In my Year 10 English class, we’ve recently completed a unit of work on Argumentative Writing. In this task, students were required to complete three mini tasks, which included writing a letter to the editor, a response to an article from the 1960’s featuring predictions for what life will be like in year 2000, and response to a choice of several topics. Click the “read more” link to see the full details of the task.
There are 3 components to this task.
1. Letter to the Editor (250 words)
- In response to a current topic, or an issue of importance to you.
2. “Will life be worth living in 2000″ - Response to predictions (200 words) (predictions available here)
- Do you think the predictions made by the author were good or bad - state your case?
3. Response to one of the topics below (300 words)
· Should animals be used for scientific research?
· Do we have the right to exhume bodies of prominent people and move them from one place to another?
· Was Saddam Hussein’s execution an essential point in establishing democracy in Iraq?
· Should men be allowed to have more than one wife?
· Plastic surgery: a way to become more beautiful, or someone’s unhealthy idea?
· In some Asian countries cutting off thief’s right hand is still commonly practiced. Do you think this is the best way out?
· Why do atheists have to be tolerant to religious people, while religious people are not tolerant to atheists?
· Vegetarians vs. Meat eaters - Whose side are you on?
· Why should young people be allowed to drive from the age of 16, when you must be 18 to gamble, drink alcohol, or enter into legal contracts?
· Your Mum/Dad is not happy with what you’re wearing, and your friend is waiting out the front to take you to a party. Try to calm them down and reassure them that what you’re wearing is appropriate.
· You think that school uniform destroys you as an individual. Write a persuasive letter to Ms Nielson.
Here are some good points to remember for writing an argumentative/persuasive paper:
Be clear about what your argument is. Know what it is you are going to say and how you are going to say it, and make this clear in your introductory paragraph. Your writing won’t be persuasive if you aren’t clear about your proposition.
Keep it relevant. Irrelevant points do not contribute to convincing the reader of your argument. Keep each paragraph relevant to your proposition.
Make sure your writing follows a logical structure. Points of argument that are otherwise good will lose their strength if they do not flow together properly. Make your structure clear in your introductory paragraph and then stick to it.
Keep to one main point per paragraph.
Use correct grammar and spelling. This may sound basic, but poor spelling and grammar do detract from a well-argued paper.
Use a formal style. Formal language and tone is much more appropriate for this kind of writing than colloquial style.