Veteran University Research Finds Junior High Students Can Blend Logic and Politeness in Argumentative Texts

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FORMOSA NEWS

A 2026 study by Asih Purwianti, Farida Nugrahani, and Veronika Unun Pratiwi from Universitas Veteran Bangun Nusantara, Sukoharjo, reveals that junior high school students have developed the ability to consciously use politeness strategies when composing argumentative texts. This finding is significant as it provides evidence that argumentative writing in schools is not merely about logical delivery, but a social practice that integrates argumentative rationality with communication ethics.

Argumentation skills are often perceived as being limited to constructing grammatically accurate and logically robust sentences. However, the effectiveness of conveying a message is heavily influenced by a writer's ability to choose language appropriate to the social context and communicative purpose. The success of an argument in being accepted by an audience relies heavily on employing linguistic strategies that avoid confrontation.

To examine this, the researchers adopted a descriptive qualitative approach by analyzing argumentative texts written by ninth-grade students at SMP Negeri 4 Tawangsari. Using Brown and Levinson’s politeness theory, the study dissected how students formulate word choices and sentence structures when they must agree or disagree with school regulations or social issues.

The research findings highlight several clear patterns in students' language choices:

• Students predominantly use positive and negative politeness strategies through neutral diction and non-confrontational, declarative sentence structures.
• When expressing agreement, students tend to use positive politeness strategies by utilizing persuasive and inclusive language, while emphasizing collective benefits or shared interests.
• When expressing disagreement, students apply negative politeness strategies using mitigating expressions (such as "in my opinion"), indirect rejections, and rational, empathetic arguments that avoid blaming other parties.
• These linguistic strategies reflect the students' awareness of social norms, institutional relationships within the school environment, and the need to maintain social acceptance from the reader.

These findings have positive implications for the world of education, particularly in shaping the character and pragmatic competence of the younger generation. Asih Purwianti and her team of researchers at Universitas Veteran Bangun Nusantara assert that argumentative writing instruction plays a crucial role in training students to use language politely in accordance with social norms. For educators, this research suggests that argumentative writing instruction should be designed to be more contextual to support the use of ethical language, which will ultimately be beneficial for students' communication skills in society.

Author Profile Asih Purwianti, Farida Nugrahani, and Veronika Unun Pratiwi are academics from Universitas Veteran Bangun Nusantara, Sukoharjo, Indonesia. The researchers' areas of expertise include Indonesian language education, sociopragmatics, and the study of literature and language ethics within educational contexts.

Research Source: Purwianti, A., Nugrahani, F., & Pratiwi, V. U. (2026). Language Choice and Politeness Strategies in Junior High School Students' Argumentative Texts: A Sociopragmatic Study. International Journal of Education and Life Sciences (IJELS), Vol. 4 No. 6. DOI: https://doi.org/10.59890/ijels.v4i6.29.