Going Towards West Papua Essay

9^th Class Review

Going Towards West Papua Essay

(by: Mahromul Fadlillah)

The first meeting on writing and conversation 4 after three times we could not meet and gather with Mr.lala Bumela.  This is because Mr.Lala bustle joining debate competition with Kuningan Debate Society to Sarawak, Malaysia.  That moment feels like different, we prepared every single things to face this lesson.  We assigned by Mr.Lala to read text anthropology entitled “Don’t Use Your Data as a Pillow” by Eben Kirkskey.  We analyze it as a basic knowledge to make an argumentative essay.  Each group must make a discussion to understand deeply about that text.  We must express our argument and opinion in every single sentence.

Mr.Lala asked us about Papua.  When Papua integrated to Indonesia?  When Papua run PEPERA?  What the causes Papua’s conflict?  That is about CHAIN of HISTORY.  We must be conscious to time distance in every single moment and relation among them.  Analyze where and what did official of country do at the moment?  This for reading activity has purpose in order reader can be a QR (Quality Reader).  Basic cycle in reading is:

PRE -> WHILST -> POST

We as a reader must know something different before, during, and after read the text.  Next, Mr.Lala shows us powerpoint entitled “Time to Write Again”.  Our duty is: explore about West Papua and make argumentative essay.  Before we make essay, we should know the differences between EXPOSITION, EXPOSITORY ESSAY, and ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY.

What is an expository essay?

The expository essay is a genre of essay that requires the student to investigate an idea, evaluate evidence, expound on the idea, and set forth an argument concerning that idea in a clear and concise manner. This can be accomplished through comparison and contrast, definition, example, the analysis of cause and effect, etc.

Please note: This genre is commonly assigned as a tool for classroom evaluation and is often found in various exam formats.

What is an argumentative essay?

The argumentative essay is a genre of writing that requires the student to investigate a topic; collect, generate, and evaluate evidence; and establish a position on the topic in a concise manner.

Please note: Some confusion may occur between the argumentative essay and the expository essay. These two genres are similar, but the argumentative essay differs from the expository essay in the amount of pre-writing (invention) and research involved. The argumentative essay is commonly assigned as a capstone or final project in first year writing or advanced composition courses and involves lengthy, detailed research. Expository essays involve less research and are shorter in length. Expository essays are often used for in-class writing exercises or tests, such as the GED or GRE.

Argumentative essay assignments generally call for extensive research of literature or previously published material. Argumentative assignments may also require empirical research where the student collects data through interviews, surveys, observations, or experiments. Detailed research allows the student to learn about the topic and to understand different points of view regarding the topic so that she/he may choose a position and support it with the evidence collected during research. Regardless of the amount or type of research involved, argumentative essays must establish a clear thesis and follow sound reasoning.

The structure of the argumentative essay is held together by the following.

• A clear, concise, and defined thesis statement that occurs in the first paragraph of the essay.

In the first paragraph of an argument essay, students should set the context by reviewing the topic in a general way. Next the author should explain why the topic is important (exigence) or why readers should care about the issue. Lastly, students should present the thesis statement. It is essential that this thesis statement be appropriately narrowed to follow the guidelines set forth in the assignment. If the student does not master this portion of the essay, it will be quite difficult to compose an effective or persuasive essay.

• Clear and logical transitions between the introduction, body, and conclusion.

Transitions are the mortar that holds the foundation of the essay together. Without logical progression of thought, the reader is unable to follow the essay’s argument, and the structure will collapse. Transitions should wrap up the idea from the previous section and introduce the idea that is to follow in the next section.

• Body paragraphs that include evidential support.

Each paragraph should be limited to the discussion of one general idea. This will allow for clarity and direction throughout the essay. In addition, such conciseness creates an ease of readability for one’s audience. It is important to note that each paragraph in the body of the essay must have some logical connection to the thesis statement in the opening paragraph. Some paragraphs will directly support the thesis statement with evidence collected during research. It is also important to explain how and why the evidence supports the thesis (warrant).

However, argumentative essays should also consider and explain differing points of view regarding the topic. Depending on the length of the assignment, students should dedicate one or two paragraphs of an argumentative essay to discussing conflicting opinions on the topic. Rather than explaining how these differing opinions are wrong outright, students should note how opinions that do not align with their thesis might not be well informed or how they might be out of date.

• Evidential support (whether factual, logical, statistical, or anecdotal).

The argumentative essay requires well-researched, accurate, detailed, and current information to support the thesis statement and consider other points of view. Some factual, logical, statistical, or anecdotal evidence should support the thesis. However, students must consider multiple points of view when collecting evidence. As noted in the paragraph above, a successful and well-rounded argumentative essay will also discuss opinions not aligning with the thesis. It is unethical to exclude evidence that may not support the thesis. It is not the student’s job to point out how other positions are wrong outright, but rather to explain how other positions may not be well informed or up to date on the topic.

• A conclusion that does not simply restate the thesis, but readdresses it in light of the evidence provided.

It is at this point of the essay that students may begin to struggle. This is the portion of the essay that will leave the most immediate impression on the mind of the reader. Therefore, it must be effective and logical. Do not introduce any new information into the conclusion; rather, synthesize the information presented in the body of the essay. Restate why the topic is important, review the main points, and review your thesis. You may also want to include a short discussion of more research that should be completed in light of your work.

A complete argument

Perhaps it is helpful to think of an essay in terms of a conversation or debate with a classmate. If I were to discuss the cause of World War II and its current effect on those who lived through the tumultuous time, there would be a beginning, middle, and end to the conversation. In fact, if I were to end the argument in the middle of my second point, questions would arise concerning the current effects on those who lived through the conflict. Therefore, the argumentative essay must be complete, and logically so, leaving no doubt as to its intent or argument.

The five-paragraph essay

A common method for writing an argumentative essay is the five-paragraph approach. This is, however, by no means the only formula for writing such essays. If it sounds straightforward, that is because it is; in fact, the method consists of (a) an introductory paragraph (b) three evidentiary body paragraphs that may include discussion of opposing views and (c) a conclusion.

Longer argumentative essays

Complex issues and detailed research call for complex and detailed essays. Argumentative essays discussing a number of research sources or empirical research will most certainly be longer than five paragraphs. Authors may have to discuss the context surrounding the topic, sources of information and their credibility, as well as a number of different opinions on the issue before concluding the essay. Many of these factors will be determined by the assignment.

According to FITZPATRICK 2005:

In writing an arguemntative essay you have to persuade your audience to consider your point of view, even if they may disagree with you.  This requires some care and skill: you need to show respect for opposing points of view, you must choose vocabulary carefully, and, above all, you must write clearly and logically.

This is direction from Mr.Lala Bumela, what to do to write argumentative essay?  We must:

—  Define the topic!

Some topics require definition. For example, if your topic is “Should schools provide moral education?” you will have to explain what moral education is. 

—  Limit the topic!

Some argumentative topics require limiting.  For example, if your topic is “letter grades” and your thesis says “teacher should not use letter grades”, readers may wonder whether you mean “all teachers at all levels from kindergarten through college” or “just certain teachers” shoul not use them

—  Analyse the topic!

Before you decide upon a point of view, you should analyse the issue thoroughly.  Most argumentative topics have two points of view – for and against – and can be stated as a yes/no question, such as “Should high school students work during the school year?”

Sample of Opinion

—  Opinion: HSS should work during the school year

They can save for college.

They can make new friends.

They can learn responsibility.

They may discover a career for themselves.

—  Opinion: HSS should NOT work during the school year

They  can get better grades if they do not work

They can participate in extracurricular activities

WRITE A THESIS STATEMENT!

—  The thesis statement of an argumentative essay must contain an opinion.  Opinions are usually expressed with the modal verb “should” or evaluative such as “good” and “bad”.

Teenagers should have part-time jobs.

Part-time work is good for teenagers.

—  A complete thesis statement also contains reasons, or supporting arguments:

Employers should hire teenagers because they are eager to work, they are flexible, and they have the knowledge and skills required to do many entry-level jobs

—  A thesis statement may also contain an opposing view:

While some people say that teenagers do not have a good work ethic, employer should hire teenagers because they are eager to work, they are flexible, and they have the knowledge and skills required to do many entry-level jobs.

The structure of the argumentative essay: the basic format

1. Introduction
2. Body

o   first point and supporting info

o   second point and supporting info

o   third point and supporting info                                  

3.      Conclusion

Additional Preparation toward Argumentative Essay

The Grammatical Features of Arguing

(Peter Knapp & Megan Watkins, 2005: 188-190)

• Mental verbs are used when expressing opinions; for example,

I like Girlfriend.

We believe teachers shouldn’t stop children from eating junk food.

• Connectives are used in arguing to maintain logical relations and

to link points.

– Temporal connectives are often used to order propositions in

the preview or at other stages in a more complex argument;

for example,

There are a number of reasons why smoking shouldn’t be allowed

in restaurants. Firstly, many people can suffer from passive smoking

and secondly it can aggravate asthma.

– Causal conditional connectives are used to link points in the

argument; for example,

They die because the oil stops them from breathing.

– Comparative connectives are used to introduce counterpoints;

for example,

However, others think we should have junk food.

On the other hand, packaging can have many disadvantages.

– Connectives can also exemplify and show results and are generally

used in concluding statements to finalise arguments; for

example,

Consequently, smoking shouldn’t be allowed in restaurants.

Therefore we should change the Australian flag.

• Movement from personal to impersonal voice.

– The personal voice is used to indicate a subjective opinion

such as through the first person pronoun I, or through the use

of the second person pronoun you; for example,

I think we should change our flag.

You shouldn’t drop rubbish.

– The impersonal voice is used to indicate an objective opinion,

such as through the use of absolute statements or modalised

statements; for example,

Packaging is essential in preserving and transporting products.

It could be argued that …

• Modality is used in arguing to position the writer and reader.

It can be expressed in a number of ways; for example, through:

You should put rubbish in the bin. Modal auxiliaries

I think children should go to school. Mental verbs

It will make your class room look clean. Temporal auxiliaries

Nominalisations are used in argument to allow the writer to condense

information and deal with abstract issues. The process of

nominalisation can also have the effect of removing agency.

Junk food can make people sick. / Junk food can cause sickness.

This is the best way of using machines that people have today. /

This is the best application of modern technology.

ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY OUTLINE ABOUT WEST PAPUA FREEDOM

Introduction

Thesis statement:  West Papua should be embraced by NKRI because it is a one of Indonesia’s dignity.  It must be kept from exelent thiefs.

Content:

Point 1:  West Papua considers Indonesia colonize them.

Point 2: West Papua has abundant assets.

Point 3: West Papua and NKRI are being played by another outside power.

Conclusion:

Historically, West Papua is Indonesia’s partial.  Discolates West Papua means collapse Indonesia unity

In conclusion, all struggling to understand Eben’s text about Papua and searching about how manner to make an argumentative essay in order we all become quality reader and become literate person, because basicly literacy is daily activity.  I hope West Papua get enlightment and a better future soon.

REFERENCES

Peter Knapp & Megan Watkins. (2005). Genre, Text, Grammar. Australia: Everbest Printing.

https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/owlprint/685/ downloaded on Wednesday at 13.20 p.m.