UNIT 5

ESSAY WRITING

PREWRITING
a. Thinking about the topic

(https://www.google.co.id/search?q=Images+for+herb+as+medicine)

Exercise 1: Discuss these two pictures with your friends

1. What do you think the two pictures above portray?
2. Which would you prefer to take?
3. Which would you recommend people to take?

b. Coherence: Understanding Argumentative Essay Organization

Argument Exposition Discussion Challenge

structure
Purpose To put forward a To argue the case To argue against a
point of view or for two or more point of view or
arguments points of view arguments
about an issue.
Introduction The Hook engages The Hook engages The Hook engages
the readers’ interest the readers’ the readers’ interest
by showing why it is interest by by showing why it is
important for the showing why it is important for the
readers to know important for the readers to know
about the topic. readers to know about the topic.
Background about the topic. Background states

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 describes an issue Background and describes the
from one describes an issue issue being
perspective. from two or more challenged.
Thesis statement perspectives. Thesis statement
states the position. Thesis statement states position to
states the issue argue against.
from two or more
perspectives.
Body Puts forward a series Explores the issue Rebuts sub-
Paragraph of arguments and from two or more arguments and
evidence to support perspectives by supports evidence
the position. arguments and
supporting
evidence
Conclusion Reworded thesis Reworded thesis Reworded thesis
statement restates statement restates statement restates
the thesis statement the thesis the thesis statement
using different statement using using different
words. different words. words.
The summary The summary The summary
restates the topic restates the topic restates the topic
sentence/main idea sentence/main idea sentence/main idea
using different using different using different words
words showing how words showing showing the
important the why the two importance of
position is perspectives are challenging the
Clincher includes necessary. position.
comments or Clincher includes Clincher includes
suggestions comments or comments and
reinforcingthe suggestions suggestions
position. showing neutrality. reinforcing the
challenge made to
the position.

Exercise 2: Read the following short essay. Answer the questions that follow.

HERBS FOR MEDICINE

On the page 27 of Media Indonesia, the leader of the

Indonesian National Agency of Drugs and Food Controls (BPOM

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RI) has written that “Herbal medicine is still viewed more
negatively than chemical medicine”.In this modern era, people
prefer consuming medicine which uses chemical rather than herbal
substances. This is probably because of its practicality. They only
need to go to a hospital or a pharmacy to get chemical medicine. It
is simpler and easier than making herbal medicine which takes
more time. However, I would like to argue that this statement is
wrong. Some facts prove that herbal medicine is actually more
available and safer than chemical medicine.
Medicine which uses herbs as its main source is very easy
to get. Herbs are available in every corner of the world, especially
in our country which is very rich in natural resources. Most can just
be planted in the garden or yard. For example, aloevera can be used
for treating burns, basil for treating stomach cramps and flatulence,
ginger for treating constipation, and cinnamon for treating cough,
asthma, rheumatics, and diarrhea. These are only a few examples of
plants used for medicine which can be easily found around. In other
words, people can take the herbs quickly whenever they need
medicine, especially in cases of emergency.
Herbal medicine is safe. It can be safely made by taking
plants from nature. Unlike herbal medicine, chemical medicine
containing chemical substance is processed in a factory or
laboratory which may produce waste. Of course, this waste will act
as a pollutant to its surroundings. This strongly indicates that herbal
medicine is friendlier to the environment. It is also safe for people
who consume it as it has very little or even no side effect. Side
effects may occur only if you are allergic to certain herbs.
Meanwhile, chemical medicine has more side effects which are
clearly stated in the warning message on the label. They include
headache, nausea, skin irritation, itching, drowsiness, dry mouth,
and even brain infections. That is because many people are allergic

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 to chemicals. Such examples strongly indicate that herbal medicine
is safer for not only for consumers, but also for the environment.
In conclusion, using herbal medicine will clearly be better
and more highly recommended. It is easy to get and safe. Using
herbal medicine will achieve the same result as medical medicine. It
can therefore be argued that it is definitely wrong that medical
medicine is safer that herbal medicine. Instead of bombarding your
body with harsh chemical substances, it is better to take natural
medicine to cure your illness and supply nutrients. Consequently,
this strongly suggests that it is the right time for us to start working
on our gardens to plant some herbs. We should be able to maintain
the existence of herbal medicine by utilizing it.

1. How does the writer grab the readers’ attention in the first paragraph?
2. What issue is discussed?
3. Where does the writer get the issue?
4. What is the writer’s role and purpose in writing the essay?
5. Who is the audience of the essay?
6. What is the writer’s position toward the issue discussed?
7. Referring to point b above, what kind of argumentative essay is it?
8. Locate hook, background information, thesis statement, main idea of each
paragraph, reworded thesis statement, summary, and clincher by labeling them.

c. Cohesion: Language Focus

The language features used are to express the students’ point of view and to link
the sub-arguments to overall arguments:
I think,in my view, in my opinion, it can therefore be argued that, from the
evidence it is clear that, or the evidence strongly suggests that

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Exercise 3.Make a three - paragraph argumentative essay by completing the missing
parts. What kind of argumentative essay do you think the essay is?

Power Outage

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_____________________________________________.On Thursday
(24/3/2014) in Taman Murni Indah, the Director General of New Energy
Conservation (EKBTE) ESPM, Rida Mulyana said,” A mall is the most useless
electricity power consumption.” I think her statement is absolutely true.
Everyone in Indonesia has experienced power outages. One major cause is the
wasteful power consumption by malls.
Twinkle lights and bulbs which absorb a lot of energy are among the main
reasons that attract attention.For example, Central Park Mall in Jakarta has a

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 large garden and trees with beautiful lightdecorations. In addition to these
twinkle lights at night, during the day the rooms that are closed off from the
sunlight need high voltage bulbs. These twinkle lights attract countless people to
come not only forpurchasing but also for having fun.Therefore, no wonder, malls
with 24 hour lightningmust be responsible for many of the power outages in
Indonesia.
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In summary, a mall, which is one major cause of the power outages,
absorbs a lot of energy. ______________________________________________
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Exercise 4. Read the following incomplete argumentative essay. Checklist (√) the
missing parts. Then in space provided below the essay, write down the
missing parts.

Introduction: Paragraph 3
□ Hook □Main idea
□Background information □Specific supports
□Thesis statement: □Concluding sentence

Body paragraph Conclusion

Paragraph 2 □Reworded thesis statement
□Main idea □Summary
□Specific supports □Clincher
□Concluding sentence

Nuclear Power in 2024

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 Energy is one of the world’s main problems nowadays. The population
and technology need a lot of energy including for running engines, computers,
kitchen activities, and daily activities. Our life is going to be fun after working
because we have our favorite programs. One of media says that our country has
a difficult problem to restock energy in the future. This condition has led to
expertsproposing nuclear energy as a solution. BarikatulHikmah, one of the
researchers at the Institute for Defense Security and Peace Study, wrote in The
Jakarta Post (Monday May 20th 2013) ”Nuclear energy is the best resource to
get cheap electricity in Indonesia.” I think Indonesia needs to have a thoughtful
look at two considerations before making the final decision.
For example, Sumatera, Kalimantan and Irian Jaya all have natural
nuclear resources yet to be exploited or untouched by human hand. They are
uranium, plutonium and different types of radioactive sources as the main
nuclear materials. If the experts can make use of these materials, Indonesia will
not have anymore energy problems. Other countries, such as Japan, USA,
Germany and Russia have been successful in utilizing nuclear energy to solve
energy problems.

However, the location around the ring of fire can cause earthquakes at
any time. In addition, the interaction of uranium and plutonium with other
disasters, such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and tsunami, could easily
cause explosion. The effects of a nuclear explosion are tremendous and could
destroy much of Indonesia. If this idea is realized, there is a strong possibility
that Indonesia will be added to the list of nuclear disasters.
Utilizing nuclear energy in Indonesia needs to be considered from these
two sides namely the availability of nuclear sources and Indonesian geography.
These need to be at the heart of any serious consideration of the use of nuclear
energy.

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Exercise 5. Choose a topic with ideas in your mind to write ONE of the three types of
argumentative essay. Once you have chosen a topic you know about and
feel strongly about, narrow and group your ideas.

Topic:

Role:

Audience:

Purpose:

Write a plan for a three or a four- paragraph argumentative essay. Share it in front of the
class. Take note of all suggestions from your friends and teacher.

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