#argumentative essay tips

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How to write an Argumentative Essay

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Top 10 Argumentative Essay Writing Tips

Argumentative essay writing pretty much happens in school. Most people will never be asked to write an argumentative essay again in their lives. But, being able to make a case for something surrounds you in politics, news, and editorials.

Argumentative essay writing is a device that serves a teacher’s purposes. It requires you to make and substantiate a claim about something in the course. The shape and standards of the essay form makes this simple to write, read, and grade.

Cannot argue

Argumentative essay writing first settles on a claim. So, you need to understand that you cannot argue about some things.

You cannot argue about a matter of fact. You cannot argue the Green Bay Packers won the last super-bowl because they did not.

You cannot argue about a matter of taste. For example, you cannot argue chocolate ice cream is better than strawberry because that is just your favorite.

You cannot argue about personal beliefs, such as someone’s philosophical or religious belief. The fact that the person believes it means there is no room for argument.

However, you can argue about an opinion. Notice, however, that opinion is distinguished from taste. An opinion is a reserved judgement on a complex topic that you came to after looking at the topic from every direction. For example, you cannot argue that Ms. Pennsylvania won the last Ms. America pageant when she did not. You cannot argue that your college football team is the best team. And, you cannot argue that you believe the winning political party manipulated the election.

Can argue

You can argue that, having considered all the evidence, this is the way it is. For example, “Considering all the evidence, the Houston Astros are not likely to win the next World Series.”

Include up to three words of your claim in the title and the Conclusion.

Plan a strategy for 5 paragraphs picturing some guidelines:

If a standard sentence is 10-12 words, you can calculate how many sentences you will need for each paragraph and the essay overall.

A standard paragraph might have an opening and closing sentence plus six sentences in between.

At least one fact and one authoritative outside source should appear in each of the middle paragraphs.

Start the first paragraph with a question, a word picture, or a large number/percentage.

Make your claim in the second or third sentence of the introduction and, then, acknowledge the other side of the argument.

Clarify value terms, such as good, bad, best, moral, immoral, and so on.

If your claim is correct, each middle paragraph should be evidence.

Each of three middle paragraphs should present part of the argument plus an example and a research source.

Avoid emotional, stilted, or sarcastic language.

Acknowledge your research sources where you quote from them and in the Works Cited/Bibliography page at the end.

Write a first draft, a final draft, and, then, revise several times.

Follow-up

Pick authoritative sources, that is, scholars or persons who have proven knowledge of the material .

Consider a balance between your words and those from resources. 75-80% of the words and thoughts should be your own, so avoid cutting and pasting.

Be sure you follow the Instructor’s preferred “style sheet:” MLA or APA.

Revise and proofread the paper more than once for grammar, punctuation, usage, and transitions between paragraphs.

The best arguments always recognize there is an opposing viewpoint held by equally intelligent people. They prove themselves when presented with the clearest evidence and examples. So, quite often, an Instructor will give good grades to students holding opposite views because there is no “correct” answer.

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5 Tips for Argumentative Essay Writing

Many Instructors assign argumentative essay writing in the form of papers or test responses. Many students worry needlessly when these 5 tips could help.

1. Mind-set

Many students fear their opinion is “wrong.” They worry the Instructor has the “right” answer in mind and, that, if they do not use the Instructor’s position, they will fail. It is not really that complicated.

Argumentative essay writing is an academic device. It challenges you to take and substantiate a position on a complex topic. Good Instructors want to see you make the case – whether or not that agrees with their position.

2. Do research

You need to be able to make a claim. There are many topics that can be viewed from more than one position. In logic, there is no rightness or wrongness assigned to claims. Claims are valid or not valid; that is, they can be substantiated or not. To argue effectively, you must consider both sides of argument. You need to know how to support your position, but you also need to thoroughly examine the opposing position and the things that will support that position.

Look up facts and figures that support your claim. Also look for the opinions of prominent people who think the same way. But, you also need to know the research available to the opposing side. Do not overstate or minimize the evidence.

Try to think in pairs. The claim depends on three conditions, supports, or examples – each in its own paragraph in the essay’s Body. Link at least one piece of quantitative evidence with one quote from an authority in each paragraph.

Remember these references support your words. Avoid cutting and pasting; instead, try to keep a balance between your thoughts and research, such as 75-80% your words and 20-25% research.

3. Introduction

Engage your readers with an interesting Introduction. You need to know your audience. An audience of experts on the topic requires one approach; average people require another. People who are inclined to agree need one approach while those who disagree strongly require another. The Introduction is the place to make that connection with a relevant effective question or a surprising fact, dollar figure, or statistic.

4. Make a clear claim!

A claim may also be known as thesis or focused topic. It is a clear declarative statement, usually in the form of a simple sentence. It narrows what you can write about, but that is good.

Keep your attention and that of the reader on that claim. For example, suppose you are arguing about the effectiveness (or ineffectiveness) of a new social program. Do not get distracted by politics. As you narrow the statement of your claim, acknowledge that there is another worthy position, but that is lacks the substance of your position. As long as you respect the opposing side, you will avoid sarcastic and emotional language; you win arguments through reason.

5. Follow a plan!

Arguments have plans built-in. Socratic Logic asks you to prove the propositions that support your conclusion. A Rogerian Argument begins with the ideas and beliefs you already share with your audience. So, your plan is to demonstrate those commonalities. A Toulmin Argument focuses on the how and why more than the numbers behind the claim. Judgments are, then, made on the analytic outcomes. In any case, your choice of strategy decides the format.

Argumentative essay writing is not the challenge students make it. It is a discipline, and discipline has a plan and a form. Tips like these can help you score a win in the argument you make.

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What is An Argumentative Essay?

What is An Argumentative Essay?

The kind of essay  you will most often deal with at university is the argumentative essay.

In an argumentative essay, you will be required to argue for your point of view and try to convince your reader that you are right. Argumentative essays deal with complex and sometimes controversial issues where there are several possible answers. Take the following essay questions for example:

Will science ever solve the major humanitarian crises of our age?

What causes gun violence in America?

What does Macbeth mean?

A plan for an argumentative essay looks like this:

Introduction:Here you will give your point of view as briefly and as strongly as you can. Try to be as punchy and to-the-point as possible. Don’t be too wordy, but say only what you need to say to establish your basic position on the subject.   

Body:                                                                                                                       Paragraph 1

Your first premise, or in other words, the primary reason for why you hold that particular point of view. Take care to substantiate your propositions with facts or with the relevant passages from your textbook or other relevant material. In the planning stages, it is best  to compile the supporting evidence for your view, first, and work around this. Your second consideration is to formulate a clear, succinct and readable exposition of this topic. This is surprisingly time-consuming. It is best to start work on the body of your essay first, and deal with the Introduction and conclusion after you have refined and tempered your argument with the evidence at your disposal.

Paragraph 2  

Your secondary premise, or supporting reason for your point of view

This would be followed by further paragraphs each respectively containing another premise (as many other arguments as you wish to enumerate)

Counter arguments

(it is sometimes possible to collapse the counter-argument and refutation paragraphs into a single paragraph) This section is entirely optional, but it can turn a good argumentative essay into an exceptional one if used to its full capacity. It can serve to show how airtight your position really is. If you decide to employ this method, ask yourself the following:

How might someone argue against you?

What reasons could they give for the opposite point of view? (list these possible arguments)

What line of reasoning would an opposing argument follow?

Refutation

The refutation, will be set out in this same paragraph, It will serve to refute each of the opposing points of argument and show why they are invalid.

Conclusion:

Here, you need to summarize what  has already been said, but do so in a way that brings all of your major premises together in one final showing. It’s a mistake to regurgitate what has already been said without bringing any new insights forward. The conclusion should be just as weighty, if not more so than the rest of your essay.

Above all, remember that this is a chance to channel your critical and creative powers into a compelling and interesting body of carefully considered arguments. So see it as a fun and challenging exercise, not simply some banal assignment that requires parrot-style repetition of what your lecturer has already gone over. This offers a break from some of the more prescriptive kinds of essay work. Of course you will have to become as knowledgeable as possible with regard to the subject material at hand. That means putting in enough hours of study. Here your lecturer’s insight is of utmost importance. But never stop inquiring and diligently formulating your own opinions. This is the attitude which is at the heart of any really compelling argumentative essay.