Argumentative Text - Lesson 2

ENGLISH 10 LEARNING MODULE
 Use information from news report, speeches, informative talks,

panel discussions, etc. in everyday conversations and exchanges
 Evaluate and make judgements about a range of texts using a set
of criteria e.g. comparing arguments on the same topic, critiquing
a short story
: Persuasive Texts
Should Marine Mammals Be in Captivity?
By Sharon Banta
In my opinion there is no doubt that marine mammals should NOT be held in

captivity. Marine mammals are a part of nature and should not be bought, sold or thrown
in an aquarium. I believe that they have the right to be kept in their natural environment.
I have many convincing reasons to support my opinion. Captivity causes many
health problems in marine mammals. Many tanks have water full of chemicals and
bacteria; this results in blindness and many skin problems in dolphins and other marine
mammals. Marine mammals in captivity die from pneumonia, ulcers and other stress-
related diseases. Most of these helpless creatures suffer from boredom. Dolphins in the
wild can swim up to 40–100 miles per day but in pools they go around swimming in
repetitive patterns. Due to boredom and limited space many dolphins abuse themselves;
they often bang their heads against tank and aquarium walls. Some of these poor innocent
creatures face abusive treatment by their caretakers, thus shortening their life span. In
fact Keiko, the killer whale, the star of Free Willy, was a victim of this type of abuse. It was
known to be said that he was 1,000 pounds underweight and developed a wartlike disease.
His teeth were ground down from chewing the sides of the pool due to boredom and he
had a problem with his dorsal fin. Marine mammals breed very poorly in captivity with
very high infant death rates. For this reason, when a baby dolphin is born into captivity its
birth is usually kept a secret from its mother until it shows signs of survival. Marine
mammals do breed in captivity, but the birth rate in captivity is not as successful as in the
wild.
Many people think that marine mammals should remain in captivity. I realize that
some people may believe that captivity increases the life span of certain animals, but the
truth is if these creatures are so happy in captivity, why do they die so fast? Captivity
shortens animal life spans, not increases them. Wild dolphins can live 40 years in the wild
and orcas can live 90 years, but when held in captivity they rarely survive their teens.
Twenty-three out of 25 orcas have died in captivity. Some people think that holding
animals in captivity helps with study and research. But the truth is scientists prefer to
learn about animals in their natural environment so they get firsthand knowledge.
In conclusion, I think marine mammals should definitely not be held in captivity. I
think Ghandi said it best when he mentioned, "The greatness of a nation and its moral
process can be measured by the way its animals are treated." In a world where much of
nature and the wild has already been lost to us, it is up to us to let these beautiful marine
mammals free.
Name: ______________________________________ Score: _______

Put a ✓ mark:
___I worked alone on this activity.
___I received assistance from _________________________ on this activity.
A. After reading the text, identify the following features.
Title
It is a brief statement of the argument.
Thesis
It is the statement of the basic position
taken regarding the topic.
Argument/Assertion
Arguments that support and oppose the
topic supported by logic, data, and
example.
Conclusion
Evaluation, restatement of position, and
redefinition of arguments.
Summary Comment
Concise commentary or reflection
: ARGUMENTATIVE TEXT
An argumentative essay is a type of writing that presents the writer’s position or
stance on a specific topic and uses evidence to support that position. The goal of an
argumentative essay is to convince your reader that your position is logical, ethical, and,
ultimately, right. In argumentative essays, writers accomplish this by writing:
• A clear, persuasive thesis statement in the introduction paragraph
• Body paragraphs that use evidence and explanations to support the thesis
statement
• A paragraph addressing opposing positions on the topic—when appropriate
• A conclusion that gives the audience something meaningful to think about.
Introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion: these are the main sections of
an argumentative essay. Those probably sound familiar. Where does arguing come into all
of this, though? It’s not like you’re having a shouting match with your little brother across
the dinner table. You’re just writing words down on a page!
...or are you? Even though writing papers can feel like a lonely process, one of the
most important things you can do to be successful in argumentative writing is to think
about your argument as participating in a larger conversation. For one thing, you’re going
to be responding to the ideas of others as you write your argument. And when you’re done
writing, someone—a teacher, a professor, or exam scorer—is going to be reading and
evaluating your argument.
If you want to make a strong argument on any topic, you have to get informed about
what’s already been said on that topic. That includes researching the different views and
positions, figuring out what evidence has been produced, and learning the history of the
topic. That means—you guessed it!—argumentative essays almost always require you to
incorporate outside sources into your writing.
Argumentative essays are different from other types of essays for one main
reason: in an argumentative essay, you decide what the argument will be. Some types of
essays, like summaries or syntheses, don’t want you to show your stance on the topic—
they want you to remain unbiased and neutral.
In argumentative essays, you’re presenting your point of view as the writer and,
sometimes, choosing the topic you’ll be arguing about. You just want to make sure that
that point of view comes across as informed, well-reasoned, and persuasive.
Another thing about argumentative essays: they’re often longer than other types of essays.
Why, you ask? Because it takes time to develop an effective argument. If your argument is
going to be persuasive to readers, you have to address multiple points that support your
argument, acknowledge counterpoints, and provide enough evidence and explanations to
convince your reader that your points are valid.
Outline
 Introduction paragraph with a thesis statement

 New paragraph that starts with a topic sentence presenting Argumentative Point
#1
o Support Point #1 with evidence
o Explain/interpret the evidence with your own, original commentary
#2
#3
 New paragraph addressing opposing viewpoints
 Concluding paragraph
Name: ______________________________________ Score: _______

Put a ✓ mark:
A. Think of interesting topics that you think will let you prove what you believe in. You
may search, watch the news, and observe people around you. Give ten (10) topics
you want to prove then write one-sentence claim about your topics.
1. Topic: _______________________________________________________________________
One-sentence claim: ___________________________________________________________
2. Topic: _______________________________________________________________________
3. Topic: _______________________________________________________________________
4. Topic: _______________________________________________________________________
5. Topic: _______________________________________________________________________
6. Topic: _______________________________________________________________________
7. Topic: _______________________________________________________________________
8. Topic: _______________________________________________________________________
9. Topic: _______________________________________________________________________
10. Topic: _______________________________________________________________________
: Thesis Statement
Formulating Thesis Statement
1. Where is your thesis statement?

• Avoid burying a great thesis statement in the middle of a paragraph or late in the
paper.
• Be as clear and as specific as possible; avoid vague words.
• Indicate the point of your paper but avoid sentence structures like, ―The point of
my paper is…‖
• Are there two large statements connected loosely by a coordinating conjunction
(i.e. "and," "but," "or," "for," "nor," "so," "yet")?
• Would a subordinating conjunction help (i.e. "through," "although," "because,"
"since") to signal a relationship between the two sentences?
• Or do the two statements imply a fuzzy unfocused thesis?
• If so, settle on one single focus and then proceed with further development.
You should provide a thesis early in your essay -- in the introduction, or in

longer essays in the second paragraph -- in order to establish your position and give
your reader a sense of direction.
2. Is your thesis statement specific?
Your thesis statement should be as clear and specific as possible. Normally, you will
continue to refine your thesis as you revise your argument(s), so your thesis will evolve
and gain definition as you obtain a better sense of where your argument is taking you.
3. Is your thesis statement too general?

Your thesis should be limited to what can be accomplished in the specified number
of pages. Shape your topic so that you can get straight to the "meat" of it. Being specific in
your paper will be much more successful than writing about general things that do not say
much. Don't settle for three pages of just skimming the surface.
The opposite of a focused, narrow, crisp thesis is a broad, sprawling, superficial thesis.
Compare this original thesis (too general) with three possible revisions (more focused, each
presenting a different approach to the same topic):
• Original thesis:
There are serious objections to today's horror movies.
•Revised theses:
1. Because modern cinematic techniques have allowed filmmakers to get more
graphic, horror flicks have desensitized young American viewers to violence.
2. The pornographic violence in "bloodbath" slasher movies degrades both men and
women.
3. Today's slasher movies fail to deliver the emotional catharsis that 1930s horror
films did.
4. Is your thesis statement clear?

Your thesis statement is no exception to your writing: it needs to be as clear as
possible. By being as clear as possible in your thesis statement, you will make sure that
your reader understands exactly what you mean.
Unless you're writing a technical report, avoid technical language. Always avoid
jargon, unless you are confident your audience will be familiar with it.
These words tell the reader next to nothing if you do not carefully explain what you mean
by them. Never assume that the meaning of a sentence is obvious. Check to see if you
need to define your terms (‖ socialism," "conventional," "commercialism," "society"), and
then decide on the most appropriate place to do so. Do not assume, for example, that you
have the same understanding of what ―society‖ means as your reader. To avoid
misunderstandings, be as specific as possible.
Compare the original thesis (not specific and clear enough) with the revised version (much
more specific and clear)
Name: ______________________________________ Score: _______

Put a ✓ mark:
A. From the topics you have written, choose three (3) from it and construct one (1)
THESIS STATEMENT each.
1. Topic: _________________________________________________________________
Thesis Statement: ______________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
2. Topic: _________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
3. Topic: _________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Argumentative Text - Lesson 2

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Argumentative Text - Lesson 2

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ENGLISH 10 LEARNING MODULE

 Use information from news report, speeches, informative talks,

In my opinion there is no doubt that marine mammals should NOT be held in

Name: ________________________________ Score: _

A. After reading the text, identify the following features.

 Introduction paragraph with a thesis statement

Name: ________________________________ Score: _

1. Where is your thesis statement?

You should provide a thesis early in your essay -- in the introduction, or in

2. Is your thesis statement specific?

3. Is your thesis statement too general?

4. Is your thesis statement clear?

Name: ________________________________ Score: _

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