Is This an Argument? An Analysis of Two Argumentative Texts in a Textbook for Year Nine

Abstract: This essay looks at the new syllabus in English (Lgr11) and its focus on text types. The argumentative text is then the focal point and the argument as a text type and its characteristics are explored. The purpose is to see if two texts from a textbook in year nine could be seen as good representations of arguments. The textbook texts were compared to the forms of an argument through a reading matrix set up for this purpose. The results show that the selected texts were lacking in many respects and cannot be used as good examples of arguments. The textbook presents mostly fictional texts and just a few other text types. This heavy focus on fiction is a problem in more than one respect. Pupils need to be able to read and write many different kinds of texts as the demands of literacy are high in today’s society. It also important to be able to read critically as the number of texts available are increasing, especially on the internet, and their purpose and aim might not be disclosed.