This is the lesson for Unit 7

1. UNIT 7
Topic: Volunteer
Writing genre: An argumentative essay

2. DISCUSSION
1. Who are the people?
2. What are they doing?
3. What benefits can they
get while doing this?
4. What problems may they
face while doing this?

3. Many people believe that students not only
need to be academically successful, but also
socially responsible. Therefore, it is suggested
that participating in community services should
be a compulsory part of school curriculum.
COMPULSORY VOLUNTEERING
PROS CONS

4. PROS CONS
• Encourage people to use their
free time constructively
• Give a sense of satisfaction;
build self-esteem
• Meet different types of people
• Help those who are in need
• Learn how to solve real social
problems
• Discover their hidden ability and
interest
• Develop and perfect themselves
(soft skills, personality)
• Get valuable experience
• Students have a busy schedule
• Distract their study result
• Affect their health
• Should be a personal choice
• Low work quality if forced
• Can be a negative experience
• Have no real interest in what
they do
Compulsory volunteering

5. Vocabulary
• Volunteer (v, n)
• Voluntary (adj) => voluntary work/activities
• Voluntarily (adv) => work voluntarily
• Community services
• Philanthropy (n)
• Philanthropic (adj)
Philanthropic organizations / activities
• Philanthropist (n)
• Compulsory (adj) = mandatory (adj) / obligatory
# noncompulsory / optional / elective

6. AN ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY
In an argumentative essay (also known as
persuasive essay), your main goal is to
convince/persuade the reader to agree
with your position.

7. FIVE KEY ELEMENTS
1. An explanation of the issue
2. A clear thesis statement
3. A summary of the counterarguments
4. Rebuttal to the counterarguments
5. Your own arguments

8. What is a counterargument?
• Counterargument is a opposing argument that is
against your opinion/idea.
• Example:
Your idea:
Voluntary activities are benefical for students because
they can learn meaningful lessons by helping others.
Counterarguement:
Students are already busy with their school work and
homework, so volunteering will make them tired.

9. What is a rebuttal?
• Rebuttal is an evidence/reason that weakens the
counterargument.
• Example:
Your idea:
Voluntary activities are benefical for students because they
can learn meaningful lessons by helping others.
Counterarguement:
Students are already busy with their school work and
homework, so volunteering will make them tired.
Rebuttal:
Some students do voluntary activities as a way to relax after
hard-working time.

11. Essay organization patterns

12. Read a sample essay on page 180
• What is the essay about?
• Does the writer support or oppose to cut
school sports?
• What are three main arguments the school
uses to support cutting school sports?
• What are the courterarguments the writer
presents?

13. A five-paragraph argumentative essay
• Introduction:
- Generally introduce the topic
- Describe the controversy of the topic
- State your opinion about the topic
• Body:
Paragraph 1: The first argument to support your opinion
+ Provide details (explanations, examples, quotes, statistics) to support your
argument
Paragraph 2: The second argument to support your opinion
+ Provide details (explanations, examples, quotes, statistics) to support your
argument
Paragraph 3: Acknowledging the opposing view
+ Present the counterarguments, then refute them by showing why they are
weak
• Conclusion:
- Restate your opinion about the topic
- Offer your final thought on the topic

14. Some useful expressions for rebuting a counterargument
• Although [counterargument], [your rebuttal].
• Even though [counterargument], [your rebuttal].
• In spite of the fact that [counterargument], [your rebuttal].
• Despite the fact that [counterargument], [your rebuttal].
• While it may be true/reasonable/undeniable/understandable that
[counterargument], [your rebuttal].
• Some people may argue/claim/contend that [counterargument], but
[your rebuttal].
• Some people may argue/claim/contend that [counterargument];
however, [your rebuttal].
Concession
Contrast

15. CONCESSIONS
• When you need to support your opinion, but, at
the same time, acknowledge the opposing opinion.
• => Use concessions
• Sentence structures:
Although / Though /Even though S1+ V1, S2 + V2.
Despite / In spite of the fact that S1 + V1, S2 + V2.
- Dependent clause
- Acknowledging the
opposing view
- Main clause
- Expressing your opinion

16. Examples
• Despite the fact that many students initially don’t want to
volunteer, they learn to love and continue after the school
requirements are fulfilled.
Support that mandatory volunteering can inspire students
and motivate them to keep on voluntary work.
Acknowledge that mandatory volunteering may be against
students’ will.
• Even though Justin was not required by his school to
volunteer, he chose to work on bikes and donate them.
Support that volunteering is Justin’s personal choice.
Acknowledge that some people may think he did not need
to volunteer unless he was forced to do.

17. WRITING TASK 7
Many people believe that students not only need to
be academically successful, but also socially
responsible. Therefore, it is suggested that
participating in community services should be a
compulsory part of school curriculum.
Do you agree or disagree?

18. BRAINSTORMING
TOPIC: MADATORY VOLUNTEETING
Your arguments Counterarguments Your rebuttals
1. ….
2. ….
3. ….

19. ESSAY OUTLINE
if you support the mandatory volunteer
• Introduction:
- Thesis statement: State that it is necessary to make volunteering a
mandatory activity
• Body:
Paragraph 1: The first reason why mandatory volunteering is good
+ Provide details (explanations, examples, quotes, statistics) to develop
your argument
Paragraph 2: The second reason why mandatory volunteering is good
+ Provide details (explanations, examples, quotes, statistics) to develop your
argument
Paragraph 3: Acknowledging that the opposing view is understandable
+ Present the counterarguments which are against mandatory volunteering,
then refute them by showing why they are weak
• Conclusion:
- Restate your opinion about the topic

20. SAMPLE ESSAY OUTLINE
if you support the mandatory volunteer
• Introduction:
- Thesis statement: Mandatory volunteering is beneficial for students in several ways
• Body:
Paragraph 1:
+ Encourage students to use their free time constructively
- do meaningful activities like exploring new things or learning a new skill
- stay away from unhealthy hobbies like surfing the Internet or playing games
Paragraph 2:
+ Meet different types of people
- making new friends
- learning experience from different people
Paragraph 3:
Some people claim that students should not be forced to volunteer against their will.
+ have a busy schedule => but they can still make time for volunteering, e.g at the weekend
+ Affect their health => some activities can even enhance their physical health because they have a
chance to exercise and burn calories
• Conclusion:
- Restate your opinion about the topic

21. ESSAY OUTLINE
if you oppose the mandatory volunteer
• Introduction:
- Thesis statement: State that it is unnecessary to make volunteering a
mandatory activity
• Body:
Paragraph 1: The first reason why mandatory volunteering is NOT good
+ Provide details (explanations, examples, quotes, statistics) to develop
your argument
Paragraph 2: The second reason why mandatory volunteering is NOT good
+ Provide details (explanations, examples, quotes, statistics) to develop your
argument
Paragraph 3: Acknowledging that the opposing view is understandable
+ Present the counterarguments which are for mandatory volunteering,
then refute them by showing why they are weak
• Conclusion:
- Restate your opinion about the topic

22. SAMPLE ESSAY OUTLINE
if you oppose the mandatory volunteer
• Introduction:
- Thesis statement: Volunteering should not be mandatory because it has some
negative effects on students.
• Body:
Paragraph 1:
• + Distract their study result
- cannot concentrate on their study
- lead to ineffective learning outcomes
Paragraph 2:
• + Can be a negative experience about volunteering
- think about voluntary work as an undesirable activity
- may refuse to involve in other philanthropic activities in the future
Paragraph 3:
Some people claim that students should be required to take part in voluntary work because
of its benefits.
+ they can use their free time constructively=> may be true, but they can still spend their free time on
meaningful activities like reading books or helping with housework
+ they can help people in need => but they cannot do it enthusiastically if they are forced to
• Conclusion:
- Restate your opinion about the topic