Argumentative_essay 英文议论文写作基础

➢ Good logic is the heart of the argumentative
essay.
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Ⅲ. Strategies for logical persuasion ➢ Be fully aware of your audience or
reader; As the purpose of an argumentative essay is to convince the reader of your position, you should address your reader by writing objectively, logically, and respectfully.
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Ⅴ. Organizing an argumentative essay (1) Introduction
To make a good beginning of such an essay,
you should first introduce the problem and
the thesis to clarify the controversial issue
To confirm your personal point of view,
you need to give reasons to support your
thesis;
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the reasons must be convincing evidence which is normally from
Jonny likes to suffer. ( C )
The above reasoning process appears
illogical since the major premise is not
based on the truth.
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➢ The major premise and the minor premise must be set up to follow the correct logical order; The correct logical order is as follows: A = B All automobiles have wheels. C = A Honda is an automobile. ∴ C = B Therefore, Honda has wheels.
The Argumentative Essay
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Ⅰ. Main communicative purposes of the argumentative essay:
To convince or persuade
➢ to agree with an opinion; ➢ to defend an opinion; ➢ to attack an opinion you believe
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➢ The terms in one premise must be used the same way in the other premise.
Look at the following examples:
Some vegetarians eat eggs.
John is a vegetarian.
➢ The major premise and the minor premise must be true if the conclusion is to be valid;
e.g., All people like to suffer. ( MaP )
Jonny is a person. ( MiP )
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An incorrect logical order is as follows: All A = B All automobiles have
wheels. C = B Honda has wheels.
∴ C = A Therefore, Honda is automobile. (Such an illogical order makes the conclusion invalid, for Honda might be a motorcycle or a wagon.)
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The essay should refute opposing arguments. This is a very particular characteristic which distinguishes argumentative essays from expository essays. You must not only present your own point of view and prove it, but also refute your opponent’s view and prove that yours is more valid or superior.
➢ The argument cannot be
general belief;
personal preference ;
or fact
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➢ Two sides are generally involved:
proponents ( those in favor of the issue) and opponents ( those against the issue);
（Notice: Some complex issues require more than one premise to be proved.)
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To avoid being illogical in this reasoning process, you need to keep the following points in mind:
➢ The minor premise is the part that
you need to prove in your argument.
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e.g. If the issue is about nuclear power plant construction, you may take the three-step form of reasoning like this:
∴ John eats eggs.
All Americans speak English.
Mary is a South American.
∴ Mary speaks English.
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Ⅳ. Planning an argumentative essay
When you plan an argumentative essay, keep in mind the following points: The argumentative essay should introduce and explain the issue or case; The essay should offer adequate reasons and support the reasons with good evidence;
examining particular details such as
specific cases, facts, or examples. The
conclusion is made based on the
evidence coming from the specific
details.
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Deduction（演绎）: the process of reasoning from the general to the specific. It begins with a generalization and is applied in a specific case. The conclusion is drawn based on a generalization.
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➢ Try to identify and understand your opponent’s point of view You cannot just present your own opinion in argumentation. This can never convince the reader. You have to consider the point of view of your opponent’s.
to your reader. Then you should provide
background information.
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(2) The developmental part
Confirmation (2-3 paragraphs) and refutation (1-3 paragraphs )are required in developing the main part of the essay.
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To be more specific,
➢ the major premise is a generalization that you and your reader can both agree on, whether it is a generally accepted statement or whether you have already proved it earlier in the argument.
Major premise: Only safe sources of energy should be develouclear power plants are safe sources of energy.
Conclusion: Therefore, nuclear power plants should be constructed.
This three-step form can be illustrated as follows:
Major Premise: Dogs bark.
Minor Premise: Little Brown is a dog.
Conclusion: Therefore, Little Brown barks.
➢ The thesis must take a side of an issue, and frequently proposes a course of action;
➢ The argumentative essay are highly persuasive and logical ( often expressed with the modal “should”);
to be misguiding, untrue, or evil
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Ⅱ. Basic features
➢ The argumentative essay must take a controversial issue for an open debate, i.e., the issue must be arguable;
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3. Use two forms of logical reasoning:
induction and deduction.
Induction（归纳）: the process of
reasoning from the particular details
to the general conclusion. It involves
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Deduction involves a three-step form of
reasoning called Syllogism（三段论）: Major
Premise ( the initial generalization), Minor Premise ( the specific case ), and Conclusion ( the resulting statement).