Introduction

Argumentative operators play a fundamental role in expressing logic and coherence within a text, whether written or spoken. They are words or expressions that establish relationships of meaning between propositions, connecting and transitioning between different ideas.

Among the main argumentative operators are addition, opposition, conclusion, and cause-consequence, each with its specificities and purposes. The proper use of these operators can make a text or speech more convincing and coherent, improving argumentation and communication in general.

They are essential in building solid arguments, providing information about the type of relationship established between ideas. For example, 'therefore' is an operator that indicates conclusion, while 'but' indicates contradiction.

Contextualization

In the contemporary world, we are constantly bombarded with all kinds of information, and often we need to evaluate the validity and coherence of this information. Argumentative operators are valuable tools that assist us in this task.

They not only enhance our ability to express our ideas more effectively but also improve our ability to evaluate the quality of others' arguments. If we want to be active and informed citizens, we need to know how to build and analyze arguments in a critical and conscious manner.

Thinking about improving your understanding of argumentative operators, this project was developed to help you practice this skill. The real world increasingly demands a good argumentative ability, whether in writing a text, giving a presentation, or even in a debate or casual conversation. Are you ready?

We recommend using the following resources as a basis for the project:

• Book 'The Art of Arguing' by Antônio Suárez Abreu (Ateliê Editorial Publisher)
• Website 'Português.net', available at: https://www.portugues.net.br/
• Videos from the channel 'GramáticaEmVídeo' on YouTube, available at: https://www.youtube.com/GramáticaEmVídeo

Practical Activity: Argument-O-Matic

Project Objective

Create a 'database' of argumentative operators and apply them in a variety of contexts, including a simulated debate and the production of argumentative texts.

Detailed Project Description

Students will be divided into groups of 3 to 5 participants, with each group being responsible for studying argumentative operators and creating a 'database' of them. Each argumentative operator must be defined, and the group should include practical examples of its use in various texts. In addition, the groups will produce argumentative texts and conduct a debate using the studied operators.

Required Materials

• Books and articles on argumentative operators.
• Materials for creating operator cards (paper, pen, computer, etc.)
• Internet access.
• Device for recording video to document the debate.

Step-by-Step of the Practical Activity

1. Each group should initially study argumentative operators based on the recommended resources or any additional material they find relevant.
2. After the study, the group should create a 'database' containing the definition and practical examples of the use of argumentative operators. We suggest using cards or digital documents to organize this data.
3. With the 'database' ready, the groups should produce an argumentative text on a free topic, which must contain at least 10 different operators taken from the 'database'.
4. Next, each group should choose a topic of interest to the class and prepare a debate. The debate should be structured with an introduction, arguments, and conclusion and should use at least 5 different argumentative operators.
5. Record the debate and conduct a critical analysis of the use of argumentative operators at the end of the activity.

Project Deliverables

At the end of the project, each group must deliver:

1. The 'database' of argumentative operators.

2. The produced argumentative text.

3. The recording of the debate.

4. A report on the project, which should include:

   • Introduction: Students should contextualize the theme of argumentative operators, their relevance and application in the real world, and the objective of this project.

   • Development: Students should detail the theory of argumentative operators, explain in detail the activity carried out, indicate the methodology used, and present and discuss the results obtained. Include in this topic a critical analysis of the debate, pointing out the operators used and how they enhanced the arguments.

   • Conclusion: Students should summarize the main points of the project, explain the learnings obtained, and draw conclusions about the project.

   • Bibliography: Students should indicate the sources they relied on to work on the project.

Remember, the main objective is to learn how to use argumentative operators effectively and understand the relevance of this skill in today's society. Have fun and learn at the same time!