ENGLISH FOR ACADEMIC AND

PROFESSIONAL PURPOSES 12
4th Quarter
Week 1

LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEET

Division of Surigao del Sur
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 Competency:
o Analyzes the arguments used by the writer/s in manifestoes
(CS_EN11/12A-EAPPIIa-d-3)

Objectives: At the end of the lesson, you shall have:

o familiarized the steps in analyzing arguments in a written text;
o examined arguments in a written text; and
o reflected on the importance of analyzing arguments in a written
text.

Learner’s Tasks

Lesson Overview

To become a critical reader, you need to weigh arguments. In weighing

arguments, you must consider its value or persuasiveness. But in order to weigh
things properly, you need to know what an argument is and how it is put
together.

This lesson will help you understand what argument is, and the things that you
need to consider in evaluating arguments.

Let us first discuss what a manifesto is.

According to Britannica Encyclopedia a manifesto is a document publicly

declaring the position or program of its issuer. A manifesto advances a set of
ideas, opinions, or views, but it can also lay out a plan of action. While it can
address any topic, it most often concerns art, literature, or politics. Manifestos
are generally written in the name of a group sharing a common perspective,
ideology, or purpose rather than in the name of a single individual.

A manifesto contains arguments.

Now what is an argument?

Argument
➢ It is a claim that is reinforced by reasons or evidence.
➢ An argument comes up by persuading the reader of the ideas which an
author believes in by supporting evidence or reasons to prove a claim.

The Claim
➢ It is the point of the argument
➢ When a writer creates an argument, it’s the claim that the writer is trying
to persuade the reader to accept as true.

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Analysis
➢ It is where you need to brainstorm either to believe the claim or not.
➢ In analyzing an argument, you need to break down the parts and
scrutinize each of them and see the connectedness of every part.

Two parts of Argument

1. Claim or statement that sum up the main idea;
2. Reasons why that claim is accurate, and/or evidence to upkeep that
claim.

Steps in Analyzing an Argument

Step 1- Identify the argument’s claim.

• What is the stand of the author of which he/she is trying to persuade?
• What is the point of the argument?

Step 2- Determine the reasons or evidences the author gives for support.

Step 3- Critical thinking is needed in weighing the reasons and evidence that
the argument presents. Answer the following:
• What is the source of the evidence?
• Is the evidence valid?
• Do the evidence or reasons fail the argument?

Step 4- Ask yourself how good the reasons or evidence are as support to the
claim. If the evidence is weak or false, then the argument will be less
convincing or even invalid. If the evidence is poor, the argument will be less
convincing or even invalid.

Let's look at an example.

Reflective writing can aid students to become better thinkers. It can help
them see that idea are intended to be discoursed and deliberated.
Bridges and Jost found that students who did weekly reflective journal
writing about their course content for a semester could scrutinize course
concepts at a deeper level than those who didn’t.

The sentence "Reflective writing can help students become better thinkers" is
the claim. In the next sentence, the claim is extended, "It can help students see
that ideas are meant to be discussed and debated." Finally, evidence is given,
often in the form of a citation, "Bridges and Jost found that students who did
weekly reflective journal writing about their course content for a semester
could analyze course concepts at a deeper level than those who didn't."

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Hence, the evidence supports the initial presented claim and its expansion.
1. Presented first is the main argument, or thesis statement.
2. The various parts are made with the purpose of supporting the main
argument.

In order to begin in analyzing an argument, you must first consider the

evidence given to you, then ask questions based on that evidence.
Ask questions like,
• "From the evidence presented, is there a diverse explanation or claim?"
• "Is the evidence substantial and sound?"
• “What is the difference with the other evidence/argument that you’ve
read?

You will likely discover two authors who make varied claims on the same
topic. Just like this,

Universal health care system should be accessible by every citizen. It will

let the medical professionals to focus on healing their patients rather
than minding the insurance procedures and liability concerns. By this, it
provides opportunity for regular checkups when they can’t afford it.

Universal health care is an unreasonable system where total costs end

up being much higher compared to privatized care. There is a
decreased of doctor flexibility due to government policy and those that
are healthy are forced to subsidize the health benefits for smokers and
those that are obese. Every citizen should be given access to health
care, but not in a publically-controlled system.

The two passages reflect an opinion regarding to the universal health care
system. Even if they have the same topic, they both claim varied things.

The first paragraph claims that universal health care gives doctor the chance
to give emphasis on care over insurance concerns while the second
paragraph claims that doctor flexibility is reduced in such way due to
insensitive government policy.

The first paragraph claims that universal health care provides everyone the
occasion for regular checkups, no minding the cost while the bottom claims
that such a system forces the healthy to sponsor benefits for those needing
care due to smoking or obesity.

Eventually, each author supports different claim with real reasoning. As you
read, make sure you comprehend the claims that the author is trying to make.

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Activity 1-Step by Step
Direction: Give the required information in the diagram. Copy the diagram
on your answer sheet.

What is an
argument?

Write the steps in analyzing arguments in a written text.

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Step 4

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Activity 2-Analyze Me
Direction: Read and analyze the text, then answer the questions that follows.
Write your answers on your answer sheet.

Smart Technology is Here

- Francis J. Kong (The Philippine Star) - June 24, 2018 - 12:00am

Technology is changing things. Sometimes, we are so enamored with all

the new gadgets and other shiny objects; we scrape up a lot of money from
our hardearned savings just to make sure we have them lest we lag behind.
Technology does not only change things, it has transformed the way we
lived and the rate of change is accelerating. Consider the changes that have
happened over the years. After the years following the Civil War, there were a
handful of technologies that reconfigured existence.
Thomas Edison’s light bulb extended the working day and may have
created the workaholic.
The air-conditioner provided cool and comfort for hot and humid days
and it pushed us indoors all day, causing the reduction of our vitamin D levels.

The jet engine have shrunken distance but increased the scope of
business as in warfare.
Radio and television spread information on massive scales which
penetrated homes and private spaces, and shaped culture.
Appliances sped up our tasks and chores, but reduced our physical
strength.

Computers reduced outdoor activities but, in its stead, created an

industry called fitness gyms.

Smart phones become the universal device for almost every technology
application, and at the same time have raised our stress and tension levels.
Social media has been able to bridge people from across the world, yet
has isolated the people nearest them.
This is strange but it seems like the more social media one uses, the less
social he or she becomes.
Technology has now created new businesses that the world has never
seen before. Suddenly, YouTube stars that would ever have had the slightest
opportunity to flash their faces on the TV or movie screens and become
overnight stars, and earn millions to the consternation of their parents who still
believe that they should get a “real job.”

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 Even the way I go to sleep and the way I wake up from my sleep has
been altered by technology. For the past two to three years, I have not
physically set my alarm clock to the time I need to get up to start the day. I
have always said, “Alexa, wake me up tomorrow morning at 6:15 a.m. to the
sound of classical music.” And then, my A.I.-enabled cylinder that I purchased
from Amazon.com will respond: “Alarm set tomorrow morning at 8 o’clock to
classical focus on amazon music.” And it does.

Now, expect more of this to happen. More people will be talking to their
devices. Google home products, Apple’s Home pod, and Amazon’s Echo are
all competing in this field. This might pose as a challenge for people to be
reminded that when they talk to humans, they should still communicate with
grace and respect. With machines, one can be rude, impatient and be ill-
mannered wanting to get the information we want but humans are not
machines. I can be awakened by Alexa with its classical music playing and in
my still foggy mind and half-wakefulness say, “Alexa, shut up: and it does stop.
But can you imagine me talking this way to my clients or my family?
Smart technology is now similar to media in its ability to shape our lives in
a thousand ways and in even more pervasive means. We have even witnessed
the rise of fake news and false content, and have seen how many young
people have become bashers and bullies, cussing and cursing in loud voices
instead of improving their arguments through intelligent conversations to the
benefit of no one but perhaps, to a handful of marketing people whose sole
mission in life is to create noise, traffic, and click counts to raise up ad revenues
for their sites. Technology can diminish emotional intelligence as those who are
immersed in it become socially and emotionally lazy, thanks to all the screens
in our lives.
Geoffrey Fowler already has a sinister name for this fake news and false
contents in social media as he calls it: “counterfeit reality.” I guess what has
happened over the years is that civilization driven by mass media and
technology has replaced our preference from a culture of character to a
culture of personality.
Technology will not go away. It is not a passing fad. Businesses will be
challenged, jobs will possibly be replaced, and so we should learn it, know
more about it and most importantly use it for good and not as a means to justify
the means and in many case….the “mean-ness.”

Famous book author and professor Adam Grant whom I had the
privilege of meeting and interviewing years ago says this beautifully:
“We could” – refers to the creativity we can employ through smart
technology.

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 “We should” – refers to the ethical and moral decisions we need to
consider in its usage.

I am interested in technology developments. I am sure it will improve

many people’s lives, but the same materials can also be used to advance evil
and harm. Therefore, we need to be reminded that technology is moral-
neutral. It is still the heart of the person using it that matters. Use technology for
what matters most and that is for the good — for everyone’s sake.

Source:
https://www.philstar.com/business/2018/06/24/1827252/7dKHY4z5uOELgVFO.
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1. What is the opinion of the writer about technology?

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
2. Do you agree with the writer? Why or why not?
___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
3. What is the first argument presented by the writer in the text?

___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
4. What is the conclusion of the writer?

___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________

5. If you were to write a position paper what will be your view about
technology?
___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

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Activity 3: Let us Ponder
Express your idea on the importance of analyzing arguments in a written text.
Write a 5-sentence paragraph on your answer sheet as your answer.
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

Formative Test
Directions: Carefully read the following questions and choose your answer from the
given choices. Write only the letter that corresponds to your answer on your answer
sheet.

1. “Digital piracy is not killing the music industry. History has shown that
formats shift and change depending on consumer preferences. LPs and
cassettes have been phased out to make room for CDs. With the current
shift from physical to digital, consumers have the freedom to purchase
individual tracks instead of whole albums, a move than explains the drop
in album sales and as a result, overall profits.”

Which among the statements expresses the main idea in the

paragraph?

A. As a result of piracy, overall album sales dropped

B. Consumers prefer digital media over physical media
C. Digital piracy is not killing the music industry
D. LPs and cassettes have been phased out to make room for CDs

2. What is a claim?
A. It is the thesis statement in a written text.
B. It is the introductory part of a written text.
C. It is the summary of the argument and it is what the writer is helping the
reader to understand.
D. It is the point of the argument and it is what the writer is trying to persuade
the reader to accept as true.

3. How do we analyze an argument in a written text?

A. We analyze an argument in a written text by identifying the
background of the writer and his motive in writing the text.

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 B. We analyze an argument in a written text by examining the context
of the written text.
C. We analyze an argument by identifying first the weaknesses of the
text before its strengths.
D. We analyze an argument in a written text by identifying first the
argument’s claim, then determining the evidence, its source, validity,
and strength.

4. How do we know that an evidence is truthful and reliable?

A. An evidence is truthful and reliable if it is based on facts.
B. An evidence is truthful and reliable if it is based on hearsays.
C. An evidence is truthful and reliable if it is based on rumors.
D. An evidence is truthful and reliable if it is based on speculations.

5. How important is evidence in a claim?

a. It makes the claim vague.
b. It makes the claim strong.
c. It makes the claim inadequate.
d. It makes the claim insufficient.

Answers Key

Activity 1:

An argument is a claim that is reinforced by reasons or evidence.

Step 1- Identify the argument’s claim

• What is the stand of the author of which he/she is trying to persuade?
• What is the point of the argument?

Step 2- Determine the reasons or evidences the author gives for support.

Step 3- Critical thinking is needed in weighing the reasons and evidence that
the argument presents. Answer the following:
• What is the source of the evidence?
• Is the evidence valid?
• Do the evidence or reasons fail the argument?

Step 4- Ask yourself how good the reasons or evidence upkeep the claim. If
the evidence is weak or false, then the argument will be less convincing or
even invalid. If the evidence is poor, the argument will be less convincing or
even invalid.

Activity 2: Answers may vary

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Activity 3: Answers may vary

References

Learner’s Material. English for Academic and Professional Purposes. First Edition.
Department of Education - Region X Province of Cagayan de Oro.

Retrieved May 1, 2021

https://eng.ucmerced.edu/people/awesterling/SPR2016.ESS141/Assignments/rubric2
.pdf

Retrieved May 1, 2021

https://library.wlu.ca/sites/default/files/pdfs/tutorials/identifyingarguments.pdf

Retrieved May 1, 2021

https://www.slideshare.net/ashleytroxell/analyzing-and-evaluating-arguments

Retrieved May 1, 2021

https://www.philstar.com/business/2018/06/24/1827252/7dKHY4z5uOELgVFO.99

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