Writing argumentatively

WELCOME TO another lesson! In last week’s lesson, we looked at how the argumentative essay is organised, and special emphasis was given to potential topics. I do hope you have been reading The Gleaner and watching TVJ more.

Now, before we focus on the persuasive essay in more detail, let me share with you a few observations CXC has noted in students’ performance on Section D over the years.

GENERAL OBSERVATIONS

1. Too many responses lacked adequate and well-reasoned points.

2. Many essays lacked the appropriate and required argumentative techniques.

3. Some essays are too short, which indicate poor management of time.

4. There are some students who confuse an essay with a letter.

5. Many essays are impaired by poor use of grammar, spelling blunders and weak sentence construction.

In this lesson, I will provide you with sample introductions and body paragraphs. This should prove useful to you, as you will gain practical examples of these parts of the argumentative essay.

SAMPLE INTRODUCTION # 1

School uniforms no longer have a place in the school system.

Uniforms have been a regular feature of the school system for a number of years. However, many individuals are of the view that they should be removed. Such a decision should never be taken, for several reasons. One, uniforms function as a means of identifying students; two, it is cheaper for students to wear uniforms; and three, many students would wear inappropriate clothing to school.

In this introduction, it is clear the individual is against the topic.

SAMPLE INTRODUCTION # 2

In many schools nowadays, indiscipline among students is a major concern. This has increased calls for corporal punishment to be reintroduced as a means of curbing indiscipline. The thought of beating students is unacceptable because it is a form of abuse, students/parents may retaliate, and there are other ways to curb indisciplined behaviour.

In this introduction, the individual is against corporal punishment.

MORE ON THE BODY

You are expected to include persuasive techniques in your essays because they contribute to the overall marks you receive. However, they must be used appropriately and effectively.

Below, I have provided three body paragraphs that demonstrate the use of persuasive techniques. The techniques are in bold.

SAMPLE BODY PARAGRAPH # 1

Firstly, many secondary-school students tend to have an improper diet. All teenagers need a lot of nutrients so that they may be able to carry out their daily tasks efficiently. Results from a recent survey done at a secondary school in Jamaica show that seven out of ten students do not eat a proper meal every day. This is very alarming! If free lunch is provided for secondary-school students, they can be given the proper nutrients that they need to be healthy and strong and to do well.

Persuasive Technique: Use of research evidence.

SAMPLE BODY PARAGRAPH # 2

Also, cell phones disrupt classes. Is it fair for a class to be interrupted by a loud and often inappropriate ring tone? If a cell phone rings in class, this can interrupt the learning process because the teacher will have to stop his/her lesson in order to admonish the person who disrupted the class. When this happens, valuable time is lost and a topic that should

have been completed is delayed. This can be quite annoying and frustrating. Persuasive Techniques: Rhetorical question and emotive language.

SAMPLE BODY PARAGRAPH # 3

Additionally, bleaching is extremely damaging to the skin. This practice removes the melanin and exposes the person to the harsh rays of the sun. Prominent dermatologist Dr Neil Persadsingh has asserted that skin bleaching is hazardous to one’s health. Apart from exposing us to the damaging effects of the sun, he states that those who use bleaching cream can absorb the steroids in these products, which can lead to diabetes or high blood pressure. It would be foolish to continue bleaching one’s skin in light of how destructive it has proven to be.

Persuasive Techniques: Use of expert/authority figure and use of evidence.

I hope these samples prove useful as you practise writing your own essays. Below, I leave you with a sample essay based on the essay topic: ‘Music and visual arts should be taken from the school’s curriculum in order to solve the island’s economic problems.’

SAMPLE ESSAY

More taxes, higher food prices and a lack of jobs are some of the economic woes that the island of Jamaica has been facing for some time now. As a way of solving these problems, a proposal has been made to cut music and visual arts from the school’s curriculum. However, such a proposal is not only preposterous, but a retrograde way to go about solving our island’s problems. Firstly, these creative subjects are vital to the development of some students. Secondly, the students enrolled in these subjects can contribute to this island economically in the future. Lastly, there are better ways of solving the island’s economic issues.

To begin with, every child has an area which he/she likes and is really good at. For some, it may be science subjects, and then for others, it might be the more creative subjects. If the government cuts subjects like music and visual arts, they are also cutting some children’s artistic and social development and this is not fair. These children should be allowed to study subjects they like without worrying that it might be cut from the curriculum.

Additionally, students enrolled in subjects such as music and visual arts usually become artists or musicians or musical artistes. Is it fair to deprive the next Edna Manley or the next Bob Marley? These careers give back to the island tremendously through foreign exchange. Not only do they provide a source of income for the island, they also make the island a tourist attraction, which further causes the country to earn more revenue.

Furthermore, there are many better ways of solving this economic situation the island is in. For example, the travelling, utility and personal allowances of members of parliament can be decreased. Without these insignificant allowances, these ministers’ salaries will still be very high and this will not have any huge economic effect on them. Also, more efficient spending and less instances of waste can positively impact the economy. With the lowering or even cutting of these expenses, the economy of Jamaica will improve by as much as 5%.

In conclusion, people might say that cutting these subjects may be the best economic way of resolving the island’s problems, but this is not true. Many people will be unemployed if this happens and the unemployment rate will increase significantly, causing the economy to suffer. The government should find other ways to solve economic problems instead of cutting vital subjects like visual arts and music from the curriculum.

See you next week!