Argumentasi berasal dari kata
argumen yang berarti alasan. Paragraf argumentasi adalah
paragraf yang di dalamnya berisi tentang ide, pendapat, dan gagasan sang
penulis. Untuk memperkuat ide dan gagasannya, maka penulis harus menyertakan
bukti dan data-data pendukung dalam paragraf argumentasi tersebut. Penyajian
bukti dan data-data pendukung tersebut bertujuan untuk membuktikan kebenaran
pendapat penulis agar pembaca menyetujui kebenaran tulisan tersebut.
LANGKAH-LANGKAH DALAM
MENYUSUNPARAGRAF ARGUMENTASI
1. Membuat topik terlebih dahulu
2. Menetapkan tujuan karangan
3. Melakukan observasi lapangan
4. Membuat kerangka karangan
5. Mengembangkan kerangka
karangan
6. Membuat kesimpulan
Beberapa hal yang perlu
diperhatikan dalam menulis paragraph argumentasi:
1. berpikir positif, kritis, dan
logis;
2. mampu mencari, mengumpulkan, memilihfakta yang sesuaidengan tujuan,
serta mampu merangkaikanuntuk membuktikankeyakinan atau pendapat;
3. menjauhkan emosi dan unsur
subjektivitas;
4. mampu menggunakan bahasa secara baikdan benar, efektif,dan tidak
menimbulkan penafsiran ganda(ambigu).
Contoh:
Every
pet owner knows that there are enormous responsibilities that go along with
having a cat or dog. You must feed and exercise your pet, to keep it physically
healthy; you must play with it, and keep it emotionally healthy too. You have
to keep it safe from cars, people, or other animals, and you ought to protect
other people, property, or pets from your own animal. There’s another
responsibility that not all pet owners think about, however: spaying or
neutering, or “fixing.” What does “fixing” you pet mean? Simply put, it means
taking your pet to the vet for a quick, cheap surgery that will prevent your
pet from ever becoming a mother or father. This surgery solves problems that
pet owners know about, and some that they might not have considered before. In
fact, I believe that all pet owners should be required to have their pets fixed.
Everybody
loves a cute new puppy or kitten. But those cute babies soon get bigger, and
right now, there simply aren’t enough homes for them all. Some unwanted animals
go to shelters, or “dog pounds.” These shelters are like prisons for animals,
but with one important difference: many of the prisoners will never get out.
Shelters have limited funds and limited space, and they cannot keep all the
animals they collect. If a cat or dog is not adopted within a certain time
period, that animal is killed. On the other hand, not all unwanted animals go
to a shelter. What happens to a homeless animal left out on the street?
Remember, our pets are exactly that - pets. They aren’t wild animals. They
cannot find fresh water or hunt their own food (especially in a city). They
cannot understand traffic laws, so they often get struck by cars. They are
susceptible to common illnesses - illnesses that they can then spread to other
animals, including pets. They are not tame, so they may attack other animals or
people. In either case, the life of most unwanted animals is not long, but it
is full of misery and pain, and it’s also a life that’s dangerous to pets (or
people) who they meet. By not “fixing” your own animal, you will almost
certainly be adding to this problem.
Another
thing to consider is the health of your pet itself. Animals, especially pets
who eat processed foods just like we do, are prone to the same illnesses as we
are, like heart disease and cancer. An animal who has been spayed or neutered
is at less risk from certain kinds of cancer. Furthermore, animals who are not
fixed can sometimes go crazy trying to find mates. They can injure themselves
trying to escape from their homes, or they may fight with other animals when
they have escaped. Of course, while running free, they are in danger from cars.
And finally, for females who become mothers, we must remember that giving birth
is not a safe process. For the ordinary pet owner, all these reasons should be
strong enough to convince them to “fix” their dear pet.
Of
course, some people will not agree with me. “I don’t want to give my animal an
unnecessary surgery,” they will say. “Surgery is risky, too, and it’s certainly
expensive.” That idea shows ignorance. Spaying or neutering should be done as
soon as you get your pet - when he or she is young and healthy - and it is
almost 100% safe. Your animal is in much more danger if not fixed, for the urge
to run away from home will put your pet in extremely dangerous situations. And
almost all cities have a fund to help pay for the surgery. Just ask at your vet
or the local S.P.C.A. (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals). The
cost can be as low as $10.
Others
might feel that this surgery will change their pet’s personality. They might
think that a “fixed” dog might not be a good watchdog, for example. Or they may
simply say “I like my pet the way he/she is.” This shows a basic
misunderstanding of what the effects of spaying or neutering are. Your pet’s
personality, like a human’s personality, is his or her own, and it won’t change
after “fixing”. However, it’s true that some behaviors will change. Your pet
won’t want to “mark” with urine as much, for example, and females won’t “go
into heat” and tear up the house every few months. Your watchdog will still be
a good watchdog, but probably won’t want to fight with other dogs as much. This
simple surgery solves many behavior problems that can make an otherwise
loveable pet into a monster. The best solution is simply to get your pet
“fixed” as soon as you get it home, as young as possible. That way, fewer bad
habits will form.
No
matter how you look at it, there’s really no valid reason not to spay or neuter
your pet. Whether you consider the potential suffering of unborn animals, the
health and comfort of your own pet, or your own convenience as a pet owner, you
must agree that the facts all show that spaying or neutering is the way to go.
It’s not only the convenient choice, but also the morally right choice, and one
that all pet owners should make.
