UNIT 8 UNDERSTANDING THE TEXT STRUCTURE 4 UNDERSTANDING
- Slides: 14
UNIT 8 UNDERSTANDING THE TEXT STRUCTURE �� 4 UNDERSTANDING THE STRUCTURE OF AN ARGUMENT TEXT
UNDERSTANDING THE STRUCTURE OF AN ARGUMENT TEXT We are going to look at: • The different parts of a typical argument text • The purpose of each part • The structural pattern followed by a typical argument text
WHAT IS AN ARGUMENT TEXT? • An argument text gives the author’s opinion and supports it with evidence. • The purpose: to persuade or to show reasons for a particular opinion.
STRUCTURE OF AN ARGUMENT TEXT PARTS OF AN ARGUMENT TEXT PURPOSE OF EACH PART General Statement • To introduce the subject of the essay: an issue, a controversy, a problem, an idea over which people hold different points of view Definition (optional) • To explain important technical words, if need be Thesis • To give the opinion of the writer Preview • To tell the reader what parts of the topic will be included in the essay • To provide an essay map for both the content and the structure of the essay (1) INTRODUCTION
STRUCTURE OF AN ARGUMENT TEXT PARTS OF AN ARGUMENT TEXT PURPOSE OF EACH PART General Statement • To introduce the subject of the essay: an issue, a controversy, a problem, an idea over which people hold different points of view Definition (optional) • To explain important technical words, if need be Thesis • To give the opinion of the writer Preview • To tell the reader what parts of the topic will be included in the essay • To provide an essay map for both the content and the structure of the essay (1) INTRODUCTION
STRUCTURE OF AN ARGUMENT TEXT PARTS OF AN ARGUMENT TEXT PURPOSE OF EACH PART General Statement • To introduce the subject of the essay: an issue, a controversy, a problem, an idea over which people hold different points of view Definition (optional) • To explain important technical words, if need be Thesis • To give the opinion of the writer Preview • To tell the reader what parts of the topic will be included in the essay • To provide an essay map for both the content and the structure of the essay (1) INTRODUCTION
STRUCTURE OF AN ARGUMENT TEXT PARTS OF AN ARGUMENT TEXT PURPOSE OF EACH PART General Statement • To introduce the subject of the essay: an issue, a controversy, a problem, an idea over which people hold different points of view Definition (optional) • To explain important technical words, if need be Thesis • To give the opinion of the writer Preview • To tell the reader what parts of the topic will be included in the essay • To provide an essay map for both the content and the structure of the essay (1) INTRODUCTION
STRUCTURE OF AN ARGUMENT TEXT PARTS OF AN ARGUMENT TEXT PURPOSE OF EACH PART (2) BODY • Typically following a sequence structure (the first, second, third arguments, etc. ) but also employing other types of text structure to help to strengthen the central idea (i. e. thesis) Arguments • To explain to the reader the evidence that supports thesis, i. e. the author’s opinion on the issue. • Often more than one arguments; the most important ideas usually come first.
STRUCTURE OF AN ARGUMENT TEXT PARTS OF AN ARGUMENT TEXT PURPOSE OF EACH PART (2) BODY • Typically following a sequence structure (the first, second, third arguments, etc. ) but also employing other types of text structure to help to strengthen the central idea (i. e. thesis) Arguments • To explain to the reader the evidence that supports thesis, i. e. the author’s opinion on the issue. • Often more than one arguments; the most important ideas usually come first.
STRUCTURE OF AN ARGUMENT TEXT PARTS OF AN ARGUMENT TEXT PURPOSE OF EACH PART Summary (3) CONCLUSION • To relate the argument to real world action • No new evidence is given in the conclusion Recommendation • To give the reader a brief reminder of the main ideas, while restating thesis • To tell the reader what the writer believes is the best action to take, considering all the evidence presented in the essay
A HANDS-ON READING ESSAY OF AN ARGUMENT Questions 1 -4 (paragraphs A-C, the Introduction of the text) 1. What is the topic of the essay? Is it an issue, a controversy, a problem, or an idea over which people hold different points of view? 2. Does the Introduction give the opinion of the author, i. e. thesis of the argument essay? 3. Does the Introduction contain a definition, explaining any important technical words to the reader. 4. Does the author give an overview of the essay at the end of the Introduction, revealing to readers what will come next in the Body?
A HANDS-ON READING ESSAY OF AN ARGUMENT Questions 5 -6 (paragraph D-F, the Body of the text) 5. Spend 3 minutes skimming paragraph D to paragraph F for the main idea of the Body, focusing only on the first sentence (or sometimes the first 2 sentences) of each paragraph. See whether the author uses signal words that suggest a certain structural pattern. 6. In advancing his or her argument, what text structure does the author employ: description, sequence, cause-and-effect, or compare-and-contrast?
A HANDS-ON READING ESSAY OF AN ARGUMENT Questions 7 -8 (paragraph G, the Conclusion of the text) 7. Read the last paragraph. Does the Conclusion restate thesis of the essay? 8. Does the Conclusion tell the reader what the author believes is the best action to take, considering the evidence in the essay?
ASSIGNMENT Please download and read the essay entitled ‘The Other Population Crisis’, and try to answer all the above questions before you come back for our next video. SEE YOU NEXT TIME!