Students, It’s a Good Start for Dealing with Your Arguments

My students are writing notes in the lecture. Taking note is good for recalling your ideas.

Students in higher education are obliged to write academic writing, especially for final assignment or thesis. Especially for students in language faculty, they should be able to analyze language phenomena in society based on data. Before claiming analysis result, it is important to include their arguments. The arguments are expressed in order to interpret data and to find relationship.

We are not discussing research methodology. This post tries to provide the involvement of argument to mediate our consciousness on text.

Argumentative essay exists among various texts in society.  Along with its term, argumentative essay needs your argument. The question is “what is argument? As long as its presence is written in clause or sentence”. 

Debated?

What is the difference of argument among clauses or sentences written and expressed outside there?  The main point is that argumentative contains a term named “debatable statement”. Daly (1997) states that it is also called argument, assertion, proposition, and premise. 

To start your argument, write your statement with the topic which is able to arouse people’s consciousness. How should it be? Your statement should attract people so that they may agree or disagree with yours.

Debatable statement is different with non-debatable which is named as “fact”. For non-debatable statement, people cannot dispute it. For example, “the Sun rises from the east and sets to the west”. That is an easy way to imagine.

In debatable statement, there is something like “degree of individual opinion”. Let me give you some examples:

• Salmon is a good choice for seafood.
• Social media disturb our lives.

The degree of opinion plays role in attracting people. The essential is not merely controversial  issue, but the way you express your argument. Forsyth (2011: 8) states that an essay represents “an opportunity for you to display the extent of your understanding of the subject, the breadth and depth of your background research and your command of the wider subject matter”. Your argument should be supported by ideas strengthening your view. 

How to Deal with Your Argument?

In order to make your view strong, support your statement with supporting arguments. The argument supporting your view can be reflected by the use of connective marker such as furthermore, in addition, and so on (pay attention on my lecture next meeting) :)

• ·         Reading will improve your perspective while facing problem.

o   While you are reading, you are receiving information, even newer experience.

o   Furthermore, your brain receives information as the deposit which will be ready if it is needed later.

The example above show the way you can expand your premise (argument). The first is expanded by an idea, and the next is mediated by connective marker.