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uk
Argumentative Essays
By James Abela


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Todays !utline
Brainstorming Building Topic "entence
#ntro
Types $onclusion


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%ove Triangles
Bicycle
Train $ar


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&uick 'lanning ( )indmaps

*ide range o+
uses: +rom
#nternet site
design to
brainstorming in
meetings

,enerate ideas
about -./ +aster


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"teps to planning0

1raw a )indmap as +ast as possible

"elect -(2 ideas 3#n an e4am5 just

choose by instinct6

Each o+ those ideas can then be made

into a paragraph

!nce complete 7 reread your work

*rite a conclusion8

$heck grammar and spelling

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'lanning #t8
For Against


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"peed *riting

9se instinct8

9se ideas generated

*rite as +ast as possible

1ont go over word limit by too

much8

Allow time to check

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Topic "entences
:irst5 # started sleeping in every day.
# would then go swimming with my
+riends.
# stayed up late watching T; a lot5 and
# went to camp +or a week.
# wished my summer would never end0
# had a wonder+ul summer.


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Topic "entence ( Answers

d 7 story approach

d 7 <
st
sentence to set conte4t

b 7 <
st
sentence +or interest

b
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Building an Argument


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Building an Argument
Smoking should be banned from public places
Smoking is dirty.
Leave ash
Leave cigarette butts
Smells bad
Causes irritation to the eyes


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Building an Argument
Smoking is dangerous
Careless smokers cause fires
causes throat & lung cancer
Causes heart disease
Smoking should be banned from public places


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"ummari=ing te4t

%ook +or topic sentences

>ighlight them

%ook +or other key +acts

'ut together a short summary o+ this

in+ormation
Key skill for PMR exams
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$leaning the toilets8


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Argumentative 7 Brainstorm
%ets make students clean the toilets8
Do you agree?
Does anybody else think the same as you?
Why do you think that?
Can you understand the other side?
Why are they wrong?


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$reating an #ntroduction
:or e4ams reword the ?uestion
@ "hould students be made to clean the toilets
should "tudents be made to clean the toilets.


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Add your !pinion8

"tudents should clean the toilets.

"tudents should not clean the toilets.

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Add Background8
#n Japan5 students are e4pected to
clean their own toilets and the
government believes that this practice
may encourage students to be more
respect+ul o+ their school
environment. # believe that students
should be made to clean the toilets.


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Argumentative 7 !rder
%ets make students clean the toilets8
Introduce topic - agree / disagree
ell us why ! ideas and e"amples
Different opinions ! not important or
not true
#rief summary
S$%&' ()S S*&*&C*


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;ocabulary

:irst point ( :irst o+ all / To begin with

/ To start with

$onnect points 7 And / Also

/:urthermore / *hats more / As well

$hange sides 7 !n the other hand /

conversely / But / That said

$onclude ( #n conclusion / There+ore

E4amples ( :or e4ample / :or

instance
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)ain Body 7 Types o+
Argument


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#ig &ames
Example: Jackie Chan
says that he enjoys the
odd chocolate bar
Important people or experts can
make your argument seem more
convincing.


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+acts and &umbers
Example: A
Snickers bar has
280 calories and 30
rams o! s"ar#
$hat%s not &ery
healthy#
Facts, numbers, and information
can be very convincing.


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*motions
Example: Eatin
chocolate red"ces
the s"!!erin o!
inerbread men
Getting people to feel happy, sad,
or angry can help your argument.


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$esearch
Example: A recent
st"dy !o"nd that
st"dents 'ho eat
chocolate ha&e
better
concentration#
Using reliable research can help
your argument seem convincing.


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*riting a conclusion
Three "trategies:

9sing &uotes

"o *hat@

"ummarising the points

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A &uote8

*hether you think you can or

whether you think you canAt5 youAre
right. Henry Ford

Bou see thingsC and you say A*hy@A

But # dream things that never wereC
and # say A*hy not@A George Bernard
Shaw

Dever look down on anybody unless

youAre helping him up. Jesse Jackson


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"o *hat8
A: Basically, I'm just saying that education
was important to Douglass
B: So what!
A: "ell, it was important #ecause it was a
key to him $eeling like a $ree and e%ual
citi&en
B: "hy should any#ody care!
A: 'hat's important #ecause plantation
owners tried to keep sla(es $rom #eing
educated so that they could maintain
control "hen Douglass o#tained an
education, he undermined that control
personally


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"ummarise points

%ook at your topic sentences

Try to bring them altogether +or a

conclusion

End with a +inal statement

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Bour $hoice8

Are neighbours help+ul or a

disturbance@

1o branded clothes cause social

cli?ues@

1o uni+orms help people to be more

united@

1o di++erent cultures make it di++icult

+or people to get along@


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$onclusion

'lan it

*rite a ?uick introduction

Arguments
Big Dames5 stats5 research and
emotions.

$onclusion
"o what / &uote / "ummarise

!nce complete 7 reread your work