EXPOSITION - ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY

EXPOSITION - ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY

PURPOSE: to persuade

STRUCTURE: 1. Introduction – a short paragraph stating ONE point of view supported by the thesis statement

2. Points For – one paragraph giving reasons why the future is
bright. These reasons should be supported by evidence and examples.

OR

3. Points Against – one paragraph giving reasons why the future is not
bright. These reasons should be supported by evidence and examples

4. Conclusion – a brief paragraph stating your point of view based on
the reasons and evidence you have given.


In argumentative form only ‘points against’ are given. Equally valid, depending on the writer’s point of view, would be ‘points for’ - but NOT BOTH.

Often examination questions are confusing to students by the nature of their wording. For example, the essay may question could be: -

‘We Should Preserve The Environment. Discuss.’

The word ‘discuss’ is misleading as there are very few ‘points against’ this statement and the obvious response would be an argumentative rather than discursive essay structure. This is not common as most essay questions avoid ‘motherhood issues’.

The following essay takes an argumentative structure.

1. Introduction

2. Points against the statement

3. Conclusion

SAMPLE ESSAY – ARGUMENTATIVE ‘The Future is Bright – Discuss’

Nobody can predict the future. Despite this, it is becoming increasingly apparent that modern technology will ultimately bring about the destruction of our planet. If we consider the negative environmental and social trends in the world today, to be optimistic about the future is to live in a fool’s paradise.

Modern technology comes at a price. [Pollution is one result of increased technology and industrialization. The effects of this can be seen in the destruction of the ozone layer as well as global warming. [Improvements in technology have also increased the effectiveness of weapons, especially weapons of mass destruction.[ As a direct result of modern technology, in the future it is possible that new diseases will appear. [Although transport has improved, it brings with it the danger of air pollution and traffic congestion. [Overpopulation and starvation will increase in the future because natural resources are limited and the amount of fertile land is decreasing steadily. In other words, technology creates more problems than solutions.

In conclusion, it is clear that for most people in the world the future is not bright because mankind is destroying the environment through unsustainable development. We only need to look at present trends in order to predict that the future looks bleak.

By Frank Felser