ACADEMIC ENGLISH
DEVELOP YOUR ARGUMENTS
Accurate Appropriate Academic
Language Style Writing
Reflect
well-
argumments critical convincing
supported
thinking
make your academic
writing successful
DEVELOP YOUR ARGUMENTS
In this chapter , we will
1. learn how to develop effective arguments
2. study language of opinion, arguments and concession
3. infer meaning from a text
4. study independent and dependent clauses
5. learn how to incorporate in-text citation
6. write two argumentative paragraphs
DEVELOP YOUR ARGUMENTS
Distinguish Opinions from Facts
Support Your Arguments
Presenting a Closing Position
1. READING AND CRITICAL
ANALYSIS
DEVELOPING ARGUMENT
1. Distinguish Opinions from Facts (p.28)
FACTS
- objective statements of - subjective statements
truths. based on a person’s
beliefs or attitudes
- containing a number/
data / time - expressing thoughts,
ideas
- acceptable as support
=> more convincing - not acceptable as
OPINIONS
support=> less convincing
- no signals
- containing signals
1. READING AND CRITICAL
ANALYSIS
DEVELOPING ARGUMENT
1. Distinguish Opinions from Facts (p.28)
Examples
• Starbucks' round tables were created
specifically so customers would feel less alone.
FACTS
• Seventy percent of small businesses are owned
and operated by a single person.
• Give someone less experienced a chance to
speak first.
OPINIONS • Low taxes are best for job growth.
• People should be able to keep more of their own
money.
1. READING AND CRITICAL ANALYSIS
DEVELOPING ARGUMENTS
1. Distinguish Opinions from Facts (p.28)
q TASK 2: Identify Statements as Facts or Opinions (p.28)
Indicate whether each of the following statements is a fact or an opinion.
Fact Opinion
1 Tuition fees should be abolished.
Colleges and universities rely on tuition fees to
2
fund teaching and research.
International students should not pay higher
3
tuition fees than domestic students.
International students often pay higher tuition
4
fees than domestic students.
1. READING AND CRITICAL ANALYSIS
DEVELOPING ARGUMENTS
1. Distinguish Opinions from Facts (p.28)
To convince readers, • presenting opinions as facts
What are problems when we
ü avoid
express anpresenting
opinion? Opinions
• as Facts opinions in less
presenting
ü strengthen arguments by adding signals,
effective ways in-text citations
Look at these examples
1. Many countries charge tuition fees for higher education.
2. Tuition fees are unfair.
3. In my opinion, tuition fees are unfair.
4. Tuition fees are unfair to poor families (Singh & Morrison, 2018).
5. Many students believe that tuition fees are unfair.
1. READING AND CRITICAL ANALYSIS
DEVELOPING ARGUMENTS
1. Distinguish Opinions from Facts (p.28)
q TASK 3: Make Opinion Statement More Effective (pp.28,29)
Improve the opinon statements on the necxt page by rewrite them with
language from the list. Each option can be used with any of the statements
Signals Attribution In-text citation
In my opinion, Many students believe that (Martinez & Schmitt,
I believe that It is generally accepted that 2018)
I would argue that
1.1.In my opinion,
Tuition tuition be
fees should fees should not be abolished.
abolished.
2.2.Colleges
Colleges
andand universities
universities rely not
should on tuition
have tofees
relytoon
fund teaching
tuition and
fees to fund
research.
teaching and research (Martínez & Schmitt, 2018).
3.3.Many
Many students
students do not that
believe get good value
they do not for
getthe
goodmoney
valuethey paymoney they
for the
4. It is not fair to charge international students higher tuition fees.
pay.
4. I would argue that it is not fair to charge international students higher
tuition fees.
1. READING AND CRITICAL ANALYSIS
DEVELOPING ARGUMENTS
Distinguish Opinions from Facts
Support Your Arguments
Presenting a Closing Position
1. READING AND CRITICAL ANALYSIS
DEVELOPING ARGUMENTS
to strengthen arguments
2. Support Your Arguments (pp.29,30) => more convincing
How to support arguments?
I strongly believe that tuition fees for higher
State an Opinion:
education should be abolished.
This is because the system disadvantages
Add a Reason:
poorer families who canno afford to pay the fees.
For example, students from families that are
Add an Example struggling fincially many avoid expensive
courses, worry about taking out large students
loans, and opt for low-paying jobs instead.
1. READING AND CRITICAL ANALYSIS
DEVELOPING ARGUMENTS
2. Support Your Arguments (pp.29,30) more academic
support
Concession: Consider Counter- Arguments
Add a Counter However, it tuitionfees were abolished at all
colleges and univerities, governments would have
-Argument: to increase taxes, which could be unpopular.
Counter-Arguments: the arguments that people with an opposite
opinion would make => Recognize counter-arguments, but explain
that it is not strong enough to disprove your own arguments
Evidence such as data, facts, quotations,
Add Evidence: arguments, statistics, research, and theories
(Quotation) from reliable sources to make arguments,
reasons, examples more convincing
1. READING AND CRITICAL ANALYSIS
DEVELOPING ARGUMENTS
Example
of
Evidence
Structure
1. Opinion
2. Reason
3. Example
4. Evidence
5. Consession
1. READING AND CRITICAL ANALYSIS
DEVELOPING ARGUMENTS
2. How to Arrange Support to Arguments (pp.29,30)
Opinion I strongly believe that….
Reason This is because….
Example For example, ….
Evidence ….(Xxxx,20yy)
Counter However,...
Argument
1. READING AND CRITICAL ANALYSIS
DEVELOPING ARGUMENTS
2. Support Your Arguments (pp.29,30)
Task 4: Add Support to Arguments (pp.30,31)
Add reasons, examples, and to one of the following insupported arguments
1. International students should not pay higher tuition fees than domestic
students.
Add a reason: This is because…. Add an example: For example,…..
Consider counter-argument: However/ Amidttedly, ….
2. International students should pay higher tuition fees than domestic students.
Add a reason: This is because…. Add an example: For example,…..
Consider counter-argument: However/ Amidttedly, ….
1. READING AND CRITICAL ANALYSIS
DEVELOPING ARGUMENTS
Distinguish Opinions from Facts
Support Your Arguments
Presenting a Closing Position
1. READING AND CRITICAL ANALYSIS
DEVELOPING ARGUMENTS
3. Present a Closing Position (pp.29,30)
A Closing Position: - conclude series of arguments
-state final thoughts reflecting the process of arguments
A Closing Position: should contain advice, warnings, predictions, call for an
action related to the topic and specific focus
Þ Close by stating your final position, which would normally be a
confirmation of your initial argument, expressed in a more developed way.
Þ It should reflect the process of argumentation you have gone through.
1. READING AND CRITICAL ANALYSIS
DEVELOPING ARGUMENTS
q TASK 5: Add a Closing Position (p.31)
Write a closing position that restate the original argument in a more developed
way, reflecting the argumentation of the paragraph
International students should not pay higher tuition fees than
domestic students. This is because they receive the same education as
domestic students and should not have to pay more. Such unfairness is a
feature of unsustainable internationalization in Canadian higher education
(Ilieva, Beck, and Waterston 875). In fact, according to Marshall and
Walsh Marc, in some Canadian universities, international students pay
quadruple tuition tees (40). Admittedly, if tuition fees were the same for
everyone, colleges and universities would have to receive extra government
funding to make up the difference. This could be unpopular with taxpayers
and voters. ………………………………….
q TASK 6: Organize Jumbled Sentences (p.32)
Organize the following sentences according to the
following process of argumentation
q _________ Many educators and policy makers feel that it is fair to charge
international students higher tuition fees than domestic students.
q _______This is because taxpayers should not have to fund international
students, whose families have not paid taxes into the education system.
q ______ If, for example, tuition fees were the same for all students, domestic
fees would have to increase, putting more pressure on home students.
q _________ It has been found that domestic university fees are already
increasing in 505 of OECD countries (Ball, 2017); further increases would
add to a trend of unaffordable tuition for home students.
q _________ Admittedly, charging international students higher tuition fees
should not be a means for colleges and universities to make unnecessary
profit; this would not be fair.
q _______ I strongly believe that international students should pay higher
fees, but that the difference in fees should not be more than double, and
additional support services should be provided to students who pay more.
1. READING AND CRITICAL ANALYSIS
DEVELOPING ARGUMENTS
q TASK 7: Analyze a Model Paragraph (p.32)
Read and match the sentence numbers to the part of argumentation process
[1] It was recently suggested that all college and university students should be
required to study a foreign language before graduating. [2] This would benefit
many organizations that require multilingual employees who can communicate
with partners around the world. [3] For example, if students graduated with
knowledge of languages such as Mandarin. Japanese, or Spanish, they would
have better career prospects and could help their employers succeed. [4]
Granted, many commercial partners around the world do business in English.
so learning a foreign language may not always be worth the investment. [5]
Moreover, studying languages would reduce the time students have to
specialize in their chosen fields. [6] It could be argued, therefore, that making
foreign-language study compulsory is a step too far. [7] Nevertheless, learning
additional languages would benefit all students by increasing their
employability and intercultural competence (Byram & Zarate. 1997). [8] For
these reasons. colleges and universities should actively promote foreign-
language courses but not make them mandatory.
1. READING AND CRITICAL ANALYSIS
DEVELOPING ARGUMENTS
q TASK 7: Analyze a Model Paragraph (p.32)
Read and match the sentence numbers to the part of argumentation process
2. VOCABULARY
LANGUAGE OF OPINIONS, ARGUMENTS
AND CONCESSION
Language of Opinion and Arguments
Personal Language
Impersonal Language
Use the language to
I believe
make it clear to the
In my opinion,
reader that you are Clearly,
I feel strongly that
presenting opinion or Evidently,
I would argue that
argument Without a doubt,
I agree
It could be argued that
I disagree
Many would argue that
It is in my view that
Many believe
Many would ague for
2. VOCABULARY
LANGUAGE OF OPINIONS, ARGUMENTS
AND CONCESSION
v Concession: Recognizing counter-arguments
Expressing an
idea of contrast Examples
ü However, Ø Granted, many commercial partners around the
ü Nevertheless, world do business in English, so learning foreign
ü Nonetheless, language may not always be worth in investment.
ü Granted, Ø Admittedly, English speakers do not always need
ü Admittedly, a foreign language for business.
Ø Nonetheless, English speakers do not always
need a foreign language for business.
2. VOCABULARY
LANGUAGE OF OPINIONS, ARGUMENTS
AND CONCESSION
TASK 8 REWRITE ARGUMENTS AND CONCESSIONS (p. 34)
1. In my opinion, the reduction of tuition fees for international students.
=> I support_______________________________________________
2. I strongly oppose, the number of prerequisite courses should not be
increased / should remain the same.
=> Clearly, the number of prerequisite______________________________
3. It could be argued that higher tuition is acceptable for international
students.
=> I would argue that higher tuition_____________________
4. It is evident that universities benefit greatly from international students.
=> In my opinion, _______________
5. A reduction in international tuition fees, however, could result in increases
for domestic students.
=> Admittedly,_____________________
Inference
Inference involves interpreting meaning that
is not obvious-in other words “reading
between the lines”.
3. GRAMMAR AND SENTENCE
STRUCTURE
INDEPENDENT AND DEPENDENT CLAUSES
A clause:
Subject+ Corresponding Verb
Independent Dependent
3. GRAMMAR AND SENTENCE
STRUCTURE
INDEPENDENT AND DEPENDENT CLAUSES
dependent Clause
Contains subject and
corresponding verb
Can NOT stand alone as a
sentence
Ex. If universities promote language courses, they should
be optional.
3. GRAMMAR AND SENTENCE
STRUCTURE
INDEPENDENT AND DEPENDENT CLAUSES
Independent Clause
Contains subject and
corresponding verb
Can stand alone as a
sentence
Ex. If universities promote language courses, they should
be optional.
3. GRAMMAR AND SENTENCE
STRUCTURE
INDEPENDENT AND DEPENDENT CLAUSES
4. Writing with Style
APA CITATION MLA CITATION
STYLE STYLE
Citation
Styles
Incorporating In-text Citation
APA CITATION
• Are presented in parenthesis and consist of author’s
surname and year of publication
Ex. (Trump, 2020)
• University tuition fees have increased in half of OECD
countries (Ball, 2017)
Incorporating In-text Citation
MLA CITATION STYLE
• Are presented in parenthesis and consist of author’s
surname and page of the source with no comma
separating them.
Ex. (Trump 288)
• University tuition fees have increased in half of OECD
countries (Ball 288)
Extend your Vocabulary
