English 10

Quarter 3
Self-Learning Module 2
Compose an Argumentative
Essay
 EXPECTATIONS

This is your self-instructional learner module in English 10. All the activities
provided in this lesson will help you learn and understand:

1. Identify what is argumentative essay.

2. Determine ways to organize ideas and opinions in an argumentative essay.
3. Compose and argumentative essay from a given topic.

PRETEST

Put a check mark ( ) on the following statements pertaining to the qualities of an

Argumentative essay.

1. State your opinion

2. Give reasons to support your opinion
3. Argue against the opposite opinion.
4. Emotion-based

RECAP
We have learned from the previous module the use a variety of informative,
persuasive, and argumentative writing techniques. In an informative essay, you
educate your reader on a topic either to define a term, compare and contrast
something, analyze data, or provide a how-to. In persuasive writing, you try to
convince the reader to adopt your position on an issue or point of view. Here your
rationale, your argument, is most important. On the hand, argumentative writing, is
very similar to the persuasive essay, but the difference is that you are arguing for
your opinion as opposed to others, rather than directly trying to persuade someone
to adopt your point of view.
This time, we’ll focus on the organization of your ideas into forming a good
argumentative essay.

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 LESSON

In an argumentative essay, your task is to make the reader agree with your
opinion about a certain or controversial topic.

You have to (1) state your opinion, (2) give reasons to support your opinion,
and (3) argue against the opposite opinion.
Overall, you must convince the audience that your side of the argument is
correct.
To convince the audience, your essay must be balanced—it must include your
viewpoint and the opposing viewpoint, or counterargument.
Even though you are arguing only one side of an issue, you must think about
what the other side would say about your opinion. After you give the
counterargument, you must refute it by showing that it is wrong. If your essay is
balanced, a reader is more likely to agree with you.

Organization of an Argument Essay

The most common type of argumentative essay has six paragraphs. Like all
essays, it begins with an introduction and ends with a conclusion. In between are the
body paragraphs where you must do three things: support your opinion, present the
opposing point of view, and tell why that viewpoint is wrong. Opposing views or
opinions can be ideas or points for (pro) which support the issue being discussed, or
ideas or points against (con/contra) which disagree with the issue.
INTRODUCTION Paragraph 1 Hook (Attention Getting Sentence)
Connecting/Background Information
Main idea Statement/Thesis Statement
BODY Paragraph 2 Support 1 (first reason)
• Explanation, detail, example
• Explanation, detail, example
Paragraph 3 Support 2 (second reason)
• Explanation, detail, example
• Explanation, detail, example
Paragraph 4 Support 3 (third reason)
• Explanation, detail, example
• Explanation, detail, example
Paragraph 5 Opposite Side
• Counterargument 1
• Refutation (ATTACK)
• Counterargument 2
• Refutation (ATTACK)
CONCLUSION Paragraph 6 Repeat your thesis statement in different words
Suggestion/Opinion/Prediction for the future

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Guided Practice:
Sample Outline of an Argumentative Essay

Title: The School Uniform Question

INTRODUCTION
Paragraph 1

Hook: Individualism is a fundamental value in the United States.

Connecting/Background Information: All Americans believe in the right to express
their own opinion without fear of punishment. This value, however, is coming under
fire in an unlikely place – the public school classroom. The issue is about school
uniform. Should public school students be allowed to make individual decisions
about clothing, or should all students be required to wear a uniform? Main idea
Statement/Thesis Statement: School uniforms are the better choice for three
reasons.

BODY:
Paragraph 2:

First Reason: Wearing school uniforms certainly make students live simpler.
Explanation:

• They would not waste time to choose what to wear every morning.
• Uniforms eliminate the stress of choosing clothes.

Paragraph 3

Second Reason: School uniforms influence students to act responsibly in groups

and as individuals.
Explanation:

• School uniform helps students understand that school is a special

place for learning.
• School uniform creates a feeling of being in a group. 3.SU have
positive effects on violence and truancy.

Paragraph 4
Third reason: School uniforms make all the students feel equal.
Explanation:

• All students will look the same.

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 • Students of weak financial situation can gain self-esteem.
Paragraph 5

Opposite Side: Opponents of mandatory uniforms may say that students who
wear school uniforms cannot express their individuality.

Counter Argument:
• School is a place to learn.
• Students can express their individuality in the way they dress
outside of the classroom.

CONCLUSION:

There are many benefits of implementing mandatory school uniforms.

Studies show that students learn better and act more responsibly when they wear
uniforms. Public schools should require uniforms in order to benefit both the
students and society as well.

The full essay:

The School Uniform Question

Individualism is a fundamental value in the United States. All Americans

believe in the right to express their own opinion without fear of punishment. This
value, however, is coming under fire in an unlikely place – the public school
classroom. The issue is about school uniform. Should public school students be
allowed to make individual decisions about clothing, or should all students be
required to wear a uniform? School uniforms are the better choice for three reasons.
First, wearing school uniforms would help make students’ lives simpler. They
would no longer have to decide what to wear every morning, sometimes trying on
outfit after outfit in an effort to choose. Uniforms would not only save time but also
would eliminate the stress often associated with this chore.
Second, school uniforms influence students to act responsibly in groups and
as individuals. Uniforms give students the message that school is a special place for
learning. In addition, uniforms create a feeling of unity among students. For example,
when students do something as a group, such as attend meetings in the auditorium
or eat lunch in the cafeteria, the fact that they all wear the same uniform would create
a sense of community. Even more important, statistics show the possible effects that
school uniforms have on violence and truancy. According to a recent survey in
Hillsborough County, Florida, incidents of school violence dropped by 50 percent,
attendance and test scores improved, and student suspensions declined
approximately 30 percent after school uniforms were introduced.
Finally, school uniforms would help make all the students feel equal. People’s
standards of living differ greatly, and some people are well-off while others are not.
People sometimes forgets that school is a place to get an education, not to promote a
“fashion show”. Implementing mandatory school uniforms would make all the
students look the same regardless of their financial status. School uniforms would

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promote pride and help to raise the self-esteem of students who cannot afford to wear
stylish clothing.
Opponents of mandatory uniforms may say that students who wear school
uniforms cannot express their individuality. This point has some merit on the
surface. However, as stated previously, school is a place to learn, not to flaunt wealth
and fashion. Society must decide if individual expression through clothing is more
valuable than improved educational performance. It’s important to remember that
school uniforms would be worn only during school hours. Students can express their
individuality in the way they dress outside of the classroom.
In conclusion, there are many well-documented benefits to implementing
mandatory school uniforms for students. Studies show that students learn better
and act more responsibly when they wear uniforms. Public schools should require
uniforms in order to benefit both the students and society as well.

ACTIVITIES

A. Identifying Topics for Argumentative Essays

Read these five topics. Put a check mark (/ ) next to the ones that could be good
topicsfor argument essays.
1. The first time I flew in a plane.
2. University education should be free.

3. How and why birds fly south for the winter.

4. High school teachers need a higher salary.

5. Increasing tax on imported food.

B. Are these arguments for or against reality TV shows? Write them in the
correct group.

- There are lots of different types of reality shows.

- Some competitions are very difficult or dangerous.

- People on reality shows have fun experiences and meet new people.

- They can discover talented people. They are fun to watch. The winners
win great prizes.
- Reality shows are always the same.

- People spend a lot of money on their phones when they vote.

- Reality TV is not an easy way to become famous.

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 - Some people on reality shows behave badly

For reality TV shows Against reality TV shows

C. Create your own Argumentative Essay following the Outline discussed in this
module. Choose a topic below or you could have your own, state your opinion,
give reasons to support your opinion, and argue against the opposite opinion.
a. Death Penalty
b. Abortion
c. Academic Freeze

WRAP-UP

Summing up what I learned in my journey through this lesson, I learned that...

VALUING

How will you apply the knowledge you’ve gain from this module in your daily living?

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 POSTTEST

Identify the terminologies used in an argumentative text as described on the following

statements.

1. This means to show that an argument presented is wrong.

2. It is the opposing viewpoint of an issue.

3. These are ideas or points for which disagrees with the issue being
discussed.
4. These are ideas or points for which support the issue being discussed.

5. Type of essay having the makes the reader agree with your opinion about
a certain or controversial topic.

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 References
“Argumentative Essay.” Accessed January 11, 2021.
http://tinhyeuchammuoitieu.weebly.com/argumentative-essay.html.

Barbee, Matthew. “Argumentative Essay Writing,” n.d. Accessed 2015.

“Steps for Writing an Argumentative Essay,” n.d. https://bit.ly/38va8uZ
“ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY.” ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY ~, 2011.
http://learnenglishessay.blogspot.com/2011/12/argumentative-essay.html.