Ririn Putra Ananda, Safril Arsyad, and I Wayan Dharmayana, Argumentative Features…
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the reader know about the aspect of the topic
being dealt with and the stand (attitude) taken
by the authors to the topic (Duigu, 2008;
Zemach and Rumisek, 2005). The last section
of the essay is deduction demonstrated as
summarizing of the main points, concluding
statements drawn from the points made in the
main body, and recommendation of action to
be taken (Trzeciak and Mackay,1994).
The second objective of this research is
to identify and describe the elements of
argument in Academic IELTS essay task 2.
The results show that there are six elements
commonly used in academic IELTS essay,
but the most commonly used are claim, data,
and warrant.
It indicates that the majority of
academic IELTS essay tends to use one sided
argumentation proven by the lower percentage
of rebuttal. As Rusfandi (2015) explains that
one side argumentation means the argument
provides claim, data and warrant without
considering opposing view or rebuttal. It
implies that academic IELTS requires relevant
justification or response toward the topic
given.
This finding is in line with Toulmin
(1987) and Rothenberg (1988) who explain
that claim, data and warrant are the most
commonly used in the essay because those
three elements are the primary elements in
essay. In other words, these elements in an
essay are compulsory and others such as
backing, qualifier and rebuttal are as
complementary elements meaning that these
elements are not compulsory one. In other
words, these elements are free to be chosen
to support the claim stronger.
The last objective of this research is to
identify and describe the different types of
argument structures in academic IELTS essay.
The results show that there are commonly two
types of argument structures in Academic
IELTS such as simple argument structure
consisting of claim and data and strong
argument structure consisting of claim, data as
obligatory elements, warrant as conventional
element, backing, qualifier and rebuttal as the
optional element. However, the most
commonly structure used is strong argument
structure proven by the frequency of the
general presence. It indicates that essay
containing this structure will have a good
quality essay and
requires the authors to have
high quality thinking process to answer the
essay about the topic given in writing.
This
finding is in line with that of
Toulmin (1979)
and Golden et al (1976) who explain that the
use of claim, data and warrant as the primary
elements and backing, qualifier, rebuttal as
the complementary element are required as
the important aspects to determine the
quality of the essay. In addition,
academic
IELTS essay task 2 requires the test takers to
assess their ability to present and justify an
opinion, opinions and implication, to compare
and contrast the evidence, to present the
solution to a problem, and to evaluate and
challenge ideas and evidence or an argument
(Duigu, 2008). Furthermore, Duigu (2008)
explains that the goal of this test is their
capability in explaining the point in the
argument suitably about a common issue but
not for their knowledge. In the other words,
academic IELTS essay task 2 requires test
takers to have a higher order thinking
process (Rusfandi, 2015). As long as the
explanation is relevant to the topic and it can
convince the reader that the authors’
argument is right, so the argument will be
accepted.
CONCLUSION, LIMITATION AND
SUGGESTION
This study found that the common
sections in successful academic IELTS essay
consist of lead in, thesis statement and
deduction which implies that academic IELTS
requires the completed sections to organize
the examination essay just like other academic
essay. In term of elements of argument, the
successful essays consist of three elements: as