Argumentative Essay

Generalization for the Argumentative Essay:

There is 55 minutes to read, write, and revise an essay. When creating an essay:

• Have a clear answer ti the question presented for this task

• Integrate all three sources in support if the overall argument

• Organize thoughts

• Use appropriate language for the presentational essay

When assessing the essay, look to see if you accomplished these tasks:

• Did you answer the question with a clear thesis?

• Did you incorporate information from all three sources in support of the argument?

• Does the argument drive the essay and is there frequent elaboration

• Is the response fully comprehensible

• Did you response use of language show some sophistication?

• Is you response well organized?

Strategies for the Argumentative Essay:

The following is a guideline about how you should budget time and review effectively:

Read Source 1 (4 minutes):

• Read the introduction to the article

• Read the title of the article

• As you read underline key words and phrases that will help remember key ideas about the test

• Focus on what it is you do know. Use context clues to infer the meaning of unfamiliar words, but do not spend too much time trying to decipher complicated information

• When you finish reading, write down key words from the text that best summarizes the point of view of the article

Read Source 2 (2 minutes):

• Read the introduction to the graph, chart, or table

• Read the title of the graph, chart, or table

• Analyze the information and come up with one or two ideas that clearly can be defended by the information in the graph, chart, or table. Remember that almost always this information presents objective data, and does not have a particular point of view. Don’t force a point of view unless it is clearly presented in the graphic.

Listen to Source 3 (5 - 7 minutes):

• Read the introduction to soucre 3 when directed to do so. Make a prediction of the point of view that this audio might be taking. Generally speaking, the audio will contain information that presents a different point of view that the article.

• Listen to the audio for the first time to get a general idea of the overall argument. Visualize as you listen.

• When you listen for the second time, take notes of key words that will help you remember one or two ideas from the audio source relating to the topic.

• Focus on what it is you understand and don’t get hung up on what you don’t understand, use contextual clues to help you understand unfamiliar words or phrases.

Writing you essay (35 minutes):

• Begin by rereading the question you have to answer

• Make a decision as to the answer to the question

• Structure your essay correctly (introduction, body, and conclusion)

• Present your argument and use information from the sources to support you argument. Cite sources as you use them.

• Vary your vocabulary. Make sure that you also use vocabulary from the sources correctly.

• Make sure that your ideas re clear and succinct.

• Include a variety of tenses and/ or moods, if appropriate. Do not try to force the use of different tenses or moods, as this will count against you if it makes your response confusing

• If a mistake is made, draw a kine through it and keep writing

After your finish writing (5 minutes):

• Proofread your essay and make sure that…

  • you clearly answered the question;

  • you overall response is clear and supported by the information fro the source

  • you ideas are clear to an unsympathetic reader; and

  • you used correct orthography, punctuation, and paraphrasing

Writing your Argumentative Essay:

The general outline for an essay incudes the following:

• Introduction (1 paragraph)

  • Present the topic of the essay,

  • Present the two points of view on the essay, and

  • Clearly state you thesis

• Body paragraph (2 paragraph)

  • Paragraph 1

    • Begin by introducing your first idea that defends your thesis

    • Use evidence from one or two of the sources to support your idea. Cite the sources as you can use them.

    • Finish by elaborating why you idea is valid

  • Paragraph 2

    • Begin by presenting the opposite point of view

    • Use evidence from one of the sources as evidence to support this opposite point of view. Cite the sources as you use it.

    • Reject this point of view and reaffirm your point of view. Use information from the sources to support this rejection and reaffirmation. Cite the sources as you use them

• Conclusion (1 paragraph)

  • Restate your thesis

  • Summarize the evidence that used to prove your thesis

  • Make a final remark or call to action gives your essay that gives a sense of closure and ending.

Citing Sources:

When you cites sources, be as brief as possible. You can write something as simple as “Según fuente # …”, “Como afirma/ cree”, or write “(F#)” after you present the idea from the source.

Vocabulary:

Sample Essay:

El sueño es una parte fundamental de nuestra salud y bienestar. Aunque todos concuerdan que es vital que la gente tenga la oportunidad de recuperarse de los esfuerzos físicos y mentales que nos enfrentan diariamente, no hay consenso del número de horas que hay que dormir. Unos dicen que hay que dormir un mínimo de ocho horas diariamente, mientras otros dicen que no son necesarias. Para mí, creo que es imprescindible que la gente duerma ocho horas como mínimo porque beneficia la calidad de nuestra productividad y ayuda a mantener una vida sana.

Como punto de partida, dormir ocho horas es beneficioso para la salud mental y física. Nosotros nos encontramos en un mundo lleno de estímulos, y muchas veces es difícil manejar todas las expectativas que nos rodean. Los estudiantes, por ejemplo, tienen un sinfín de obligaciones académicas, y es común que ellos trasnochen completando un proyecto o estudiando para un examen. Pero no dormir lo suficiente puede causar peor rendimiento (fuente 3). Además, puede llevar a problemas físicos. Según la fuente 3, no dormir lo suficiente aumenta el riesgo de contraer enfermedades, tal como la obesidad y cáncer. Los expertos concuerdan, y el prestigioso National Sleep Foundation recomienda un mínimo de 8 horas para todas las edades, y cuanto menos años uno tiene, más tiene que dormir. Por consiguiente, es lógico que la gente duerma ocho horas cada día.

Por otro lado, hay unos que argumentan que dormir ocho horas no es necesario. Ellos argumentan que alguien que duerme menos de ocho horas puede llevar a cabo las mismas funciones que alguien que haya dormido ocho horas, y hacen referencias a estudios que muestran que dormir más de ocho horas es peor que dormir menos de cinco horas (fuente 1). Sin embargo, también admiten que dormir menos de ocho horas afecta la capacidad de poder concentrarse (fuente 1), una consecuencia bastante grave particularmente si es un estudiante tomando un examen u operador de equipo pesado donde la falta de concentración puede causarle fracasar un examen o matar a alguien. Por lo tanto, no parece que valga la pena poner a sí mismo o a otros a riesgo por la falta de sueño.

Para concluir, a mi parecer es imprescindible que durmamos lo suficiente cada noche, y tanto los expertos, como la muchedumbre están de acuerdo que lo suficiente equivale a ocho horas diarias (fuentes 2 y 3). Dormir ocho horas no sólo permite que uno pueda llevar a cabo bien sus responsabilidades, sino también ayuda a prevenir trastornos físicos. Con todos los beneficios que aporta, ¿quién no dormirá ocho horas?

As you look over this response, make note of the following:

• The organization of the response into the three distinct portions (introduction, body, conclusion)

• The organization of each of the portions:

  • Introduction- Introduces the topic, presents the contrasting points of view, and then clearly presents a thesis.

  • Body 1 - Introduces an idea in support of the thesis. Uses evidence from sources 3 and 2 in support of the idea.

  • Body 2 - Presents the other point of view. Uses evidence from source 1 to support this point of view. Rejects the point of view, and goes back to defending original thesis.

  • Conclusion - Reaffirms thesis, summarizes evidence to support thesis, and closes the essay with a final comment.

• Conclusion-Reaffirms thesis, summarizes evidence to support thesis, and closes the essay with a final comment.

• The information from the sources serves to support the argument

• Use of transitional phrases (Como punto de partida..., por ejemplo..., Además ..., Por consiguiente.... Por otro lado..., Por lo tanto..., Para concluir...)

• Elaboration throughout

• Use of a variety of verb moods and tenses (present, present subjunctive) and a wide range of vocabulary