Building an Argument

Building an Argument

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Amalia Ambartsumyaan

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ESPOL ESSAY WRITING

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Constructing Arguments

• “When you argue with a friend, how do you convince them you are right?” • “What makes an argument strong?”

ARGUMENT BUILDING

LET'S WATCH THIS VIDEO TO LEARN ABOUT THE KEY PARTS OF A BODY PARAGRAPH

• “Why do you think evidence is essential in academic essays?”

HERE IS AN EXAMPLE

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Now, let's practice together :)

We will start with BUILDING TOPIC SENTENCES

Topic Sentence Challenge

TASK: In pairs, students create one topic sentence (clear, arguable). There will be 2 teams working on the same topic. The class will need to vote for the best one (BONUS POINTS)Share → class votes strongest one.

Topic: “The impact of social media on young people.”

❌ Weak: “Social media is popular.”

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✅ Strong: “Social media influences young people’s self-image by shaping beauty standards and social validation.”

10 MINUTES TO PREPARE

TOPICS

University Schedules

Student Cafeteria Food

Campus Wi-fi

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WHICH TEAM WON?

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❌ Weak: “University schedules are busy.” ✅ Strong: “Unrealistic university schedules often harm student performance by leaving little time for rest, social life, or part-time work.

❌ Weak: “Cafeteria food is not great.” ✅ Strong: “The quality of cafeteria food influences students’ health, motivation, and even their decision to stay on campus.”

❌ Weak: “Wi-Fi is important.” ✅ Strong: “Unreliable campus Wi-Fi disrupts learning, reduces productivity, and increases student frustration more than any exam.”

BUILD A MINI-ARGUMNT

LET'S CONTINUE! • Add 2–3 supporting points (evidence/examples). • Present in 1 minute.

LET'S CHOOSE THE WINNERS

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Which argument was the clearest/most convincing?

INTRODUCTION TO COUNTERARGUMNTS

“Why do you think including counterarguments makes an essay stronger?”

• Counterargument = opposing viewpoint. • Rebuttal = your answer to that viewpoint. Example: • Claim: “Online learning improves access to education.” • Counterargument: “But it reduces face-to-face interaction.” • Rebuttal: “However, interactive tools like video calls replicate in-person discussions.”

WHERE TO PUT THE COUNTERARGUMENT?

WE CAN PUT IT AFTER OUR EVIDENCE TO SUGGEST CRITICAL THINKING, THEN REFUTE IT TO MAKE OUR POINT SOLID

counterargument prctice

GAME INSTRUCTIONS:

•ONE GROUP: makes a claim (“Technology improves society”).

•TEAM 1: responds with counterargument.

• TEAM 2: provides rebuttal.

SENTENCE STARTERS

90%

FULL BODY STRUCTURE

Technology has greatly improved society by expanding access to information and fostering global connections. Online learning platforms, for example, enable individuals from diverse backgrounds to acquire knowledge and skills that were once limited to elite institutions, thereby reducing educational inequality

However, it has been suggested that increased reliance on technology leads to social isolation and overexposure to unreliable information. Despite this, evidence demonstrates that digital literacy programs and responsible use of online resources can mitigate these risks, allowing societies to benefit from technology while minimizing its drawbacks. Thus, the overall influence of technology remains largely positive, strengthening both education and communication worldwide.

Thanks!

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