Cara Menulis Teks/Esai/Naskah Argumen dengan berbagai model : langkah-langkah--
How to Write an Argument Essay
Step by Step
What is an
Argumentative Essay?
Argument essays seek to state
a position on an issue and give several reasons, supported by evidence, for
agreeing with that position.
Finding Ideas to
Write About
Argument essay topics can be
found everywhere. Check the headlines of a newspaper, or just listen in on a
conversation at Starbucks. Chances are, you will hear someone trying to
persuade another person to believe in their claim about:
Is it true?
What caused this?
How important is it?
What should we do about it?
5 Types of
Argument Claims
1. Fact: Is it true or not?
2. Definition: What does it
really mean?
3. Value: How important is it?
4. Cause and Effect: What is
the cause? What are the effects?
5. Policy: What should we do
about it?
How to Write Your
Thesis
Question/Answer
format: To make your topic
idea into a thesis you need to turn the topic idea into a question first.
Examples:
Does divorce cause serious
problems for the children? (fact)
What is "domestic
violence?" (definition)
What are the causes of
divorce? (cause)
How important is it for
couples to avoid divorce? (value)
What can you do to make your
marriage divorce-proof? (proposal)
Answer: Your question often can be the title of your
paper, or it can be the last line of the introduction. Your answer to this
question is your thesis.
Example: The most
important way to make your marriage divorce-proof is to make sure you have
carefully prepared for that commitment.
Refute Objections: You might want to put an introductory phrase in
the first part of your thesis to show that you are refuting other ideas about
the answer.
Example: While
some people think there is no way to divorce-proof your marriage, studies have
shown that there are fewer divorces when people carefully prepare for that
commitment.
Roadmap: An additional way to make a strong thesis is to do a
"Roadmap" which tells in just a few words the three or more main
points you will cover.
Example: While
some people think there is no way to divorce-proof your marriage, studies have
shown that there are fewer divorces when people carefully prepare for that
commitment by taking time to get to know the other person before becoming
engaged, spending time with one another's family and friends, talking about
hot-button issues like finances, and getting extensive premarital counseling.
Introduction and
Conclusion
|
Introduction
Ideas
|
Conclusion
Ideas
|
|
Use a true story
|
What will happen if your
solution is adopted or people accept your argument.
|
|
Scenario: imaginary story
which illustrates the problem
|
Revise the scenario showing
what will happen if the reader adopts your ideas.
|
|
Startling quotation, fact or
statistic
|
Use a real-life example of
how your idea works.
|
|
Explain the problem
|
Tell the reader what they
need to think, do, feel or believe.
|
|
Describe vividly
|
Appeal to the reader's
emotions, character, or reason.
|
|
Frame story or flashback
|
Finish the frame story.
|
You can mix and match these
ideas for your essay.
Outlining Your
Paper
Argument essays are fairly
straightforward in their organization. In your paper, you will need to do the
following
Interest the reader in the
situation and make them think it is worth learning more about.
Explain the controversy or
problem clearly.
Explain the sides of the
debate.
Tell them your side.
Convince them that your side
is the best one to take.
Refute any objections they may
be thinking about as they read.
Urge the reader to adopt our
point of view to do, think or believe something.
Introduction: Explain
the subject, the controversy, and end with your thesis. Here are some tips:
Use the title to present your
point of view. Often the title can be a question.
Think about your audience—what
aspects of this issue would most interest or convince them?
Check out the introduction and
conclusion chart for creative ways to introduce your paper.
Make sure you have a clear
thesis which answers the question. The thesis should tell your position and is
usually the last sentence of your introduction.
Body:
Explains the reasons your audience should agree with your thesis. Your body
needs to also refute objections or other points of view.
1. Reasons and support
Usually, you will have three
or more reasons why the reader should accept your position. These will be your
topic sentences.
Support each of these reasons
with argument, examples, statistics, authorities or anecdotes
To make your reasons seem
plausible, connect them back to your position by using “if…then” reasoning
2. Anticipate opposing
positions and objections
What objections will your
readers have? Answer them with argument or evidence.
What other positions do people
take on this subject? What is your reason for rejecting these positions?
Conclusion: Make a final point which tells the reader what to think or do.
Why should the reader adopt
your point of view?
You might use the anticipating
objections in the conclusion.
Toulmin Argument
Model
3 Argument
Strategies
There are three types of
argument strategies: Classical, Rogerian and Toulmin.
You can choose one of these or
combine them to create your own argument paper.
Classical Argument
Strategy
This strategy that you feel
strongly about and when you feel you have a good chance of convincing your
audience to agree with you. Your audience may be uninformed, or they may not
have a strong opinion. Your job is to make them care about the topic and agree
with your position. Here is the basic outline of a classical argument paper:
Introduction: announces subject, gets readers interest and
attention, makes writer seem trustworthy
Narration: gives background, context, statement of problem or
definition
Partition: states thesis or claim and outlines arguments
Argument: makes arguments to support thesis and gives evidence
(largest section of paper—the main body)
Refutation: shows why opposing arguments are not true or valid
Conclusion: Summarizes arguments, suggests solution and ties
into the introduction or background.
Rogerian Strategy
Rogerian argument strategy
attempts to persuade by finding points of compromise and agreement. It is an
appropriate technique to use in highly polarized debates, but you must be
sincere about willingness to compromise and change your point of view for the
reader to take you seriously. Qualities of this strategy:
The author is
Reasonable: Present your
character as a person who understands and empathizes with the opposition. Often
this means you state opposing position fairly and sympathetically. Example:
it is not fair that animals are subjected to painful experimentation to help
humans find new cures.
Common Ground: Establish common ground in beliefs and values you
shareExample: As the dominant species, we do have responsibilities.
Willingness to
Change: Be willing to change views
and show where your position could be modified. Example: It is a good
idea to invest in trying to find ways to get information without using live
animals in experiments.
Compromise: Direct your argument toward a compromise or workable
solution.Example: let’s look for other ways to get information without using
animals, but until we do, we probably need to continue experimentation.
Toulmin Strategy
Toulmin is another strategy to
use in a highly charged debate. Instead of attempting to appeal to
commonalities, however, this strategy attempts to use clear logic and careful
qualifiers to limit the argument to things that can be agreed upon. It uses
this format:
Data: Evidence presented. Example: Pornography on
The Internet is bad for kids.
Claim: the thesis the author hopes to prove. Example:
Government should regulate Internet pornography.
Warrant: The statement that explains how the data backs up
the claim. Example: Government regulation works in other instances.
Backing: Additional logic and reasoning. Example: We
have lots of other government regulations on media.
Qualifier: The short phrase (usually uses “typically,”
“usually,” or “on the whole”) which limits the scope of the claim. Example:
In most cases, the government should regulate pornography.
Exceptions: This further limits the claim by describing
situations the writer would exclude. Example: Where children are not
involved in pornography, regulation may not be urgent.