unit 11_给学生课后复习(1).doc

Unit 11 Writing Your Own Essays (3): Argumentative EssaysTeaching Objectivesn Develop understanding of useful language features for writing effective argument texts n Learn how to organize an argumentative essayn Understand the strategies for argumentationn Some techniques to write general statement and thesis statementNB: An argumentative essay contains these five elements: An explanation of the issue A clear thesis statement A summary of the opposing arguments Rebuttals to the opposing arguments Your own argumentsQuestion: Which type of organization does this essay use-block or point-by-point? Answers: point-by-point.I. Learn to present your argumentation in a well-organized wayThere are several ways to organize an argumentative essay. You can use a block pattern or a point-by-point pattern. The outlines in the following chart show these two possible patterns.There are many variations on these two patterns. Which pattern you use will depend on your topic. With some topics, one pattern works better than others. The important thing is to present your side and rebut the other side in a logical and organized way.Block PatternPoint-by-Point PatternI. IntroductionExplanation of the issueThesis statementII. BodyBlock 1A. Summary of other sides argumentsB. Rebuttal to the first argumentC. Rebuttal to the second argumentD. Rebuttal to the third argumentBlock 2E. Your first argumentF. Your second argumentG. Your third argumentIII. Conclusion-may include a summary of your point of viewI. IntroductionExplanation of the issue, including a summary of the other sides argumentsThesis statementII. BodyA. Statement of the other sides first argument and rebuttal with your own counterargumentB. Statement of the other sides second argument and rebuttal with your own counterargumentC. Statement of the other sides third argument and rebuttal with your own counterargumentIII. Conclusion-may include a summary of your point of viewII. Understand the strategies for argumentation ()1 Use Tactful, Courteous LanguageIn an argument essay, you are attempting to persuade readers to accept your viewpoint. It is important, therefore, not to anger them by referring to them or their opinions in rude or belittling terms. Stay away from sweeping statements like “Everybody knows that.” or “People with any intelligence agree that.” Also, keep the focus on the issue you are discussing, not on the people involved in the debate. Dont write, “My opponents say that orphanages cost less than foster care.” Instead, write, “Supporters of orphanages say that orphanages cost less than foster care.” Terms like my opponents imply that the argument is between you and anyone who disagrees with you. By contrast, a term such as supporters of orphanages suggests that those who dont agree with you are nevertheless reasonable people who are willing to consider differing opinions.Question: Think about the model essay. Does the author use this strategy? If not, could you give some advice to him?2 Point Out Common GroundAnother way to persuade readers to consider your opinion is to point out common ground opinions that you share. Find points on which people on all sides of the argument can agree. Perhaps you are arguing that there should be an 11 p.m. curfew for juveniles in your town.Before going into detail about your proposal, remind readers who oppose such a curfew that you and they share certain goals: a safer city, a lower crime rate, and fewer gang-related tragedies. Readers will be more receptive to your idea once they have considered how you and they think alike.Question: Think about the model essay. Does the author use this strategy? If not, could you give some advice to him?3 Acknowledge Differing ViewpointsIt is a mistake to simply ignore points of view that conflict with yours. Acknowledging other viewpoints strengthens your position in several ways. First, it helps you spot flaws in the opposing positionas well as in your own argument. Second, and equally important, it gives the impression that you are a reasonable person, willing to look at an issue from all sides. Readers will be more likely to consider your point of view if you indicate a willingness to consider theirs.At what point in your essay should you acknowledge opposing arguments? The earlier the betterideally, in the introduction. By quickly establishing that you recognize the other sides position, you get your readers on board with you, ready to hear what else you have to say.One effective technique is to cite the opposing viewpoint in your thesis statement. You do this by dividing your thesis into two parts. In the first part, you acknowledge the other sides point of view; in the second, you state your opinion, suggesting that yours is the stronger viewpoint. Although some students believe that studying a foreign language is a waste of time, two years of foreign-language study should be required of all college graduates. While local TV newscasts can provide a valuable community resource, too often such programs provide mere entertainment at the expense of solid news.Another effective technique is to use one or two sentences (separate from the thesis) in the introduction to acknowledge the alternative position. Such sentences briefly state the “other sides” argument. Many people argue that working can be a valuable experience for the young. However, working more than about fifteen hours a week is harmful to adolescents because it reduces their involvement with school, encourages a materialistic and expensive lifestyle, and increases the chance of having problems with drugs and alcohol.A third technique is to use a paragraph within the body of your essay to summarize opposing opinions in greater detail. To do this successfully, you must spend some time researching those opposing arguments. A fair, evenhanded summary of the other sides ideas will help convince readers that you have looked at the issue from all angles before deciding where you stand. Question: Think about the model essay. Does the author use this strategy? If not, could you give some advice to him?4 When Appropriate, Grant the Merits of Differing ViewpointsSometimes an opposing argument contains a point whose validity you cannot deny. What should you do then? The strongest strategy is to admit that the point is a good one. You will lose credibility if you argue against something that clearly makes sense. Admit the merit ofone aspect of the other argument while making it clear that you still believe your argument to be stronger overall. Suppose that you were arguing against the use of computers in writing classrooms. You might say, “Granted, students who are already accustomed to computers can use them to write papers more quickly and efficiently”admitting that the other side has a valid point. But you could quickly follow this admission with a statement making your own viewpoint clear: “But for students like me who write and think in longhand, a computer in the classroom is more a hindrance than a help; it would require too long a learning curve to be of any value to me.”Question: Think about the model essay. Does the author use this strategy? 5 Rebut Differing ViewpointsSometimes it may not be enough simply to acknowledge other points of view and present your own argument. When you are dealing with an issue that your readers feel strongly about, you may need to rebut the opposing arguments. To rebut means to point out problems with an opposing view, to show where an opponents argument breaks down. A rebuttal can take two forms: (1) You can first mention all the points raised by the other side and then present your counterargument to each of those points. (2) You can present the first point raised by the opposition and rebut that point, then move on to the second opposing point and rebut that, and so on.Question: Think about the model essay. Does the author use this strategy? III. Some final thoughts on how to write effective introductory paragraph in an argumentative essay1. About the general statements The introductory paragraph of the model contains an explanation of the issue, which is a necessary part of an argumentative essay. You may also begin an argumentative essay with a more engaging introduction-with surprising statistics, for example, or with a dramatic story. (See the example) If you write an attention-getting introduction, you may need to explain the issue in a second introductory paragraph and write your thesis statement at the end of this (the second) paragraph.In an eighth-grade English class at Kent Middle School, the students are discussing The Diary of Anne Frank, written by a 13-year-old Jewish girl while she hid with her family in an Amsterdam attic for more than two years during the Holocaust. The girls in the class identify easily with Anne and freely share their feelings about the book. The boys, by contrast, snicker or snooze - anything to avoid revealing any tender feelings. In the next class, math, the dynamic is reversed: The girls sit quietly, while the boys shout out answers and race each other to the blackboard to solve algebra equations. These scenes are typical in most middle school classes in the United States.The middle school years (grades 7 and 8) are known .2. About the thesis statement The thesis statement in an argumentative essay states clearly which side you are for:Example:*Curfew laws are unfair and should be abolished.*In my opinion, stem cell research should receive the full support of our government. A thesis statement often mentions the opposing point of view. Notice that the writers opinion is expressed in the main (independent) clause, and the opposing point of view is normally put into a subordinate structure.Study the following two examples and tell which part is the writers opinion.Despite the claims that curfew laws are necessary to control juvenile gangs, curlew laws are clearly unconstitutional.Although there are certainly reasons to be cautious with stem cell research or any new technology, I believe that its potential benefits far outweigh its dangers.Exercise 1: Connect the opposing points of view with transition signals of contrast.n Some people feel that the United States should have a national health care plan like Canadas.Others feel that government should stay out of the health care business.n Many think that genetically engineered crops are a grave danger to the environment.Such crops can alleviate world hunger and malnutrition.n Smokers say that they have a right to smoke. Smoking will kill them.n It may be true that the U.S. Constitution gives citizens the right to own weapons.The men who wrote the Constitution lived in a different time.Example answers: * Some people feel that the United States should have a national health care plan like Canadas; however, others feel that government should stay out of the health care business.*Although/Even though many think that genetically engineered crops are a gravedanger to the environment, such crops can alleviate world hunger and malnutrition.*Smokers say that they have a right to smoke in spite of the fact that/despitethe fact that smoking will kill them.* While/Whereas it may be true that the U.S. Constitution gives citizens the right to own weapons, the men who wrote the Constitution lived in a different time.Exercise 2 Add an opposing point of view to each of the following thesis statementsn Doctors or family members should never be allowed to “pull the plug”. Possible answer: Although some people believe that doctors and family members should never be allowed to “pull the plug”, I believe that it is sometimes more humane to do so.n 2. Television is the worst invention of modern times.Possible answer: Although it is sometimes true that television programming promotes the wrong values, I do not entirely agree. Many educational television channels promote good values.Review:These are the important points.1. An argumentative essay is a kind of essay in which you try to persuade your reader to agree with your opinion about a controversial topic.2. An argumentative essay contains these five elements: An explanation of the issue A clear thesis statement A summary of the opposing arguments Rebuttals to the opposing arguments Your own arguments3. Use either a block pattern or a point-by-point pattern. Be sure