Getting Grade-XI to write one by example.

ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAYS:

Definition: An argumentative essay tries to persuade the reader to accept the writer’s point of view, about a debatable, arguable topic.

There are mainly two ways of writing an argumentative essay. The first way is known as The Set Them Up & Knock Them Down method. In this the writer takes up the opposing views one at a time and tries to show how weak or feeble it really is.  This is a good approach as you acknowledge that opposing views exist, but yours are better. The other method is known as The Balanced Approach. In this you try to look at both sides of the argument, both the supporting ideas (PROs) and the opposing ideas (CONs), in a balanced way.  In the end, you must make your stance clear.

The organizing patterns are :

For writing your essay employing The Set Them Up & Knock Them Down :

·         Paragraph 1 : The Introduction including the Thesis Statement

·         Paragraph 2 : CON 1 – Refutation

·         Paragraph 3 : CON 2 – Refutation

·         Paragraph 4 : CON 3 – Refutation

·         Paragraph 5 : The Conclusion

·         For writing the essay using The Balanced Approach :

·         Paragraph 1 : The Introduction including the Thesis Statement

·         Paragraph 2 : PRO Idea 1

·         Paragraph 3 : PRO Idea 2

·         Paragraph 4 : CON Idea/s – Refutation

·         Paragraph 5 : The Conclusion

·         There are some other methods as well like the one below :

·         Paragraph 1 : The Introduction/ Thesis Statement

·         Paragraph 2 : CON Ideas – Refutation

·         Paragraph 3 : PRO Idea 1

·         Paragraph 4 : PRO Idea 2

·         Paragraph 5 : The Conclusion

·         This is what your essay must look like :

·         Paragraph 1a : The Introduction – Must include a ‘hook’ to grab the reader’s attention straight away.

·         Paragraph 1b : Background history of the topic.

·         Paragraph 1c : The Thesis Statement – the central message that you are trying to convey through the essay.

·         Please note : The Thesis Statement = The main point + the supporting points + your stance.

·         Paragraph 2a : Contains the topic sentence. It is the first sentence of the paragraph. It introduces the supporting point 1.

·         Paragraph 2b : Elaboration of the supporting point with stats, facts and figures.

·         Paragraph 2c : the concluding line.

·         Repeat the same procedure for paragraph 3 : Only in this case your supporting point would be supporting point 2.

·         Paragraph 4a : Topic sentence ( CON Idea/s )

·         Paragraph 4b : Provide facts and figures, but they should be weaker than the PRO Ideas.

·         Paragraph 4c : The concluding line should try to refute the CON Ideas.

·         Paragraph 5a : Conclusion – You must write a powerful conclusion by restating the thesis statement.

·         Paragraph 5b : Summarize the supporting points.

·         Paragraph 5c : Always try to end with a ‘clincher’ ( a startling point, fact, prediction or question to establish your side of the argument).

Now let us examine an argumentative essay on the topic :

“ Bhutan is the most peaceful country in the world.” Do you agree or disagree?

When the rest of the world is being torn apart by, violent civil wars, barbaric acts of terrorism and bloodshed, vicious instances of social evils and chaos, in the foothills of the Himalayas lies a god-blessed country called Bhutan, which is considered by many to be the messiah ( The Last Shangri-La ), spreading the messages of Love, Peace and Harmony (!a). Now it goes without saying that one’s own native land is always the best in one’s eyes and any truly patriotic person will think the world of her native land. Keeping patriotism apart, there are many factors which go into making Bhutan the envy of the world, so far as maintaining world peace and harmonious coexistence is concerned. Let me briefly try to put forward the reasons why Bhutan must be considered the most peaceful country in the world (1b). Bhutan, in my humble opinion, is the most peaceful country in the world because (i) it is the only country that seriously preaches and practices GNH ( Gross National Happiness ), (ii) it has a well laid out education system in place and (iii) all its dzongkhags are administered very efficiently (1c).

Bhutan has already won universal acclaim for its philosophy of Gross National Happiness (2a). The GNH concept was first devised by the fourth Druk Gyalpo of Bhutan, His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck way back in the late 1990s, when HM expressed his view that GNH is more important than GDP ( Gross Domestic Product ) to measure up the real success and progress of a country like Bhutan. How prophetic his words have turned out to be as today, at the beginning of the 21^st century, many countries across the globe including most of the economically advanced countries, are trying to adopt and incorporate the GNH principle in their developmental plans and programmes, for a more accurate assessment of their overall progress (2b). Bhutan, in the meanwhile, has taken a leap ahead and strengthened the GNH principle in all imaginable spheres and domains (2c).

Inspire of being one of the poorest nations in the world, Bhutan has an exceptionally well-organized and productive educational set-up in place (3a). The small size of the country has benefited the country in this regard. The whole country is connected to a wide network of resources and expertise including support from some of the most educationally advanced countries in the world. Education is provided free at all levels. As per a report published by the UNESCO, our tiny nation has one of the best, if not the best, educational systems in place in the South Asian region. The Government is working tirelessly to improve the standard of education in the country and with plans like the upcoming Education City in the heart of the capital, incorporation of GNH in the curricula and so on, Bhutan is destined to go places in the years ahead. It is no exaggeration therefore, to state in this context that if things go as per plans, the days are not far off when international students will be vying for a seat in some of our prestigious and internationally acclaimed institutions (3b).An educated and enlightened citizen in not only an asset to the nation, but also one of the best ways and means of ensuring the sovereignty, stability, harmony and peace in the nation (3c).

There are critics at the same time, who have tried to undermine Bhutan’s success story by pointing out our poverty, backwardness and lack of infrastructural facilities as a hindrance to Bhutan truly laying a claim to be the most peaceful country in the world. Bhutan, in their eyes, lacks those amenities and facilities, which go a long way into making a country peaceful in the truest sense of the term (4b). Most probably, these economists and political thinkers have learnt to gauge a country’s happiness and prosperity purely from the materialistic point of view. If this be the case, then the USA should be the most peaceful country in the world for its economic growth and advancement. But the truth of the matter is that every year hundreds of tourists come to Bhutan to seek the peace, serenity and happiness, which is found sorely missing in their country (4c).

All said and done, there can be very little doubt about Bhutan being the most peaceful country in the world, The Last Shangri-La (5a). Bhutan has many positives like its enviable philosophy and practice of the GNH, its ever-growing and ever-improving success in the education sector, its smooth and efficient administration of the dzongkhags and many other reasons (5b). Instead of mud-slinging and pointing fingers at other countries regarding Bhutan’s present status as the most peaceful country of the world, let me conclude by saying that when most of the countries in Asia are leaning towards the west, Bhutan, the mountainous country, has lived up to its reputation as Asia’s, nay, the world’s ‘saving grace’.

[Please Note : We have been encouraging our students to write their essays using The Balanced Approach. They are supposed to write their essays in five paragraphs. They may write an additional paragraph if they have enough supporting evidence at their disposal. In that case, the fourth paragraph will start with the topic sentence containing the third supporting point of the thesis statement, and the penultimate paragraph (paragraph 5) will comprise the CON Ideas.]