Usually, when you hear the word 'argument', what comes to mind? Perhaps you think of the argument you had with your little brother or sister after dinner last night. Perhaps you think of the argument you had with your girlfriend or boyfriend after school today. Whatever comes to mind first, people typically associate the word argument with negative experiences or interactions.
Did you know, however, that 'argument' can sometimes be a positive term?
In school, teachers often ask their students to read or write argumentative essays.
'Argument' in this case refers to something quite different from an actual disagreement. Here, the term refers to reading something that is non-fictional in nature. Instead of telling a story or describing an event, argumentative writing tries to assert a certain point as being true or false, valid or invalid.
As readers, then, the task requires the following:
First, you must identify what the argument is.
Second, you must look for evidence to support or uphold the argument.