1. Raffles Philosophy Program
Secondary 4
Name: Class: Date:
Argument Writing Draft Instruction Sheet
Learning Objectives:
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
Outline the logical arguments for your expositions.
Construct logical arguments in Ps and Cs and in an argument diagram.
Please READ the TASK Instructions CAREFULLY:
1. Select 1 of the 5 topics below for your argument writing draft
2. Construct the arguments for your stand in the following form:
i. Premises and Conclusions
ii. Argument Diagram.
3. Ensure that all your premises, sub-conclusions and conclusions are well supported. You will be penalized
if your premises require further support and if there are any missing premises for your sub-conclusions
and conclusions.
4. You are also expected to present 1 possible objections/counter-arguments/counter-examples. You only
need to raise 1 possible objection for 1 of the 3 arguments. You need to indicate which premise or which
link (premise-conclusion) that you are attacking.
5. You are to submit your draft in T1 W8 in class. If you are typing your work, please note that you can only
use the following 4 fonts: Times New Roman, Arial, Calibri and Cambria. Please set it to font size 12 and
have a paragraph spacing of at least 1.15.
Topics:
Foreign workers in Singapore should be kept foreign. Do you agree?
“Singapore’s youths today are politically apathetic.” Do you agree?
Leaders in Singapore need the arts more than the science to weather the challenges of the 21st
century. Do you agree?
The traditional concept of a family unit is the best for the Singaporean society. Do you agree?
As Singapore progresses, do I have the moral obligation to help those who are socially and
economically disadvantaged?
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2. Clarification/Definition of key terms in question (only if necessary):
Term Clarification/Definition
Foreign Workers in Singapore who are neither citizens nor permanent residents (i.e. people who come
worker into Singapore with a Work Permit Pass)
Keep To keep out (of a country, in this context)
foreign
Argument 1
Ps/Cs No Statements Possible Objection (if any):
s. You are not expected to fill up the 12 boxes. You are to highlight only 1
If you do not have enough space, you will have to add new possible objection. Do
boxes. indicate what you are
objecting to:
P1 1 According to several employers, most Singaporeans shun jobs P1: According to several
which offer working conditions that are not up to their standard employers, most
or jobs with heavy requirements or long hours. Singaporeans shun jobs
P2 2 Jobs in the Service, Manufacturing and Construction industries which offer working
require the worker to work in working conditions that are not up conditions that are not up
to the average Singaporean’s standard, or they have heavy to their standard or jobs
requirements or require the worker to work for long hours. with heavy requirements
P3/SC1 3 Singaporeans shun jobs in the Service, Manufacturing and or long hours.
(P1, P2) Construction industries.
P4 4 Less Singaporeans work in jobs which they shun. Objection: Singaporeans
have shown that they
P5/SC2 5 There are less Singaporeans working in the Service, might accept these jobs as
(P3, P4) Manufacturing and Construction industries. long as the pay is
increased. This is shown in
P6 6 If there are less Singaporeans working in any industry, more the Cleaning and Security
foreign workers must be deployed to work in the industry in industries, where gradually
order to ensure that Singapore’s economy can progress. more Singaporeans have
P7/SC3 7 More foreign workers must be deployed to work in the Service, taken jobs in after some
(P5, P6) Manufacturing and Construction industries in order to ensure pay increase and system
that Singapore’s economy can progress. reform.
P8 8 In a situation where more foreign workers must be deployed to
work in an industry to ensure that Singapore’s economy can Defense: The reasons cited
progress, they are needed in that industry to ensure that in the premise are still
Singapore’s economy can progress. valid reasons why
C 9 Foreign workers are needed in Singapore’s Service, Singaporeans shun such
(P7, P8) Manufacturing and Construction to ensure that Singapore’s jobs. Some Singaporeans
economy can progress. are not particular about
the pay but for the other
factors.
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3. Argument 2
Ps/Cs No Statements Possible Objection (if any):
s. You are not expected to fill up the 12 boxes. You are to highlight only 1
If you do not have enough space, you will have to add new possible objection. Do
boxes. indicate what you are
objecting to:
P1 1 There are Singaporean workers working in an industry of
Singapore.
P2 2 There are foreign workers working in an industry of Singapore.
P3/SC1 3 Both foreign workers and Singaporean workers work in an
(P1, P2) industry of Singapore’s economy.
P4 4 Most Singaporeans have other duties besides that of work.
(Duties refer to familial duties, national duties etc.)
P5 5 Most foreign workers do not have duties besides that of work.
P6 6 People who have other duties besides that of work cannot
commit to a job as much as people who do not have such duties.
P7/SC2 7 Most Singaporeans cannot commit to a job in an industry as
(P3, P4, much as most foreign workers.
P5, P6)
P8 8 Employers favour workers who can commit to a job better.
P9/SC3 9 Employers favour most foreign workers.
(P7, P8)
P10 10 Workers want a high salary.
P11 11 In order to have a high salary, a worker must gain the favour of
his or her employer.
P12/SC 12 Both local and foreign workers compete to gain the favour of
4 (P9, their employers.
P10,
P11)
P13 13 If both local and foreign workers compete to gain the favour of
their employers, they must work harder.
P14/SC 14 Both local and foreign workers will work harder.
5 (P12,
P13)
P15 15 If both local and foreign workers work harder, they will increase
the productivity of their industry.
C (P14, 16 Both local and foreign workers will increase the productivity of
P15) their industry.
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4. Argument 3
Ps/Cs Nos. Statements Possible Objection (if any):
You are not expected to fill up the 12 boxes. You are to highlight only 1
If you do not have enough space, you will have to add new possible objection. Do
boxes. indicate what you are
objecting to:
P1 1 According to Population in Brief 2009, Singapore’s total fertility
rate has remained below replacement level since 1976.
P2 2 A country with a fertility rate which remains lower than
replacement level will eventually have fewer working adults
than senior citizens.
P3/SC1 3 Singapore will eventually have fewer working adults than senior
(P1, citizens.
P2)
P4 4 A country with fewer working adults than senior citizens will
face the problem of low birthrate.
P5/SC2 5 Singapore will face the problem of low birthrate eventually.
(P3,
P4)
P6 6 To combat the problem of low birthrate, more working adults
must be introduced into Singapore to support the senior
citizens.
P7 7 Other than from Singapore, working adults can only come from
foreign countries.
P8 8 Working adults from foreign countries are foreign workers.
P9/SC3 9 To combat the problem of low birthrate, more foreign workers
(P6, must be introduced into Singapore to support the senior
P7, P8) citizens.
C (P5, 10 Introducing foreign workers into Singapore can help to solve
P9) the problem of low birthrate in Singapore.
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5. Some notes on drawing your Argument Diagram for Essay
How to include Objections and Defenses in an argument? Can you write statements instead of
• Note that your objection must be stated as a clear reason, e.g., “xx is not numbers for your argument diagram?
true/valid because …”, instead of just “xx is false/not true.” • The answer is yes. An example is shown
below.
1 Write your Objection as Write your Defense as a
Boxes 1, 2, 3, 4 a statement in this box. statement in this box. AMD allows one to state that he should
The arrow indicates the The arrow indicates that
and 5 are particular premise (in the Objection that you not be put on life support, should he be
2
Premises and this case Premise 2) that are responding to. terminally ill and unconscious.
you are objecting to.
Conclusions of an
Argument. 3 4
Write your Objection as Write your Defense as a AMD allows one to Suicide is ending
a statement in this box. statement in this box. sign his own death one's own life.
5 The arrow indicates that The arrow indicates that
you are attacking the the Objection that you warrant.
validity that 4 and 5 lead are responding to.
to 6.
Suicide is AMD is Anything that
illegal in suicide. is illegal
Singapore. should not be
legalized.
AMD should
not have been
legalized.
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6. Argument Diagram for Essay
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7. Argument Writing Draft Rubrics
Highest possible marks for assignment: 24m
Bonus marks for assignment: 4m
20 marks 4-5 3 2 0-1
Inference All or almost all More than half but Less than 50% of all Almost all
(Ps to C) (80%) less than 80% of all inferences made are inferences made
The inferences made are inferences made inferences made valid. are invalid.
valid*. are valid. are valid.
*Valid: All the Premises
support the respective
Conclusions in the
Arguments.
Sufficiency of There are no 70%of inferences 50% of inferences 40% of inferences
premises missing have no missing have no missing have no missing
The premises presented premises in the premises. premises. premises.
are sufficient to arrive at diagram.
the intended conclusion.
Clarity All or almost all More than half but Only 50% of Less than 40% of
All statements are written (80%) less than 80%of statements written statements written
unambiguously, and as statements are statements are are unambiguous. are unambiguous.
stand-alone statements. written as stand- unambiguous. Some statements Many statements
alone Some statements are not stand-alone. are not stand-
statements and are not stand- alone.
are alone.
unambiguous.
Significance All premises More than half but Only 50% of Less than 40% of
All premises presented presented are less than 80% of premises presented premises presented
are significant to their significant to premises presented are significant to are significant to
intended conclusion. their intended are significant to their intended their intended
conclusion. their intended conclusion. Many conclusion. Most
conclusion. Very premises presented premises presented
few premises are trivial in nature. are trivial in nature.
presented are
trivial in nature.
1 mark Possible Objection is Relevant to the argument.
1 mark Possible Objection is Significant and is not trivial in nature.
1 mark Defense is Relevant to the Objection.
1 mark Defense is Significant and is not trivial in nature.
Bonus Marks (4m)
1 mark Possible Objection is written in Ps-Cs form and is Valid.
1 mark Possible Objection is written in Ps-Cs form and there are NO missing Premises.
1 mark Defense is written in Ps-Cs form and is Valid.
1 mark Defense is written in Ps-Cs form and there are NO missing Premises.
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