Lesson

1 Argumentative Essay

What I Need to Know

At the end of this lesson, you will be expected to match diagram with their corresponding
write-ups (EN9RC-IIh-11.1.1). Specifically, you will be able to:

 Use English language by means of understanding argumentative essays.

 Value the importance of using English language
 Agree or disagree to assertions made and use correct expression of agreement and
disagreement on a particular write-up.

What I Know (Pre-test)

Directions: Before you work on this module, find out how much you already know. Try your
best to answer the following activity.

A. Choose the letter of your answer and write the letter on a separate sheet of paper.
1. What type of logical thinking starts from general to specific?
a. creative reasoning c. inductive reasoning
b. deductive reasoning d. persuasive reasoning
2. What technique for appealing to your readers requires that you state your claim and
support it with concrete, specific facts?
a. emotion c. reason
b. ethics d. all of these
3. What technique for appealing to your readers refers to the force of a speaker’s character
as it is represented in oration or writing?
a. emotion c. reason
b. ethics d. all of these
4. What technique for appealing to your readers must be applied with discretion and
restraint?
a. emotion c. reason
b. ethics d. all of these
5. What type of logical thinking starts from specific to general?
a. creative reasoning c. inductive reasoning
b. deductive reasoning d. persuasive reasoning
6. Which of the following is NOT synonymous of the word "argue"?
a. reason c. claim
b. agree d. defend
7. Which do you think should NOT be done in writing an argument?
a. anticipating opposition c. introducing your argument
b. developing your argument d. ignoring oppositions
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 8. Which of the following statements is True?
a. Arguments should be avoided in writing.
b. To argue means to present issues and ideas in a rational way.
c. Writers write mainly to argue only.
d. all of these

9. Which appeal is used from the example, "Rather than continuing these tax-and-spend
policies, we plan to return your hard-earned tax money to you"?
a. argument c. ethics
b. emotion d. reason

10. Which approach appeals to our common sense and rational thinking?
a. emotion c. reason
b. ethics d. all of these

B. True or False
Directions: Write True if the statement is correct, write False if it is wrong.

________1. The success of your argument depends on your skill in convincing your readers—
through sound reasoning, persuasion, and evidence—of the strength of your point of view.
________2. When writing an effective argument, first introduce your argument by setting the
context.
________3. Make use of your opinions in providing arguments on an issue.
________4. Using emotions as a support for argument can be tricky.
________5. Clear thinking requires that you state your claim and support it with concrete, specific
opinions.

What’s New
Language is an essential tool for communication which enables us to link and understand
with other people’s ideas, desires, experiences and emotions through verbal and non-verbal form
of communication.
When you hear the term argumentative essay, what comes immediately into your mind?

Activity 1. What Am I?
Directions: Choose the words associated with the term from the pool of words provided below.
Copy the graphic organizer on “Argumentative Essay” and answer on a separate sheet.

ARGUMENTATIVE
ESSAY

debate harmony chaos libel reasoning

judgment persuade war false
academic writing

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 Did you get the correct answers? Now, let’s proceed to the next activity.

Activity 2. Useful or Not?

Directions: Number the sentences in order from 1-12 as 1= most useful to 12= least useful in
identifying the best way to learn English. Write your answer on a separate sheet.

- listening to the teacher explain grammar rules

- answering a lot of written grammar exercise
- making visual representations of material read and heard
- doing a lot of oral exercises
- writing everything down in a notebook while learning
- speaking as much as possible in class and outside
- working on a task with a group
- participating in plays and other literary productions using the language
- trying to think in English and not translating
- making information maps of material read
- forgetting about grammar and listening to people talking instead

Based on your answers above, you already understand that each individual differs in his
or her point of view as to what is the most useful and the least useful skill in learning English. It
is for such reason that argumentation is valuable.

What Is It
Most writing is argumentative in some way. Argumentation and persuasion are essential
elements of discourse in all walks of life. We write to persuade the reader that what we have to
say is correct, intelligent, and rational and that our explanation or position appropriate and makes
sense.
To argue means to present issues and ideas in a fair-minded and rational way—to appeal
to the reader’s open mind and judgment. Your readers may be receptive to your point of view,
but they expect you to present your argument in a logical, rational way that links evidence with
your claims (Online Guide to Writing and Research, 2011).

Purposes of Argument
Argument has two purposes. It is used to:
 change people’s points of view or persuade them to accept new points of view
 persuade people to a particular action or new behavior

Steps to Writing an Argument

1. Introduce Your Argument-When writing an effective argument, first introduce your argument
by setting the context.
2. State your thesis or proposition. State your thesis by identifying the idea under debate and
your position on that topic.
3. Anticipate active opposition. Make your argument more effective by anticipating objections
and presenting your rebuttal to those objections.
4. Develop your argument. Develop your argument by appealing to the readers’ reason,
ethics, and emotions.
5. Determine your organization.
6. Write your conclusion.

Techniques for Appealing to Your Readers

The success of your argument depends on your skill in convincing your readers—through
sound reasoning, persuasion, and evidence—of the strength of your point of view.
There are three fundamental types of appeal in presenting an argument:
reason, ethics, and emotion.
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 As a writer, your task is to skillfully weave these three types of appeal into your argument in
a balanced and sensible way.

A. Reason
Clear thinking requires that you state your claim and support it with concrete, specific
facts. This approach appeals to our common sense and rational thinking. Formal reasoning
involves following certain established logical methods to arrive at certain pieces of information
or conclusions. Generally, these logical methods are known as inductive reasoning
and deductive reasoning.
When our logical thinking states specific facts (called premises ) and then draws a
conclusion, or generalization, we call this inductive thinking. Inductive reasoning enables us to
examine the specific details in light of how well they add up to the generalization. When we think
inductively, we are asking whether the evidence clearly supports the conclusions.

Example of Inductive Reasoning

“Our marketing study proves that citizens are concerned about information privacy and won’t
visit certain websites.”

In deductive reasoning, our logical thinking starts with the generalization. As we apply
our generalization to a specific situation, we examine the individual premises that make that
generalization reasonable or unreasonable. When our logical thinking starts with the
generalization, or conclusion, we may then apply the generalization to a particular situation to
see whether that generalization follows from the premises.

Example of Deductive Reasoning

“Because ABC Corporation is assembling a database of private information about their clients,
their customers are concerned about identity theft.”

B. Ethics
It is the force of a speaker’s character as it is represented in oration or writing. If you
misrepresent the evidence or one of your sources, your readers will question your ethics.
Research the evidence responsibly, rather than expressing your own and others’ unfounded
opinions.

C. Emotion
Using emotions as a support for argument can be tricky. To use emotional appeal
successfully, you must apply discretion and restraint. Choose examples that represent and
illustrate your ideas fairly, and then present your arguments as objectively as possible. The writer
must carefully draw the connections between the ideas and illustrations, in such a way that
readers don’t question motives as manipulative and sensational. Strong evidence accumulated
by careful research often addresses this potential problem well.

Example of an Appeal to Emotion

“Rather than continuing these tax-and-spend policies, we plan to return your hard-earned
tax money to you.”

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 Here is an example of an argumentative essay.

Source: http://woodsholemuseum.org/wordpress/help-writing-an-argumentative-essay/

Activity 3. Reading and Thinking

Directions: Read the column written by Zeneida Amador in the Manila Bulletin. Identify the type
of text. Fill in the chart below with the information found in the text. Copy the chart and answer
on a separate sheet of paper.

Why Walk Backwards?

By Zeneida Amador

I just read an article saying that practically all Dutch people speak English. Children,
old people, teenagers, adults, everybody. A lot of them study for 7 to 8 years in school.
Why? Because Holland is a small country in a big world where very few people speak Dutch.
It’s a simple and as practical as that.

What are we doing here? How many people aside from Filipinos speak Filipino? And
yet, some people, politicians, pseudo-nationalists, grandstanders, want us to forget English.
We already had a good grab of it, we knew it, we were proficient in it. We are reading and
talking, and writing in it. Now, the asses want us to forget it.
Have you heard of anything more incredibly stupid? Why do we limit ourselves?
Why do we deprive ourselves of a tool which we know we can put to good use in so many

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 areas of our lives? For development, for our own good? What are we trying to promote –
shabby chic? All we’re doing is ending up tacky minus chic.
Life is addition, not subtraction. What’s the excuse? We haven’t found our identity?
Listen Kiddos, if we don’t know who we are by now we’ll never know. And who we are,
by the way, is not determined by what we speak.
A lot of pseudo-nationalists who insist on Filipino only articulated in English, of
course. So what’s the big deal? Isn’t it better to have so many tools at your disposal as
possible? Isn’t it better to be able to communicate in as many ways as possible?
I suppose politicians think that to insist on Filipino only is scoring with the masses.
Somebody should conduct a survey to ask the masses if they would prefer being
able to speak English or not. The truth now, please, for once!
I wish those politicians would stop playing with the masses. Stop posturing in front
of them and playing dice with their future.
The masses have been exploited enough about material things but some of us
want to extract more from them. Pwede ba, enough already.

Stand On Main Emotions

Issue Purpose
The Issue Arguments Expressed

What I Have Learned

Activity 4. What’s Your Stand?
Directions: Based on the given text, write T if the following statement is True and F if its False.
Write your answers on a separate sheet.

1. English is a world language

2. Every student should learn English.
3. Filipinos need not learn English.
4. English is difficult to learn.
5. Only those going to the United States should learn English
6. Filipinos who speak English most of the time lack nationalism
7. One can keep pace with world progress only if he knows English
8. Communication will be facilitated with a universal language.

Summary
Learning and being competent in the second language does not mean to value less the
first language. It does not entail unpatriotic act but it marks a greater achievement to embrace
modernization. English is a universal language and a useful tool to know the world better.
Acquiring a second language can only be done through constant practice in reading, speaking,
listening and writing.

Let’s go beyond what we know. Let’s strive to continuous learning. Thus, be informed, be
confident and be fluent wherever you are.
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Assessment (Post Test)
Let’s check your understanding by answering the following exercises.
A. What are the steps on writing an argumentative essay? Write your answer on a separate
sheet.

STEP 1
STEP 2
STEP 3
STEP 4
STEP 5
STEP 6

B. Choose the letter of the best answer. Write the chosen letter on a separate sheet of paper.

1. What technique for appealing to your readers requires that you state your claim and
support it with concrete, specific facts?
a. emotion c. reason
b. ethics d. all of these
2. Which of the following is not synonymous of the word "argue"?
a. reason c. claim
b. agree d. defend

3. Which do you think should NOT be done in writing an argument?

a. anticipating opposition c. introducing your argument
b. developing your argument d. ignoring oppositions
4. Which of the following statements is True?
a. Arguments should be avoided in writing
b. To argue means to present issues and ideas in a rational way.
c. Writers write mainly to argue only. d. all of these
5. Which approach appeals to our common sense and rational thinking?
a. emotion c. reason
b. ethics d. all of these

C. True or False. Write True if the statement is correct, write False if it's wrong.
________1. The success of your argument depends on your skill in convincing your
readers—through sound reasoning, persuasion, and evidence—of the strength of your
point of view.
________2. When writing an effective argument, first introduce your argument by setting
the context.
________3. Make use of your opinions in providing arguments on an issue.
________4. Using emotions as a support for argument can be tricky.
________5. Clear thinking requires that you state your claim and support it with concrete,
specific opinions.

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Key to Answers
What I Know (Pre-test)

A. B.
1. B 1. TRUE
2. C 2. TRUE
3. B 3.FALSE
4. A 4. TRUE
5. C 5. TRUE
6. B
7. D
8. B
9. B
10. C

Activity 1

JUDGMENT

DEBATE ACADEMIC
WRITING

ARGUMENTATIVE
ESSAY

PERSUADE

Activity 2 Answers may vary

Activity 3

Stand On Main Emotions

Issue Purpose
The Issue Arguments Expressed

1. That English
is spoken by all
Dutch people The written is
and very few somewhat
The The author’s speak Dutch. a. disgusted
importance of stand is for
2. Filipino for ex. "Have to inform
using English the use of
people have you heard of
is not taken English so to criticize
been using anything
seriously by that we can
English for a incredibly
some. move forward.
long time, so stupid?"
why don’t we b. angry
continue it or our
county’s good.

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Activity 4
1. T 7. F
2. T 8. T
3. F
4. F
5. F
6. T

Assessment (Post Test)

A.
STEP 1 Introduce Your Argument
STEP 2 State your thesis or proposition
STEP 3 Anticipate active opposition
STEP 4 Develop your argument Anticipate active opposition
STEP 5 Determine your organization
STEP 6 Write your conclusion

B. C.
1. C 1. TRUE
2. B 2. TRUE
3. D 3.FALSE
4. B 4. TRUE
5. C 5. TRUE

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 Lesson Understanding Compare and
2 Contrast

What I Need to Know

The use of this learning material aims to give learners better understanding of comparing
and contrasting similar information from different texts and demonstrate their understanding
through different strategies. It also helps them identify the similarities and differences among
(subject matter) objects and ideas/views.

What Is It
Compare and contrast in relation to reading skills, have specific meaning and function.
Compare, in relation to reading, refers to the process of identifying the similarities and differences
between two things. On the other hand, Contrast refers to identifying only the differences between
two things. While the distinction between these two terms may appear on the surface to be quite
subtle, it is important that students can accurately differentiate between the two concepts to
ensure they are able to answer questions and prompts accurately. An effective approach where
students can coherently use this skill is to follow the following steps:

 Analyze the question. It is very important that you clearly understand what exactly the
question is asking you to do. If, for example, the question asks you to contrast the opinions
of two critics on the use of metaphor in a poem, you need only to focus on the parts of the
text where the critics deal with metaphor and, furthermore, you need only focus on where
these two opinions differ. On the other hand, if the question asks you to compare the views
of the two critics, you must focus on both similarities and differences in their answer.

 Identifying Similarities and Differences in the content. Once you identified the nature
of the question, you can then start to read the text and take note of the similarities and
differences in terms of content. You can begin by highlighting or underlining the
appropriate information in the text. It is often helpful for you to use graphic organizers to
visually display the information you extract. Venn diagrams are particularly suitable for
displaying comparisons as they can usefully display areas of difference, as well as any
overlapping similarities.

 Identifying similarities and differences in the structure. This will require you to give
consideration to the genre of each text. Often, you are asked to compare texts that are in
the same genre. Sometimes, however, you will be asked about texts which share a
common theme, but are presented in different genres. You may also look at a variety of
elements of structure, including how the text is presented in terms of:

a. The length of sentences and paragraphs

b. The progression of ideas and arguments
c. The point of view expressed (Informative? Emotional?)
d. The use of stylistic elements such as irony, humor, emotional appeal, etc.
e. The setting, the characters, and plot in fiction
f. The use of facts and statistics in nonfiction.

 Identifying Similarities and Differences in Media. Advances in technology make it even

more important that you develop your literacy skills in media beyond the printed world.
When reading a text, you must recognize if the text is visual or audio in nature too. You
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 will encounter texts whether in print or online, which contain information presented in a
variety of ways, including diagrams, charts, photographs, and illustrations. Online texts
may contain embedded videos and audio tracks. These elements should not be ignored
as they are intrinsic part of how text operates and, therefore, you should be prepared to
compare and contrast these too.

Activity 1: Visual Contrasts!

Directions: Reflect and evaluate the pictures below. Record your findings (similarities and
differences). Write your observation in a sheet of paper.

Source: Influenza victims in an emergency hospital near Camp Funston (now Fort Riley) in Kansas in 1918. Photograph: AP
Photo/National Museum of Health

Source: The Jakarta Post (Corona virus Pandemic)

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What I Can Do
Directions: Make a compare and contrast chart and list down the items that are alike and
different from the two pictures presented in the previous page.

Text # 1 Text # 2

How are they alike?

How are they different?

Summary

Summary
The lesson presented talks about how to compare and contrast especially on items
that are similar and are presented in different texts. It is an ability to look at objects and thinking
how they are alike and different. The texts examined “Auld Lang Syne and I think Continually
by Stephen Spender paved the way to you as learners to experience evaluating using the
compare and contrast strategy.

Reading with comprehension is essential to point out how ideas, opinions or

objects, similar or different from each other based on the manner they are presented in
the different context or sources. Further, comparing and contrasting ideas is a skill that
helps you to distinguish the veracity about the given views or information presented in
various sources which also paves you to recognize the author’s views about the topic.

With your knowledge at hand, you are now an alert reader who constantly evaluate
ideas presented to you and be able to pass judgment on them and to derive opinions on
matters of importance.

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Assessment (Post - Test)
Directions: Answer the questions diligently.

1. Ron and Michael are in different classes. This is an example of:

a. comparing b. contrasting

2. When we compare and contrast while reading, we are looking for?

a. similarities and differences
b. wrongs and rights
c. truth and lies
d. clues and facts

3. Mary and Tracy are twin sisters. They are fourteen years of age. This is an example of:
a. comparing b. contrasting c. chronological order d. fact and opinion

4. When you compare and contrast, you only tell how things are alike.
a. True b. False

5. Which of the following transitions show a contrast in thoughts?

a. In the same way b. Accordingly c. On the other hand d. Also

6. To show differences; point out how things are different to ______.

a. compare b. contrast c. describes d. summarizes

7. When you compare and contrast two characters, what is NOT something you look at?
a. what the characters say
b. what author says about the characters
c. what the characters look like
d. what the author’s name

8. Bill and Jack enjoy eating pizza. Bill’s favorite pizza is pepperoni and Jack only likes cheese
pizza. Their favorite place to eat pizza is at Mario’s Pizza. How are Bill and Jack alike?
a. They hate pizza.
b. They are good friends
c. They both like pizza
d. They like cake.

9. Janet and Kylie were best friends, they liked to do everything together. Kylie loved
horseback riding and so did Janet. Janet loved swimming, and although Kylie did not know
how to swim, she loved the water. Janet enjoyed vacationing in tropic areas while Kylie liked
arctic zones.
In what ways do the two girls contrast?
a. Kylie loved swimming and so with Janet.
b. Kylie loved horseback riding and Janet did not.
c. Janet liked vacationing in tropic areas while Kylie liked arctic zones.
d. Kylie liked to vacation in tropic areas while Janet liked peaceful grasslands.

10. How is life on the farm likely the most different from Angie’s urban life at home?
a.Angie likely never spends time with her aunt and uncle at home.
b.Angie likely never gets up at 6 a.m. at home
c. Angie likely does not have chickens at home
d. Angie likely does not have to do chores at home

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Key to Answers
Activity 1 ‒ Answers may vary

What Can I Do ‒ Answers may vary

Post Test (Assessment)
1. b
2. a
3. a
4. b
5. c
6. c
7. d
8. c
9. c
10. c

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