An Analysis of Argument of Students’ Argumentative Essay by Using Toulmin Model

Argumentative essay is one kind of essay in which the writer attempts to encourage the readers to agree with his/her opinion explained in the text. This research aims to investigate the argument written by students in writing argumentative essay by using Toulmin model. Based on this model each argument is made up of four components, including claim, data, counterargument, and rebuttal. The data were taken from the argumentative essay written by the fifth semester students in undergraduate program of English Education Department at UMTS Padangsidimpuan. Based on the result of the research, it was revealed that the most common parts of argument that often provided by students in their argumentative essay were claim and data. Average students’ argumentative essay contained at least a claim that was backed by three points of evidence. The result of the data also showed that the quality of argumentation written by students dropped below under level 2 in which students composed the arguments containing a claim and data, but did not provide any rebuttals in their argumentative essay.