Writing

Fundamentals
in English
Semester, II
Agenda

Warm up Practice
How much do we know Individual and Group
about argumentative Practice
paragraphs?

Content Conclusion
The Argumentative Question and answer
Paragraph
 01
Warm up

Let’s see what you

know
What do you know about the argumentative paragraph?
 02
Argumentative
Paragraph
 Argumentative
Paragraph

The argumentative academic paragraph is

one in which a personal position on a
specific topic or problem is proposed and
defended.
What are the goals of the argumentative paragraph?
● present an opinion on a controversial topic to the reader;

● explain, clarify, and illustrate that opinion;

● persuade the reader that the opinion supported in the paragraph is valid
by:
a. moving the reader to action,
b. convincing the reader that the opinion is correct, or
c. persuading the reader that the opinion is at least worth considering;

● support the opinion by means of giving evidence:

Facts, examples, support of authority, and statistics;

● present counter arguments to the topic sentence and refute them

respectfully and critically.
Steps to follow

Topic Sources
Choose a debatable Use trustful sources
topic

Position Notes
Take your position Create your clustering or
take notes
 Choosing a topic
Debatable vs. Non-Debatable
● At least twenty-five
percent of the
federal budget ● Pollution is bad for
should be spent on the environment.
limiting pollution. NON-DEBATABL
E
DEBATABLE
 Choosing a topic
Debatable vs. Non-Debatable

● Cigarette smoke is
harmful to people’s ● We should impose
health. higher taxes on
cigarettes.
NON-DEBATABLE
DEBATABLE
 Choosing a topic
Debatable vs. Non-Debatable

● Solar energy is the

best way of meeting ● A good education
California's energy is necessary for a
needs in the 21st successful and
century. happy life.

DEBATABLE DEBATABLE
 Parts of an argumentative paragraph
Argumentation _____ 1. a person who disagrees with something
and speaks against it

Refutation _____ 2. the act or process of forming reasons,

drawing conclusions, and applying them t
a case in discussion
Proponent _____ 3. point or statement that supports one’s idea
and/or topic sentence
Opponent _____ 4. point or statement in opposition to the
argument being made in a written
document or speech
Counterargument (CON) ____
5. the process of discrediting the arguments
that oppose your topic sentence
Pro Argument (PRO) _____ 6. someone who argues in favor of something
advocate
 Parts of an argumentative paragraph
Argumentation _____
2 1. a person who disagrees with something
and speaks against it

5
Refutation _____ 2. the act or process of forming reasons,
drawing conclusions, and applying them t
a case in discussion
6
Proponent _____ 3. point or statement that supports one’s idea
and/or topic sentence
1
Opponent _____ 4. point or statement in opposition to the
argument being made in a written
document or speech
Counterargument (CON) ____
4
5. the process of discrediting the arguments
that oppose your topic sentence
Pro Argument (PRO) _____
3 6. someone who argues in favor of something
advocate
 On the whole
● On the whole, while writing an argumentative topic
sentence, be sure to:
(1) have a debatable topic,
(2) state your claim and stance as
strongly as possible
(3) make the reader understand that your
aim is to persuade rather than only to
inform.
Important terms that we need to understand

Position: It is the topic sentence in which you state if you

are in favor or against a specific topic.

PRO-ideas: These are the ideas that are in favor of your

opinion.

CON-idea: This is the idea that is against your position.

Refutation: This is the idea where you explain why the

CON-idea is incorrect.
 Position Sentence
It is the topic sentence, but in this type of paragraph
we need to state clearly our position that can be in
favor or against.
Tourism Implementation in El Salvador

Tourism implementation in El Salvador has shown to

produce only negative impacts for the nation.

Tourism implementation in El Salvador has demonstrated

to be the best tool for improving the nation.
 The Argumentative Topic Sentence:

● The topic sentence should make an

assertion that is open to debate.

● Words you can use: only, best, most,

should, must, or never.
 Is this a good topic sentence?

● Something should be done on media bias.

YES

NO
 Is this a good topic sentece?

● Something should be done on media bias.

This is not an effective argumentative topic

sentence because it does not clearly state
the writer’s idea. The answers of questions
like “what is that ‘something’ that should
be done?” or “who should do it?” are not
clear.
 Is this a good topic sentence?

● There are three ways to stop global warming.

YES

NO
 Is this a good topic sentence?

● There are three ways to stop global warming.

This is not an argumentative topic sentence as the

writer aims at listing three ways to stop global
warming. Therefore, the writer’s purpose of
writing this essay is not to persuade the reader
but to give information. Also, the ways of media
censorship are not open to debate, thus, not
suitable for argumentation.
 Is this a good topic sentence?

● Newspapers should not identify people by color,

race, or religious faith in any way.

YES

NO
 Is this a good topic sentence?

● Newspapers should not identify people by color,

race, or religious faith in any way.

This is an effective argumentative topic sentence.

Firstly, the topic is open to discussion. There may be
people who would oppose this argument claiming
that this kind of restriction would damage the
objectivity of the news. Therefore, the writer holds a
clear stance. Above all, it is obvious that the writer’s
aim is not simply to inform the readers but to
convince them to take his / her side in the debate.
 PRO-ideas

These are all the ideas that support your

point. You will have two of these ideas
because they are going to be in the
supporting sentences in your paragraph.
 CON-ideas

This is the idea that attacks or that is

against your point in the paragraph. You
usually need to imagine what other people
might say to express that your ideas are
bad.
Generating Counterarguments
Topic sentence: All 1st graders should be given a
cellphone.

Pros: (1) They can call their parents in case of an

emergency. (2) As a parent, you can track your
child’s whereabouts through a phone app.

Cons: (1) The child can become addicted to

technology. (2) The child can access inappropriate
content.
 Refutation

This is the idea that you use to say that the

CON-idea is incorrect, insufficient or
irrelevant. In other words, this is the idea
that you use to defend your point.
⚫ Topic Sentence:
Because of the economic exploitation, degradation of
people, and damage to the image of a country, slum
tourism should not continue.
⚫ Supporting Sentence 1:
The first problem with slum tourism is exploitation.
⚫ Supporting Sentence 2:
Another problem is the serious degradation of people.
⚫ CON + Refutation:
Some people might argue that slum tourism does not do any harm,
that it is just another type of tourism. However, it is so harmful
that it even damages the image of a country in different ways…
⚫ Concluding Statement:
In short, although slum tourism might sound attractive, it
has too many disadvantages.
Contrast We ha
main ve th
transi e
conne tions/
c
argum tor for
Transitions ent
parag ative
raphs
Structure:
Topic sentence +
PROidea 1+ Detail
PROidea 2+ Detail
Contrast Transition 1 + CONS idea + detail
CONS Transition 2+ Refutation
Concluding sentence

Note: Each PRO idea and their examples must be introduced

with connectors (First, second, for example, for instance, etc)
 03
Practice

Ready?
 03
Practice

Ready?
What is missing?
 03
Practice

Ready?
Some transitional words and the concluding sentence
 1 2
Virtual classes have
come to develop
different positive
skills in college
students.

3
Reflection

1 3
What is something new What is something I
you learned today? have doubts on?

2 4
How will I use this From 1 to 10, how clear
information in my was this information?
writing?
 Thanks!
Do you have any questions?

heinar.pineda@udb.edu.sv

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