Contextualization

Arguing is a vital skill in communication, whether in the academic, professional, or personal sphere. Every day we encounter situations where we need to express our ideas clearly and persuasively, whether to convince a friend to watch a specific movie, to persuade our parents to let us go out, or to build an opinion text for a school assignment. In this project, we will explore argumentative texts, learn to identify their characteristics, and finally, create our own argumentative text.

An argumentative text, as the name suggests, is a type of text that argues, defends, or contradicts an idea or point of view. This type of text is commonly used in dissertations, opinion articles, advertising texts, problem-solving proposals, among others. Argumentation is based on the exposition of ideas that convince the reader of a certain view.

Argumentation is not only a tool to convince others but also a way to organize our own thoughts. By developing an argument, we are forced to reflect deeply on our beliefs and question our convictions. Furthermore, arguing effectively requires us to understand the viewpoints of others, which helps us develop empathy and conflict resolution skills.

Importance of Argumentation

Argumentation is an essential skill in democratic societies. Our right to express our opinions and influence the course of social, political, and economic events depends on our ability to argue effectively. Moreover, the ability to understand and evaluate arguments is fundamental to the development of critical thinking.

In our daily lives, we encounter argumentative texts, such as opinion articles in newspapers and magazines, in political speeches, in advertising campaigns, and even in conversations on social media. By understanding the structure and strategies used in these texts, we are able to evaluate the validity of the arguments presented and make more informed choices.

To deepen your knowledge on the subject, I suggest the following resources:

• Portal Escrevendo o Futuro: Texto Dissertativo Argumentativo. Available at: Escrevendo o futuro
• Article: How to write an argumentative text step by step. Available at: Mundo Educação
• Video: What is an argumentative text. Available at: YouTube

Practical Activity

Activity Title: "Arguing in Team"

Project Objective

The objective of this activity is to provide students with a practical experience of producing an argumentative text, working in a team. Students will learn to develop persuasive arguments and organize their ideas clearly and logically.

Detailed Project Description

Students will be divided into groups of 3 to 5 participants. Each group will receive a standard controversial topic (for example, "Should there be school uniforms?" or "Should animals be kept in zoos?") and will be tasked with elaborating a persuasive argumentative piece.

This should be done in three parts:

• First, the group must research the topic, gathering information and creating a list of arguments for and against the topic.
• Secondly, the group must discuss these arguments and decide which position they will defend.
• Finally, the group will come together to write the argumentative text, incorporating their ideas and arguments in the clearest and most persuasive way possible.

Necessary Materials

Students will need access to the Internet for research and a computer or paper and pen for writing the text.

Detailed Step-by-Step for Activity Execution

1. The teacher divides the students into groups of 3 to 5 people.
2. The teacher assigns a topic to each group.
3. Each group meets to discuss their research strategy and delegate responsibilities.
4. Students conduct research on the topic, noting the strengths and weaknesses of each side of the argument.
5. The groups gather to discuss their findings and decide which position they will defend.
6. The groups outline their argumentative text, organizing their arguments in a logical and clear manner.
7. Students write the final text, making sure it is well-written and clear.
8. Finally, each group submits their argumentative text for evaluation.

Project Results and Documentation

After completing the practical activities, each group should prepare a report documenting the entire research, discussion, and writing process. The report should be divided into four parts:

• Introduction: In this section, students should contextualize the topic, highlighting its relevance and real-world application. They should also establish the project's objective and briefly explain the steps they took.

• Development: In this section, students should discuss in detail the teamwork process and the development of the argumentative text. This should include a discussion on the research they conducted, the arguments they chose to use and not use, and the decision on which position to defend.

• Conclusions: Here, students should revisit the main points of the work, discuss what they learned from the project, and the conclusions they drew. They should also reflect on the process and identify anything they might do differently in the future.

• Bibliography: Finally, students should list all sources of information they used during the process, including books, websites, videos, etc.