ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAYS

Step 1
Read the question and underline key words
Read the question and the instructions of the task carefully and
decide on key vocabulary.
Tip
Write words of the same meaning to these vocabulary words to be your
selection.
PLANNING

Listin
g
main
point
s

P E
E

Sequenci
ng ideas

Planni
ng

Selectin
g
techniq
ues you
will use

P A
F

Tip
Put the most important point first or last.
PEE
Points => Find them!
Evidences => Support your points!
Explanations => Express your views!
PAF
Purpose => What is your purpose?
What do you want to convey to the audience?
Audience => Who are your audiences? Use your language appropriately!
Form => Structure and sequencing your idea!

PARAGRAPHING

Introduction
Alternative view

state the issue

give the opposite side of view

demolish the opposite view by using its weakness

Criticism of Alternative view

Your view

explain reasons and techniques to support your view

Conclusion
A FOREST

Summary

Technique

Example

Fact

5 to 53 facial muscles are

used when you smiling.

Opinion

They smile that means they

are happy.

Rhetorical Question

Nobody like to people who

always be stressful, do you?

Expert

Scientists say smiling can

extend 7 years of your life
time.

Statistic

About 80% of people who

smile live longer that the
people who didnt smile.

Triple

Smiling makes you become

more friendly, attractive and
relax.

TARGETING GRADE
Grade C
Relevant points with an
attempt to develop some
of the ideas.
You do not repeat points
to emphasize the
important points.
The sequencing of the
paragraphs is
satisfactory but it could
be more smoothly linked.

CONNECTIVE

Grade A
Well-developed logical
points.
Clearly linked each
stage.
Sequencing sentences
and paragraphs which
are easy to follow.

Remember to use them to link your ideas and paragraphs

Example
Adding new supporting
information

moreover, in addition,
furthermore

Offering a different
viewpoint

in contrast, on the other

hand, however, nevertheless,
despite, but, while

Restarting a point for impact

as stated earlier, to recap

Explaining cause and effect

as a result, because,
consequently

EXAM STYLE QUESTIONS

Honest people never win. What are your views?
To hate people is always wrong. Argue a case for or against this
view.
Everything we learn is useful. Argue for or against this statement.
Dreams are important in our lives. Discuss this view.
The small things that we own are the most precious. Do you agree?

DISCURSIVE
What's the point?
Discursive wirting discusses the situation at hand. It presents an argument
in a more balanced way than argumentative and persuasive writing and can

appreciate the arguments both for and against a given position. Discursive
writing does not argue for or against a point throughout the essay. After
having assessed and evaluated all arguments, the writer generally states
his/her opinion at the end.
What are the conventions?
Examples of conventions that could be used in a discursive essays are listed
below. However, you have to be careful when using them that you do not
become to strongly persuasive:

Balanced and calm tone of voice

A structure that alternates between the two opposiing positions
exploring each one
A balanced consideration of the evidence for each point and an
analysis of the strengths and flaws of that evidence
Techincal and formal language where appropriate
Reference to other sources of expertise / quotations from famous
thinkers
Connectives to link paragraphs together by pointing out similarites
(Equally, Similarly, etc) or differences (On the other hand, However,
etc)
Some persuasive techniques: hyperbole, repetition, oxymoron, triads,
emotive language, imagery, similes, metaphors, rhetorical questions
(although be careful when using all of these that you do not become
too strongly persuasive

Structure
Introdution: This states clearly the problem of the investigation and why it
is a significant issue.
Main Body: Consider the various sides of the position in turn, alternative
between them. Assess each one and compare their relative strengths - do
not include your own opinion at this point. For each point, use a new
paragraph. Begin each paragraph with a key sentence which links back to
the question.
Conclusion: Summing up the your key points and state your position again
and what has made it difficult to come to this decision / whether there are
any qualifications or uncertainties involved
Hints and Tips
use the TENNIS MATCH ARGUMENT STYLE or an alternating structure to
make it interesting
Before you start writing your discursive essay any essay you should
start with a SPIDER DIAGRAM- this is a really good way to put your
ideas down to help you plan your essay. Also, you should know before
writing your essay which side of the argument you are on (For or
against). This is to avoid mistakes and confusion.

Argument phrases: to introduce points and make it clear

Against:
Some people believe/ think/ feel that
Some people may argue
"Others are of the opinion that...".
While some people may claim
Furthermore some people may insist
Although some people would have us believe
For:

However, In contrast, On the other hand, Nevertheless

While in the case that
Further consideration, however, suggests
Despite the fact that there is some truth in
Although there is some evidence to support
"It is also argued that...
"However there are also strong arguments against this point of view..."
"Another counter argument is that..."

Do's
Should choose 4-6 main points (hopefully a balance of for and against)
Use connectives- furthermore, moreover, in addition, additionally,
similarly etc. On the other hand, conversely, however, in contrast etc.
Look at both points of view, and end with your own opinion.
The different points, for and against, should be ALWAYS separated,
NOT mixed. Present the For points in a separate paragraph, and
present the Against point in another separate paragraph keep
alternating between the two.
The introduction should be balanced and serve just to introduce the
topic.
The conclusion can be persuasive
Make examples as specific as possible

Dont's
Use informal language when you are writing an essay, because you
may be penalised in the exam
Forget that there are 3 different parts of a discursive essay:
Introduction, Main Part and a Conclusion.
Forget to consider both sides - this is a persuasive essay, so you don't
have to pick just one
Example Questions
Should boxing be banned?
Should students wear school uniforms?

Should kids be banned from watching violent movies?

Should animal experimenting be banned?

Example Answer
Animal Experiments
A subject which always arouses strong feelings on both sides of the
argument is the use of animals in medical research. I believe that, though
this may have been necessary in the past, other ways can be developed to
test drugs and, in the future, animals should not be used.

One of my main reasons for saying this is that living tissues can be grown in
test tubes and new drugs can be tested on these. Computers can also be
programmed to show how medicines will react in the human body.
Moreover, animals are not always like humans. They do not suffer from all
human diseases, so scientists have to give them the illnesses artificially. The
joints in rabbit legs are inflamed with chemicals to help research in
rheumatism. These tests do not always work because animals do not react
to drugs in the same way as humans. Aspirin, for example, damages
pregnant mice and dogs, but not pregnant women. Arsenic, which is a
deadly poison for humans, has no effect on sheep, while penicillin, which is
so valuable to humans, kills guinea pigs.
In addition, I believe that animal experiments should not be used because of
the unnecessary pain that they cause to animals. The government
introduced new rules about the use of animals in experiments in 1986.
Scientists claim that these rules safeguard animals because they state that
discomfort must be kept to a minimum and that painkillers must be used
where necessary and appropriate. Surely this means, however, that
scientists can still decide not to use painkillers in the animal experiments
because they do not consider them appropriate. The British Union against
Vivisection claims that 75% of animals experimented on are given no
anaesthetic.
In spite of the claims of some scientists about the effectiveness of animal
research, the death rate in this country has stayed the same over the last
thirty years. There is also more long-term sickness, even though greater
numbers of animals are being used in research.
On the other hand, scientists claim that some experiments are so small, for
example giving an injection, that painkillers are not needed. They also argue
that experiments on animals have been very useful in the past. For instance,
the lives of ten million human diabetics have been saved because of
experiments with insulin on dogs. Dogs also benefited, as the same drug can
be used on them. In fact, a third of medicines used by vets are the same as
those used by doctors.
It is argued by researchers that the use of animals in experiments cannot be
replaced by methods using living tissue which has been grown in test tubes.

These tests do not show how the drugs work on whole animals and so they
only have limited effectiveness.
Although I accept that some drugs can be used on animals and humans, this
does not mean that they have to be tested on animals in the first place
when alternative methods are available. Alternative methods do work.
Various groups have been set up to put money into other ways of
researching. For example the Dr. Hadwen Trust has shown how human
cartilage can be grown in test tubes to study rheumatism. Similar research
is being done into cancer and multiple sclerosis. Tests can be done on
bacteria to see whether a chemical will cause cancer. There is even a
programme of volunteer human researchers, where people suffering from
illnesses offer to help in research.
In conclusion, I accept that animal experiments have brought great benefits
in the past, but now money needs to be spent on developing other methods
of testing drugs and medical procedures, so that the use of animals can be
phased out altogether.