English Language Non-Fiction: Writing Arguments

Tip: Read Some!

An excellent source for argument writing are the columns in newspapers.  If you search papers such as The Independent and The Guardian online, you will find they have 'Opinion' sections.  The Times is brilliant too, but you have to subscribe to access it.

Start to read a variety of these.  Think about the key points the writer is making on their chosen topic (summarise what they are saying).  Look for language devices that the writer had used to argue their points: can you see any rhetorical questions?  Rule of three?  Second person address?  Consider how they have structured their writing: can you pick out any short sentences or paragraphs that impact on the reader?

The more you read good writing, the better writer you will become yourself.  Remember, GCSE English exams will have a non-fiction element.  They will expect you to both read and write non-fiction.   Therefore, getting into the habit of reading some good quality non-fiction in your own time will put you at an advantage.

Tip: English is about skills, not truth

This statement applies specifically to the non-fiction writing section!  I'm not encouraging you to embrace lies and deceit.

Your examiner is expecting to see that you understand how to create and support an effective piece of non-fiction writing, whether it is argue, persuade, inform or explain.

You will face a question that asks you to tackle something random, like 'Write a letter to your local council arguing that more should be done to tackle rubbish in your area."

You are not expected to know lots about the issue or have plenty of facts about it to hand.  You need to MAKE IT UP.

First, plan your points.  You will need to come up with about 4-5 points about the issue that will create the structural backbone of your piece of writing.

1.  The area looks untidy and ugly.

2.  The amount of rubbish is dangerous for children.

3.  Residents should be encouraged to recycle.

4.  Rubbish harms wildlife.

5.  A cleaner local area would attract more people to visit.

Each of my points will become a topic sentence that will then be padded out into a paragraph by my entirely made up supporting evidence.  This bit is where you get your features in.

Great language features for arguing:

Rhetorical Questions

Anecdotes

Imperative Verbs

Second Person Address

Emotive Language

Rule of Three

Expert Opinions

Public Opinions

Facts and Statistics

Counter Argument

These are just some of the key features that you can include in your writing.

I like this bit.  Don't get too silly with it, but have some fun creating your evidence.  Do this as you are writing; you won't have time to plan all your features in an exam.

Example of Point 4:

Furthermore, the amount of rubbish in our local area is very harmful for wildlife.  Dr Ray Smith from the University of London said, "The population of song birds in this country has fallen by 45% in the last five years.  Our studies indicate that this is because they are ingesting rubbish, such as cigarette ends, from our pavements."  The results of his research clearly indicate the toxic effects of waste on our birds.  Surely these distressing figures will prompt you to take action on reducing the waste dumped on the streets in our community?  

Dr Ray and his study are entirely made up.  I am trying to prove my point that rubbish harms the local wildlife and I am showing the examiner that I know expert opinions, statistics, emotive language, second person address and rhetorical questions are all devices that help me to argue.  I will get ticks for making my writing appropriate to the purpose and audience and for using language devices.

Tip: Start with a scenario

I think a really effective way into an argument, or any non-fiction piece, is to get the reader to imagine a situation that is linked to the topic.

Example:

Imagine streets covered in waste.  Imagine the stink of refuse as it is warmed by the sun.  Imagine the fear you would feel encountering large rats, drawn to our community by the extensive source of food.  If the rubbish in our area is not dealt with soon, this is the situation that all local people will be facing.

You, as our council, need to take action on the refuse!

Firstly...

The Need for Speed

Tip: Get Fast

Unless your usual way of working is on a computer, in your exams you are going to have to write.  Not only that, you will need to write quickly. 

This is a very useful skill to develop, especially if you plan to continue to college and beyond.  

How can you do this?  How can you go from taking an hour to write a page of A4 to 15 minutes?

1.  Practise

Get sample questions from the teacher.  Time yourself.  Write.

Find other opportunities to write: keep a diary, write letters, write a short story.  Just write.  The more you do it, the quicker you will get.

Don't worry about being neat, but keep it legible.  The examiner needs to be able to read your ideas, otherwise it's all a waste of time.

2.  Plan

Always plan.  It is amazing how many times I will tell a class about the genius of planning and they simply ignore this and go straight into writing, then they wonder why their writing is too wordy, or they've picked the wrong question and run out of ideas.  

Planning organises the points, ensures you have definitely picked the best question and clears up any mental clutter so you start writing entirely focused on the question.

Ultimately, any long answer in English revolves around making key points, whether it is a writing or a reading task.  The points become the outline structure and then you pad with either your quotations and analysis (Reading/Literature) or your reasons and supporting evidence (Writing).  Planning these key points and selecting your quotes OR planning your points and creating your supporting evidence is five minutes at the start of the exam that could save you a huge amount of misery when you dry up part way through or start repeating yourself and wasting time.

3.  Check your grip and posture

Many people experience pain when writing.  This not uncommon.  I know I get tense when marking and it can hurt my hand, arm and shoulder.

Try different pens until you get one that feels comfortable when you hold it and don't grip it too hard.  You can even buy pen grips that can help you to hold a pen comfortably.  This is really worth exploring if you get writing pain as you need to enable yourself to write as easily as possible in your exams.

Don't press too hard and try not to tense up.  Again, practise helps.

Have breaks: stretch and wiggles your fingers and rotate your hand both ways.

Always write with the pens you will use for your exams.  Get used to how they feel in your hand and how they write.  Make sure you have plenty of them.  Make sure they are black ink.

Resist the urge to write in pencil.  You will have to write in black pen in your exam, so get used to it.