Argumentative Composition

General Tips
When writing an argumentative essay:
Your aim is to convince the reader of your viewpoint.
Present strong and effective arguments which must be supported by elaboration
and details.
Be sure whether you need to argue on both sides or make a stand to either or
oppose the given topic.
In the SPM examination, you are asked to give your opinions on both sides. For
example, Do you think , Do you agree or Discuss. So you have to
explain both sides of the argument and make a stand at the end of the essay.
A. Sample Questions and Answers
Topic 1: Students should be encouraged to participate in sports. Do you agree?
SAMPLE 1(A) - GRADE A ANSWER
CONTENT
Sports are activities carried out for pleasure or exercise. Playing games
like tennis and football or taking part in athletics are sports activities. I am
of the strongest opinion that students should be encouraged to participate in
sports. It would allow students to maintain good health, instill good
discipline as well as providing an opportunity for them to release stress.
One of the main reasons for encouraging students to take part in sports
is that it is good for health. In sports, especially outdoor activities, fresh air
is taken into the lungs, resulting in greater oxygen flow into the heart. It
keeps our heart healthy indeed! With improved blood circulation, other
organs of the body function well. Muscles get toned, excess fat is burnt and
impurities are excreted through the sweat glands. All this, together with
good diet, makes a healthy body.
The second advantage is that sports participation instills discipline and
develops leadership qualities among students. For example, students must
attend the various practices and training programmes punctually. If they are
late, they are usually reprimanded and soon they realise that obeying orders
is important. In addition, students involved in sports activities are elected
as captains, secretaries and to other positions. Students holding these
positions usually develop leadership qualities.
Third, participation in sports also helps students to be ambitious and set
challenging goals for themselves. By persevering to achieve these goals,
students are preparing themselves for adulthood where they will face every
more difficult challenges. As the late Bruce Lee said, If you always put a
limit on everything you do, you cannot gor far. There are no limits. You
must go beyond to achieve.
That aside, sports participation helps students to release stress and tension.

LANGUAGE
FEATURES
MERITS
Note the use of
transition markers
One of the main
reasons/advantage
s

Varied sentence
structure
Simple sentence
Complex sentence
Compound
sentence
Impressive
words/phrases

Good use of
quotation by a
famous figure

The increasing amount of homework and the fear of failure at examinations

do not allow students to relax. Taking part in sports allows them to unwind.
After a game or workout at the gymnasium, the students feel much better
and are ready to study after a good bath. This way of releasing stress is
healthy unlike some methods many students resort to, for examples
smoking, loitering in shopping complexes or taking drugs.
On the other hand, there are disadvantages of participating in sports. It
often leads to students to neglect their homework, studies and even family.
When students are over- enthusiastic; driven by great interest or the desire
to win at competitions, they tend to spend more and more time away from
home. Eventually, this eats into the students study time and time spent
with the family. This, in turn, may lead to poor academic performance and
a breakdown in family communication. This is certainly not to be
encouraged.

Counter argument
On the other hand
Punctuation have
unity and
appropriately
linked
Intensifier
certainly not

Furthermore, exposure to sports means students are prone to injuries

like torn tendons, sore muscles, sprains and even fractures. Injured students
have to stay away from school for some time, causing them to miss lessons
and, consequently, fall behind in their studies.
Finally, it involves high expenses. Students need to spend money on
equipment like tennis rackets and track shoes. They may also want to wear
sports outfits which their friends have. In addition, transport to and fro for
practices and pocket-money for refreshments means money has to be spent.
This money can be put to better use by buying more books or food.
In conclusion, we can say that moderation is the key to success in
anything. Therefore, if participation in sports is kept in moderation, it
should not pose a danger or threat to students. However, if the student is
over-enthusiasms, then disadvantages could turn out to be very real.

Proverb
Moderation is the
key to success

PRACTICE
You live in Kampung Krai. There is a factory nearby your area that is causing a
lot of problems to the residents. Write a letter of complaint to the management
and suggest ways to overcome the problems caused by the factory.
Complaints
drinking water polluted
air pollution - smoke from factory.
noise pollution . operate 24 hours
dumping of toxic waste
stench
potholes in the roads.

Suggestions

stop the dumping of waste

smoke control devices
relocate the factory
stop operating 24 hours a day
stop heavy vehicles from using the roads
resurface the roads