ARGUMENTATIVE TEXT

What is an argumentative text?

An argumentative text is a type of writing that expresses coherence through reasoning that refutes or
justifies something, in order to persuade the reader. It can be expressed in writing or as an
argumentative oratory, in order to convince the reader or listener on a particular topic through
proposals and arguments based on logic and emotion.
An argumentative text expresses the ideas, opinions and point of view of the issuer , unlike
other types of texts such as scientific , narrative or legal, which are impartial regarding the
subjectivity of the issuer. An argumentative text is a piece of writing in which the author states a
claim, or position, and supports it with evidence to make the reader understand it as a valid
argument. The author relies on logic, facts, and credible sources to make his/her argument. This
means that a lot of the real work begins before the author puts pen to paper with his/her thoughts.
The actual starting place is in researching the topic. Then the author chooses a side or an
argument.

Structure of Argumentative Text at the 3rd Grade Level

Understanding how an argumentative text is structured is extremely

helpful in identifying the author’s claim. While there are different
types of argumentative texts, and many can have a much more
complex structure, below is a basic starting point for our third
graders.

 Introduction – The author states or implies the claim.

 Body – The author supports the claim with reason, evidence, and facts.
 Conclusion – The author restates the claim.

Argumentative text and persuasive text are NOT the same thing. We should not be using these words
interchangeably with our third graders.
Characteristics of the argumentative text
Before starting to write an argumentative text, it is necessary to be clear about the idea that you
want to convey and based on what types of arguments you are going to express it:
 Emotional-affective arguments. They are those that seek to generate empathy and
convince through emotions and feelings.
 Rational arguments. They are those that appeal to the recipient's capacity for logical
thinking.

The language features of Argumentative Text :

1. Use simple present tense, such as “people say that the ideology is so complecated”

2. Use verb, such as claimed, use, live, call, talk, say, etc.

3. Use adverb, for examples : happily, sadly, hardly, fastly, and so on.

4. Use noun, examples : user, follower, people, city, science, people, etc.

5. Use adjective, for examples : happy, smart, crazy, beautifull, so on.

The example :
Science and Religion

(Introduction) The communist ideology believes that science does not need religion.
Their followers have claimed that religion is drugs or toxin, and toxin in fact make the users
drunken or unaware or fly.

(Body) Thus, there is no need to have religion in this life. They can live happily in
balance and in harmony without any religion beside science. They call those who need
religion beside science as stupid or old fashioned. Whereby, they call themselves as modern
or up to date. The opponents to this belief, however think vice versa. Science needs a religion
to make it balance. They believe that science without a religion is blind. While religion also
needs science. They believe that religion without science is lame. Thus, science and religion
are catalysators for mankind to live on the track or in harmony. They called those who do not
religion beside science as crazy or insane people.

(Conclusion) In short, both sides have their own arguments to promote their belief
and each of whom blame to one another for creating this world imbalance, war, and global
crisis.
Action Verb
Verbs are an essential part of any sentence. Without verbs, you cannot express a complete
thought. The Merriam Webster dictionary defines a verb as “a word that expresses an action, an
occurrence, or a state of being”. These three different functions fall into three different types of
verbs: action verbs, linking or “to be” verbs, and auxiliary verbs. action verbs in sentences to express
an action done by a person, an animal, an object, or nature.
An action verb describes an action that a person, animal, object, or process in nature can do. For
example, a cheetah chases gazelles across a plain, and the gazelles sprint away, hearing the tall
grass rustle underneath the lion’s paws.
In the sentence above, there are several verbs that describe action; the cheetah chases the gazelles,
and the gazelles hear the grass rustle and sprint away.

How are action verbs different from auxiliary verbs?

While action verbs are typically the main verb of the sentence and express the action being done
by the subject, auxiliary verbs “help” the main action verb by expressing tense, mood, or voice.

For example, if the gazelles were no longer being chased by the cheetah, the sentence would read:
The gazelles were chased by the cheetah and would have been caught if the cheetah would
not have stubbed his toe on a rock.

In the sentence above, there are three action verbs: chased, caught, and stubbed.
However, there are also several auxiliary verbs that add meaning to both the action verbs and the
overall sentence. These auxiliary verbs are: were, would, have, and been. Were, have,
and been are auxiliary verbs that express tense, or when the cheetah chased the gazelles.
The auxiliary verb would expresses possibility. It was very possible that the gazelles would have
been the cheetah’s breakfast if the cheetah had not stubbed his toe.

How are action verbs different from linking verbs?

Action verbs and linking verbs are alike in that they can both be the main verb of a sentence.
However, they are different in that linking verbs cannot show action. Ever. Linking verbs can only
show a state of being or condition.

For example, Kevin was tired of asking Joe for his Netflix password, so he finally bought his own
subscription.

In this sentence, the linking verb was is the main verb of the first clause. This linking verb
“links” or connects the subject, Kevin, to his current state of being, which is tired. There is also an
action verb in the second independent clause of this sentence. Because Kevin was tired of bugging
his friend, he took action when he bought a Netflix subscription.

ACTION VERBS

Linking Verbs Stative Verbs Physical Action Mental Action

Verbs Verbs

Am Wants Run Think

Are Thinks Walk Dream

Is Support Talk Imagine

Was Needs Watch Plan

Were Helps Write Wonder

Seems Likes Draw Believe

Looks Disagree Paint Remember

Tastes Have Sing Understand

Became Control Play Consider

Grew Fear Make Evaluate

Acts Wish Drink Learn

Proved Hope Eat Recognize

Turn Hear Work Realize

Appear Feel Hit Forget

Feels Lack Kill Judge

Remain Weight Swim Memorize

Smells Belong Hunt Love