Higher Writing Portfolio Argumentative Essay

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

What’s the Difference between Argumentative and Persuasive? Argumentative: This is a formal essay where you consider both sides of a controversial topic, in a neutral fashion. You may include a more subjective stance at the conclusion of your essay, or you may wish to remain objective. Persuasive: This is an essay where you are attempting to convince your reader to accept your viewpoint on a particular topic. This is not expected to be a balanced argument; however, it is a good idea to acknowledge the opposing view.

What does it mean? Subjective: If you look at something subjectively, you are considering it with a personal or emotional response. Objective If you look at something objectively, you are considering it based on facts and evidence, rather than on opinion.

IMPORTANT: Regardless of whether you opt to write an Argumentative or a Persuasive essay, you should still provide legitimate, well researched evidence in order to justify your statements. Your essay should also include a Bibliography which cites the sources that you have used within your work.

Planning It is essential that you plan your essay as this usually leads to a more convincing and well thought out argument. Planning allows you to focus on the structure your essay. Choose a topic that you feel strongly about. Choose a topic that has lots of positive and negative points!

Brainstorming

Prioritising Complete your mind-map, spider diagram, flow chart – or whatever method helps you to work out your ideas. Now prioritise your points – work out which ones are most convincing and will help you to convey the argument most effectively. Decide which ones will be included in your essay and the most effective order to present them in.

Researching Undoubtedly, you should have clear, focused opinions on your chosen topic… now, you have to back them up with evidence! Research in the following areas: Articles in good quality newspapers, you can use their website or: http://findarticles.com Look in the libraries factual/information section, in publications and periodicals. Biographies/autobiographies on key people related to your topic. Essays in literary/scientific/medical texts and journals. You may search online on reliable websites. My caveat: Avoid relying on wikipedia, use it as a starting point – remember that anyone can edit the information on here!

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

Plagiarism Any time that you quote someone else’s point, or a fact/statistic, you must refer to where you found it/who said it. If you are ever using someone else’s view point to illustrate your argument, you must acknowledge them otherwise you may be accused of plagiarising. Keep yourself right: Put quotations into inverted commas, refer to the books/cites that you have selected information from, acknowledge other people’s ideas and viewpoints.

Possible Essay Structure: Argumentative Introduction which highlights both viewpoints. First paragraph with ideas contrary to your final viewpoint Subsequent paragraphs with ideas coinciding with your final viewpoint. First paragraph with ideas coinciding with your final viewpoint. Conclusion summing up and making your stance clear.

Possible Essay Structure: Persuasive Introduction making stance clear Acknowledgement yet rejection of alternative viewpoint First persuasive argument Subsequent persuasive arguments Conclusion You should build up to your strongest point in this type of essay, in order to really convince your reader.

Writing the Main Body Use PEEP – just as you would use the “PEE” formula to analyse and evaluate literature in critical essays, you can use the same formula to explore your points within a discursive essay. It has one extra letter, P… for Personal Opinion…

PEEP P - Make a POINT E - Back it up with appropriate EVIDENCE E - EXPLAIN your evidence P - Provide a PERSONAL comment on your evidence and explanation.

The Voice of the Writer You want to show your reader that you understand the topic that you are arguing (either argumentatively or persuasively). So, avoid sweeping statements and generalisations. Do not make up facts and statistics! Try to be assertive with your opinions whilst remaining sensitive to the views of others. Back up your statements with relevant and reliable evidence.

Things to Avoid Avoid a non sequitur (a conclusion that does not logically follow the evidence). Avoid false authorities (don’t provide evidence from irrelevant sources). Avoid over simplifying the false dilemma (not everything is ‘black and white’, there are usually lots of different options). Avoid outdated information (try to find relevant and current evidence when you are researching the topic). Avoid false analogies (don’t compare two situations which are not logically linked).

The Final Checklist For an Argumentative Draft Have I presented a balanced argument? Have I justified my own ultimate stance? Is the introduction suitably informative or does it leave the reader asking questions or feeling confused? Which aspects of my essay do I view as being the strongest? Is my essay well organised? Does it flow seamlessly with appropriate links? Have I expressed myself effectively or do I need to revise/edit my writing?

The Final Checklist For a Persuasive Essay Have I presented the case effectively? Could I persuade my readers to adopt my stance? Have you provided successful means of persuasion or are there aspects of the argument that need to be strengthened? Is my introduction informative? Does it clearly state my stance without being pushy or over the top? What aspects of my essay are strongest and what needs to be improved? Is my essay well organised or do I need to revise anything? How can I improve the essay? Do I need to provide more proof or do I need to be more persuasive?

Before You Submit Your Essay… Have you stuck to the word limit? The word limit for Higher is 1300 words and for Intermediate 2, it is 1000. You will penalise yourself if you choose to ignore this advice. * If you find that you have an aspect of your essay to fix or improve, use this opportunity to do so! *