English for Academic and

Professional Purposes
Quarter 2–Module 3
 ​ WHAT I NEED TO KNOW

​For the learners

​Congratulations for completing the previous modules! You are now more prepared to
begin with the new lesson on writing a position paper. This will help you become more
aware of the issues confronting our society and our world in general. You will begin to
uncover most of your thoughts and opinions that may or may not affect you directly with
the current problems and challenges we are facing.

There are current issues that beset us and as a member of an enlightened sector of
the society, you cannot help but make a stand on these issues.

This module will help you gain a better understanding and a perspective of an issue
and will guide you on writing a position paper by presenting your argument and thereby
convincing your target audience to be on your side by being objective or impartial. Also,
by doing such, you would back up your claim with sound evidences. Good luck!

Module Content:

In this section of the module, you will learn to objectively and critically evaluate
issues, present factual evidence and a definite stand or position through a well-crafted
position paper. So, embrace the challenges and have an enjoyable journey by tapping
your writing prowess.
Learning Competencies:

. ​Gathers manifestos and analyzes the arguments used by the writer/s (CS_EN11/12A-
EAPP-iia-d-3)

. ​ Defends a stand on an issue by presenting reasonable arguments supported by

properly cited factual evidences (CS_EN11/12A-EAPP-iia-d-5)

General Instructions:

For better comprehension of this module, perform the following:

1. Read the selected readings in the lesson carefully.

2. Understand the issue and do some research on it.
3. Assert your argument or claim by supporting it with facts and reasonable
evidence.
4. Follow directions and ask questions for the points that confuse you
5. Have fun as you learn.

LESSON 1
WHAT IS AN ARGUMENT AND A MANIFESTO?

OBJECTIVES:

At the end of the lesson, you will be able to:

. ​ define​ ​what argument and manifesto are about;

. ​gather manifestos and analyze the arguments used by the writer/s;

. present a stand or a position on an issue and back it up with reasonable

WHAT I KNOW

Pre-Assessment

Test I. TRUE OR FALSE

Instructions:​ Read the following statements carefully. Write True if the statement is
correct and False if otherwise. Write your answers in your notebook.

____________1. A manifesto is a published declaration of the intentions, motives or

views of the issuer, be it an individual, group, political party or government.

____________ 2. Arguments are claims backed by reasons that are supported by

evidence.

_____________3. Position paper reflects a series of statements for or against

something that involve logic, research evidence and assertion to make persuasion.

_____________4. Evidence in an argument is useless.

_____________5. Two claims whether ​for​ or ​against​ are needed in presenting a stand
on a particular issue.

_____________6. An argument is a discussion or debate in which a number of people

put forward different or opposing opinions.

_____________7. Supporting evidence is normally found on the body of an essay.

_____________8. There is no need for an introduction when presenting an argument.

_____________9. Social issues are not meant to be solved for as long as we are
happy.

_____________ 10. The students are considered as the enlightened sector of our
society.

WHAT’S NEW

What I KNOW about

Directions: ​Arrange the jumbled letters to form words. Clue: These are pressing issues
and problems of today and what the lesson is about.

1. MESA EXS RRIAGEMA_____________________________________________

2. AGE EENT NANPREGCY___________________________________________
3. VORCEDI________________________________________________________
4. OBALG MINGWAR_________________________________________________
5. YBERC ULLYINGB_________________________________________________
6. GUMENTAR______________________________________________________
7. FESTOMANI______________________________________________________
8. PERPA SITIONPO_________________________________________________

​What can you say about the activity? Stay focused and good luck!
 WHAT IS IT

Arguments are everywhere

​You may be surprised to hear the word “argument.” It does not have to be written in
your assignment for it to be an important part of your task. In fact, making an argument
– expressing a point of view on a subject and supporting it with evidence – is often the
aim of academic writing.

Evidence

​Do not stop with having a point. You have to back up your point with evidence. The
strength of your evidence, and your use of it, can make or break your argument.

Counterargument

One way to strengthen your argument and show you have a deep understanding of
the issue you are discussing is to anticipate and address counter arguments or
objections. By considering what someone who disagrees with your position might have
to say about your argument, you show that you have thought things through, and you
dispose of some reasons your audience might have for not accepting your argument.

You can generate counterarguments by asking yourself how someone who

disagrees with you might respond to each of the points you have made or your position
as a whole.

Once you have thought up some counter arguments, consider how you will respond
to them- will you concede that your opponent has a point but explain what your
audience should nonetheless accept your argument? Will you reject the
counterargument and explain why it is mistaken? Either way, you will want to leave your
reader with a sense that your argument is stronger than opposing arguments.

ARGUMENT: The Basics

Some people think that “engaging in argument” means being mad at someone.
That’s one use of the word “argument.” In debate we use a far different meaning of the
term. In some ways though, making an argument in debate is the opposite of being mad
at someone. It means making claims based on logical reasoning and proof.

There are three parts to an argument in debate​: the claim​, ​the data​, and ​the warrant​.
These terms seem kind of formal, and they are. But whether you know it or not, solid
arguments that you make every day are based on these concepts.

​Claims​ without reasoning are very weak arguments. Some might say it isn’t even an
argument at all. The ​more warrants, or reasoning​, that a claim has the stronger it is
generally speaking. Sometimes ​the data​ might be statistics sometimes it might be an
expert opinion.

For example, the argument “I saw that movie got ‘two thumbs up’ so we should go and
see it” uses the expert opinion as the data for the claim. ​The claim is that we should
go​ ​see the movie​. ​The warrant is that movies that receive two thumbs up are
worth seeing​. ​The data would be that the movie did, in fact, receive a review of
“two thumbs up.” This reasoning is based on an appeal to the expertise of the
reviewers, and​ ​little more.​ So, ​that’s an argument. Claim-Warrant-Data.

Debate is based on competing arguments. Each team offers arguments that they
defend, and they attack the arguments of their opponents. Research provides the data
and warrants for defending and attacking arguments. Here is an example of an
argument: “Team X will win the basketball game against Team Y because Team X has
taller players than Team Y.”
The ​“claim​” is the bottom line conclusion of the argument – What is the claim for the
above argument?
_______________________________________________________________
The ​“warrant​” is the reasoning behind the claim. What is the reasoning or warrant for
the above claim? _______________________________________________
___________________________
The “​data​” are the facts used to support the warrant. What is the data for the above
warrant?
______________________________________________________________________
__ There are many ways to attack an argument. You could challenge the factual basis
of the claim. In the first example, perhaps Team Y was in fact taller than Team X. In the
second example you could prove that there has never been an innocent person
executed in the U.S. Another way to go would be to attack the reasoning/warrant. You
could point out that the taller team does not always win basketball games. You could
find examples of games that were not won by the taller team. You could say that other
factors such as shooting ability, experience, effort and coaching might be equally or
more important factors in winning.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

What are arguments?

Arguments ​are claims backed by reasons that are supported by evidence.

Why Argue?
An argument ​is a statement or a set of statements that you use in order to try to
convince people that your opinion about something is correct. An argument is a
discussion or debate in which a number of people put forward different or opposing
opinions.

What are the types of support for an argument?

.​ ​REASON​ – a general statement that supports the claim

. EVIDENCE ​– consists of facts, statistics, experiences, comparisons, and examples
that show why the claim is valid.
. EMOTIONAL APPEALS- ​ideas that are targeted toward needs or values that readers
are likely to care about.

Do not forget the following:

​Defending a stand on an issue by presenting reasonable arguments supported by

factual evidence.

Parts of an Argument

Issue-​ problem or controversy about which people disagree

Claim​ – the position on the issue
Support ​– reasons and evidences that the claim is reasonable and should be accepted
Refutation ​– opposing viewpoints

Claims without reasoning are very weak arguments

 What is a manifesto?

Manifesto ​is a published declaration of intentions, motives or views of the issuer, be

it an individual, group, political party, or government. (Wikipedia)

Manifesto is a document publicly declaring the position of an issuer. A manifesto

advances a set of ideas, opinions or views.

What about Manifesto as a form of writing?

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. It combines a sometimes violent societal critique with an
inaugural and inspirational declaration of change. Although manifestos can claim
to speak for the majority, they are often authored by social activists and usually
linked to new ideas​(​https://www.britannica.com/topic/manifesto​).

How is the new information that you have encountered? Are you ready to
discover the basic parts of an argument?

WHAT’S MORE
 ACTIVITY 1. ENUMERATE

Read the essay below. Examine the parts of the argument that it contains: (issue, claim,
support, and refutation or claim, warrant, and data) Let’s see how you fare in applying
what you have just learned from the discussion. Write the answers in your notebook.

Importance of Education? Essay on Education

By: Priyanka Nagrale

Countless words are written daily about the importance of education. Indubitably,
education is the only valuable asset humans can achieve. Human evolution over eons is
a result of education both formal and informal.

Further, education is the sole basis on which the future of the human race depends.
Our quest for knowledge is unending and will continue till planet Earth exists. How did
you find the new information you have learned? I hope that you now pay attention to the
basic elements of a position paper. Prepare to examine one in the next activities. Good
Luck!

Everyone speaks about education and its importance. Hence, let us understand what
defines education. Briefly, education means acquiring knowledge.

In broader terms, education means acquiring various skills in diverse fields that are
vital to our life and very existence. These skills can be acquired by classroom training
and during the course of our life.

Classroom education is generally deemed as formal education. Whatever we learn

and imbibe during our lifespan is informal education.

Furthermore, knowledge and the innate human capability to learn continually

distinguish us from other living creatures that inhabit this planet.
https://surejob.in/importance-of-education.html

ACTIVITY 2. ENUMERATE

Copy and answer the following sample manifestos made by students. Read and
analyze what argument/s are posted by the writers. List it on the blank lines
before the reading passages. Use your notebook in answering this activity. The
first column is for Sofia Gabriel and the second column is for Katie Sipiora.
__________________________ __________________________
__________________________ __________________________
__________________________ __________________________
__________________________ __________________________
__________________________ __________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
__________________________ _______________________________
_________________________ _ _______________________________
__________________________ _______________________________
__________________________ ________________________________
__________________________ ________________________________
 ​Sofia Gabriel

I believe that creating a cohesive, vibrant community that unites both the young
and the old is important to nurturing the growth of individuals. I believe that
community artworks are the anchors of this community, creating and maintaining
this sense of community. Therefore, I believe that works of art, visual and
otherwise, should be created and supported by members of a community as
important reminders and symbols of a cohesive community.

Katie Sipiora

I believe that every child has potential. Regardless of race, socioeconomic class,
or IQ, every child has the ability to contribute to our world. It can be intellectual--
the next brilliant math or physics theorem, the next great poem of our time-- it
can be athletic-- representing fair play and competition-- it can be artistic-- a
song, a dance, a play. Every child has potential. No child is confined by where
they live, who their parents are, what society expects of them. Every child can
contribute something beautiful to our world. It can be a smile, a laugh, one good
thought. That is all it takes to change someone's life.

Congratulations on completing the activities! Now, you can pattern your

own manifesto to the sampled work of Sofia Gabriel and Katie Sipiora.

Reflective Questions: ​Write your answers in your notebook.

1. Why do you think it is important to be familiarized with the arguments of the

writer/s in their manifestos?
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________.

2. Now that you have learned the basics of argument and its parts, what do you
think should you develop more to be able to write a manifesto?
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________.

3. What do you think should you develop more in presenting reasons and factual
evidence in defending your stand on an issue?
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________.

WHAT I HAVE LEARNED

 Remember and ponder these key points:

An​ argument ​is a claim backed by reasons that are supported by factual
evidence.

​Three parts of an argument

Claim
Warrant
Data
OR

Issue
Claim
Support
Refutation

​Types of support for an argument

Reason
Evidence
Emotional appeals

Manifesto- ​a document publicly declaring the position of an issuer.

All these would pave the way in writing and defending sound arguments in an essay
and in a manifesto.

WHAT I CAN DO
 ACTIVITY 3. SOCIETY IN FOCUS

Make a table like this on your notebook and list at least 5 issues that you can identify
in the society and your community right now. Identify particular information that you
would like to deal with in your paper.

ISSUES WHAT I WANT TO FOCUS ON

Example: Cyberbullying Effects among young people

What should the government do to

address cybercrimes?

​ACTIVITY 4. MY MANIFESTO
 Choose (1) one among the issues that you have written on Activity 3 and write
your own manifesto on your Study notebook for a printed module and soft copy
to be submitted in our google classroom for students using the digital mode.

TITLE

______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________.

______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________.

Refer to this rubric for your guidance.

EVALUATING MANIFESTO (Rubrics Scoring Guide)

Criteria 5 4 3 2​ The criteria are used consecutively ​by grading 5 as the highest,
followed by 4, 3, and 2 as the lowest. The criterion Content is used to show the
scoring guide and its description.

Content​ The manifesto contains many, ample facts​. 5

The manifesto contains several facts​. 4

The facts used are limited. ​3

There are only few facts used.​2

Organization ​There is logical presentation of ideas.

The presentation of ideas is smooth.

The presentation of ideas is not so logical.

The ideas are not well presented.

Language​ The language used is formal. Vocabulary is appropriate for the target
audience. The language used is formal and there is no jargon or slang indicated. The
language is informal and some words are not appropriate for the target audience. The
language is very informal and several words are difficult for the target audience.

Mechanics​ There is no error in terms of grammar, spelling, and punctuation. The

sentences make clear sense. There is no error in terms of grammar, spelling, and
punctuation. There are few errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation. There are
several errors in grammar, spelling and punctuation.

Presentation​ Manifesto is creatively presented which makes it catchy, attractive and

interesting

Manifesto is creatively presented but some details are not prominent.

Manifesto is creatively presented but many details are not presented.

Manifesto is creatively presented but important details are not presented.

POST ASSESSMENT
Identify the following statements and write the answer on the space provided. Use a
Study Notebook.

1._______________________is a published declaration of the intentions, motives or

views of an issuer.

2._______________________are claims backed by reasons that are supported by

evidence.

3._______________________a general statement that supports the claim.

4._______________________consists of facts, statistics, experiences, comparisons,

and examples that show why a claim is valid.

5._______________________ideas that are targeted toward needs or values that

readers are likely to care about.

6. ______________________is the bottom line conclusion of the argument.

7.______________________is the reasoning behind the claim.

8.______________________are the facts used to support the warrant.

9.______________________problem or controversy about which people disagree.

10._____________________the position on the issue.

11._____________________reasons and evidence that the claim is reasonable and

should be accepted.

12._____________________opposing viewpoints.

13._____________________complete name of your subject.

14._____________________name and surname of your teacher.

15._____________________What the lesson is about?

REFERENCES
 Digital sources

writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/argument

philosopy.hk.hk/think/arg/arg.php

comm.pitt.edu/argument/basics

www.collinsdictionary.com>dictionary>argument

www.britannica.com/topic/manifesto

www.dictionary.com>browse>manifesto

slideshare.net/instructorperry/evaluatingargumentslesson2-130811080249phpappO2?

https//youtube/0CEnick06801

Printed

Abatayo, Marife A. English for Academic and Professional Purposes Alternative

Delivery Mode Quarter 2- Module 3: Writing a Position Paper First Edition 2020
 ANSWER KEY

PRE ASSESSMENT TRUE OR FALSE

Prepared and researched by:

MARITES T. FLORES

MAT –English
DEM-candidate
PhDBe- candidate
 Department of Education Division Rizal

Office Address: DepEd Bldg.,Cabrera Rd.,Bgy. Dolores,Taytay,Rizal 1920

Telephone number: 09274562115/09615294771