Module 2 & 3 English for Academic and Professional Purposes PDF

# MODULE 2 & 3 ENGLISH FOR ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL PURPOSES ## TOPIC 1: ANALYZING ARGUMENTS IN MANIFESTOS ### Know Your Words! - A manifesto is a written statement declaring publicly the intentions, motives, or views of its issuer. - Argumentative writing is collecting and presenting evidence, all...

# MODULE 2 & 3 ENGLISH FOR ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL PURPOSES ## TOPIC 1: ANALYZING ARGUMENTS IN MANIFESTOS ### Know Your Words! - A manifesto is a written statement declaring publicly the intentions, motives, or views of its issuer. - Argumentative writing is collecting and presenting evidence, allowing the reader to make an informed decision regarding the topic. - An argument, in the academic context, is a formal way to make a point in academic writing. This remains distinct from the real-world definition where an argument might mean a fight or a conflict. An argument consists of two parts: 1. A claim or statement that summarizes the main idea. 2. A reason why that claim is true, and/or evidence to support that claim. ### Let us look at this example! Reflective writing can help students become better thinkers. It can help students see that ideas are meant to be discussed and debated. Bridges and Jost found that students who did weekly reflective journal writing about their course content for a semester could analyze course concepts at a deeper level than those who didn't. ### Let us analyze the argument: 1. In this case, the sentence "Reflective writing can help students become better thinkers" is the claim. 2. The claim is expanded upon in the next sentence, "It can help students see that ideas are meant to be discussed and debated." Finally, evidence is presented, often in the form of a citation. Here, we read that "Bridges and Jost found that students who did weekly reflective journal writing about their course content for a semester could analyze course concepts at a deeper level than those who didn't." This evidence supports the originally presented claim and its expansion. In analyzing an argument, one must apply the following steps in order to understand the text thoughtfully: 1. Read the text several times and think about it 2. Write or jot down in your notes things that can help you track own thoughts and writer's thesis 3. Look for transitions that help draw conclusions and verbs that imply evidence Remember: If there is no clear thesis try to think of a hypothesis that might support it by analyzing argument through: - Examining the author's method - Examining the author's persona - Examining the author's purpose ### a. Examining the Author's Method #### Tips in Analyzing the Argument: 1. Does the author quote authorities? - Are these authorities really competent in this field? - Are there any equally competent authorities who take different views ignored? 2. Does the writer use statistics? - If so, are they appropriate to the point being argued? Can they be interpreted differently? 3. Does the writer build the argument by using examples or analogies? - Are they satisfactory? 4. Does the writer consider all relevant factors? - Has he or she omitted some points that you think should be discussed? ### b. Examining the Author's Persona #### Tips in Analyzing the Argument: 1. In some persuasive writing this persona or voice or presentation of the self maybe no less important than the presentation of evidence. 2. In writing your essay: - (a) tell your readers of the author's methods; - (b) be aware of the purpose of the material in you are responding; (c) indicate your thesis statement since your paper is an argument ### c. Examining the Author's Purpose 3 An author's purpose is his reason for or intent in writing. An author's purpose may be to amuse the reader, to persuade the reader, to inform the reader, or to satirize a condition. #### Tips in Analyzing the Argument: 1. Examine if the author tries to relate a story or to recount events, an author uses narrative writing. 2. Examine if the author to tell what something looks like, sounds like, or feels like, the author uses descriptive writing 3. Examine if the author convinces a reader to believe an idea or to take a course of action, the author uses persuasive writing. 4. Examine if the author informs or teach the reader, the author uses expository writing. Remember: The reader could also use **RHETORICAL DEVICES** of persuasion to analyze the argument of the writer. **RHETORIC** is the art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing, especially the use of figures of speech and other compositional devices. 1. **Logos (logic)** appeals to the reader based on logic. The content of the manifesto may include: - Arguments and benefits - Facts and figures - Scientific research - Statistics and percentages 2. **Ethos (experience)** appeals to the reader based on authority or honesty of the writer. The manifesto may include: - Personal anecdote - Client testimonial - Success story - Track record 3. **Pathos (passion)** appeals to the readers through emotion. The manifesto may include: - Positive and negative stories - Emotions like frustrations, anger, love and respect ## TOPIC 2: DEFEND A STAND ON AN ISSUE BY PRESENTING REASONABLE ARGUMENTS SUPPORTED BY PROPERLY CITED FACTUAL EVIDENCES ### Know Your Words! - A stand is a position taken in an argument. - Claims are statements that support the author's stand. It is also known as an argument. - An evidence is a proof that strengthens an author's claim. - A fallacy is an error in reasoning which weakens an argument. - Counterclaims are arguments opposing a stand. ## MODULE 2 & 3 ENGLISH FOR ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL PURPOSES ## LOGICAL FALLACIES are ERRORS IN REASONING that INVALIDATE AN ARGUMENT. As a critical thinker you have to identify and examine fallacies and manipulative language. It is therefore important that you know some of the common fallacies. ### TYPES OF FALLACIES | FALLACY | DESCRIPTION | EXAMPLE | |---|---|---| | 1 False Dilemma | Occurs when person presents his/her argument as one of only two options despite the presence of multiple possibilities | Either you fully devote yourself to a company or you quit. | | 2 Appeal to Ignorance | Occurs when something is instantly concluded to be true just because it is not proven to be false, and vice versa | The writer does not talk about the connection between the victim's killer and his sister, so there must be none. | | 4 Slippery Slope | Occurs when a series of increasingly superficial and unacceptable consequences is drawn | If we ban computer shops, then students will not be able to do research. If they do not have tools for research, these students will fail their subjects. | | 5 Complex Question | Occurs when two or more points are rolled into one and the reader is expected to accept or reject both at the same time, when one point may be satisfactory while the other is not | "Have you stopped cheating on exams?" | | 6 Appeal to Force | Occurs when a threat, instead of reasoning is used to argue | If you do not admit that evolution is not real, we will isolate you from the group. | | 7 Appeal to Pity | Occurs when the element of pity is used instead of logical reasoning | Please do not fire me for being absent all month; I have a sick mother and a special child to support. | | 8 Appeal to Consequences | Occurs when unpleasant consequences of believing some thing are pointed out to show that the belief is false | You can't believe that colonialism is bad, because if it were, then we would not be civilized. | | 9 Bandwagon | Occurs when an argument is valid because it is what the majority thinks | Most Filipinas want to have fair skin because they think they look beautiful. Therefore, having fair skin must be the real standard of beauty. | | 10 Attacking the Person | Occurs when someone tries to refute an argument by attacking the character of a person instead of attacking the ideas of the argument | I cannot accept your argument because, unlike me, you were not educated at Harvard University. | | 11 Appeal to Authority | Occurs when the argument quotes an expert who's not qualified in the particular subject matter | Bill Gates, the co-founder of Microsoft, recommends the effective fabric softening properties of Downy fabric softener | | 12 Anonymous Authority | The authority in question is not mentioned or named | Experts claim that eating peanuts causes pimples. | | 13 Hasty Generalization | Occurs when a sample is not significant enough to support a generalization about a population | Martha, the foreigner from France is very impolite. French people are mean and rude. | | 14 False Analogy | Occurs when a writer assumes that two concepts that are similar in some ways are also similar in other ways | Drugs are like massages: they make you feel good. | ## FACTORS ON AUTHENTICITY AND VALIDITY OF EVIDENCE/INFORMATION 1. **Relevance of the Source** - How well does the source support your stand? - You can check the title, table of contents, summary, introduction or headings of the text to have a sense of its content. 2. **Authority/Author's Qualifications** - Is the author's name identified? - Is the author's background, education or training related to the topic? - If the source does not have an author, think twice before using it. - Legitimate academic texts must include citations. Citations demonstrate that the writer has thoroughly researched the topic and is not plagiarizing the material. 3. **Currency/Date of Publication** - What is the date of the publication? - In most fields, the data from the older publications may no longer be valid. As much as possible, the date of publication should be at most five years earlier. 4. **Contents/Accuracy of Information** - Does the author have a lot of citations in his or her text and/or bibliography or works cited section? You do not want to use source that is disputable, so make sure to verify your findings with multiple sources. 5. **Location of Sources** - Where was the source published? Was it published digitally or in print? - Is it a book, an academic journal or a reputable news source as www.nytimes.com or www.economist.com? - Does it provide complete publication information such as author/s, editor/s, title, date of publication and publisher? - What is the URL of the website? - Avoid using blogs or personal homepage and wiki sites (Wikipedia, Wiktionary, Wikiquotes) - If the URL includes the top-level domain .edu, then that means that it has been published by an academic institution such as university - Common URLs include .gov (government), .org (organizations), .com (commercial sites) and .net (network infrastructures). In academic writing, reputable sites are those with .edu, .gov, .net and .org in URL. ## GUIDELINES IN PRESENTATING REASONABLE ARGUMENTS AND FACTUAL PROOFS TO DEFEND A STAND: - C - contains a clear proposition or statement that must be defended - A - assesses conflicting opinions or opposing views on the issue - T - takes a firm stand on the issue - L - lists arguments in an organized manner to defend the stand ☐ C - consider your audience/reader ## TOPIC 3: WRITING ANG ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY ### Simple Argumentative Essay Outline 1. **Introductory Paragraph** - This is where you'll introduce your topic. The intro has three main elements. - **Hook:** Your opening lines are known as your hook. Knowing how to write a hook is what will draw your reader to the end. - **Body:** You can expand this type of generalized "setup" with another sentence or two. - **Thesis Statement:** The end of your introductory paragraph contains one very important element: your thesis statement. This will close the first paragraph on a strong point and set up the body of the essay. Every point you make within the body of your essay must relate back to your thesis statement. The thesis statement guides, controls, and limits your essay. 2. **Body** - This is where you'll present a series of supporting details to defend every argument enumerated in the thesis statement. This can include a combination or all of the following: - Evidences taken from published articles - Facts generalized from studies - Statistics/results of studies conducted - Brief narratives generated from interviews - Quotations from people in authority on the topic The best way to visualize the body of your argumentative essay is to commit to three claims and back them up. Narratives are another nice avenue, in terms of evidence. You can share someone's testimony or even your own. 3. **Opposition** - Argumentative essays are more substantial than other essays. In an informative essay or a persuasive essay, you may choose to stick to one side of the discussion. In an argumentative essay, you must address the opposing side's opinions on the matter. 4. **Conclusion** - This is where you'll summarize the main idea of your argument. Don't repeat your thesis statement word-for-word, but it can be similar. Summarize your claims as concisely as possible and then close the essay. You can end with a rhetorical question or thought-provoking statement. ### Sample Argumentative Essay Outline: **Hook**: Much of our most important learning takes place outside the classroom. **INTRODUCTION** **Thesis Statement**: Every college-level student must study abroad during their undergraduate years. They will learn more in that semester abroad than any other academic year. **Claim**: Students who study abroad are more likely to be accepted into the graduate degree program of their choice. **Evidence**: 90% of students who studied abroad got into their first or second choice of graduate school. **Source: IES Abroad** **Claim**: Studying abroad makes a student a more desirable candidate for his/her dream job. **BODY** **Evidence**: 97% of students who study abroad find employment within 12 months of graduation. **Source: IES Abroad** **Claim**: Students who study abroad will be better-equipped to succeed in the workplace because of their broadened worldview. **Evidence**: 25% of students abroad have higher starting salaries. **Source: IES Abroad** **Opposition**: Studying abroad costs too much money. **OPPOSITION** **Refutation**: Take a look at your financial aid statement. How much does it cost to be a student at your university for a semester? Include tuition, housing, textbooks, transportation, and meal plan. Compare this with the cost of studying and living elsewhere. **Source: Diversity Abroad** **CONCLUSION** **Summary**: Studying abroad will have long-lasting, positive implications on your future as an academic and a professional. New windows of opportunity will be flung open the moment you board the plane. Why not make an appointment with the study abroad center at your university? You have nothing to lose by starting a conversation today.