Pick a topic:
} This should be something that is a cause of concern or dispute.
} It could be something you know a bit about, or something you can readily research.
} Sometimes there will be clear sides to an argument – for and against.
} At other times you will find that there are issues, problems and solutions.
Have good, strong points:
} Plenty of points
} All sides of argument
} Backed up with evidence
Structure:
} Introduction
} Topic sentences
} Sensible order
} Conclusion
Introduction:
} Use shocking statistics
} Use an interesting quotation
} Use formal English
} Do not use ‘I’ or ‘we’
Here is a sample opening paragraph:
‘How many young people need to die, needlessly slaughtered by an unscrupulous alcohol industry, before people realise the scale of the problem we currently face?’ said Hector McCabe, MP for West Glasgow , at a recent conference. McCabe shares the view, held by many members of parliament, that too many young people are spending too much time drinking alcohol, to the extent that it is ruining their relationships, their health and their prospects. However, there are numerous obstacles placed in the way of those who want to take steps to deal with this problem before it spirals out of control.
Topic sentences – some examples:
} ‘Many people believe that alcohol is vital to a good night out…’
} ‘Why has binge drinking become so central to the lives of teenage Scots?...’
} ‘Some doctors argue that price rises would put alcohol out of the reach of teenagers…’
Argumentative Techniques:
} Rhetorical questions
} Repetition
} Emotive language
} Examples
} Quotes
} Statistics
} Comparisons
Rhetorical questions:
} So why is it that so many young people continue to abuse their bodies with copious amounts of drink and drugs?...
Repetition:
- There are so many people in this world who have virtually nothing. No clean drinking water. No warm food. No shelter. No clothes to call their own…
Emotive language:
} Because of chronic under-funding in the National Health Service, many patients face an agonising wait for tests, result and treatment.
Quotations and evidence:
} Make sure you attribute facts and quotes.
} Don’t just include other people’s words without mentioning where they came from. This would be plagiarism.
} Keep a note of the sources of your material for your ‘bibliography’.
Either report the information
} A recent paper from the Institute of Health
or put it in quotation marks like this:
} Dr Agnes Fisher, a leading psychiatrist, said recently that, ‘without considerable investment of time from parents, young people live barren lives without comfort or boundaries.’
Use of language:
} Formal
} Connectives
} Varied vocabulary
Formal language:
} Write in Standard English
} Use complete words – not contractions
} Write ‘cannot’ and ‘did not’ - rather than ‘can’t’ and ‘didn’t’
} Do not say ‘I’ or ‘we’
Connectives:
} Another thing you should remember is the importance of connecting phrases and words.
} Some connectives continue the same line of thought; others change its direction
} HOWEVER IN ADDITION ADDITIONALLY
} NEVERTHELESS FIRSTLY SECONDLY
} EQUALLY IN CONTRAST THEREFORE
} DESPITE THIS YET SIMILARLY
} AS A RESULT CONSEQUENTLY
} THUS IN CONCLUSION LASTLY
} FINALLY ON THE CONTRARY
Varied vocabulary:
} Don’t use ‘get’, ‘got’, ‘getting’
} Use a thesaurus, so that you can talk about the same subject using different words
} Make sure you understand the ‘jargon’ words you use. Use them when appropriate – not all the time.
Finished article:
} Accurate spelling
} Accurate punctuation
} Paragraphs
} Grammatically correct
