Writing an argumentative essay

Notes on Legal English for Bachelor Students Writing Assignment 3

Structure of your paper

• Title• Introduction• Body• Conclusion

Good titles

• State the topic of your research• Indicate the scope of your

research• Are self-evident to others in your

research-area

Title structure

• Much-used formats:• General: specific• Research topic:

methodology• Problem: solution

Introductions: three moves

• Establish a research territoryShow that the research area is

interestingimportantproblematic

• Indicate gaps in previous researchReview previous literatureShow problems in previous

literature

Reviewing literature

• Quality of literatureelegant/economical or accurate or

sloppy• Quantity of literature

However, most studies so far have overlooked/failed to consider/concentrated on…

Little information is available on…Few studies mention…

Citation and tense

• Researcher activity as agent: past simpleoJones (1987) investigated the causes of

lung cancer.• Researcher activity not as agent: present

perfectoThe causes of lung cancer have been

widely investigated.• No reference to researcher activity:

present simpleoThe causes of lung cancer are

complex.

Introductions, move 3

• Outline purpose or nature of present RP

• Announce principal findings• Indicate structure of RP

Purpose statement and theme• Referring to the type of text: present

simpleThe aim of this paper is to +

infinitive

• Referring to the type of investigation: past simpleA study was conducted to +

infinitive

Conclusions: three moves

• Consolidate your research space (obligatory)

• Indicate the limitations of your research (optional but common)

• Identify useful areas of further research (optional)

The concluding paragraph of an essay should include:

• A narrow statement relating the conclusion to the preceding paragraph;

• A restatement of the proposition or thesis statement;

• A brief summary of the main points made in the essay.

• A final, broad statement on the significance of the argument, and, if appropriate, its implications.

Your conclusion should not just be a list of the points you have made.

Consolidating your research area

• Discussion of literature

• General statement

• Statement of original purpose

• Statement of results

• Statement of importance of research

• Methodology

• Discussion of limitations

To conclude:

Poor conclusions only

summarize