Argumentative Essay

I met many challenges, many I never anticipated as a teacher. But at the top of the list, without any doubt will be teaching how to write an argumentative essay. I had no idea but I had to teach it, it was totally frustrating and scary at that time. The English curriculum was new and so was I. But that was not the problem, the problem was no getting any help because most teachers were new to the curriculum and the orientation program missed the teachers at PHSS. The scariest situation for a new teacher is letting your guard down, in this case, mine was having no idea about the essay and hoping my students would not ask me about it every day.

The teacher's guide (BHSEC English) didn't help because it doesn't have even the slightest diminutive tip/hint on the essay. The essays given for study in the textbook were confusing. And I cursed the damn essay/s and the people who wanted teachers to teach this essay. I later found out the curriculum specialist themselves (national) were not very sure about the different essays that were expected to be taught. None of the essays in the textbooks (11 &12) fit into the argumentative essay format or the pattern. It was very frustrating at times when I could not find any help. The school didn't have internet and most teachers had their own vague ideas about the argumentative essay anatomy.

So, I drove 10 km every evening to my father's office for about two weeks to browse for samples and online help. After spending substantial time and scanning through numerous sites and samples I finally discovered the one that we teach our students today. I don't know if it is the best sample but we are making it do with our students.

But I also found out that writing an argumentative essay has many good learning aspects and the essays that I wrote as a student can never be compared to what my students write. It is different from other writings. It helps one to be more critical and it stimulates one to consider aspects from different angles that rig and ascertain the validity of the argument. It helps one think at the higher levels of analysis, evaluation and creating a stand in an argument. A writing that is rhetoric and firm makes a good argumentative essay. I see it to be far more matured than the other essays. It may not let a writer play with words and give it the spontaneity of the creative mind but it certainly helps one gather one's functional language vocabulary and practice using it.


The link below will take you to the sample essay.
http://www.buowl.boun.edu


Comments

  1. RikuNovember 12, 2013 at 11:08 PM

    A very informative post la. I still remember those times in schools writing different types of essays. Argumentative essay is one of my fav styles which I still use it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. NobuNovember 13, 2013 at 11:10 PM

      Thank you for reading Riku. I will admit that though I teach my students to write this essay, writing a good one poses a lot of challenge. I feel all the english teachers should first be taught how to write one themselves.

      Delete
  2. UnknownNovember 12, 2013 at 11:19 PM

    Thanks for sharing. The link you gave here seems very useful because I still don't know much about essays and their kinds.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. NobuNovember 13, 2013 at 11:11 PM

      I am glad that it helped Sherab. If you have some material or links I could use please let me know.

      Delete
  3. AnonymousNovember 13, 2013 at 2:12 AM

    M sorry to say this, but Nobu, your claim of "the curriculum specialist themselves"of not being sure of the different types of essays is quite a tall one.

    ReplyDelete
  4. NobuNovember 13, 2013 at 11:00 PM

    I am sorry I should have written " The Guide book was not competent, it failed to give the specifics of how a teacher should go about teaching the writing of the different essays, especially the argumentative essay" But I did talk to one nation specialist who now works for the Royal Education Council and he admitted to the loopholes of the guide or for that matter of the choice of essays in the text.
    Thank you for reading and if you are who I think you are you can make a lot of difference in the English curriculum.
    Thank you

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousNovember 19, 2013 at 1:49 AM

    Thanks for you confidence in me. Mercifully, I've nothing to do with the curriculum. I was just pointing out your generalisation.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. NobuNovember 19, 2013 at 10:16 PM

      Thank you for the reply. And I am sorry that I generalized but I still feel that it is not very far fetched.
      thank you and please visit again

      Delete
  6. UnknownNovember 27, 2013 at 10:06 PM

    hahah it is simple bro...just teach them to write sth against the given topic and prove their point!! wish it is as easy as that though.....

    ReplyDelete
  7. Tshering TashiDecember 18, 2013 at 6:45 AM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

On a Morning Assembly Speech.

Image
In any venture in life there has to be something to fuel one’s persistence and dedication in following the goals that are to be realized. The morning assembly speech by one of my students did exactly that. Over the years as a teacher I have heard numerous speeches on various topics but never have I been more inspired to continue on my journey as a teacher. The topic of the speech as posted earlier was, ‘the best source we have to make our tomorrow bright, are our teachers’. I would like to thank this boy for his kind words. That particular morning was an enlightening moment for me as a teacher. In a time when the quality of education is questioned and criticism burdens heavy on every teacher’s shoulder, the words of the boy was like the fresh spring showers in a season of drought. In the hard work of his principal the boy came to appreciate and believe in the essence and reward of working hard.    In the sacrifice of his warden the boy realized the ...
Read more

Becoming Bhutanese

Image
The Sun peeked from behind a cloud and began slanting through the windows, zeroing in on the boy who was still sleeping. “Breakfast is ready.” It was Kinley’s father. “Get dressed, you are getting late for school”. Kinley was in Class Nine at the local high school. He was an intelligent boy. He got along very well with the school “sophisticates” with their funny hairstyles, which he knew was the popular Korean cut. He studied hard and came first in his class. Soon, influenced by his stylish friends, Kinley too began copying the Korean look so he could fit in better with his friends. It started with the hairstyle but over time he became obsessed with everything Korean. Before he knew he was swept up by the new “Korean wave” that was sweeping all the young people in the country. Photo courtesy Druk Youth Fashion “Kinley, you are changing day by day”, his father told him. ” I am afraid that you will be like the funny-looking boys I see loitering in...
Read more

Ode to My Nalaypem

Image
You are so beautiful that Even the roses envy your loveliness. Like a blissful creature bestowed upon man. To teach him of worship, You have come to me. Your eyes shine so vivid That even the stars shy away and The creator himself with bliss Carved your face. Your kiss is sweeter than the sweetest nectar That I say; ‘O sweet Nalaypem, make me immortal with a kiss’ . Fortune has favoured me   With your eyes guiding me. I now m grateful for its bounty Of delivering you to me. If Shakespeare were to write a poem on you, He would have done so that it would make me envious. But he would have found no word Beauteous enough to label you. For you are far sweeter than frail Juliet, Far bolder than Portia and far beautiful than Helen. You are to me what I ever wanted in love. My passion has come alive with you, To make my human flesh Godly and good, Capable of love that is to bloom. ‘O sweet Nalaypem I love thee much....
Read more