquitos. I write this sitting in the kitchen sink. Each year, over half a billion people will
become infected with malaria, with roughly 80% of them living in Sub-Saharan Africa. Nearly half a
million people die of malaria every year, most of them young children under the age of five. Unlike
many other infectious diseases, the death toll for malaria is rising.There are multiple drugs available to
treat malaria, and many of them work well and save lives, but malaria eradication programs that focus
too much on them and not enough on prevention haven’t seen long-term success in Sub-Saharan
Africa.While there have been many programs designed to improve access to malaria treatment, the
best way to reduce the impact of malaria in Sub-Saharan Africa is to focus on reducing the number of
people who contract the disease in the first place, rather than waiting to treat the disease after the
person is already infected.

HOOK
Definition
 The first one or two sentences of your essay
are known as the essay hook and are meant to
generate interest in readers and grab their
attention.Writing a catchy hook is likely to
increase your chances of scoring well.
Question
 Q: Based on the hook definition, what sentence in
the introduction paragraph is the hook?
 A: Malaria is an infectious disease caused by parasites
that are transmitted to people through female
Anopheles mosquitos.

INTRODUCE THETOPIC
Definition
 After writing an enticing hook, you need to go on to
introduce your topic which includes what you’re
going to be writing about.
Question
 Q: Based on the definition given, in the paragraph
which was given how the topic is introduced?
 A: Each year, over half a billion people will
become infected with malaria, with roughly 80%
of them living in Sub-Saharan Africa. Nearly half
a million people die of malaria every year, most
of them young children under the age of five.

THE MAIN CLAIM (THESIS)
Definition
 A thesis statement usually appears at the
conclusion of the introductory paragraph of a paper.
It offers a concise summary of the main point or
claim of the essay, research paper, etc. It is usually
expressed in one sentence, and the statement may
be reiterated elsewhere.
 In an Argumentative writing A thesis statement
is a sentence in which you state an argument about a
topic and then describe, briefly, how you will prove
your argument.
Question
 Q: Now, what is the thesis of the introduction
paragraph which was given?
 A: While there have been many programs designed
to improve access to malaria treatment, the best
way to reduce the impact of malaria in Sub-
Saharan Africa is to focus on reducing the number
of people who contract the disease in the first
place, rather than waiting to treat the disease
after the person is already infected.

BODY PARAGRAPHS
 Body Paragraph)1) (number of paragraphs included and organized to suit your needs)
B. Evidence
 Fear is good as it deters people from doing dangerous acts and prompt them to
control and regulate their behavior. For instance, despite the numerous wars since
World War Two, the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan remain the
only use of nuclear weapons in warfare.This is because the world is fearful of the
widespread devastation that such weapons will bring about.Therefore, the fear of
total annihilation has prevented world leaders from acting irresponsibly and going
down the path of self-destruction.

BODY PARAGRAPHS
B. Evidence
 Next, fear is good as it is a powerful motivator. For individuals such as students and entrepreneurs, the
fear of failure will prompt them to work hard and put in their best effort in their studies and business
undertakings.This will lead to results and progress. Similarly, for nations, the fear of losing their
competitive edge will spur them to constantly improve and reinvent themselves to keep pace with the
fast-changing world. For example, Singapore is taking active steps to maintain and improve her skilled
and flexible workforce to ensure that she remains competitive and does not fall behind major
economies like China. Retraining schemes and upgrading courses have been provided for the
workforce to ensure that it stays relevant. Hence, we can see that the fear of losing out to others is
one of the reasons that has motivated nations to take active steps in improving their economies.
Without fear, nations will become complacent and they will eventually fall into a decline.

BODY PARAGRAPHS
B. Evidence
 However, although fear is good, man must keep in mind that too much fear may be detrimental to his
development. Being overly fearful of the unknown and intangible will prevent people from venturing
into areas previously unexplored. For instance, in the area of space exploration,Apollo 11 would have
never landed the first humans on the moon if the Americans had let fear get in the way of their dream.
As the late John F. Kennedy once said,“We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other
things not because they are easy, but because they are hard.”To achieve great feats, man must learn to
conquer his fear and find the courage to overcome the obstacles that life presents. Only then can the
human race continue to make progress and enjoy the sweet smell of success

CONCLUSION
 III. Conclusion
A. Restate thesis
B. Summarize main points
C. Call to Action
 In sum, fear is good as it will ultimately lead to a well-controlled and motivated
society. Nevertheless, people must keep in mind that they should not be clouded by
fear as it will hinder their progress. I believe that a small dose of fear and a good deal
of courage will make a great man as such a man will have the spirit to pursue his
goals and the sense to act responsibly in the process.

TRYTOWRITE A GOOD THESIS STATEMENT
Some points
You can
1. Turn the topic into a question and answer it.
2. State an argument and then refute it.
3. Briefly outline your main points.
example
 Consider the topic “university should be free”, let’s make a
thesis statement out of it by 3 steps we have just learnt.
1. Why university should be free?
University should be free because everyone should be able to
attend to it.
2. University is not good for everyone.
While universities are not ideal for everyone and might kill some
brilliant ideas in some people’s minds but it is something that
everyone should at least try once.
3. You can learn new things, build up your self-confidence,
and find better job opportunities in the university.

POSSIBLE ANSWER
The completed thesis statement is something like this.
 University should be free because everyone should be able to attend to it. while universities are
not ideal for everyone and might kill some brilliant ideas in some people’s minds but it is
something that everyone should at least try once because you can learn new things, build up your
self-confidence, and find better job opportunities in the university.

TASK 1
 Write a good thesis statement about the following titles based on
what you have just learnt. (You can use the words which are given in the
next slide or the key-words written on the last slides.)
 Video games don’t encourage violence
 Money is the key to happiness
 Social media is changing how we communicate

SUPPLEMENTARY ANSWER OF THE FIRST TOPIC
YOU CAN COMPLETE THIS ARTICLE:
Video games don’t encourage violence
 The internet is filled with articles about the side effects of playing online, multiplayer games. Online
gaming and video games started to have fun online and have now grown to become a community.There
are many types of research about the pros and cons of playing online video games. Video games are
extremely addictive. Children and teenagers are drawn towards video games like a moth
toward the flame. These games are exciting, thrilling, and adventurous. Each game takes the
players through a vivid journey and gives them a false sense of achievement.
 ………………………………………………………………………………………………………

State your opinion Reasons Providing examples Conclusion
In my opinion First For example In conclusion
I think To start For instance All in all
I believe Second In particular As you can see
I feel Next Specifically To summarize
I prefer Finally In other words Finally
My favorite Lastly Additionally Above all

SUPPLEMENTARY ANSWER OF THE SECOND TOPIC
YOU CAN COMPLETE THIS ARTICLE
Money is the key to happiness
 Money is of course very important for human beings to lead a decent and satisfying
life. unlike animals and plants, money defines the existence of human society as we
cannot live without it. Money is an important exchange for food, shelter and clothing.
 ……………………………………………………….

SUPPLEMENTARY ANSWER OF THE THIRD TOPIC
YOU CAN COMPLETE THIS ARTICLE
Social media is changing how we communicate
 The digital society in which we all live has drastically altered reality across industries. It's changed
the way we live ,the way we work and, most importantly, the way we communicate.A by-product
of this digital era, social networks have easily become one of the most dominant methods of
communication.As one of the most popular methods for sharing thoughts and ideas, it’s
important to examine how social media changed the way we communicate over time. Even
further, brands attempting to use social media to reach potential customers need to make sure
they’re adapting their communication styles accordingly. Read on to see exactly how social media
has changed the way we communicate.
 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………….

TASK2
Based on what you have learnt about body paragraphs, write down a good body paragraph. (You can
use the words which are given in the next slide or the key-words written on the last slides.)
1. As online learning becomes more common and more and more resources are converted to digital form, some people have
suggested that public libraries should be shut down and, in their place, everyone should be given an iPad with an e-reader
subscription.
2. Much of our learning takes place outside the classroom.We learn how to maintain budgets, forge friendships, develop
business relationships, and more. Imagine extending those skills on a global level.We would immediately cease to believe the
world only contains the people and things we can see but, rather, a wide variety of opinions, customs, beliefs, and ethics.This
is why every college-level student must study abroad during their undergraduate years.They will learn more in that
semester abroad than in any other academic year.

TASK3
 You are going to read a text. Pay close attention to the underlined
sentences and answer the questions.
The text is a conclusion paragraph and by answering the questions, you
are going to learn how to write a conclusion paragraph.

INTERNET’S IMPACT ON EDUCATION
 The internet has had a major positive impact on the world of education; occasional pitfalls aside, its
value is evident in numerous applications.The future of teaching lies in the possibilities the internet
opens up for communication, research, and interactivity.As the popularity of distance learning shows,
students value the flexibility and accessibility offered by digital education, and educators should fully
embrace these advantages.The internet’s dangers, real and imaginary, have been documented
exhaustively by skeptics, but the internet is here to stay; it is time to focus seriously on its potential for
good.

RESTATETHESIS
Definition
 To begin your conclusion, signal that the essay is
coming to an end by returning to your overall
argument.
 Don’t just repeat your thesis statement—instead, try
to rephrase your argument in a way that shows how
it has been developed since the introduction.
Question
 Q: Find the sentence that restates thesis in the
conclusion paragraph on previous page.
 A:The internet has had a major positive impact on
the world of education

SUMMARIZE MAIN POINTS
Definition
 remind the reader of the main points that you used
to support your argument.
 Avoid simply summarizing each paragraph or
repeating each point in order; try to bring your
points together in a way that makes the connections
between them clear.
Question
 Q: in the previous paragraph, how the points are
summarized.
 A:The future of teaching lies in the possibilities the
internet opens up for communication, research, and
interactivity.

CALL TO ACTION
Definition
 This is a statement or question that encourages the
audience to consider their place in the discussion,
and even say or do something about it.
Question
 Q: Find and write down the Call to Action from the
previous paragraph.
 A:As the popularity of distance learning shows,
students value the flexibility and accessibility offered
by digital education, and educators should fully
embrace these advantages.The internet’s dangers,
real and imaginary, have been documented
exhaustively by skeptics, but the internet is here to
stay; it is time to focus seriously on its potential for
good.

TASK 4
 Choose one of the following topics and based on what you have learnt write an argumentative essay
. (You can use the words which are given in the next slide or the key-words written on the last slides.)
 Do you think that illegal immigrants be granted residency?
 Is the death penalty a just punishment?
 Do you think that animal testing should be banned?
 Do you believe that homework help kids learn?
 Do you think that video games be a sport?
 Is it best for kids to have distance learning or be in school? Are mobile phones really making people anti-
social?
 Are digital technologies a good thing for children?
 Money won’t give you happiness in life.
 We are living in the best era so far.
 Is global warming really an issue & how?

USEFUL PHRASES IN ARGUMENTATIVE WRITING
Let’s start by looking at language for general explanations of complex points.
 In order to:
Usage:“In order to” can be used to introduce an explanation for the purpose of an argument.
Example:“In order to understand X, we need first to understandY.”
 In other words:
Usage: Use “in other words” when you want to express something in a different way (more simply), to make it easier to understand, or to emphasise or
expand on a point.
Example:“Frogs are amphibians. In other words, they live on the land and in the water.”
 To put it another way:
Usage:This phrase is another way of saying “in other words”, and can be used in particularly complex points, when you feel that an alternative way of
wording a problem may help the reader achieve a better understanding of its significance.
Example:“Plants rely on photosynthesis.To put it another way, they will die without the sun.”
 That is to say:
Usage:“That is” and “that is to say” can be used to add further detail to your explanation, or to be more precise.
Example:“Whales are mammals.That is to say, they must breathe air.”
 To that end:
Usage: Use “to that end” or “to this end” in a similar way to “in order to” or “so”.
Example:“Zoologists have long sought to understand how animals communicate with each other.To that end, a new study has been launched
that looks at elephant sounds and their possible meanings.”

 Adding additional information to support a point
 Moreover:
Usage: Employ “moreover” at the start of a sentence to add extra information in support of a point you’re making.
Example:“Moreover, the results of a recent piece of research provide compelling evidence in support of…”
 Furthermore:
Usage:This is also generally used at the start of a sentence, to add extra information.
Example:“Furthermore, there is evidence to suggest that…”
 What’s more:
Usage:This is used in the same way as “moreover” and “furthermore”.
Example:“What’s more, this isn’t the only evidence that supports this hypothesis.”
 Likewise:
Usage: Use “likewise” when you want to talk about something that agrees with what you’ve just mentioned.
Example:“Scholar A believes X. Likewise, Scholar B argues compellingly in favour of this point of view.”
 As well as:
Usage: Use “as well as” instead of “also” or “and”.
Example:“Scholar A argued that this was due to X, as well asY.”

 Words and phrases for demonstrating contrast
 However:
Usage: Use “however” to introduce a point that disagrees with what you’ve just said.
Example:“Scholar A thinks this. However, Scholar B reached a different conclusion.”
 Having said that:
Usage: Used in a similar manner to “on the other hand” or “but”.
Example:“The historians are unanimous in telling us X, an agreement that suggests that this version of events must be an accurate account.
Having said that, the archaeology tells a different story.”
 By contrast/in comparison:
Usage: Use “by contrast” or “in comparison” when you’re comparing and contrasting pieces of evidence.
Example:“Scholar A’s opinion, then, is based on insufficient evidence. By contrast, Scholar B’s opinion seems more plausible.”
 Yet:
Usage: Use this when you want to introduce a contrasting idea.
Example:“Much of scholarship has focused on this evidence.Yet not everyone agrees that this is the most important aspect of the situation.”
 That said:
Usage:This is used in the same way as “then again”.
Example:“The evidence ostensibly appears to point to this conclusion.That said, much of the evidence is unreliable at best.”

 Sometimes, you may need to acknowledge a shortfalling in a piece of evidence, or add a proviso. Here are some
ways of doing so.
 Nonetheless:
Usage:This is similar to “despite this”.
Example:“The study had its limitations, but it was nonetheless groundbreaking for its day.”
 Nevertheless:
Usage:This is the same as “nonetheless”.
Example:“The study was flawed, but it was important nevertheless.”
 In view of/in light of:
Usage:These phrases are used when something has shed light on something else.
Example:“In light of the evidence from the 2013 study, we have a better understanding of…”
 Despite this:
Usage: Use “despite this” or “in spite of this” when you want to outline a point that stands regardless of a shortfalling in the evidence.
Example:“The sample size was small, but the results were important despite this.”

KEY WORDS
 Giving examples
 For instance:
Example:“Some birds migrate to avoid harsher winter climates. Swallows, for instance, leave the UK in early winter and fly south…”
 To give an illustration:
Example:“To give an illustration of what I mean, let’s look at the case of…”
Signifying importance
 Significantly:
Usage: Used to introduce a point that is loaded with meaning that might not be immediately apparent.
Example:“Significantly,Tacitus omits to tell us the kind of gossip prevalent in Suetonius’ accounts of the same period.”
 Notably:
Usage:This can be used to mean “significantly” (as above), and it can also be used interchangeably with “in particular” (the example below
demonstrates the first of these ways of using it).
Example:“Actual figures are notably absent from Scholar A’s analysis.”

 Summarizing
 In conclusion:
Usage:Typically used to introduce the concluding paragraph or sentence of an essay, summarising what you’ve discussed in a broad overview.
Example:“In conclusion,the evidence points almost exclusively to Argument A.”
 Above all:
Usage: Used to signify what you believe to be the most significant point, and the main takeaway from the essay.
Example:“Above all, it seems pertinent to remember that…”
 Compelling:
Usage: Use in the same way as “persuasive” above.
Example:“The most compelling argument is presented by Scholar A.”
 All things considered:
Usage:This means “taking everything into account”.
Example:“All things considered, it seems reasonable to assume that…”

supplementary Material for Argumentative Writing 1401.pdf

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