Summary of Text Features: Argument

This article is drawn from content originally included in PETAA Book Exploring how Texts Work, 2nd Edition, written by Beverly Derewianka and published in 2020.

Purpose

To take a position on some issue and justify it. 

Types

Argument texts belong to a genre group called ‘Exposition’, concerned with the analysis, interpretation and evaluation of issues in our world. There are several different expository genres and choice depends on whether your major aim is to simply analyse, or to interpret, or to evaluate. Some texts contain a mixture of expository genres. In an Argument the emphasis is on persuading someone to your position on an issue. You might be arguing that some sort of action be taken (‘persuading to’, for example, take action on climate change), or you might be arguing simply to justify your stance (‘persuading that’, for example, kids should earn their pocket money).

Text organisation (Argument)

The major focus is on an issue and a logical sequence of Argument related to this issue. The beginning of an Argument usually consists of a statement of position (thesis statement) often accompanied by some background information about the issue in question. There may also be some broad foreshadowing (preview) of the line of Argument to follow. To justify the position taken, the writer must now present the argument. Usually there is more than one point put forward in the argument, and each one should be supported by evidence (for example, statistics and quotes), and possibly by examples. The points are carefully selected and developed to add weight to the argument. All points should relate directly back to the statement of position, and there are often internal links between the various points.

 Finally, there is an attempt at summing up the position in the light of the argument presented, reaffirming the position reached or possibly calling for action.

Language Features

General features include:

  • generalised participants, sometimes human but often abstract (issues, ideas, opinions, and so on) – unless the issue centres on a particular event or incident
  • possibility of technical terms relating to the issue
  • variety of verb [process] types – action [material], linking [relational], saying [verbal], and thinking, feeling and perceiving [mental]
  • mainly timeless present tense when presenting position and points in the Argument, but might change according to the stage of the text (for example, if historical background to the issue is being given, the tense will obviously change to the past; if predictions are being made, the tense might change to the future)
  • frequent use of passives to help structure the text (for example, It is often said that …, when the writer doesn’t want to emphasise the ‘sayer’) actions are often changed into ‘things’ (nominalised) to make the Argument
  • sound more objective and to help structure the text
  • connectives associated with reasoning (therefore, so, because of, the first reason, and so on).

Note:

  • A ‘letter’ is not a genre in itself but rather a medium for a number of different genres: for example, a Recount of your trip abroad, a Report on the range of tablets available, a Description of your new house and Instructions on how to open a bank account. Similarly, posters, emails, tweets and so on are not genres.
  • Discussions, as opposed to Arguments, weigh up opposing perspectives on an issue, and then form an opinion based on the preceding points. Even in writing an Argument, it’s useful to try to anticipate any opposing perspectives in order to pre-empt any questions that might otherwise be raised in the reader’s mind.