Teaching EFL Learners to Write an Argumentative Essay By Adopting Genre Literacy Approach

Teaching EFL learners to write an argumentative essay is not just a mater of teaching them to generate ideas, to used correct language to express meanings, choose suitable technical terms, to organize ideas in a coherent way, and to employ written conventions of mechanics, but also, most importantly, to develop their critical thinking skills. The  argumentative essay has  distinct purpose: To connive or persuade. The meaning that case is to make the audience (readers) agree to a point a view of the author with logical reasoning to support the point a view.

Skills in argumentation has been considered as one of critical thinking skills and argumentative writing is challenge to apply the skills. An argument happens, when two parties disagree about something. One party give an opinion the reasons to s support it and the other party gives a different opinion and offers reasons in supports of the argument.

An argument is not merely, or the same as an opinion , agreement or disagreement but it is the author’s point of view directed to persuade the audience to accept. It is important to note that an effective argument needs logical reasoning that might be done by providing evidence such as fact, statistical evidence, and scientific explanation. Therefor an opinion without and explicit support of logical reasons is not argument but just an opinion.

Summarizes 6 features of an argument:

1)    Position

Position refers to a point of view that the author attempts to persuade the audience to accept.

2)    Reasons

Reason is meaning giving logical reasons that refer to contributing argument to support the position.

3)    A line of reasoning

A line of reasoning means a set of reasons presented in a logical order so that it leads clearly and logically from one reason to the next.

4)    Conclusion

The conclusion which refers to the argument that leads towards the position that the author wants the audience to accept. The conclusion is basically the persuasion to a point of view from the author to the audience.

5)    Persuasion

Persuasion is the purpose of the argument to convince the audience about the point of view.

6)    Signal words and phrase

Signal words and phrase, help the audience follow the detection of the argument smoothly.

Smalley and Ruetten mention the characteristics of an argumentative essay as follows:

1)       The argumentative essay should introduce and explain the issue.   This is important to make the audience understand the issue being argued.

2)       The essay should offer reasons and support for those reasons which means that the essay should prove its points.

3)       The essay should refute the opposing argument. The purpose is that the author not only proves his/her care but also prover that the opponent is wrong.

Basically ideas on the features of an argumentative essay can be simplified into 4 basic component:

1)          Introduction and explanation of issues including the thesis of the author  containing the position (stand).

2)            Reasons presented logically to support the argument.

3)            Refutation which means to prove that the opponents are wrong.

4)             Conclusion containing reassertion of the thesis.

Improving Teacher Student in the EFL Classroom: an Action Research Report.

A common problem for EFL teacher is dealing with a passive class, where student are unresponsive and avoid interaction with the teacher. This is especially true when a teacher seeks interaction in a teacher - class dialog, such as asking questions to the class a whole, expecting at least one student  to respond. This can be frustrating experience for both parties. Obviously, there will be times when no student can answer a teacher’s question, but often student do not answer even if they understand the question, know the answer and are able to produce the answer. Furthermore, student can often be very reluctance to give feedback or ask the teacher a question in front of the class. This reaction research project attempted to explore this problem and sought to create a more interactive teacher - class interchange in one class of Japanese adult English learners.

Analysis of Poetry

“ MY LOVE “

 ( West Life )

An empty street, and empty house
A hole inside my heart
I'm all alone the rooms are getting smaller
I wonder how, I wonder why
I wonder where they are
The days we had, the songs we sang together

And oh my love
I'm holding on forever
Reaching for a love that seems so far

Chorus :
So I say a little prayer
And hope my dreams will take me there
Where the skies are blue
To see you once again my love
Over seas from coast to coast
To find the place I love the most
Where the fields are green
To see you once again

My love

I try to read, I go to work
I'm laughing with my friends
But I can't stop to keep myself from thinking oh no
I wonder how, I wonder why
I wonder were they are
The days we had, the songs we sang together

And oh my love
I'm holding on forever
Reaching for a love that seems so far
(Chorus )

To hold you in my arms
To promise you my love
To tell you from the heart
what I'm thinking of

I'm reaching for a love that seems so far
(Chorus )

My Love

I say a little prayer
Dreams will take me there
Where the skies are blue to see you once again
Over seas from coast to coast
To find the place I love the most
Where the fields are green to see you once again

Sammarize from every stanza  above of song  is:

1)      In the first stanza, the song is about the loneliness experienced by a person. He always longed for her lover who had long gone.

2)      In the second stanza, the intent of this song is the desire of someone who is expecting her love, even over long distances.

3)      In the third verse, about wanting someone wants to stay with his girlfriend and he kept trying no matter what way, the important thing he could meet them again.

4)       In the fourth stanza, he attempted to amuse himself by reading, going to work and joke-joke with his friends. But could not keep still for forged and to think lover's.

5)      In the fifth stanza,, the intent of this song is the desire of someone who is expecting her love, even over long distances.

6)       In the sixth stanza, he wanted to keep her promise to lover’s, who had to tell at first.

7)      In the seventh stanza, he still expects his love, though not certain.

8)      In the eighth stanza, about wanting someone wants to stay with his girlfriend and he kept trying no matter what way, the important thing he could meet them again.

Analysis of Song

1.      Interpretation of the title

In the above song on him the title of my love. The point is that one's love to his lover, could also love to parents, love for God and love to my friends.

2.       Theme

Theme in this song is hope. Because the song is about the hope of someone who expects the presence of her lover back. Although this will not happen, he still tried. 

3.      Point of  View

Point of view in this song is a first person . Because he tells about himself and he also became a role in the song.

4.      Atmosphere

The atmosphere in the song is:

a)      The Loneliness
In girlfriend lived he felt lonely, because no one accompanied him all the time wherever he is.
For example in the first stanza

Ø   An empty street, and empty house

Ø  A hole inside my heart

b) Longing

He was always looking and waiting for her lover's presence again. He kept trying to find her lover that has not been met. He hopes to meet again.
For example in the third stanza:

Ø  And hope my dreams will take me there

Ø  To see you once again my love

5.      Diction

a)      Connotation

Ø  An empty street and empty house (The Loneliness)

Ø  A hole inside my heart  (feeling)

b)      Figurative language

Ø  Over seas from coast to coast (personification)

6.      Value

The value contained in these song is:
a) the value of  religious
The value of religion in this song is hope for someone to meet her lover that has not been met. But if there mate will definitely return again. The Lord will provide the best soul mate for inhabitants.
b) The value of moral

that a loyal wait his lover that has long to isolate. But he direct to look for his lover.

7.      Message

The message can we take from this song is not too much to expect something that is not yet inevitable. Because if that hope was not realized would hurt someone. Let's just say his departure was probably the best for him. Because we do not know who our soul mate. The Lord will provide the best match for us. If it's mate will surely meet again.