UNIT

2 Argumentative Essay

Learning objectives – Participants are able to:

1. identify parts of an argumentative essay;
2. compose a thesis statement for writing an argumentative essay;
3. construct an outline of an argumentatve essay;

Discuss the following statments by presenting some arguments

Snapshot to support your ideas.

1. People cannot have a healthy diet if they are vegetarians or vegans.

2. Good nutrition is more important than exercise.

3. Parents who fail to provide nutritious and healthy food for the children should face criminal charges.

Practice 1 Read the text and answer the following questions.

Separating the Sexes, Just for the Tough Years

The middle school years (grades 7 and 8) are known to be the “tough years”. These are the years when
the uneven pace of girls’ and boys’ physical, emotional, and cognitive development is most noticeable.
Girls are ahead of boys on all counts, and both suffer. Educators debate whether separating boys and
girls during these years might improve students’ academic performance. Separate classes are now
prohibited in public schools that receive federal funds, but a change in the federal law that prohibits
them is under consideration. Although some parents and educators oppose same-sex classes, there is
some evidence that separating boys and girls in middle school yields positive results.
Opponents of single-sex education claim that test scores of students in all-girl or all-boy classes
are no higher than those of students in mixed classes. However, the research is inconclusive. Despite
the fact that some research shows no improvement in test scores, other research shows exactly
opposite results (Blum, 2002).

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More important, many psychologists believe that test scores are the wrong measuring sticks. They
believe that self-confidence and self-esteem issues are more important than test scores. In same-sex
classes, girls report increased confidence and improved attitudes towards math and science, for
example. These are results that cannot be calculated by a test but that will help adolescents become
successful adults long after the difficult years of middle school are past. New York University professor
Carol Gilligan is certain that girls are more likely to be “creative thinkers and risk-takers as adults if
educated apart from boys in middle school” (Gross, 2004). Boys, too, gain confidence when they do not
have to compete with girls. Boys at this age become angry and fight back in middle school because they
feel inferior when compared to girls, who literally “out-think” them. With no girls in the classroom, they
are more at ease with themselves and more receptive to learning (Gross, 2004).
Opponents also maintain that separate classes (or separate schools) send the message that
males and females cannot work together. They say that when students go into the work force, they will
have to work side-by-side with the opposite sex, and attending all-girl or all-boy schools denies them the
opportunity to learn how to do so. However, such an argument completely ignores the fact that children
constantly interact with members of the opposite sex outside school. From playing and squabbling with
siblings to negotiating allowances, chores, and privileges with their opposite-sex parent, children learn
and practice on a daily basis the skills they will need in their future workplaces.
The final argument advanced by opponents of same-sex education is that it is discriminatory
and, therefore, unconstitutional. However, research supports exactly the opposite conclusion: that
discrimination is widespread in mixed classes. Several studies have shown that boys dominate
discussions and receive more attention than girls and that teachers call on boys more often than they
call on girls, even when girls raise their hands. Clearly, this is discriminatory.
It should be evident that the arguments against same-sex classes are not valid. On the contrary,
many people involved in middle-school education say that same-sex classes provide a better learning
environment. Boys and girls pat less attention to each other and more attention to their schoolwork
(Marquez, 2004). As one teacher noted, “Girls are more relaxed and ask more questions; boys are less
disruptive and more focused” (“North Carolina school stops same-sex classes, 2004”). Girls are less
fearful of making mistakes and asking questions in math and science; boys are less inhabited about
sharing their ideas in language and literature. Furthermore, schoolchildren are not disadvantaged by
lack of contact with the opposite sex because they have many opportunities outside the school setting
to interact with one another. Finally, discrimination occurs in mixed classes, so discrimination is not a
valid argument. Therefore, in my opinion the law prohibiting same-sex classes in public schools should
be changed.

1. In which paragraph does the writer give background information to help readers understand the
issue?
2. Does the thesis statement mention both sides of the issue, or does it give the writer's point of view
only?
3. How many opposing arguments are given? Where are they given?
4. Where does the writer rebut the opposing arguments-in one paragraph or in separate paragraphs?
5. What is the function of the last paragraph?

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 Language
ORGANIZATION OF ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAYS
Focus

There are several ways to organize an argumentative essay. You can use a block pattern or a point-by-
point pattern. The outlines in the following chart show these two possible patterns.

FIVE KEYS
An argumentative essay contain these five key elements
1. An explanation of the issue
2. A clear thesis statement
3. A summary of the opposing arguments
4. Rebuttals to the opposing arguments
5. Your own arguments

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 Practice 2 Complete the outline of the model essay in Practice 1.

Separating the Sexes, Just for the Tough Years

I. Introduction (explanation of the issue)

Thesis statement: ______________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________

II. Body
Opposing argument 1: Opponents of single-sex education claim that test scores show that
there is no advantage to all-girl or all-boy classes.
Rebuttal to argument 1:
1. Research is inconclusive-show opposite results.
2. Other results that cannot be calculated
a. Girls ________________________________________________________________
b. Boys ________________________________________________________________

Opposing argument 2: __________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________
Rebuttal to argument 2:
_____________________________________________________________________________
a. Settling squabbles with siblings
b. Negotiating with opposite-sex parent

Opposing argument 3: __________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________
Rebuttal to argument 3:
_____________________________________________________________________________
a. ____________________________________________________________________
b. Teachers call on boys more often

Own point of view:

1. Same-sex classes provide a better learning environment
2. Reasons
a. Boys and girls _________________________________________________________
b. Girls ________________________________________________________________
c. Boys ________________________________________________________________

III. Conclusion

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 Language
THESIS STATEMENT
Focus

The thesis statement in an argumentative essay states clearly which side you are for:
Curfew laws are unfair and should be abolished.
In my opinion, stem cell research should receive the full support of our government.

A thesis statement often mentions the opposing point of view. Use expressions such as the following
to introduce opposing points of view.
Some people feel that the United States should have a national health care plan like Canada's.
Many think that genetically engineered crops are a grave danger to the environment.
Smokers say that they have a right to smoke.
It may be true that the U.S. Constitution gives citizens the right to own weapons.

Then connect the opposing point of view to your own with transition signals of contrast.
Some people feel that the United States should have a national health care plan like Canada's; however,
others feel that government should stay out of the health care business.
Although/Even though many think that genetically engineered crops are a grave danger to the
environment, such crops can alleviate world hunger and malnutrition.
Smokers say that they have a right to smoke in spite of the fact that/despite the fact that smoking will
kill them.
While/Whereas it may be true that the U.S. Constitution gives citizens the right to own weapons, the men
who wrote the Constitution lived in a different time.

Add an opposing point of view to each of

Practice 3 the following thesis statements.

1. Television is the worst invention of modem times.

___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________

2. Doctors or family members should never be allowed to "pull the plug.”

___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________

3. Fast food companies have ruined the nutritional standards of the country.
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________

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