Arguing Your Way Through Life

In your SPM, one of the five questions in Section B of Paper 1, English 1119 will feature on either argumentative or opinion. You write an argument to convince people to accept the position that you have taken. It's like debating, only one side can be absolutely right. Although it is NOT recommendable for you to attempt these questions, you can still do so (Why? Even I don't know)

But note that finding a solution and providing a critical analysis on the topic given will require you to work extra hard. Some pre-knowledge on the issue would be awesome as students can ramble on without substance. (Which is why some students talk about Puduraya when the question asks on Space Station- asal station, saya jawab)

Here are some tips on how to write it:

1. Have a clear position. You cannot give pros and cons of the topic as that would be a discussion based question.

In your thesis sentence, state what your position is. You do not need to say: "I believe that we should financially support the space station." Using the first person weakens your argument. Say "Funding for the space station is imperative to maintain America's competitive edge in the global economy." The thesis can be modified elsewhere in the essay if you need to qualify your position, but avoid hedging in your thesis.

2. Have a convincing argument.

An argumentative essay does not merely assert an opinion; it presents an argument, and that argument must be backed up by data that persuades readers that the opinion is valid. This data consists of facts, statistics, the testimony of others through personal interviews and questionnaires or through articles and books, and examples.

3. Use a reasonable tone.

Assume that your reader will disagree with you or be skeptical. It is important, therefore, that your tone be reasonable, professional, and trustworthy. By anticipating objections and making concessions, you inspire confidence and show your good will.


Argumentation/Proposals: Anticipating Objections
and Making Concessions

When writing an argumentative, it is helpful to include two important writing strategies: anticipating objections and making concessions.


Anticipating objections--When you anticipate objections to your argument or proposal, you are making an effort to see the others' viewpoints. By making an effort, I mean you actually state other viewpoints. You are also troubleshooting problems that you must overcome to write a thorough proposal or position paper.


Making concessions--When you make a concession, you actually give in to part of the other person's objections or views. You admit that he is half right, perhaps, or that he has a valid concern. Then you overcome that concern by logic and/or a solution.
If you cannot find any objections or concessions, then you are probably not writing an argumentative paper.
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Rationale
Without anticipating objections and making concessions, you are making many statements about yourself that you may not be aware of. You may be saying, for instance, that you are narrow-minded, lazy, or opinionated. You could be, in fact, proving your own ignorance (or your lack of it) by what you leave in and what you leave out of a paper. Such a paper is revealing, and, as such, can be dangerous to your employment health.

Since one of the reasons for writing a position paper is to persuade another person to take your side, what you also do if you ignore other sides is to antagonize your readers and insult their intelligence. If your audience feels that you are not interested in their viewpoints, then there is no reason for them to continue reading your argument. If you are writing a proposal, your audience might dismiss the proposal altogether if it lacks these points. If you have not anticipated objections and made concessions, then you run the risk of seeming to have shallow ideas.

Making concessions and anticipating objections also gives you a built-in checklist to make sure that you have covered all the bases you need to in order to write a thorough proposal or position paper.

The practice also enlarges thinking, forcing writers to realize that they are only a small part of a very complex universe and that other points of view not only exist, but have validity.

Confused? Look at this example then...


You are writing a position paper about censorship. Begin with your introduction and thesis (position). Then write several paragraphs in which you discuss censorship and support your viewpoint. After discussing your viewpoint, write a single paragraph like the following:

While censorship is dangerous to a free society, some of the concerned citizens who are in favor of censorship may have valid points when they object that children should not be exposed to television violence. [Here you have made a concession and anticipated an objection in one sentence.] Indeed, often there is too much violence on television [Again, a concession, a point of agreement.] Perhaps the answer is for all networks to establish the same guidelines of self-censorship [Here I offer a partial solution most can agree on.] If the networks were more responsible and tried to avoid material that is in poor taste, governmental officials, religious groups, and concerned parents might not feel the need to be involved in their decisions at all.

Notice that in the above paragraph I did not call the opposition "ridiculous" or "absurd," which would automatically antagonize them. I called them "concerned citizens" because from their point of view, that's exactly what they are.