Understanding Argumentative Essays: Structure and Techniques

Posted on Jan 25, 2025 in Philosophy and ethics

The Essence of Argumentation

From morning until night, we encounter situations requiring argumentation and reasoning. Whether consciously or spontaneously, we seek explanations on various topics. An argumentative essay not only affirms or denies but also provides the reasons behind a stance.

An argument can be represented as follows:

Conclusion <————- Premises

(Statement which is intended to support the premises) (Data or points of departure).

Argumentative Text: Key Features

It is a textual type aimed at convincing through argument.

It is dominated by an appellate function.

  • Thesis: A brief statement of the position to be defended.
  • Introduction: Presents the theme, advances the thesis, and may include a relevant quote.
  • Demonstration: Provides arguments and rebuttals.
  • Conclusion: Synthesizes ideas, outlines consequences, proposes an attitude, and highlights outstanding issues.

Resources and strategies used:

It is organized through connectors.

  • Comparison: Used to show similarity between two cases. E.g., resemble a.
  • Appointment of authority: Used to endorse a claim.
  • Generalization: Derives a general truth from a specific fact. E.g., discrimination, fashion, etc.
  • Exemplification: Demonstrates a general point. E.g., for example.

Connectors for Textual Relationships

Time Relations: before, now, previously, shortly before, at the same time, while, after, every time, thereafter, etc.

Cause Relations: for, seeing that, because, by reason of, by dint of, since, considering that, etc.

Consequence Relations: accordingly, consequently, therefore, so, then.

Opposition Relations: instead, rather, however, yet, anyway, though, even if, etc.

Purpose Relations: to, in order to, for the purpose of, etc.

Union or Addition Relations: and, besides, also, etc.

Textual Markers to Structure Ideas

To announce a new topic: regarding, concerning, as regards, as, etc.

To order items: first, second, first and foremost, finally, etc.

To share information: firstly, on the other hand, etc.

To continue with the same topic: well, then, next, in this sense, etc.

To emphasize, explain, or qualify: that is, in other words, it should be noted, do not forget, etc.

To give examples: for example, such is the case, in particular, etc.

To sum up or end: in conclusion, in short, for all that, concluding, summarizing, ultimately, etc.

Other Argumentative Techniques

Cause-Result Relations: A fact that causes a result. E.g., the rainfall caused flooding.

Identification: A sequence of items. E.g., 1 kg of flour, 1 egg, etc.

Disclaimer: Denies a supposed truth. E.g., they lie that true love is not forgotten.

Explanations: Provide a reason. E.g., I did not go home because it was raining.

Rhetorical question: Seeks to provoke thought. E.g., What happens to us Argentines?

Redesign: Expresses something differently for better understanding.

Definition: A brief statement defining a concept.