The argumentative theme is a text that invites to expose a theory, an idea, or an opinion, supported by logical arguments and confirmed by the criticism and the refutation of opposite and different position. The essays proposed in type B of the first written test of the high school exams are argumentative texts.
To write a good argumentative text, therefore, it is fundamental to take a solid point of view and develop a thorough knowledge of the subject. But not only. It becomes essential to adapt the writing style to the recipient and to the purpose that is entrusted to our text. Here is a brief guide on how to write a correct argumentative text and according to the rules that must be followed!
How to write an argumentative text: Recipient and purpose – During an exhortation in the classroom or for a homework assignment, it is possible that your teacher will indicate to you an addressee to whom you will address your text and a usage opportunity.
Your argumentative theme, therefore, could take the form of a newspaper article, perhaps a newspaper, or a feminine magazine, or even the form of a letter to an acquaintance. This means that it will be essential for you to be clear about why you are writing and the imaginary recipient of your text.
From these two elements will depend the style you will choose, more or less courtly, and the type of information you will use to validate your thesis. If you are writing to a friend about the immigration problem, for example, it would be incorrect to literally cite the text of a law, on the contrary, in the presence of a specialized recipient, the lack of this quotation would be a flaw.
Argumentative text: Analysis of documents and in-depth analysis – As we have said before, a good argumentative text is based on solid arguments, which imply a good knowledge of the subject treated. If, to prepare a homework assignment, you will be able to go deeper into the topic using the online material and books available to you, during a class assignment or the exam, the only resources available to you are the documents that will be provided by the teachers . Here’s how to use them.
- First of all, read the required trace in the correct manner and compare it with the titles of the documents at your disposal
- So after reading all the available texts, stop at those that illustrate the problem in a linear and in-depth way and that can help you build your thesis and the hypothesis to be refuted
- Do not forget, already from the first reading, to underline the parts of the document that you want to cite in your argumentative text, distinguishing them from the focuses on which you will suffer to build the argumentation
Remember that the news you get from the documents must be consistent not only with your argument, but also with the assigned track. Not going off topic, even in this case, it becomes a dictat
Argumentative topic: Writing a lineup – When writing an argumentative text and dealing with so many different points of view and very different ideas, creating a lineup to collect ideas before the actual writing can be very useful. Here’s how to proceed.
Establish and prioritize the main thesis so as to make it clear right away what we want to expose to our recipient and what our guiding idea will be
List the arguments and the facts in favor, as well as those to be refuted
Choose the points to be treated within the accumulated material, putting the most grounded and convincing in the foreground
Re-elaborate the lineup so that the topics are connected by a logical thread, weaving the web of our text
Argumentative theme, how to write it: Writing the text – After having become familiar with the subject, in terms of content and vocabulary, and having laid the foundations for a coherent and solid narrative, we can move on to the drafting.
- We enter immediately into the heart of the speech, no superfluous incipits
- The first lines of your text must contain a brief summary, perhaps a very brief one, of the theory you are about to present
- Then proceed with the development of the main argument, followed by the secondary ones
- Review the contrary arguments and refute them
- Insert in a coherent way the quotations previously arranged
- Choose a natural conclusion, which follows the logical thread of the discourse
How to make an argumentative text: Rereading and revision – The stylistic and containment revision is fundamental when writing an argumentative text, it serves primarily to understand if the focus is well set, if there are no logical changes in the text, and to understand if the style it is suitable for purpose and recipient. Here’s how to proceed.
- Verify correctness of syntax, grammar, possible writing and punctuation errors
- Verify the correctness of the information entered, dates, names, and citations
- Reflect on the vocabulary and adapt it when necessary
- Verify the logical articulation of the speech and therefore the correct disposition of the various arguments