DEMO: Teaching the 21st Century Student

5.3.1

Argumentative essay

What & Why An ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY is one that demonstrates that the writer’s opinion or assessment of a topic or issue is better or closer to the truth than other approaches. To build a valid and informed argument, the writ- er must stick to reason, make deductions, draw conclusions, and apply them to the case in question. Argumentative essays address binary problems or dilemmas (Ch. 3.4). They apply whenever there is a need to analyze a problem, account for personal stances against opponents, compare pros and cons, choose between one of two options, assess the opposite side’s argumentation against one’s own, or argue one’s own point.

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