That to Study Philosophy is to Learn to Die & Grammar

• Essay - A genre of literature that pertains to a composition that centers on a subject matter that is of high importance or interest to its writer. It is generally a short piece about any conceivable topic of discussion.
• Michel de Montaigne

  • One of the most significant philosophers of the French Renaissance.
  • He is known for popularizing the essay as a literary genre.
  • Born in France, Montaigne used his essay writing style to question ideas in a logical manner and promoted the notion of self-awareness.
• That to Study Philosophy is to Learn to Die

  • One of the 107 chapters in the three-book compilation of Michel de Montaigne’s “Essais”, completed from 1570 to 1592. Michel discusses his insights on mortality and the afterlife, and encourages all to face the inevitability of death with anticipation and pride instead of fear and regret.
• Argumentative Text - type of writing in which the author presents a claim or position on a specific issue and supports it with evidence and reasoning to persuade the reader. The goal of an argumentative text is to convince the reader of the validity of the writer’s point of view while addressing counterarguments and opposing perspectives.
• Parts of an Argumentative Text: Introduction, Body Paragraphs, Counterarguments and Rebuttal, and Conclusion
• Introduction - contains the hook, background information, and thesis statement
• Hook - A statement or question that grabs the reader's attention.
• Background Information - Context about the topic to help the reader understand the issue.
• Thesis Statement - The main argument or claim of the text, outlining the writer's position.
• Body Paragraphs - contains the topic sentence, supporting evidence, explanation/analysis, counterargument, and refutation
• Topic Sentence - A sentence introducing the main point of the paragraph.
• Supporting Evidence - Facts, statistics, examples, or expert opinions that back up the argument.
• Explanation/Analysis - An explanation of how the evidence supports the claim.
• Counterargument (Optional) - Addressing opposing views to show consideration of different perspectives.
• Refutation - Explaining why the opposing argument is flawed or weaker than the writer's argument.
• Counterarguments and Rebuttal - A section dedicated to acknowledging opposing viewpoints and effectively refuting them with evidence and reasoning
• Conclusion - contains the restatement of thesis, summary of key points, and call to action or closing thought
• Restatement of Thesis - A rewording of the main argument to reinforce the point.
• Summary of Key Points - A brief recap of the main points made in the body paragraphs.
• Call to Action or Closing Thought - Encouraging the reader to take action or offering a final thought that leaves a lasting impression.
• Argumentative texts emphasize logic, reason, and balanced perspectives with evidence from both sides.
• Persuasive texts focus more on convincing the reader through emotional appeals and may not include the opposing viewpoint in detail.
• Essais - French word meaning "attempts"