Key Techniques…
A typical exam question might be:
Question
Write a letter to your MP arguing the case for new standards for the care of dairy cattle to be imposed on the milk industry.
It doesn’t matter whether or not you agree with the Vegan Society’s argument. You are simply being asked to present the argument forcefully.
What genre or format is this?
It’s a letter.
What do you need to remember about this genre?
Endings and beginnings, Dear Madam = yours faithfully, Dear Mr Smith = yours sincerely. The layout of a letter, address, date etc.
What is your intended audience?
Your Member of Parliament, a politician.
What sort of tone is appropriate for the audience?
Formal
What is the purpose?
To argue that the way dairy cows are kept is cruel.
What do you want?
A change in the law, to make dairy farming less cruel to cows.
The following table shows which sentences support your argument and why.
Sentence Why?
Calves separated from their mother at four days old An emotive point, most people hate to think of young animals being unhappy.
Between 75 per cent and 80 per cent of calves are slaughtered for veal, leather and cheese-making products at two weeks old. An emotive point. Two weeks old is very young; we don’t like to think of young animals meeting such untimely deaths.
Veal crates are too small to move in. This is directly about cruelty to the calves
The diet given to a veal calf is unnatural. This is about cruelty to the calves.
A normal milk yield for a cow with a calf is 3 litres a day. The unnatural milk yield of a milking cow is 50 litres a day, this weighs 50kg. This information suggests that the cows are uncomfortable and, therefore, unhappy.
Milking cows often suffer with infections and lameness. This information suggests that the cows are uncomfortable and, therefore, unhappy.
Normal life expectancy for a cow is 20 years. Milking cows are often slaughtered at two to three years old because they are worn out. Another emotive point which suggests that dairy cows are not treated well.
The cow is a very gentle animal. An emotive idea suggesting that the unhappiness of dairy cows is particularly unfair because they are such gentle animals.
Milk cows suffer. The main point of your argument.
Sentence Why?
Calves separated from their mother at four days old An emotive point, most people hate to think of young animals being unhappy.
Between 75 per cent and 80 per cent of calves are slaughtered for veal, leather and cheese-making products at two weeks old. An emotive point. Two weeks old is very young; we don’t like to think of young animals meeting such untimely deaths.
Veal crates are too small to move in. This is directly about cruelty to the calves
The diet given to a veal calf is unnatural. This is about cruelty to the calves.
A normal milk yield for a cow with a calf is 3 litres a day. The unnatural milk yield of a milking cow is 50 litres a day, this weighs 50kg. This information suggests that the cows are uncomfortable and, therefore, unhappy.
Milking cows often suffer with infections and lameness. This information suggests that the cows are uncomfortable and, therefore, unhappy.
Normal life expectancy for a cow is 20 years. Milking cows are often slaughtered at two to three years old because they are worn out. Another emotive point which suggests that dairy cows are not treated well.
The cow is a very gentle animal. An emotive idea suggesting that the unhappiness of dairy cows is particularly unfair because they are such gentle animals.
Milk cows suffer. The main point of your argument. Read tips about argumentative essay writing at EssayLib online.