Identifying Key

Structural Elements and

Language Features of
an Argumentative
Speech
 In the previous lessons you were familiarized with the
language of research, campaigns and advocacies. This lesson will help
you make reasonable judgment in order for you to present a clear and
effective position statement.
As a grade 10 student you are often asked to read, listen, view
and review materials to assess its reliability and value. There are times
when you are called to take a stand and give your position regarding
an issue. For clear reasoning, you need to understand an issue and
present your point clearly. You also need to identify the key structural
elements and language features of an argumentative text to present a
strong, valuable and effective argument.
• What is an Argumentative Essay?
- An argumentative essay tries to change the readers mind by
convincing the reader to agree with the writer’s point of view.

-This piece of writing is sometimes called persuasive writing

because it aims to convince the reader about a certain stand on
a debatable issue.
 Key Structural
Elements of an
Argumentative Text
Position Statement
A position statement lets people know where you stand on a topic or debate.
 Introduce the topic.
• Provide a strong opening sentence that provokes your reader’s interest
or captures your reader’s attention.

 State your position.

• To write an overview of your thesis (or argument) on the topic an the
points you will make.
Argument
 Make a number of points.
• Begin each paragraph with a key statement or general statement.
• Then, provide supporting reasons in the rest of the paragraph.
Restatement of
Position
 Sum up the argument

 Make a statement about what you see as a solution to the problem.

 Make statement about what might happen if the situation is not

resolved.

 Call to action.
• What is an Evaluative Language?
 An evaluative language is the language used to express the
opinion, attitude and point of view of a speaker or writer. It
can be used in claims about your own writing and about
others’ writing. Evaluate language judges, quantifies of
accuses.
 Usually in the form of adjectives, these words express
feelings, opinions, or judgments on what they are describing.
Language Features of an
Argumentative Text
1. Modal Verbs and Modal Adverbs

2. Connectives and Conjunctions

3. Voice of Verb: Passive vs. Active

4. Declarative Statement and Rhetorical

Statement
Modal Verbs
and Modal
Adverbs
 MODAL VERBS
A modal verb (also called a modal auxiliary verb) is
used along with a main verb to express possibility, ability,
permission, or necessity. For example, in the statement “you
must leave,” “must” is a modal verb indicating that it's necessary
for the subject (“you”) to perform the action of the verb
(“leave”).
 Note:
1. After a modal verb, the root 2. Modal phrases (or semi-modals)
form of a verb is generally are used to express the same thing as
used. The word to should not modals, but are a combination of
appear after a modal verb. An auxiliary verbs and the preposition to.
exception is the phrase ought The modals and semi-modals in
to, which is considered a modal English are:
verb.
• Can/could/be able to
• May/might
• Shall/should
• Must/have to Will/would
 MODAL ADVERBS
If one of the key jobs of adverbs is to add to the meaning
of verbs, it makes sense that modal adverbs add additional
meaning to modal verbs. Remember that modality has to do with
ideas such as the possibility of something happening.

Example:
1. I really might be going to the celebration on Saturday.
2. Surely you can't join the group.
3. It is likely that Prince will get an A in Math.
More sentences using modal adverbs to add to the meaning:

1. That controversial proposal surely won't pass.

2. Undoubtedly, the huge number of COVID positive will have a great

effect in our economy.

In the 1st sentence, the adverb surely modifies the verb will
not or won't. In the and sentence, undoubtedly, at the beginning of the
sentence modifies will have which appears later.
 Connectives
and
Conjunctions
 CONNECTIVES
- are words or short phrases used to link ideas together. Connectives
can be conjunctions (e.g. but, when, because) or connecting adverbs
(e.g. however, then, therefore). Connecting adverbs (and adverbial
phrases and clauses) maintain the cohesion of a text in several basic
ways, including: addition: also, furthermore, moreover opposition:
however, nevertheless, on the other hand reinforcing: besides, anyway,
after all explaining: for example, in other words, that is to say listing:
first(ly), first of all, finally indicating result: therefore, consequently, as
a result indicating time: just then, meanwhile, later.
 CONJUNCTIONS
- are a subgroup of connectives.

- are joining words, used to join together words, phrases or

clauses. Words used to link clauses within a sentence. But
and if are examples of conjunctions. Study how they are
used in the following sentences:

• It was tiresome but it was fun.

• We won't go out if social distancing is not observed
There are different kinds of conjunctions:

a. Coordinating conjunctions (and, but, or and so).

These join (and are placed between) two clauses of equal weight.

"Do you want to visit him or shall you wait here?"

And, but and or are also used to join words or phrases within a clause.
There are different kinds of conjunctions:
b. Subordinating conjunctions (e.g. when, while, before, after,
since, until, if, because, although, that).

We were hungry because we hadn't eaten all day.

Although we'd had plenty to eat, we were still hungry.

We were hungry when we got home.

 Voice of Verb
Passive vs. Active
 Voice
− It is a characteristic of verbs which indicates of
relations of verb’s action to its subject.
− The voice of a verb may either “active” or
“passive”
 PASSIVE
− VOICE
The voice of the verb is passive, when the subject is acted
upon by the object of the verb.
 What should we remember about the passive voice?
1. The passive voice is used when the action being done is more
important than doer of the action.

2. In the passive voice, the action is done to the subject, unlike in the
active voice where the subject does the action.

3. In the passive voice, the doer of the action is not stated at all.

4. The verb used in the passive voice is made up of a helping verb and
the past participle.

5. The form of the helping verb shows whether the action is past, present,
future, continuing, or whether it is related to another past action.
 ACTIVE VOICE
− The voice of the verb is active, when the subject performs the action.

− The subject of a sentence or clause featuring the passive voice

typically denotes the recipient of the action (the patient) rather than
the performer (the agent). Verbs in the passive voice in English are
formed using several parts (periphrastically): the usual construction
uses the auxiliary verbs to be or to get together with the past
participle of the main verb.
 Declarative
Statement and
Rhetorical Questions
What is a Declarative Statement?
A declarative sentence states the facts or an opinion and
lets the reader know something specific. It always ends with a period
and expresses a direct statement. It consists of a subject and a
predicate.

EXAMPLE:

1. Life is beautiful.
2. During the quarantine period many bonds were strengthened.
 Types of Declarative Sentences

1. A simple declarative sentence consists of a subject and a predicate.

2. A compound declarative sentence joins two related phrases together.

The phrases are joined by a comma and a conjunction such as: and,
yet, or but. The phrases can also be joined by a semicolon, with or
without a transition word such as however, besides or therefore.
What is a Rhetorical Question?
A rhetorical question is posed to make a point, not because
you wanted to answer, or the answer is obvious and do not need to be
stated. It is used to create a stronger effect rather than stating what
you mean directly.

Examples of Rhetorical Questions:

• Why me?
• Can you imagine that?
• How many times did I tell you to look at things the other way?
• Will you not stand and start again?
 Thanks!
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