The Argumentative Essay

The Argumentative Essay

ELA 8 WCMS

Poll

Would you rather get a job where you are ALREADY GOOD AT or pursue something that's MORE CHALLENGING for you?

• Do a job I'm already good at

• Do a job that is difficult for me but I'd like to learn doing

What is a persuasive/argument essay?

• Persuasive writing, also known as the argument essay, uses logic and reason to show that one idea is more legitimate than another. It attempts to persuade a reader to adopt a certain point of view or to take a particular action.

• The argument must always use sound reasoning and solid evidence by stating facts, giving logical reasons, using examples, and quoting experts.

When you write a persuasive essay you must:

• 1. Introduce the topic of the paper and the thesis statement. (The thesis statement is almost always at the end of the introduction.)

• 2. State the facts of the case.

• 3. Prove the thesis with your arguments.

• 4. Disprove your opponent's arguments.

• 5. End the essay.  

Open Ended

How would you convince your parent to buy you the Christmas gift you really, really want? (What are you going to say or do?)

The Automation Paradox: A review

Let's look at the argumentative essay we read last week and see what the author is trying to tell us:

The Automation Paradox (Introductory paragraphs)

• Automation has been taking over people's jobs so now a lot of people are scared that the robots might steal their jobs.

• But it turned out, automation does not really cause people to lose their job. Instead, it creates more jobs for people.

• 
  

First body paragraph:

• To prove the author's claim (that computers help create more jobs for people), he is giving us one great example: The legal industry!

• He says that because computers were doing a great job researching documents, law firms were able to accomodate more cases. So, they needed to hire more lawyers and paralegals.

Second example: ATMs

• Remember, the first example was the LEGAL INDUSTRY

• Now on the 2nd example, the author argues more jobs were created for people because the banks started to use ATMs. ATMs did not steal tellers' jobs at all.

Proving the thesis

• In paragraph 6, the author is making logical connections between his examples (legal industry and ATMs) and his claim.

• The logic? Automation worked fast, accurate, and most of all, it was cheap. Therefore, their services became cheaper, which attracted more customers. More customers means more jobs!

Let's watch and pay close attention to this screencast.

• Switch to the Google Meet screen for this.

• OR watch the video on HMH.

Open Ended

Having re-read the first 6 paragraphs of "The Automation Paradox", explain what the author is trying to say about the benefits of automation in your own words:

Paragraph 7: Acknowledging the "cons"

After saying that automation helps bring about more jobs for people, the author starts talking about one disadvantage of automation, as shown in the highlighted lines.

Paragraph is 7 shown in this graph:

Notice how more and more graphic design jobs are made every year while jobs for typographers decrease in number.

Paragraphs 8 & 9

• The author continues to talk about the disadvantages of automation by saying that indeed, there are some jobs at risk.

• But, he argues that while some jobs get elliminated, automation also create more jobs in other fields.

More about the challenges posed by automation:

• The author acknowledges that there are also disadvantages to automation. It makes some jobs disappear while creating new jobs.

• Now, the challenge that people are facing is HOW TO LEARN THESE NEW SKILLS to adapt to change.

Conclusion

• Finally, the author acknowledges that, indeed, it is difficult for people to just "switch" jobs and learn new skills. He ends the article with a positive tone by naming different ways schools and organizations are adapting to this new need.

• To end, the author references back to the introduction by saying we should not fear robots, but make ways to adapt.

Multiple Choice

What is the topic of the article?

• Automation

• The Legal Industry

• Graphics

• Persuasive essay

Multiple Choice

What is the thesis of this article?

• Robot panic is in full swing.

• Automation poses a major challenge.

• It turns out that workers will have greater employment opportunities if their occupation undergoes some degree of computer automation.

Multiple Choice

Based on the writer’s argument, which word best describes the impact of automation on future employment?

• insignificant

• transformative

• limited

• devastating

Multiple Choice

Which of the following does the writer identify as an effect of automation that will have a positive impact on jobs?

• more work space

• slower production

• increased demand

• higher prices

Open Ended

State the thesis or central idea of the whole article in your own words:

Poll

How much do you understand the article "The Automation Paradox" now?

• It's so much clearer to me now.

• It's a little bit clearer than before but there are still some confusing passages for me.

• It still doesn't make any sense.

• What article?

• I already understood the article fully the first time we read it.