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.

WAYS EASY TO AVOID BOREDOM IN STUDYING

Learning is an interesting thing, but when it's too long, there will be a sense of boredom to learn. To relieve boredom can be done in several ways, for example:

1)      By way of learning with friends.       

Studying with friends is one way to generate ways of learning so as not boring. for there is the impression enjoy at the time of learning to learn, create an exciting atmosphere like laughing because there is a cuteness, but just do not redundant, because if that is not excessive will be created to study will but joking.

2)       By way discussion.

            With a discussion of boredom in learning can be removed. Discussion also can train us to dare to give an opinion, trained to ask and answer as well as training to solve problems.

3)       Learn little by little.

            should learn a little at lest once, because with a fast finish but at the same time not make the headache and the lessons we learn will not long remember the next day but had forgotten again. At the time to learn not to tense, but we should enjoy because it can make in learning to enjoy

4)      Listening music

            Every people there are by way study different. For example with listening music, there are people like by way with like and according to study like this can make enjoy and they are not boring.

5)      Study while watching TV

Study while watching TV can make someone learn be don’t boring. Sometimes learn while eat.

My Friend

I have a friend. Her name is Yusi. She is my friend when i senior high school. She comes from west Borneo. Now she is studying in Bandung.   

 I think she is very  beautiful girl, diligent, kind, smart  and friendly . Now she is twenty years old same with me. She has oval face, small ayes, white skin, small lips, small mouth, long nose and curly hair. Her body is tall and slim. Every day  she wears veil .

            She has  many friends, because she  is friendly. Sometimes  she is spoil  and funny. In the school she is  like studying mathematics.