Classwork Series and Exercises {English Language – JSS1}: Argumentative Essay and the use of “how”

English Language, JSS 1, Week 5

Content

Reading and Writing- Argumentative Essay

Skill Focus- Reading Widely

Argumentative Essay

Grammar- Interrogative adverb (the use of how)

Meaning of Argumentative Essay: It requires the student to investigate a topic; collect, generate, and evaluate evidence; and establish a position on the topic in a concise manner.

I. General Approach

Two things need to be planned out:

a. The arguments – for and against. We call these the pros and the cons

b. The relevant facts

The skill comes in developing your arguments, and in supporting them in a logical way by the facts.

II. Method

1. Make sure that you have read and understood the question. In particular, check whether you are required to develop only one side of the case, or whether you are required to consider both the pros and the cons. Usually, you will be asked to argue for or against a point of view.

2. Jot down in note form all the relevant arguments you can think of.

3. Decide which arguments seem stronger, and try to form your own opinion

4. Plan you essay. Rearrange the arguments under the headings For and Against (or Pro and Con), and jot down next to each one any relevant facts that you can think of. In your plan consider, and then demolish the arguments you disagree with first. Here is an example;

a) Introduction

b) Pros (arguments for X)

c) Cons (arguments against X; it may be that you are mentioning them in order to attack them!)

d) Conclusion

How to write an argumentative essay

1. To write an argumentative essay, the writer should first of all choose a topic that gives them a platform to argue.
2. The writer then gathers information about the topic.
3. In writing, the writer provides a clear thesis statement in the first paragraph.
4. The writer then writes the essay using logical and clear transitions between the paragraphs.

Skill focus

Reading widely

There are many different kinds of books. They include:

1. Text books

These are used to study your school subject

2. Reference books

You use these to find information that you need . Reference books include dictionaries , encyclopedias, and other  books, such as the telephone  directory.

3. General books

These books are not for study: they are for enjoyment, or pleasure. They fall into two general categories:

• Fiction: These books tell stories. They may be traditional African stories, like the palm oil daughter. Others are stories of modern life.
• Non- fiction: These contain true information about the world: there are many different types of non-fiction books. They may be about science, or sport, or the way people live. Some of them may be about famous people like Tai Solarin, Nelson Mandela or Muhammad Ali

Try to get into the habit of reading books on your own, for pleasure. Reading for pleasure is both enjoyable, and useful. It is a good way to increase your knowledge of English- and of the world. You will probably be able to borrow books from the school library. Your teacher will be able to help you to choose suitable books.

Grammar- The Interrogative adverb

The interrogative adverbs why, where, how, & when are placed at the beginning of a question. These questions can be answered with a sentence or a prepositional phrase. After an interrogative adverb in a question, you must invert the subject and verb so that the verb comes first.

Examples

• Why are you so late? There was a lot of traffic.
• Where is my passport? In the drawer.
• How are you? I’m fine.
• When does the train arrive? At 11:15.

Uses of how

How can be used to form questions in four different ways. How can be used by itself to mean “in what way”.

Examples

• How did you make this sauce?
• How do you start the car?
• How can I get to your house?

How can be used with adjectives to ask about the degree of an attribute.

Examples

• How tall are you?
• How old is your house?
• How angry is mother?

How can be used with much and many to ask about quantity. Much is used with uncountable nouns and many is used with countable nouns.

Examples

• How many people are coming to the party?
• How much flour do I need?
• How much are these tomatoes?

How can be used with other adverbs to ask about the frequency or degree of an action.

Examples

• How quickly can you read this?
• How often do you go to London?
• How loudly does your brother scream?