Argumentative Writing

Workshop
BM
2016-18

Requisites of Good
Writing

Good organization
Noteworthy ideas
Good vocabulary
Sentence variety
Proper diction

9/6/16

RKS/XLRI

Take Your Stand

Because you pick the topic to argue,
there are always pros and cons
A good essay is supporting your take
with reasons and evidence
A better essay is acknowledging your
opposing arguments
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RKS/XLRI

Steps for Developing

Argumentative Essay
Your Stand
Summarize the opposite side of your
stand
Look for the evidence which support
your stand
Also, look for those evidence which
refute your stand

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So,
Decide on the topic
Decide the general position you are going to
takeremember you need to take a stand
Brainstorm and come up with bunch of
supporting ideas
Search for the evidence and premises to
support your ideas
Acknowledge the opposite side and respond
to it logically
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RKS/XLRI

Template for an Argumentative

Essay
1st paragraph: Provide the
background and state your claim by
raising the issues
2nd paragraph: Support your
Argument
3rd paragraph: Further support
4th paragraph: Further support
5th paragraph: Conclusion:
summarize the addressals of the
issues raised in the introduction
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Variation 2
1st paragraph: State your position
2nd paragraph: Acknowledge the
other side of the argument
3rd paragraph: Rebut the other side
4th paragraph: Support your claim
5th paragraph: Further support your
claim
6th paragraph: Conclusion
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Remember
Ideas from personal life are less
compelling than examples from
history or current event.

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Some Techniques to
Improve
Always do preconstruction. It can be
done through
Structure words
Short sentences/long sentences

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Structure words
Words for contradiction
On the one hand/on the other hand
The traditional view/the modern view
Clue words
For example
To illustrate
For instance
Because
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Structure words
Words for adding to your main
claim/argument
Furthermore
In addition
Similarly
Just as
Also
Moreover
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Structure words
Words to add importance to your claim/argument
Surely
Truly
Undoubtedly
Clearly
Certainly
Indeed
As a matter of fact
In fact
Most Important
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12

Structure words
Words to signal the end
Therefore
In summary
Consequently
Hence
In short
In sum
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13

Lets Check
I believe he is wrong. He doesnt
know the facts. He isnt thinking
clearly.

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Lets Check
I believe he is wrong. For one thing, he doesnt
know the facts. For another, he isnt thinking
clearly.
I believe he is wrong. Obviously, he doesnt know
the facts. Moreover, he isnt thinking clearly.
I believe he is wrong because, first, he doesnt
know the facts, and second, he isnt thinking
clearly.
Certainly, he doesnt know the facts, and he isnt
thinking clearly either. Consequently, I believe he
is wrong/
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Appearance of Depth

But
However
On the contrary
Although
Yet
While
Despite
In spite of
Rather
Nevertheless
Intead

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Questions, please!

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