Composition: Argumentative – JSS1 English Lesson Note (Second Term)

An argumentative composition states a position on an issue and supports it with reasons and evidence. In this sample, the writer argues that air transportation is safer than road transportation. The writer explains why some people fear flying, gives reasons why aviation is safe, and uses a World Health Organization figure on road deaths as evidence.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

• state the writer’s position in the sample argumentative composition;
• explain why some people think travelling by air is unsafe;
• give the reasons the writer offers for saying air travel is safer than road travel;
• use the World Health Organization figure as evidence in an argument;
• write a debate that supports or opposes a given motion.

Sample composition: air transportation is safer than road transportation

Why do some people fear air travel?

Travelling by air seems unsafe to a fairly large number of people because of what they see, hear or read. News of plane crashes makes a big noise in the world, and such news naturally stays longer in the minds of many flyers. It is mind-boggling to many people. This may explain why the fear of flying remains in the hearts of some people.

Therefore, you may think that travelling by air is riskier than travelling by road. Truly speaking, travelling by air is safer than travelling by road.

Why is air travel safer than road travel?

It is interesting to note that travelling by air is safer than travelling by road. Safety is the major concern of every airline, and no other mode of transportation does it better. No other mode of transportation can be fully monitored, investigated and scrutinised as the aviation industry is. Truly speaking, plane crashes are so rare when you compare them to road transport accidents.

What does the World Health Organization say about road deaths?

According to the World Health Organization, road traffic injuries caused an estimated 1.24 million deaths worldwide in the year 2010. With this estimate, it seems one person is killed every 25 seconds. It is very rare or difficult to have this kind of estimate in air transport within a year.

This is because safety in the aviation industry is not negotiable. It is a core value of any aviation industry in the world.

Evaluation

From the article above, write a debate to support or oppose the motion, “Road Transportation is Safer than Air Transportation”.