ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY

Argumentative Essay
It is an essay in which you agree or disagree with an issue using reasons to support your opinion. Goal: To convince your reader that your opinion is right. Writer has to take a stand on the issue and support it with solid reasons and solid evidence. Example: The U.S. Declaration of Independence states that all men are created equal. Agree or disagree with this statement. Support your opinion with reasons and examples. The most important element in a friendship is trust. Agree or disagree with this statement. Support your opinion with reasons and examples.

Some topics are presented like this

Some cities in the United States and the United Kingdom have passed laws establishing curfews for young people. Young people (usually age 17 and younger) may not be out on the streets after 9 or 10 pm. Do you agree or disagree with such curfews? stem cells research offers a potential cure for many fatal diseases. Many people oppose stem cell research because it involves using cells from human embryos. Do you agree or disagree that stem cell research should be prohibited? companies that do business abroad sometimes find that local business practices include activities considered unethical at home offering gifts of money or awarding contracts to family members, for example. Should companies go along with local business practices in order to become successful, or should they refuse to do so and risk failure as a result?

Remember
In this kind of essays, you do not just give reasons to support your point of view. You must also discuss the other sides reasons and then rebut them.

Rebut means to point out problems with the other sides reasons to prove that they are not good reasons

ORGANIZATION
Block Pattern
Introduction: Background (explanation of the issue) Thesis Statement Body: Block 1 A- Summary of other sides arguments B- Rebuttal to the first argument C- Rebuttal to the second argument D- Rebuttal to the third argument Block 2 E- your first argument F- your second argument G- your third argument

Point-by-point
Introduction: Explanation of the issue + a summary of the other sides arguments. Thesis Statement Body: A- Statement of the other sides first argument with your own counterargument. B- Statement of the other sides second argument with your own counterargument. C- Statement of the other sides third argument with your own counterargument. Conclusion: May include a summary of your point of view.

Conclusion

Introductory Paragraph
It has two parts: Background: Explanation of the issue being agreed or disagreed. (important) Thesis Statement: Mentions the opposing point of view. The writers opinion is expressed in the main (independent) clause, and the opposing point of view is put into a subordinate structure.

Example of Thesis Statement: Despite the claims that curfew laws are necessary to control juvenile gangs, curfew laws are clearly unconstitutional. Although there are certainly reasons to be cautious with stem cell research or any new technology, I believe that its potential benefits far outweighs its dangers.

Thesis Statement
Use expressions such as the following to introduce opposing points of view: some people feel that many think that . (smokers, doctors,) say that It may be true that

Then connect the opposing point of view.

Example: Although the powerful American Medical Association has so far refused to recognize the usefulness of alternative medical techniques such as acupuncture, I believe that acupuncture should become an accepted part of the mainstream medical profession.
Some people feel that the United States should have a national health care plan like Canada; however, others feel that United States should stay out of the health care business. Although many think that genetically engineered crops are a great danger to the environment, such crops can alleviate world hunger and malnutrition.
Go to book page 148 for practice

A more complete thesis statement..

Although the powerful American Medical Association has so far refused to recognize the usefulness of alternative medical techniques such as acupuncture because U.S. physicians believe that no scientific theory or empirical research support the claims of healing, and the lack of quality control in the U.S. can easily result in harm to patients, acupuncture should become an accepted part of the mainstream medical profession because it has a history of thousands of years of use that demonstrates its success in healing some medical problems, it is a completely non-harmful, non-toxic process, and it is done by highly trained medical personnel who must pass rigorous examinations.