Mastering Argumentative Text Structure and Analysis
Understanding Argumentative Text
An argumentative text presents a subjective vision of an issue or topic. Its primary purpose is to influence the recipient, with the conative function predominating through persuasive appeals.
Elements and Structure
Argumentative texts follow a logical and orderly structure:
- Thesis: The principal idea around which the text is organized.
- Inductive: The author develops arguments to reach the thesis.
- Deductive: The most common approach; the author starts with the thesis and defends it with arguments.
- Argumentative Body: Comprised of the arguments provided by the author to defend the thesis.
- Conclusion: Summarizes the ideas derived from the arguments. In inductive structures, the conclusion aligns with the thesis.
Types of Arguments
- Illustration: Based on real and concrete facts that support the thesis.
- Objective: Based on citations, dates, or established facts.
- Authority: Relying on the opinions of well-known experts.
- Experience: Based on personal experience.
- Rebuttal: The denial of counterarguments.
- Fallacies: Erroneous arguments used intentionally to mislead.
Lexical and Linguistic Features
- Lexicon: Uses abstract and connotative language to reflect the author's subjectivity.
- Content: Employs maxims, proverbs, and concrete data.
- References: Frequent use of examples and citations.
- Verbs: Predominance of verbs of will and verbs of thought.
- Evaluative Expressions: Frequent use of adverbs and adjectives to express opinion.
Textual Resources and Discourse Markers
Discourse markers are used to organize ideas subjectively:
- Causative: Well, since, because.
- Consecutive: Hence, therefore.
- Conditional: For this, as long as.
- Illustration: For example, as shown.
- Reformulation: In summary, in short.
- Purpose: In order to, to.
- Ordering: First, then.
- Addition: Also, furthermore.
Analysis Checklist
- Item
- Summary
- Structure
- Type of Text (Narrative, Descriptive, Dialogic, Expository, or Argumentative)
- Language Features (Lexical, Morphological, Syntactic, and Textual)
- Critical Assessment