Mode Four Essay Writing

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Mode Four (Essay Writing)
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Argumentationor Argumentative Writing
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I. Purpose

• The purpose of
• argumentation is to
• convince the reader.

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• 1. to make the reader agree
• with its point of view and
• support it
• 2. to persuade him to change his
• mind or behavior
• 3. to approve a policy or a course
• of action that it proposes

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while the purpose ofexposition is to explain and
to make the readers understand.
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II. Range of Application1. Speeches on
policies,2. Editorials of newspapers,3.
Articles on political questions4. Various
proposals
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III. MethodsArgumentation frequently uses other
three types of writing, especially exposition,
for argumentation and exposition are very closely
related.
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IV. Features Argumentation essays have basic
features in common, though they take different
shapes. The following are the requirements.
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A Debatable Point (Which)A. Mere statements of
facts Tom is a boy. Tom is
boyish.B. Statements of personal preference
Ba Jin is my favorite writer. Ba Jin is
the greatest Chinese Writer.
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C. Viewpoints that are generally
accepted or can be easily verified 1)
Noise pollution is harmful to peoples
health. 2) Noise pollution is the most
harmful of all environmental pollutions.
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2. Sufficient evidence a. Common knowledge
(No body can live without
water) b. Specific examples
(opposition---Point
Counterpoint or go to the extreme
first)
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c. Hard evidence, or fact (not
opinion)d. Statistics (bar graph or
chart)e. Experts opinions (indirect
statements)
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f. Quotations from authorities (direct
statements) Valid evidence is that which is
clearly and directly connected with
the point to be proved
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3. Good logicA. Inductive reasoning (from
specific to general) John can speak. Tom
can speak. David can speak. They are all
human beings. Human beings can speak.
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John is greedy. (Fact) Tom is greedy.
(Fact) David is greedy. (Fact) They are all
human beings (fact). Human beings are greedy
(conclusion, universal truth?)
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Example John and Marry became vegetarians last
fall and theyve been sick all winter. The
absence of meat in their diets must have weakened
their immune systems.(Is the conclusion
logical?)
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Deductive reasoning (from general to specific)
1) All human beings make
mistakes---the major premise2) Tom is a human
being--- the minor premise3) Therefore,
Tom makes mistakes---conclusion
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NotesBe sure not to jump to conclusion Be
sure to avoid hasty generalizationBut circular
reasoning
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5. Good use of other three types of
writing a. Description b. Narration
c. Especially various methods of
exposition
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6. An honest and friendly attitude
To argue is not to quarrel.
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Its force does not come from Abuse
Sarcasm Exaggeration Fierce attack
Domineering or hostile tone Neither overstate
nor understate Not overuse of words such as
perhaps, maybe, sometimes
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Sample Reading
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Less Desire, More Happiness
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Through history, three things seem to men most
important---life, liberty and the pursuit of
happiness. Comparatively speaking, I think, life
and liberty are easier to get. But the pursuit of
happiness brings people headaches.
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The concept of happiness is different from
person to person. To a young student in high
school, maybe entering a prestigious university
to a university student, like me, success in
job-hunting after graduation to a man with a
good job, an ideal spouse to a new couple, a
very clever child
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Almost anyone, no matter how beautiful (handsome)
she (or he) is, no matter how intelligent he is,
no matter how rich he is, no matter how rosy his
prospect is, will never end in wanting more, will
never regard himself as happy enough. I can
almost say that it is desire, endless and
unsatisfactory desire that produces so many
sad-looking faces.
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Therefore, if you really want tothrow your
unhappiness away, please, more or less, restrain
your desire, try to be optimistic, to be
satisfied with everything, to work hard with
little concern for the result. If you failed in
an entrance exam, be sure its not the end of
the world if you are a man with a humble job,
enjoy your humble salary and limited leisure time
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if your spouse is not the lover of your dream,
consider that yourself is also far from being
perfect if your child does not have a quick
mind, dont worry because there is little
relationship between intelligence and happiness.
And, if every-thing goes wrong, be calm and
happy, also for what can rid you of chaos is my
sincere advice devoting yourself to work and
forgetting everything.
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Happiness is an ideal state in your mind. After
you master an anxiety after you get bored with
competition, intrigue and calculation, after you
get what you once look upon as happiness but
finally turn out to be nothing, you will be calm,
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you will realize that happiness is not exactly
power or property, is not success in your
undertaking or solidarity between you and your
spouse. Its in your heart actually. You can
easily find it, but you always neglect it. Be
calm with all kinds of things around you and you
will achieve happiness.
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Of course, however, it may be impossible to
eliminate the desires of human beings, for men
are born with desire. Yet, that the desire is the
enemy of happiness is undoubtedly the truth.
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So, let us cut out some of our desires and
remember a saying of Buddhism Less desire leads
to more happiness. Real happiness involves pain,
involves hard things, but never involves desire.
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Key Features of Argumentative Writing

• 1. It clearly define the issue and has a
• clear position
• 2. The argument is well reasoned and
• well developed (Confirmation
• Refutation)
• 3. It has a appropriate tone and credible
• persona

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Writing Practice1. On success2. On Happiness
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Possible Oppositions

• 1. Making a lot of money, or being very rich
• 2. Marrying a very rich male or female,or a
• VIP
• 3. Having a beautiful or handsome spouse,
• 4. Winning fame or popularity
• 5. Achieving a set goal in academic fields
• 6. Having a beautiful house, a luxurious
• car