Argumentative-essay英文议论文写作基础.ppt

The Argumentative Essay.Main communicative purposes of the argumentative essay:To convince or persuade to agree with an opinion;to defend an opinion;to attack an opinion you believe to be misguiding,untrue,or evil.Basic features.Basic features The argumentative essay must The argumentative essay must take a take a controversial issue controversial issue for an open for an open debate,i.e.,the issue must be debate,i.e.,the issue must be arguablearguable;The argument cannot be The argument cannot be l lgeneral belief;general belief;l lpersonal preference;personal preference;l lor factor factTwo sides are generally involved:Two sides are generally involved:proponents proponents(those in favor of the issue)and (those in favor of the issue)and opponentsopponents(those against the issue);(those against the issue);The The thesisthesis must must take a side of an issuetake a side of an issue,and,and frequently proposes a course of action;frequently proposes a course of action;The argumentative essay are The argumentative essay are highly highly persuasive and logicalpersuasive and logical(often expressed (often expressed with the modal“with the modal“shouldshould”);”);Good logic Good logic is the heart of the argumentative is the heart of the argumentative essay.essay.Strategies for Strategies for logical persuasionlogical persuasion Be fully aware of your audience or Be fully aware of your audience or reader;reader;As the purpose of an argumentative As the purpose of an argumentative essay is to convince the reader of essay is to convince the reader of your position,you should address your position,you should address your reader by your reader by writing objectively,writing objectively,logically,and respectfullylogically,and respectfully.Try to identify and understand Try to identify and understand your your opponents point of viewopponents point of view You You cannot just present your own cannot just present your own opinionopinion in argumentation.This can in argumentation.This can never convince the reader.You have never convince the reader.You have to consider the point of view of your to consider the point of view of your opponentsopponents.3.Use two forms of logical reasoning:3.Use two forms of logical reasoning:inductioninduction and and deductiondeduction.l lInductionInduction（归纳）（归纳）（归纳）（归纳）:the process of:the process of reasoning reasoning from the particular details from the particular details to the general conclusionto the general conclusion.It involves.It involves examining particular details such as examining particular details such as specific cases,facts,or examples.The specific cases,facts,or examples.The conclusion is conclusion is made based on the made based on the evidenceevidence coming from the specific coming from the specific details.details.l lDeductionDeduction（演绎）（演绎）（演绎）（演绎）:the process of:the process of reasoning from the general to the reasoning from the general to the specificspecific.It begins with a.It begins with a generalization and is applied in a generalization and is applied in a specific case.The specific case.The conclusion is drawn conclusion is drawn based on a generalizationbased on a generalization.Deduction involves Deduction involves a a three-step form three-step form of of reasoning called reasoning called SyllogismSyllogism（三段论）（三段论）（三段论）（三段论）:Major Major PremisePremise(the initial generalization),(the initial generalization),Minor Minor PremisePremise(the specific case),and (the specific case),and ConclusionConclusion (the resulting statement).(the resulting statement).This three-step form can be illustrated as This three-step form can be illustrated as follows:follows:Major Premise:Major Premise:Dogs bark.Dogs bark.Minor Premise:Minor Premise:Little Brown is a dog.Little Brown is a dog.Conclusion:Conclusion:Therefore,Little Brown barks.Therefore,Little Brown barks.To be more specific,To be more specific,the major premise is the major premise is a generalization a generalization that you and your reader can that you and your reader can both both agree onagree on,whether it is a generally,whether it is a generally accepted statement or whether you accepted statement or whether you have already proved it earlier in the have already proved it earlier in the argument.argument.The minor premise is the part that The minor premise is the part that you need to prove in your argumentyou need to prove in your argument.e.g.If the issue is about e.g.If the issue is about nuclear power plant nuclear power plant constructionconstruction,you may take the three-step,you may take the three-step form of reasoning like this:form of reasoning like this:Major premise:Major premise:Only safe sources of energy Only safe sources of energy should be developed.should be developed.Minor premise:Minor premise:Nuclear power plants are Nuclear power plants are safe sources of energy.safe sources of energy.Conclusion:Conclusion:Therefore,nuclear power plants Therefore,nuclear power plants should be constructed.should be constructed.（Notice:Some complex issues require Notice:Some complex issues require more more than one premisethan one premise to be proved.)to be proved.)To To avoid being illogicalavoid being illogical in this reasoning in this reasoning process,you need to keep the following process,you need to keep the following points in mind:points in mind:The major premise and the minor premise The major premise and the minor premise must be true must be true if the conclusion is to be valid;if the conclusion is to be valid;e.g.,e.g.,All people like to sufferAll people like to suffer.(MaP).(MaP)Jonny is a person.(MiP)Jonny is a person.(MiP)Jonny likes to suffer.(C)Jonny likes to suffer.(C)The above reasoning process appears The above reasoning process appears illogical since the major premise is not illogical since the major premise is not based on the truth.based on the truth.The major premise and the minor The major premise and the minor premise must be set up to premise must be set up to follow the follow the correct logical ordercorrect logical order;T The correct logical order is as he correct logical order is as follows:follows:A=B All automobiles have A=B All automobiles have wheels.wheels.C=A Honda is an automobile.C=A Honda is an automobile.C=B Therefore,Honda has C=B Therefore,Honda has wheels.wheels.An An incorrect logical order incorrect logical order is as is as follows:follows:All A=B All automobiles have All A=B All automobiles have wheels.wheels.C=B C=B Honda has wheelsHonda has wheels.C=A Therefore,Honda is C=A Therefore,Honda is automobile.automobile.(Such an illogical order (Such an illogical order makes the makes the conclusion invalid,conclusion invalid,for Honda might for Honda might be a motorcycle or a wagon.)be a motorcycle or a wagon.)The terms The terms in one premise in one premise must be used the must be used the same waysame way in the other premise.in the other premise.Look at the following examples:Look at the following examples:Some vegetariansSome vegetarians eat eggs.eat eggs.John is a vegetarian.John is a vegetarian.John eats eggs.John eats eggs.All Americans speak English.All Americans speak English.Mary is Mary is a South Americana South American.Mary speaks English.Mary speaks English.Planning an argumentative essay.Planning an argumentative essay When you plan an argumentative essay,When you plan an argumentative essay,keep in mind the following points:keep in mind the following points:l lThe argumentative essay should The argumentative essay should introduce introduce and explain the issue or caseand explain the issue or case;l lThe essay should The essay should offer adequate reasons offer adequate reasons and support the reasons with good and support the reasons with good evidenceevidence;l lThe essay should The essay should refute opposing refute opposing argumentsarguments.This is a very particular characteristic which This is a very particular characteristic which distinguishes argumentative essays from distinguishes argumentative essays from expository essays.You must not only expository essays.You must not only present your own point of view and prove it,present your own point of view and prove it,but also refute your opponents view and but also refute your opponents view and prove thatprove that yours is more valid or superioryours is more valid or superior.Organizing an argumentative essay.Organizing an argumentative essay (1)Introduction (1)Introduction To make a good beginning of such an essay,To make a good beginning of such an essay,you should first introduce the problem and you should first introduce the problem and the thesis to the thesis to clarify the controversial issueclarify the controversial issue to your reader.Then you should to your reader.Then you should provide provide background informationbackground information.(2)The developmental partThe developmental part Confirmation Confirmation(2-3 paragraphs)and(2-3 paragraphs)and refutationrefutation(1-3 paragraphs)are required in (1-3 paragraphs)are required in developing the main part of the essay.developing the main part of the essay.To confirm your personal point of view,To confirm your personal point of view,l lyou need to you need to give reasons to support give reasons to support your your thesis;thesis;l lthe reasons must be the reasons must be convincing evidence convincing evidence which is normally fromwhich is normally fromexamplesexamplesfactsfactsauthoritative or expert opinionsauthoritative or expert opinionsstatistical findingsstatistical findingspersonal experience or observationspersonal experience or observations To refute opposing views,To refute opposing views,l lyou you should consider your opponents point should consider your opponents point of view of view at the same time;at the same time;l lacknowledge the good points of opponents acknowledge the good points of opponents views first,views first,l lexplain why your opponents views are not explain why your opponents views are not good enough.good enough.In developing the main part of the In developing the main part of the argumentative essay,you may argumentative essay,you may choose any choose any patternpattern or combine the patterns or combine the patterns to further to further develop the thesisdevelop the thesis as we deal with cause-as we deal with cause-and-effect genre writing(description,and-effect genre writing(description,narration,definition,classification,narration,definition,classification,exemplification,causal analysis,comparison exemplification,causal analysis,comparison&contrast,etc.)&contrast,etc.)(3)The Concluding part (3)The Concluding part To better conclude the essay,you shouldTo better conclude the essay,you shouldl l restate your thesis restate your thesisl lsummarize your main pointssummarize your main pointsl lurge your reader to take actionurge your reader to take actionl lpredict the futurepredict the future .Some transitional words and phrases.Some transitional words and phrasesl lChronological orderChronological order first of all/first,after that/second,first of all/first,after that/second,then/next,last/finallythen/next,last/finallyl lExemplificationExemplification to illustrate this pointto illustrate this point,can be illustrated can be illustrated as followsas follows,a good case in point isa good case in point isl lAdditionAddition besides that,apart from this,in addition besides that,apart from this,in addition(to),furthermore,whats more,moreover(to),furthermore,whats more,moreoverl lComparison&contrastComparison&contrast likewise likewise/similarly,in the same way,similar/similarly,in the same way,similar to,conversely/on the contrary,in contrast to,conversely/on the contrary,in contrast(to),(to),on the other handon the other hand,different from,different from.Some typical sentence patterns for.Some typical sentence patterns for argumentationargumentationIt can be argued thatIt can be argued thatPeople argue/maintain/believe thatPeople argue/maintain/believe thatSome people argue/claim that Some people argue/claim that But more But more often than not,the reverse/the opposite is often than not,the reverse/the opposite is usually the case/trueusually the case/true.Some assume that,however,this proves to Some assume that,however,this proves to be the contrary/the be the contrary/the opposite/the other way opposite/the other way aroundaround.They are right in,butThey are right in,butIt is true that,but it does not necessarily It is true that,but it does not necessarily follow thatfollow that Writing assignment:Writing assignment:Nowadays smoking is overwhelmingly threatening Nowadays smoking is overwhelmingly threatening peoples health.More and more people are becoming peoples health.More and more people are becoming the victims of smoking.It is proposed that smoking the victims of smoking.It is proposed that smoking should be banned in public places throughout the should be banned in public places throughout the country.What is your point of view towards this country.What is your point of view towards this proposal?proposal?Should smoking be banned in public Should smoking be banned in public places?places?Discuss with your peers and Discuss with your peers and write an write an argumentative essay within 500 wordsargumentative essay within 500 words.Have peer.Have peer review after you finish your writing.You may refer to review after you finish your writing.You may refer to the peer review checklist in your handout(pp.350-the peer review checklist in your handout(pp.350-351).351).Submit your essay next time for the class.Submit your essay next time for the class.