Analyzing the Conclusion of a Sample Argumentative Essay

http://www.criticalthinkeracademy.com

This is a sample video from a video tutorial course titled "How to Write a Good Argumentative Essay". In this video we look at the conclusion of a sample student essay and discuss recommendations for improving it.

Full table of contents:

Introduction

Part 1: Guidelines for Structuring an Argumentative Essay
1.1 A Minimal Five-Part Structure
1.2 Writing the Introduction
1.3 Writing the Conclusion

Part 2: A Sample Essay with Some Problems (and Strategies for Fixing Them)
2.1 The Essay: "Should Teachers Be Allowed to Ban Laptops in Classrooms?"
2.2 Analysis: The Introduction
2.3 Analysis: The Main Body: First Argument
2.4 Analysis: The Main Body: Second Argument
2.5 Analysis: The Main Body: Third Argument
2.6 Analysis: The Main Body: Evaluation and Recommendations
2.7 Analysis: The Conclusion
2.8 The Essay: Improved Version
2.9 The Essay: Improved Version with Commentary

Category:

Education

Tags:

• argumentative essay
• how to write an essay
• how to write a conclusion

[Gerstein1]

Being an unfortunate member of a public Middle school, I would like to point out something here. Despite the fact that everything you say on opinionated statements is absolutely true, it's not the way its taught in Middle school. They do teach to glorify the concept of being personal, and it creates stupidity and ignorance when it comes to "what makes a good argument." It's mainly because of the scoring system of the ASK. The best way to solve this is to teach it right in the first place.

[PhilosophyFreak]

@Gerstein1 interesting comment. Can I ask what the ASK is?

[gjsterp]

Another great video, but there was an error at

2:33. The predicate is that they "should NOT be banned."

Of course most people will catch this, and ignore the err, but as an instructor you can't.

[PhilosophyFreak]

@gjsterp Thanks for catching that! Yep, that's just a typo.

[Archy20091]

I used to be good at writing essays, but then I took an arrow to the knee.

[iREVlEWER]

You are truly amazing at teaching.

[MsGrammarGal]

@gjsterp You are referring to the predicate of a subordinate clause that is part of the predicate of the independent clause. The identification of the predicate in the video is correct.

[Gerstein1]

@Gerstein1 It's basically a standardized test that is used to judge class placement. EVERY teacher freaks out and expresses the test too much, and in effect, they are teaching the test (defeating the purpose). It's also very poorly structured when compared with real-world-level essays.

[Gerstein1]

@PhilosophyFreak Assessment of skills and knowledge. Even though it promotes just the opposite.

[Gerstein1]

Being an unfortunate member of a public Middle school, I would like to point out something here. Despite the fact that everything you say on opinionated statements is absolutely true, it's not the way its taught in Middle school. They do teach to glorify the concept of being personal, and it creates stupidity and ignorance when it comes to "what makes a good argument." It's mainly because of the scoring system of the ASK. The best way to solve this is to either teach it right in the first place.

[MosaicUponMurder]

It's not about your feelings, and yet it really is.