Argumentation

Argumentation, or argumentation theory, is the interdisciplinary study of how humans should, can, and do reach conclusions through logical reasoning, that is, claims based, soundly or not, on premises. It includes the arts and sciences of civil debate, dialogue, conversation, and persuasion. It studies rules of inference, logic, and procedural rules in both artificial and real world settings.

 

Argumentation includes debate and negotiation which are concerned with reaching mutually acceptable conclusions. It also encompasses eristic dialog, the branch of social debate in which victory over an opponent is the primary goal. This art and science is often the means by which people protect their beliefs or self-interests in rational dialogue, in common parlance, and during the process of arguing.

 

开头段的写法

第一句：背景句（最多2句）【要有个性】

第二句：主题句（题目同义替换）【可以套用模板】

第三句：观点句

 

主题句的写法：

some people / other people

→proponents/opponents

→those in favour of.../opponents of ...

→advocates/adversaries

→supporters/critics

Specific:

→technophiles/technophobes

→vivisectionists/antivivisectionists

→animal rights activists   animal rights extremists

→environmentalists

→parents and educators

 

Think, believe

→suggest, claim, assert

→insist, hold, maintain, argue, contend

 

→raise the doubt whether…

→be concerned that…

→worry that…

 

*当观点明显偏向负面的话，不用说正

*当背景句已经说了正面，那么主题句中不用再交代正面

 

动词形式向名词形式转换

e.g.: some/other people believe…→There is a belief that…

1.         There is a perception that… , while a counterargument is that…

2.         There is much controversy/a heated debate over whether…

3.         It is/has been a controversial/contentious issue/an issue of controversy/debate in our society whether…

4.         It has sparked/stirred/aroused much controversy/a heated debate in our society whether…

*以上用于引出反方观点

5.         There is some concern about…/over whether…  *比较温柔

 

背景句的写法：

1.         交代主题句产生的原因【常用】

2.         人们熟知的社会现象【常用】

3.         引用名人事例

4.         交代事物的另一方面【常用】

5.         下定义【常用】

6.         引出一方观点

例1：Some people who have been successful in society don’t attribute their success to the theoretical knowledge they learned from their university. Do you agree or disagree?

可用名人例：Bill Gates, Michael Dell, Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg

例2：Advertising is discouraging people from being different individuals and makes people to be or seem to be the same.

Penetrate, infiltrate, facilitate, play an indispensible role in our society

一些有用的替换：

Today, Nowadays

→In recent years

→At present

→Currently

→In modern society

→In contemporary society

 

There are more and more…

→There is an increasing number/amount of …

→The number/amount of … is increasing/has increased.

→There is/has been an (…) increase in the number/amount of …

【使用There be句型的时候要注意不要出现两个谓语】

 

… is becoming more and more popular.

→… is becoming increasingly popular.

→… is gaining (worldwide) popularity.

→The popularity of … is growing/increasing.

 

观点句的写法：（只能用一次）

Personally (speaking), I believe…

To my mind, to my way of thinking

To the best of my knowledge

I am convinced that

From my perspective,

From my point of view,

From my viewpoint,

As far as I know,

As far as see it,

As far as I am concerned,

My personal view is that …

In my part,

 

观点句/结构句（除了pros and cons，其他都可以随意搭配）

Advantages/disadvantages

Benefits/drawbacks

Merits/demerits

Positive effects/negative, harmful, adverse effects

Strength/weakness

Strong points/weak points

Upsides/downsides

Pros and cons(不能拆分！！)

 

用于利弊分析的总结/观点句：

Every coin has two sides.【滥用句，禁止！】

Be greater than

(far) outweigh/ exceed v.

Be more overt adj. than

Cannot justify

e.g.: I think the advantages cannot justify the disadvantages. So we should take both sides into consideration… Only by this way can we…

 

不同态度的表达：

支持：

Agree with/ consent to/subscribe to

Support/prop (up)

Advocate

Be in favor of

Side with

...is embraced by many people

remain convinced of

insist that ... should ...

反对：I am (strongly) against that【一般不用如此直接的态度，持怀疑态度即可】

怀疑：

… wonder whether this practice/view can hold water/bear close examinations.

中庸墙头草：

The essay will compare and contrast its benefits and downsides.

There are some points in both sides.

The focus of this essay is to analyze/explore/illustrate …

In this essay, I will … (e.g. : closely exam the pros and cons)

This essay aims to …

 

中间段的写法（利弊分析）（仅供参考）

例题：Do the positive effects of advertising outweigh its negative effects?

Body P1的开头: Advertising can bring enormous benefits to people, not only individuals, but manufacturers, and even society as a whole.

enormous benefits:所在段的论点用词要抽象，否则下面无法细化。

not only ... but结构：1.暗示下面要围绕这三点展开；2.凑字数

Body P2的开头: However, despite its great benefits, the negative effects of advertising should never be overlooked.

negative effects: 同样地，抽象点。