Higher Writing PortfolioHigher Writing Portfolio

Argumentative EssayArgumentative Essay

This power point has based on the This power point has based on the information gathered from the text book, information gathered from the text book, Intermediate 2 and Higher English Essay Intermediate 2 and Higher English Essay Skills for the Writing PortfolioSkills for the Writing Portfolio, by Dr , by Dr Christopher Nicol - with thanks.Christopher Nicol - with thanks.

What’s the Difference between What’s the Difference between Argumentative and Persuasive?Argumentative and Persuasive?Argumentative:Argumentative: This is a formal essay where This is a formal essay where you consider both sides of a controversial topic, you consider both sides of a controversial topic, in a neutral fashion.in a neutral fashion.You may include a more subjective stance at the You may include a more subjective stance at the conclusion of your essay, or you may wish to conclusion of your essay, or you may wish to remain objective.remain objective.

Persuasive:Persuasive: This is an essay where you are This is an essay where you are attempting to convince your reader to accept attempting to convince your reader to accept your viewpoint on a particular topic. your viewpoint on a particular topic. This is not expected to be a balanced argument; This is not expected to be a balanced argument; however, it is a good idea to acknowledge the however, it is a good idea to acknowledge the opposing view.opposing view.

What does it mean?What does it mean?

Subjective:Subjective:If you look at something If you look at something subjectively,subjectively, you you are considering it with a personal or are considering it with a personal or emotional response.emotional response.

ObjectiveObjectiveIf you look at something If you look at something objectively,objectively, you you are considering it based on facts and are considering it based on facts and evidence, evidence, rather thanrather than on opinion. on opinion.

IMPORTANT:IMPORTANT:

Regardless of whether you opt to write an Regardless of whether you opt to write an Argumentative Argumentative or a or a PersuasivePersuasive essay, essay, you should still provide legitimate, well you should still provide legitimate, well researched evidence in order to justify researched evidence in order to justify your statements.your statements.

Your essay should also include a Your essay should also include a Bibliography which cites the sources that Bibliography which cites the sources that you have used within your work.you have used within your work.

PlanningPlanning

It is essential that you plan your essay as It is essential that you plan your essay as this usually leads to a this usually leads to a more convincing more convincing and well thoughtand well thought out argument. out argument.

Planning allows you to focus on the Planning allows you to focus on the structurestructure your essay. your essay.

Choose a topic that you feel strongly Choose a topic that you feel strongly about.about.

Choose a topic that has lots of positive Choose a topic that has lots of positive and negative points!and negative points!

BrainstormingBrainstorming

Animals have no

Say/rights

Make-up testing

not very important

AnimalsAre not asImportant

As humans

Protesters get in the way

Less expensivethan to teston humans

What similarity

Do animalsHave to Humans?

Helps to advanceMedical research

Animal Testing

PrioritisingPrioritising

1.1. Complete your mind-map, spider Complete your mind-map, spider diagram, flow chart – or whatever diagram, flow chart – or whatever method helps you to work out your ideas.method helps you to work out your ideas.

2.2. Now prioritise your points – work out Now prioritise your points – work out which ones are most convincing and will which ones are most convincing and will help you to convey the argument most help you to convey the argument most effectively.effectively.

3.3. Decide which ones will be included in Decide which ones will be included in your essay and the most effective order your essay and the most effective order to present them in. to present them in.

ResearchingResearching

Undoubtedly, you should have clear, focused opinions Undoubtedly, you should have clear, focused opinions on your chosen topic… now, you have to back them up on your chosen topic… now, you have to back them up with evidence! Research in the following areas:with evidence! Research in the following areas:

1.1. Articles in good quality newspapers, you can use their Articles in good quality newspapers, you can use their website or: website or: http://findarticles.comhttp://findarticles.com

2.2. Look in the libraries factual/information section, in Look in the libraries factual/information section, in publications and periodicals.publications and periodicals.

3.3. Biographies/autobiographies on key people related to Biographies/autobiographies on key people related to your topic.your topic.

4.4. Essays in literary/scientific/medical texts and journals.Essays in literary/scientific/medical texts and journals.5.5. You may search online on reliable websites. You may search online on reliable websites. My My

caveat:caveat: Avoid relying on wikipedia, use it as a starting Avoid relying on wikipedia, use it as a starting point – remember that anyone can edit the information point – remember that anyone can edit the information on here!on here!

PlagiarismPlagiarism

To plagiarise, means to steal somebody To plagiarise, means to steal somebody else’s work and ideas. The SQA take a else’s work and ideas. The SQA take a very firm stance on this, it is not very firm stance on this, it is not worthwhile taking this risk. worthwhile taking this risk. Always Always acknowledge your sources of information acknowledge your sources of information otherwise you may suffer a severe otherwise you may suffer a severe penalty. penalty.

PlagiarismPlagiarism

Any time that you quote someone else’s point, or Any time that you quote someone else’s point, or a fact/statistic, you must refer to where you a fact/statistic, you must refer to where you found it/who said it.found it/who said it.

If you are ever using someone else’s view point If you are ever using someone else’s view point to illustrate your argument, you must to illustrate your argument, you must acknowledge them otherwise you may be acknowledge them otherwise you may be accused of plagiarising.accused of plagiarising.

Keep yourself right: Keep yourself right: Put quotations into inverted Put quotations into inverted commas, refer to the books/cites that you have commas, refer to the books/cites that you have selected information from, acknowledge other selected information from, acknowledge other people’s ideas and viewpoints. people’s ideas and viewpoints.

Possible Essay Structure:Possible Essay Structure:ArgumentativeArgumentative

IntroductionIntroduction which highlights which highlights bothboth viewpoints. viewpoints. First paragraphFirst paragraph with ideas with ideas contrarycontrary to your to your

final viewpointfinal viewpoint Subsequent paragraphsSubsequent paragraphs with ideas with ideas coinciding coinciding

with your final viewpoint.with your final viewpoint. First paragraphFirst paragraph with ideas with ideas coincidingcoinciding with your with your

final viewpoint.final viewpoint. Subsequent paragraphsSubsequent paragraphs with ideas with ideas coinciding coinciding

with your final viewpoint.with your final viewpoint. Conclusion Conclusion summing up and making your summing up and making your

stance clear.stance clear.

Possible Essay Structure:Possible Essay Structure:PersuasivePersuasive

IntroductionIntroduction making stance clear making stance clearAcknowledgement Acknowledgement yetyet rejection of rejection of

alternative viewpointalternative viewpointFirst persuasiveFirst persuasive argument argumentSubsequent persuasiveSubsequent persuasive arguments argumentsConclusionConclusion

You should build up to your strongest point You should build up to your strongest point in this type of essay, in order to really in this type of essay, in order to really convince your reader.convince your reader.

Writing the Main BodyWriting the Main Body

Use PEEP – just as you would use the Use PEEP – just as you would use the “PEE” formula to analyse and evaluate “PEE” formula to analyse and evaluate literature in critical essays, you can use literature in critical essays, you can use the same formula to explore your points the same formula to explore your points within a discursive essay.within a discursive essay.

It has one extra letter, P… for Personal It has one extra letter, P… for Personal Opinion…Opinion…

PEEPPEEP

PP - Make a POINT- Make a POINTEE - Back it up with appropriate - Back it up with appropriate

EVIDENCEEVIDENCEEE - EXPLAIN your evidence- EXPLAIN your evidencePP - Provide a PERSONAL comment on - Provide a PERSONAL comment on

your evidence and explanation.your evidence and explanation.

The Voice of the WriterThe Voice of the Writer

You want to show your reader that you You want to show your reader that you understand the topic that you are arguing (either understand the topic that you are arguing (either argumentatively or persuasively).argumentatively or persuasively).

So, So, avoid sweeping statementsavoid sweeping statements and and generalisationsgeneralisations..

Do not make upDo not make up facts and statistics! facts and statistics! Try to be Try to be assertiveassertive with your opinions whilst with your opinions whilst

remaining remaining sensitivesensitive to the views of others. to the views of others. Back up your statements with Back up your statements with relevantrelevant and and

reliable evidencereliable evidence..

Things to AvoidThings to Avoid

Avoid a non sequitur (a conclusion that does not Avoid a non sequitur (a conclusion that does not logically follow the evidence).logically follow the evidence).

Avoid false authorities (don’t provide evidence Avoid false authorities (don’t provide evidence from irrelevant sources).from irrelevant sources).

Avoid over simplifying the false dilemma (not Avoid over simplifying the false dilemma (not everything is ‘black and white’, there are usually everything is ‘black and white’, there are usually lots of different options).lots of different options).

Avoid outdated information (try to find relevant Avoid outdated information (try to find relevant and current evidence when you are researching and current evidence when you are researching the topic).the topic).

Avoid false analogies (don’t compare two Avoid false analogies (don’t compare two situations which are not logically linked).situations which are not logically linked).

The Final ChecklistThe Final ChecklistFor an Argumentative DraftFor an Argumentative Draft

1.1. Have I presented a balanced argument?Have I presented a balanced argument?2.2. Have I justified my own ultimate stance?Have I justified my own ultimate stance?3.3. Is the introduction suitably informative or does Is the introduction suitably informative or does

it leave the reader asking questions or feeling it leave the reader asking questions or feeling confused?confused?

4.4. Which aspects of my essay do I view as being Which aspects of my essay do I view as being the strongest?the strongest?

5.5. Is my essay well organised? Does it flow Is my essay well organised? Does it flow seamlessly with appropriate links?seamlessly with appropriate links?

6.6. Have I expressed myself effectively or do I Have I expressed myself effectively or do I need to revise/edit my writing?need to revise/edit my writing?

The Final ChecklistThe Final ChecklistFor a Persuasive EssayFor a Persuasive Essay

1.1. Have I presented the case effectively? Could I Have I presented the case effectively? Could I persuade my readers to adopt my stance?persuade my readers to adopt my stance?

2.2. Have you provided successful means of persuasion or Have you provided successful means of persuasion or are there aspects of the argument that need to be are there aspects of the argument that need to be strengthened?strengthened?

3.3. Is my introduction informative? Does it clearly state my Is my introduction informative? Does it clearly state my stance without being pushy or over the top?stance without being pushy or over the top?

4.4. What aspects of my essay are strongest and what What aspects of my essay are strongest and what needs to be improved?needs to be improved?

5.5. Is my essay well organised or do I need to revise Is my essay well organised or do I need to revise anything?anything?

6.6. How can I improve the essay? Do I need to provide How can I improve the essay? Do I need to provide more proof or do I need to be more persuasive?more proof or do I need to be more persuasive?

Before You Submit Your Essay…Before You Submit Your Essay…

Have you stuck to the word limit? The word limit Have you stuck to the word limit? The word limit for for Higher is 1300 wordsHigher is 1300 words and for and for Intermediate Intermediate 2, it is 10002, it is 1000. . You will penalise yourself if you You will penalise yourself if you choose to ignore this advice.choose to ignore this advice.

* If you find that you have an aspect of your * If you find that you have an aspect of your essay to fix or improve, use this opportunity essay to fix or improve, use this opportunity to do so! *to do so! *