1. Upper Sec EL Teacher Slides
Argumentative
Essays
Format & Language
Model essay on Captivity of Marine Mammals

2. The Question
The Question
Marine mammals should
not be kept in captivity.
Do you agree?

3. Let’s watch a video on dolphins to
better understand the situation…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_de

4. Introduction –– 1st para
Introduction 1st para FORMAT
Life for captive whales and dolphins is
nothing like a life in the wild sea. Marine
mammals are a part of nature and should
not be bought, sold or thrown in an
aquarium. I believe that they have the
right to be kept in their natural
environment and not be held in captivity.
State your opinion in the
introductory paragraph!

5. Body –– 2nd para: Argument 1
Body 2nd para: Argument 1 FORMAT
Argument 1
I have many convincing reasons to support my
Topic
sentence
opinion. Captivity causes many health problems
in marine mammals. Many tanks have water full
of chemicals and bacteria; this results in
blindness and many skin problems in dolphins
Evidence/ and other marine mammals. Marine mammals in
Explanation / captivity die from pneumonia, ulcers and other
Examples to stress-related diseases. Most of these helpless
support creatures suffer from boredom. Dolphins in the
Argument 1
wild can swim up to 40-100 miles per day but in
pools they go around swimming repetitive
patterns. Due to boredom and limited space
many dolphins abuse themselves; they often
bang their heads against tank and aquarium
walls.
Topic Sentence: basically tells what the rest of the paragraph is
about. All sentences after it have to give more information about
the sentence, prove it by offering facts about it, or describe it.

6. Body –– 3rd para: Argument 2
Body 3rd para: Argument 2 FORMAT
Argument 2 Some of these poor innocent creatures
Topic face abusive treatment by their
sentence
caretakers, thus shortening their life
span. In fact, Keiko, the killer whale,
the star of Free Willy, was a victim of
Example to this type of abuse. It was known to be
support said that he was 1000 pounds
Argument 2
underweight and developed a wartlike
disease. His teeth were ground down
from chewing the sides of the pool due
to boredom and he had a problem with
his dorsal fin.

7. Body –– 4th para: Argument 3
Body 4th para: Argument 3 FORMAT
Argument 3
Topic Marine mammals breed very poorly in
sentence captivity with very high infant death rates.
For this reason, when a baby dolphin is
Supporting
evidence to
born into captivity, its birth is usually kept
support a secret from its mother until it shows
Argument 3
signs of survival. Marine mammals do
breed in captivity, but the birth rate in
captivity is not as successful as in the wild.

8. Body –– 5th para: Counter-Argument
Body 5th para: Counter-Argument FORMAT
Many people think that marine mammals should
remain in captivity. I realise that some people may
believe that captivity increases the life span of
certain animals, but the truth is if these creatures
are so happy in is the point of an they die so fast?
What captivity, why do
Opposing “opposing argument”?
Captivity shortens animal life spans, not increases
Argument
them. Why oppose your own opinion? in the wild
Wild dolphins can live 40 years
and orcas can live 90 years, but when held in
captivity they rarely survive their teens. Twenty-
To show that you do have
three out of 25 balanced view in captivity. Some
a orcas have died
people think that holding animals in captivity helps
of the issue.
in study and research. But the truth is scientists
prefer to learn about animals in their natural
environment so they get firsthand knowledge.

9. Body –– 5th para: Counter-Argument
Body 5th para: Counter-Argument FORMAT
Many people think that marine mammals should
Counter argument = facts realise that some people may
remain in captivity. I you use to
show that the opposing argument
believe that captivity increases the life span of
is not valid
certain animals, but the truth is if these creatures
are so happy in captivity, why do they die so fast?
Captivity shortens animal life spans, not increases
Counter them. Wild dolphins can live 40 years in the wild
argument
to the and orcas can live 90 years, but when held in
opposing captivity they rarely survive their teens. Twenty-
argument three out of 25 orcas have died in captivity. Some
people think that holding animals in captivity helps
in study and research. But the truth is scientists
prefer to learn about animals in their natural
environment so they get firsthand knowledge.

10. Conclusion –– Final para
Conclusion Final para FORMAT
Restate In conclusion, I think marine mammals
your
opinion
should definitely not be held in captivity. I
think Ghandi said it best when he
mentioned, “The greatness of a nation and
its moral process can be measured by the
way its animals are treated.” In a world
where much of nature and the wild has
Call for already been lost to us, it is up to us to let
action by these beautiful marine mammals free.
readers

11. LANGUAGE
What TENSE is used throughout?
What TENSE is used throughout?
Life for captive whales and dolphins is
nothing like a life in the wild sea. Marine
mammals are a part of nature and should
not be bought, sold or thrown in an
aquarium. I believe that they have the
right to be kept in their natural
environment and not be held in captivity.
Use PRESENT TENSE

12. What tense should be used in the
What tense should be used in the LANGUAGE
supporting explanations e.g.
supporting explanations e.g.
Paragraph 3?
Paragraph 3?
Some of these poor innocent creatures face
abusive treatment by their caretakers, thus
shortening their life span. In fact Keiko, the
killer whale, the star of Free Willy, was a victim
of this type of abuse. It was known to be said
that he was 1000 pounds underweight and
developed a wartlike disease. His teeth were
ground down from chewing the sides of the pool
due to boredom and he had a problem with his
dorsal fin.
Past tense is used here
because the writer
is writing about an incident
that is already over

13. LANGUAGE
The underlined phrases are
The underlined phrases are
known as…
known as…
In my opinion there is no doubt that marine
mammals should not be held in captivity.
Marine mammals are a part of nature and
should not be bought, sold or thrown in an
aquarium. I believe that they have the right to
be kept in their natural environment.
Words of belief- Words to show
that you believe in what you are writing
Other examples of words of belief:
I am convinced, definitely, certainly, I am
certain, surely, I strongly believe etc

14. What effect do these underlined
What effect do these underlined LANGUAGE
words have on you?
words have on you?
I have many convincing reasons to support my opinion.
Captivity causes many health problems in marine
mammals. Many tanks have water full of chemicals and
bacteria; this results in blindness and many skin problems
in dolphins and other marine mammals. Marine mammals
in captivity die from pneumonia, ulcers and other stress-
related diseases. Most of these helpless creatures suffer
from boredom. Dolphins in the wild can swim up to 40-100
miles per day but in pools they go around swimming
repetitive patterns. Due to boredom and limited space
many dolphins abuse themselves; they often bang their
heads against tank and aquarium walls.
These are known as emotive words – they bring out
some feelings in the readers.
Purpose – to cause readers to feel strongly for
what the writer is arguing about.

15. Highlight examples of emotive words
Highlight examples of emotive words LANGUAGE
in Paragraph 3.
in Paragraph 3.
Some of these poor innocent creatures face
abusive treatment by their caretakers, thus
shortening their life span. In fact Keiko, the
killer whale, the star of Free Willy, was a
victim of this type of abuse. It was known to
be said that he was 1000 pounds underweight
and developed a wartlike disease. His teeth
were ground down from chewing the sides of
the pool due to boredom and he had a
problem with his dorsal fin.

16. Use Rhetorical Questions
Use Rhetorical Questions
• A Rhetorical question is a question
that has an obvious answer.
• Purpose: To force the reader to think
about that question / issue.
• Eg. Could dolphins possibly be happy
swimming in the same tank day after day?
You obviously don’t need to answer this question but it
forces the reader to think about this image and
he/she would most likely support your opinion.