Introduce the topic.
Provide background information.
Present the thesis statement or main argument.
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An argumentative essay presents a specific claim or argument and supports it with evidence and reasoning. Here’s an outline for an argumentative essay, along with examples for each section: 3
1. Introduction :
Example: “Did you know that plastic pollution is threatening marine life at an alarming rate?”
Example: “Plastic pollution has become a global environmental concern, with millions of tons of plastic waste entering our oceans yearly.”
Example: “We must take immediate action to reduce plastic usage and implement more sustainable alternatives to protect our marine ecosystem.”
2. Body Paragraphs :
Example: “The first step towards addressing the plastic pollution crisis is reducing single-use plastic consumption.”
Example: “Research shows that plastic straws alone contribute to millions of tons of plastic waste annually, and many marine animals suffer from ingestion or entanglement.”
Example: “Some argue that banning plastic straws is inconvenient for consumers, but the long-term environmental benefits far outweigh the temporary inconvenience.”
Example: “Having addressed the issue of single-use plastics, the focus must now shift to promoting sustainable alternatives.”
3. Counterargument Paragraph :
Example: “While some may argue that individual actions cannot significantly impact global plastic pollution, the cumulative effect of collective efforts must be considered.”
Example: “However, individual actions, when multiplied across millions of people, can substantially reduce plastic waste. Small changes in behavior, such as using reusable bags and containers, can have a significant positive impact.”
4. Conclusion :
Example: “In conclusion, adopting sustainable practices and reducing single-use plastic is crucial for preserving our oceans and marine life.”
Example: “It is our responsibility to make environmentally conscious choices and advocate for policies that prioritize the health of our planet. By collectively embracing sustainable alternatives, we can contribute to a cleaner and healthier future.”
A claim is a statement or proposition a writer puts forward with evidence to persuade the reader. 4 Here are some common types of argument claims, along with examples:
Understanding these argument claims can help writers construct more persuasive and well-supported arguments tailored to the specific nature of the claim.
If you’re wondering how to start an argumentative essay, here’s a step-by-step guide to help you with the argumentative essay format and writing process.
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Here are eight strategies to craft a compelling argumentative essay:
Let’s consider a sample of argumentative essay on how social media enhances connectivity:
In the digital age, social media has emerged as a powerful tool that transcends geographical boundaries, connecting individuals from diverse backgrounds and providing a platform for an array of voices to be heard. While critics argue that social media fosters division and amplifies negativity, it is essential to recognize the positive aspects of this digital revolution and how it enhances connectivity by providing a platform for diverse voices to flourish. One of the primary benefits of social media is its ability to facilitate instant communication and connection across the globe. Platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram break down geographical barriers, enabling people to establish and maintain relationships regardless of physical location and fostering a sense of global community. Furthermore, social media has transformed how people stay connected with friends and family. Whether separated by miles or time zones, social media ensures that relationships remain dynamic and relevant, contributing to a more interconnected world. Moreover, social media has played a pivotal role in giving voice to social justice movements and marginalized communities. Movements such as #BlackLivesMatter, #MeToo, and #ClimateStrike have gained momentum through social media, allowing individuals to share their stories and advocate for change on a global scale. This digital activism can shape public opinion and hold institutions accountable. Social media platforms provide a dynamic space for open dialogue and discourse. Users can engage in discussions, share information, and challenge each other’s perspectives, fostering a culture of critical thinking. This open exchange of ideas contributes to a more informed and enlightened society where individuals can broaden their horizons and develop a nuanced understanding of complex issues. While criticisms of social media abound, it is crucial to recognize its positive impact on connectivity and the amplification of diverse voices. Social media transcends physical and cultural barriers, connecting people across the globe and providing a platform for marginalized voices to be heard. By fostering open dialogue and facilitating the exchange of ideas, social media contributes to a more interconnected and empowered society. Embracing the positive aspects of social media allows us to harness its potential for positive change and collective growth.
Writing a winning argumentative essay not only showcases your ability to critically analyze a topic but also demonstrates your skill in persuasively presenting your stance backed by evidence. Achieving this level of writing excellence can be time-consuming. This is where Paperpal, your AI academic writing assistant, steps in to revolutionize the way you approach argumentative essays. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to use Paperpal to write your essay:
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The length of an argumentative essay can vary, but it typically falls within the range of 1,000 to 2,500 words. However, the specific requirements may depend on the guidelines provided.
You might write an argumentative essay when: 1. You want to convince others of the validity of your position. 2. There is a controversial or debatable issue that requires discussion. 3. You need to present evidence and logical reasoning to support your claims. 4. You want to explore and critically analyze different perspectives on a topic.
Argumentative Essay: Purpose : An argumentative essay aims to persuade the reader to accept or agree with a specific point of view or argument. Structure : It follows a clear structure with an introduction, thesis statement, body paragraphs presenting arguments and evidence, counterarguments and refutations, and a conclusion. Tone : The tone is formal and relies on logical reasoning, evidence, and critical analysis. Narrative/Descriptive Essay: Purpose : These aim to tell a story or describe an experience, while a descriptive essay focuses on creating a vivid picture of a person, place, or thing. Structure : They may have a more flexible structure. They often include an engaging introduction, a well-developed body that builds the story or description, and a conclusion. Tone : The tone is more personal and expressive to evoke emotions or provide sensory details.
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Miscellaneous
You'll no doubt have to write a number of argumentative essays in both high school and college, but what, exactly, is an argumentative essay and how do you write the best one possible? Let's take a look.
A great argumentative essay always combines the same basic elements: approaching an argument from a rational perspective, researching sources, supporting your claims using facts rather than opinion, and articulating your reasoning into the most cogent and reasoned points. Argumentative essays are great building blocks for all sorts of research and rhetoric, so your teachers will expect you to master the technique before long.
But if this sounds daunting, never fear! We'll show how an argumentative essay differs from other kinds of papers, how to research and write them, how to pick an argumentative essay topic, and where to find example essays. So let's get started.
There are two basic requirements for any and all essays: to state a claim (a thesis statement) and to support that claim with evidence.
Though every essay is founded on these two ideas, there are several different types of essays, differentiated by the style of the writing, how the writer presents the thesis, and the types of evidence used to support the thesis statement.
Essays can be roughly divided into four different types:
#1: Argumentative #2: Persuasive #3: Expository #4: Analytical
So let's look at each type and what the differences are between them before we focus the rest of our time to argumentative essays.
Argumentative essays are what this article is all about, so let's talk about them first.
An argumentative essay attempts to convince a reader to agree with a particular argument (the writer's thesis statement). The writer takes a firm stand one way or another on a topic and then uses hard evidence to support that stance.
An argumentative essay seeks to prove to the reader that one argument —the writer's argument— is the factually and logically correct one. This means that an argumentative essay must use only evidence-based support to back up a claim , rather than emotional or philosophical reasoning (which is often allowed in other types of essays). Thus, an argumentative essay has a burden of substantiated proof and sources , whereas some other types of essays (namely persuasive essays) do not.
You can write an argumentative essay on any topic, so long as there's room for argument. Generally, you can use the same topics for both a persuasive essay or an argumentative one, so long as you support the argumentative essay with hard evidence.
Example topics of an argumentative essay:
The next three types of essays are not argumentative essays, but you may have written them in school. We're going to cover them so you know what not to do for your argumentative essay.
Persuasive essays are similar to argumentative essays, so it can be easy to get them confused. But knowing what makes an argumentative essay different than a persuasive essay can often mean the difference between an excellent grade and an average one.
Persuasive essays seek to persuade a reader to agree with the point of view of the writer, whether that point of view is based on factual evidence or not. The writer has much more flexibility in the evidence they can use, with the ability to use moral, cultural, or opinion-based reasoning as well as factual reasoning to persuade the reader to agree the writer's side of a given issue.
Instead of being forced to use "pure" reason as one would in an argumentative essay, the writer of a persuasive essay can manipulate or appeal to the reader's emotions. So long as the writer attempts to steer the readers into agreeing with the thesis statement, the writer doesn't necessarily need hard evidence in favor of the argument.
Often, you can use the same topics for both a persuasive essay or an argumentative one—the difference is all in the approach and the evidence you present.
Example topics of a persuasive essay:
An expository essay is typically a short essay in which the writer explains an idea, issue, or theme , or discusses the history of a person, place, or idea.
This is typically a fact-forward essay with little argument or opinion one way or the other.
Example topics of an expository essay:
An analytical essay seeks to delve into the deeper meaning of a text or work of art, or unpack a complicated idea . These kinds of essays closely interpret a source and look into its meaning by analyzing it at both a macro and micro level.
This type of analysis can be augmented by historical context or other expert or widely-regarded opinions on the subject, but is mainly supported directly through the original source (the piece or art or text being analyzed) .
Example topics of an analytical essay:
There are many different types of essay and, over time, you'll be able to master them all.
The average argumentative essay is between three to five pages, and will require at least three or four separate sources with which to back your claims . As for the essay topic , you'll most often be asked to write an argumentative essay in an English class on a "general" topic of your choice, ranging the gamut from science, to history, to literature.
But while the topics of an argumentative essay can span several different fields, the structure of an argumentative essay is always the same: you must support a claim—a claim that can reasonably have multiple sides—using multiple sources and using a standard essay format (which we'll talk about later on).
This is why many argumentative essay topics begin with the word "should," as in:
These topics all have at least two sides of the argument: Yes or no. And you must support the side you choose with evidence as to why your side is the correct one.
But there are also plenty of other ways to frame an argumentative essay as well:
Though these are worded differently than the first three, you're still essentially forced to pick between two sides of an issue: yes or no, for or against, benefit or detriment. Though your argument might not fall entirely into one side of the divide or another—for instance, you could claim that social media has positively impacted some aspects of modern life while being a detriment to others—your essay should still support one side of the argument above all. Your final stance would be that overall , social media is beneficial or overall , social media is harmful.
If your argument is one that is mostly text-based or backed by a single source (e.g., "How does Salinger show that Holden Caulfield is an unreliable narrator?" or "Does Gatsby personify the American Dream?"), then it's an analytical essay, rather than an argumentative essay. An argumentative essay will always be focused on more general topics so that you can use multiple sources to back up your claims.
So you know the basic idea behind an argumentative essay, but what topic should you write about?
Again, almost always, you'll be asked to write an argumentative essay on a free topic of your choice, or you'll be asked to select between a few given topics . If you're given complete free reign of topics, then it'll be up to you to find an essay topic that no only appeals to you, but that you can turn into an A+ argumentative essay.
What makes a "good" argumentative essay topic depends on both the subject matter and your personal interest —it can be hard to give your best effort on something that bores you to tears! But it can also be near impossible to write an argumentative essay on a topic that has no room for debate.
As we said earlier, a good argumentative essay topic will be one that has the potential to reasonably go in at least two directions—for or against, yes or no, and why . For example, it's pretty hard to write an argumentative essay on whether or not people should be allowed to murder one another—not a whole lot of debate there for most people!—but writing an essay for or against the death penalty has a lot more wiggle room for evidence and argument.
A good topic is also one that can be substantiated through hard evidence and relevant sources . So be sure to pick a topic that other people have studied (or at least studied elements of) so that you can use their data in your argument. For example, if you're arguing that it should be mandatory for all middle school children to play a sport, you might have to apply smaller scientific data points to the larger picture you're trying to justify. There are probably several studies you could cite on the benefits of physical activity and the positive effect structure and teamwork has on young minds, but there's probably no study you could use where a group of scientists put all middle-schoolers in one jurisdiction into a mandatory sports program (since that's probably never happened). So long as your evidence is relevant to your point and you can extrapolate from it to form a larger whole, you can use it as a part of your resource material.
And if you need ideas on where to get started, or just want to see sample argumentative essay topics, then check out these links for hundreds of potential argumentative essay topics.
101 Persuasive (or Argumentative) Essay and Speech Topics
301 Prompts for Argumentative Writing
Top 50 Ideas for Argumentative/Persuasive Essay Writing
[Note: some of these say "persuasive essay topics," but just remember that the same topic can often be used for both a persuasive essay and an argumentative essay; the difference is in your writing style and the evidence you use to support your claims.]
KO! Find that one argumentative essay topic you can absolutely conquer.
Argumentative Essays are composed of four main elements:
If you're familiar with essay writing in general, then you're also probably familiar with the five paragraph essay structure . This structure is a simple tool to show how one outlines an essay and breaks it down into its component parts, although it can be expanded into as many paragraphs as you want beyond the core five.
The standard argumentative essay is often 3-5 pages, which will usually mean a lot more than five paragraphs, but your overall structure will look the same as a much shorter essay.
An argumentative essay at its simplest structure will look like:
Now let's unpack each of these paragraph types to see how they work (with examples!), what goes into them, and why.
Your first task is to introduce the reader to the topic at hand so they'll be prepared for your claim. Give a little background information, set the scene, and give the reader some stakes so that they care about the issue you're going to discuss.
Next, you absolutely must have a position on an argument and make that position clear to the readers. It's not an argumentative essay unless you're arguing for a specific claim, and this claim will be your thesis statement.
Your thesis CANNOT be a mere statement of fact (e.g., "Washington DC is the capital of the United States"). Your thesis must instead be an opinion which can be backed up with evidence and has the potential to be argued against (e.g., "New York should be the capital of the United States").
These are your body paragraphs in which you give the reasons why your argument is the best one and back up this reasoning with concrete evidence .
The argument supporting the thesis of an argumentative essay should be one that can be supported by facts and evidence, rather than personal opinion or cultural or religious mores.
For example, if you're arguing that New York should be the new capital of the US, you would have to back up that fact by discussing the factual contrasts between New York and DC in terms of location, population, revenue, and laws. You would then have to talk about the precedents for what makes for a good capital city and why New York fits the bill more than DC does.
Your argument can't simply be that a lot of people think New York is the best city ever and that you agree.
In addition to using concrete evidence, you always want to keep the tone of your essay passionate, but impersonal . Even though you're writing your argument from a single opinion, don't use first person language—"I think," "I feel," "I believe,"—to present your claims. Doing so is repetitive, since by writing the essay you're already telling the audience what you feel, and using first person language weakens your writing voice.
For example,
"I think that Washington DC is no longer suited to be the capital city of the United States."
"Washington DC is no longer suited to be the capital city of the United States."
The second statement sounds far stronger and more analytical.
Even without a counter argument, you can make a pretty persuasive claim, but a counterargument will round out your essay into one that is much more persuasive and substantial.
By anticipating an argument against your claim and taking the initiative to counter it, you're allowing yourself to get ahead of the game. This way, you show that you've given great thought to all sides of the issue before choosing your position, and you demonstrate in multiple ways how yours is the more reasoned and supported side.
This paragraph is where you re-state your argument and summarize why it's the best claim.
Briefly touch on your supporting evidence and voila! A finished argumentative essay.
Your essay should have just as awesome a skeleton as this plesiosaur does. (In other words: a ridiculously awesome skeleton)
It always helps to have an example to learn from. I've written a full 5-paragraph argumentative essay here. Look at how I state my thesis in paragraph 1, give supporting evidence in paragraphs 2 and 3, address a counterargument in paragraph 4, and conclude in paragraph 5.
Topic: Is it possible to maintain conflicting loyalties?
Paragraph 1
It is almost impossible to go through life without encountering a situation where your loyalties to different people or causes come into conflict with each other. Maybe you have a loving relationship with your sister, but she disagrees with your decision to join the army, or you find yourself torn between your cultural beliefs and your scientific ones. These conflicting loyalties can often be maintained for a time, but as examples from both history and psychological theory illustrate, sooner or later, people have to make a choice between competing loyalties, as no one can maintain a conflicting loyalty or belief system forever.
The first two sentences set the scene and give some hypothetical examples and stakes for the reader to care about.
The third sentence finishes off the intro with the thesis statement, making very clear how the author stands on the issue ("people have to make a choice between competing loyalties, as no one can maintain a conflicting loyalty or belief system forever." )
Paragraphs 2 and 3
Psychological theory states that human beings are not equipped to maintain conflicting loyalties indefinitely and that attempting to do so leads to a state called "cognitive dissonance." Cognitive dissonance theory is the psychological idea that people undergo tremendous mental stress or anxiety when holding contradictory beliefs, values, or loyalties (Festinger, 1957). Even if human beings initially hold a conflicting loyalty, they will do their best to find a mental equilibrium by making a choice between those loyalties—stay stalwart to a belief system or change their beliefs. One of the earliest formal examples of cognitive dissonance theory comes from Leon Festinger's When Prophesy Fails . Members of an apocalyptic cult are told that the end of the world will occur on a specific date and that they alone will be spared the Earth's destruction. When that day comes and goes with no apocalypse, the cult members face a cognitive dissonance between what they see and what they've been led to believe (Festinger, 1956). Some choose to believe that the cult's beliefs are still correct, but that the Earth was simply spared from destruction by mercy, while others choose to believe that they were lied to and that the cult was fraudulent all along. Both beliefs cannot be correct at the same time, and so the cult members are forced to make their choice.
But even when conflicting loyalties can lead to potentially physical, rather than just mental, consequences, people will always make a choice to fall on one side or other of a dividing line. Take, for instance, Nicolaus Copernicus, a man born and raised in Catholic Poland (and educated in Catholic Italy). Though the Catholic church dictated specific scientific teachings, Copernicus' loyalty to his own observations and scientific evidence won out over his loyalty to his country's government and belief system. When he published his heliocentric model of the solar system--in opposition to the geocentric model that had been widely accepted for hundreds of years (Hannam, 2011)-- Copernicus was making a choice between his loyalties. In an attempt t o maintain his fealty both to the established system and to what he believed, h e sat on his findings for a number of years (Fantoli, 1994). But, ultimately, Copernicus made the choice to side with his beliefs and observations above all and published his work for the world to see (even though, in doing so, he risked both his reputation and personal freedoms).
These two paragraphs provide the reasons why the author supports the main argument and uses substantiated sources to back those reasons.
The paragraph on cognitive dissonance theory gives both broad supporting evidence and more narrow, detailed supporting evidence to show why the thesis statement is correct not just anecdotally but also scientifically and psychologically. First, we see why people in general have a difficult time accepting conflicting loyalties and desires and then how this applies to individuals through the example of the cult members from the Dr. Festinger's research.
The next paragraph continues to use more detailed examples from history to provide further evidence of why the thesis that people cannot indefinitely maintain conflicting loyalties is true.
Paragraph 4
Some will claim that it is possible to maintain conflicting beliefs or loyalties permanently, but this is often more a matter of people deluding themselves and still making a choice for one side or the other, rather than truly maintaining loyalty to both sides equally. For example, Lancelot du Lac typifies a person who claims to maintain a balanced loyalty between to two parties, but his attempt to do so fails (as all attempts to permanently maintain conflicting loyalties must). Lancelot tells himself and others that he is equally devoted to both King Arthur and his court and to being Queen Guinevere's knight (Malory, 2008). But he can neither be in two places at once to protect both the king and queen, nor can he help but let his romantic feelings for the queen to interfere with his duties to the king and the kingdom. Ultimately, he and Queen Guinevere give into their feelings for one another and Lancelot—though he denies it—chooses his loyalty to her over his loyalty to Arthur. This decision plunges the kingdom into a civil war, ages Lancelot prematurely, and ultimately leads to Camelot's ruin (Raabe, 1987). Though Lancelot claimed to have been loyal to both the king and the queen, this loyalty was ultimately in conflict, and he could not maintain it.
Here we have the acknowledgement of a potential counter-argument and the evidence as to why it isn't true.
The argument is that some people (or literary characters) have asserted that they give equal weight to their conflicting loyalties. The refutation is that, though some may claim to be able to maintain conflicting loyalties, they're either lying to others or deceiving themselves. The paragraph shows why this is true by providing an example of this in action.
Paragraph 5
Whether it be through literature or history, time and time again, people demonstrate the challenges of trying to manage conflicting loyalties and the inevitable consequences of doing so. Though belief systems are malleable and will often change over time, it is not possible to maintain two mutually exclusive loyalties or beliefs at once. In the end, people always make a choice, and loyalty for one party or one side of an issue will always trump loyalty to the other.
The concluding paragraph summarizes the essay, touches on the evidence presented, and re-states the thesis statement.
Writing the best argumentative essay is all about the preparation, so let's talk steps:
If you have the option to pick your own argumentative essay topic (which you most likely will), then choose one or two topics you find the most intriguing or that you have a vested interest in and do some preliminary research on both sides of the debate.
Do an open internet search just to see what the general chatter is on the topic and what the research trends are.
Did your preliminary reading influence you to pick a side or change your side? Without diving into all the scholarly articles at length, do you believe there's enough evidence to support your claim? Have there been scientific studies? Experiments? Does a noted scholar in the field agree with you? If not, you may need to pick another topic or side of the argument to support.
Now's the time to pick the side of the argument you feel you can support the best and summarize your main point into your thesis statement.
Your thesis will be the basis of your entire essay, so make sure you know which side you're on, that you've stated it clearly, and that you stick by your argument throughout the entire essay .
You've taken a gander at what the internet at large has to say on your argument, but now's the time to actually read those sources and take notes.
Check scholarly journals online at Google Scholar , the Directory of Open Access Journals , or JStor . You can also search individual university or school libraries and websites to see what kinds of academic articles you can access for free. Keep track of your important quotes and page numbers and put them somewhere that's easy to find later.
And don't forget to check your school or local libraries as well!
Follow the five-paragraph outline structure from the previous section.
Fill in your topic, your reasons, and your supporting evidence into each of the categories.
Before you begin to flesh out the essay, take a look at what you've got. Is your thesis statement in the first paragraph? Is it clear? Is your argument logical? Does your supporting evidence support your reasoning?
By outlining your essay, you streamline your process and take care of any logic gaps before you dive headfirst into the writing. This will save you a lot of grief later on if you need to change your sources or your structure, so don't get too trigger-happy and skip this step.
Now that you've laid out exactly what you'll need for your essay and where, it's time to fill in all the gaps by writing it out.
Take it one step at a time and expand your ideas into complete sentences and substantiated claims. It may feel daunting to turn an outline into a complete draft, but just remember that you've already laid out all the groundwork; now you're just filling in the gaps.
If you have the time before deadline, give yourself a day or two (or even just an hour!) away from your essay . Looking it over with fresh eyes will allow you to see errors, both minor and major, that you likely would have missed had you tried to edit when it was still raw.
Take a first pass over the entire essay and try your best to ignore any minor spelling or grammar mistakes—you're just looking at the big picture right now. Does it make sense as a whole? Did the essay succeed in making an argument and backing that argument up logically? (Do you feel persuaded?)
If not, go back and make notes so that you can fix it for your final draft.
Once you've made your revisions to the overall structure, mark all your small errors and grammar problems so you can fix them in the next draft.
Use the notes you made on the rough draft and go in and hack and smooth away until you're satisfied with the final result.
A checklist for your final draft:
Once you've brought that final draft to a perfect polish and turned in your assignment, you're done! Go you!
Be prepared and ♪ you'll never go hungry again ♪, *cough*, or struggle with your argumentative essay-writing again. (Walt Disney Studios)
Theory is all well and good, but examples are key. Just to get you started on what a fully-fleshed out argumentative essay looks like, let's see some examples in action.
Check out these two argumentative essay examples on the use of landmines and freons (and note the excellent use of concrete sources to back up their arguments!).
The Use of Landmines
A Shattered Sky
At first, writing an argumentative essay may seem like a monstrous hurdle to overcome, but with the proper preparation and understanding, you'll be able to knock yours out of the park.
Remember the differences between a persuasive essay and an argumentative one, make sure your thesis is clear, and double-check that your supporting evidence is both relevant to your point and well-sourced . Pick your topic, do your research, make your outline, and fill in the gaps. Before you know it, you'll have yourself an A+ argumentative essay there, my friend.
Now you know the ins and outs of an argumentative essay, but how comfortable are you writing in other styles? Learn more about the four writing styles and when it makes sense to use each .
Understand how to make an argument, but still having trouble organizing your thoughts? Check out our guide to three popular essay formats and choose which one is right for you.
Ready to make your case, but not sure what to write about? We've created a list of 50 potential argumentative essay topics to spark your imagination.
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This handout will define what an argument is and explain why you need one in most of your academic essays.
You may be surprised to hear that the word “argument” does not have to be written anywhere in your assignment for it to be an important part of your task. In fact, making an argument—expressing a point of view on a subject and supporting it with evidence—is often the aim of academic writing. Your instructors may assume that you know this and thus may not explain the importance of arguments in class.
Most material you learn in college is or has been debated by someone, somewhere, at some time. Even when the material you read or hear is presented as a simple fact, it may actually be one person’s interpretation of a set of information. Instructors may call on you to examine that interpretation and defend it, refute it, or offer some new view of your own. In writing assignments, you will almost always need to do more than just summarize information that you have gathered or regurgitate facts that have been discussed in class. You will need to develop a point of view on or interpretation of that material and provide evidence for your position.
Consider an example. For nearly 2000 years, educated people in many Western cultures believed that bloodletting—deliberately causing a sick person to lose blood—was the most effective treatment for a variety of illnesses. The claim that bloodletting is beneficial to human health was not widely questioned until the 1800s, and some physicians continued to recommend bloodletting as late as the 1920s. Medical practices have now changed because some people began to doubt the effectiveness of bloodletting; these people argued against it and provided convincing evidence. Human knowledge grows out of such differences of opinion, and scholars like your instructors spend their lives engaged in debate over what claims may be counted as accurate in their fields. In their courses, they want you to engage in similar kinds of critical thinking and debate.
Argumentation is not just what your instructors do. We all use argumentation on a daily basis, and you probably already have some skill at crafting an argument. The more you improve your skills in this area, the better you will be at thinking critically, reasoning, making choices, and weighing evidence.
What is an argument? In academic writing, an argument is usually a main idea, often called a “claim” or “thesis statement,” backed up with evidence that supports the idea. In the majority of college papers, you will need to make some sort of claim and use evidence to support it, and your ability to do this well will separate your papers from those of students who see assignments as mere accumulations of fact and detail. In other words, gone are the happy days of being given a “topic” about which you can write anything. It is time to stake out a position and prove why it is a good position for a thinking person to hold. See our handout on thesis statements .
Claims can be as simple as “Protons are positively charged and electrons are negatively charged,” with evidence such as, “In this experiment, protons and electrons acted in such and such a way.” Claims can also be as complex as “Genre is the most important element to the contract of expectations between filmmaker and audience,” using reasoning and evidence such as, “defying genre expectations can create a complete apocalypse of story form and content, leaving us stranded in a sort of genre-less abyss.” In either case, the rest of your paper will detail the reasoning and evidence that have led you to believe that your position is best.
When beginning to write a paper, ask yourself, “What is my point?” For example, the point of this handout is to help you become a better writer, and we are arguing that an important step in the process of writing effective arguments is understanding the concept of argumentation. If your papers do not have a main point, they cannot be arguing for anything. Asking yourself what your point is can help you avoid a mere “information dump.” Consider this: your instructors probably know a lot more than you do about your subject matter. Why, then, would you want to provide them with material they already know? Instructors are usually looking for two things:
This second part can be done in many ways: you can critique the material, apply it to something else, or even just explain it in a different way. In order to succeed at this second step, though, you must have a particular point to argue.
Arguments in academic writing are usually complex and take time to develop. Your argument will need to be more than a simple or obvious statement such as “Frank Lloyd Wright was a great architect.” Such a statement might capture your initial impressions of Wright as you have studied him in class; however, you need to look deeper and express specifically what caused that “greatness.” Your instructor will probably expect something more complicated, such as “Frank Lloyd Wright’s architecture combines elements of European modernism, Asian aesthetic form, and locally found materials to create a unique new style,” or “There are many strong similarities between Wright’s building designs and those of his mother, which suggests that he may have borrowed some of her ideas.” To develop your argument, you would then define your terms and prove your claim with evidence from Wright’s drawings and buildings and those of the other architects you mentioned.
Do not stop with having a point. You have to back up your point with evidence. The strength of your evidence, and your use of it, can make or break your argument. See our handout on evidence . You already have the natural inclination for this type of thinking, if not in an academic setting. Think about how you talked your parents into letting you borrow the family car. Did you present them with lots of instances of your past trustworthiness? Did you make them feel guilty because your friends’ parents all let them drive? Did you whine until they just wanted you to shut up? Did you look up statistics on teen driving and use them to show how you didn’t fit the dangerous-driver profile? These are all types of argumentation, and they exist in academia in similar forms.
Every field has slightly different requirements for acceptable evidence, so familiarize yourself with some arguments from within that field instead of just applying whatever evidence you like best. Pay attention to your textbooks and your instructor’s lectures. What types of argument and evidence are they using? The type of evidence that sways an English instructor may not work to convince a sociology instructor. Find out what counts as proof that something is true in that field. Is it statistics, a logical development of points, something from the object being discussed (art work, text, culture, or atom), the way something works, or some combination of more than one of these things?
Be consistent with your evidence. Unlike negotiating for the use of your parents’ car, a college paper is not the place for an all-out blitz of every type of argument. You can often use more than one type of evidence within a paper, but make sure that within each section you are providing the reader with evidence appropriate to each claim. So, if you start a paragraph or section with a statement like “Putting the student seating area closer to the basketball court will raise player performance,” do not follow with your evidence on how much more money the university could raise by letting more students go to games for free. Information about how fan support raises player morale, which then results in better play, would be a better follow-up. Your next section could offer clear reasons why undergraduates have as much or more right to attend an undergraduate event as wealthy alumni—but this information would not go in the same section as the fan support stuff. You cannot convince a confused person, so keep things tidy and ordered.
One way to strengthen your argument and show that you have a deep understanding of the issue you are discussing is to anticipate and address counterarguments or objections. By considering what someone who disagrees with your position might have to say about your argument, you show that you have thought things through, and you dispose of some of the reasons your audience might have for not accepting your argument. Recall our discussion of student seating in the Dean Dome. To make the most effective argument possible, you should consider not only what students would say about seating but also what alumni who have paid a lot to get good seats might say.
You can generate counterarguments by asking yourself how someone who disagrees with you might respond to each of the points you’ve made or your position as a whole. If you can’t immediately imagine another position, here are some strategies to try:
Once you have thought up some counterarguments, consider how you will respond to them—will you concede that your opponent has a point but explain why your audience should nonetheless accept your argument? Will you reject the counterargument and explain why it is mistaken? Either way, you will want to leave your reader with a sense that your argument is stronger than opposing arguments.
When you are summarizing opposing arguments, be charitable. Present each argument fairly and objectively, rather than trying to make it look foolish. You want to show that you have considered the many sides of the issue. If you simply attack or caricature your opponent (also referred to as presenting a “straw man”), you suggest that your argument is only capable of defeating an extremely weak adversary, which may undermine your argument rather than enhance it.
It is usually better to consider one or two serious counterarguments in some depth, rather than to give a long but superficial list of many different counterarguments and replies.
Be sure that your reply is consistent with your original argument. If considering a counterargument changes your position, you will need to go back and revise your original argument accordingly.
Audience is a very important consideration in argument. Take a look at our handout on audience . A lifetime of dealing with your family members has helped you figure out which arguments work best to persuade each of them. Maybe whining works with one parent, but the other will only accept cold, hard statistics. Your kid brother may listen only to the sound of money in his palm. It’s usually wise to think of your audience in an academic setting as someone who is perfectly smart but who doesn’t necessarily agree with you. You are not just expressing your opinion in an argument (“It’s true because I said so”), and in most cases your audience will know something about the subject at hand—so you will need sturdy proof. At the same time, do not think of your audience as capable of reading your mind. You have to come out and state both your claim and your evidence clearly. Do not assume that because the instructor knows the material, he or she understands what part of it you are using, what you think about it, and why you have taken the position you’ve chosen.
Critical reading is a big part of understanding argument. Although some of the material you read will be very persuasive, do not fall under the spell of the printed word as authority. Very few of your instructors think of the texts they assign as the last word on the subject. Remember that the author of every text has an agenda, something that he or she wants you to believe. This is OK—everything is written from someone’s perspective—but it’s a good thing to be aware of. For more information on objectivity and bias and on reading sources carefully, read our handouts on evaluating print sources and reading to write .
Take notes either in the margins of your source (if you are using a photocopy or your own book) or on a separate sheet as you read. Put away that highlighter! Simply highlighting a text is good for memorizing the main ideas in that text—it does not encourage critical reading. Part of your goal as a reader should be to put the author’s ideas in your own words. Then you can stop thinking of these ideas as facts and start thinking of them as arguments.
When you read, ask yourself questions like “What is the author trying to prove?” and “What is the author assuming I will agree with?” Do you agree with the author? Does the author adequately defend her argument? What kind of proof does she use? Is there something she leaves out that you would put in? Does putting it in hurt her argument? As you get used to reading critically, you will start to see the sometimes hidden agendas of other writers, and you can use this skill to improve your own ability to craft effective arguments.
We consulted these works while writing this handout. This is not a comprehensive list of resources on the handout’s topic, and we encourage you to do your own research to find additional publications. Please do not use this list as a model for the format of your own reference list, as it may not match the citation style you are using. For guidance on formatting citations, please see the UNC Libraries citation tutorial . We revise these tips periodically and welcome feedback.
Anson, Chris M., and Robert A. Schwegler. 2010. The Longman Handbook for Writers and Readers , 6th ed. New York: Longman.
Booth, Wayne C., Gregory G. Colomb, Joseph M. Williams, Joseph Bizup, and William T. FitzGerald. 2016. The Craft of Research , 4th ed. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Ede, Lisa. 2004. Work in Progress: A Guide to Academic Writing and Revising , 6th ed. Boston: Bedford/St Martin’s.
Gage, John T. 2005. The Shape of Reason: Argumentative Writing in College , 4th ed. New York: Longman.
Lunsford, Andrea A., and John J. Ruszkiewicz. 2016. Everything’s an Argument , 7th ed. Boston: Bedford/St Martin’s.
Rosen, Leonard J., and Laurence Behrens. 2003. The Allyn & Bacon Handbook , 5th ed. New York: Longman.
You may reproduce it for non-commercial use if you use the entire handout and attribute the source: The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
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An argumentative essay is a genre of academic writing that investigates different sides of a particular issue. Its central purpose is to inform the readers rather than expressively persuade them. Thus, it is crucial to differentiate between argumentative and persuasive essays.
While composing an argumentative essay, the students have to demonstrate their research and analytical skills. The secret of a successful paper lies behind strong arguments and counterarguments. So, the writer should focus on facts and data rather than personal values and beliefs.
Besides, a good argumentative essay should be structured appropriately:
Are you still wondering what an argumentative essay is and how to write it? Check out the sections below prepared by our experts . Here, you can find the most valuable info, helpful tips, and useful examples.
📋 toulmin strategy, 🗣️ rogerian strategy, ✒️ fill in the blanks, 🔍 edit and proofread, 🔗 references, 📌 argumentative essay in a nutshell.
Are you trying to figure out what an argumentative essay is? It’s a type of academic paper that covers both sides of a given issue. An author can decide whether they aim to present both sides equally or support one side more dynamically.
One of the mistakes among students is the confusion of argumentative and persuasive essays . Do you want to figure out the differences? Take a look at the following table.
Argumentative Essay | Persuasive essay | |
---|---|---|
Useful info, credible facts, relevant reasons, appropriate evidence. | The mix of data, personal opinion, and emotions. | |
Presenting credible resources to validate your claims and counterclaims. | Providing data from reputable sources, along with your feelings about the given issue, to persuade your reader. |
Before writing an argument essay, it would be helpful to choose an appropriate model to rely on. There are three strategies to consider: Classical, Toulmin, and Rogerian.
Look at the following sections and choose the most suitable one for you.
Are you wondering how to write an argumentative essay? Consider using the classical approach. It is the most popular way of composing an argumentative paper.
Under the classical strategy, the author has to follow these rules:
It is up to the audience to decide whether your position is right or wrong. Yet, you should try to convince the readers of the effectiveness of your opinion.
Usually, the classical argument paper is structured in the following way:
Toulmin strategy is the most suitable for the discussion of controversial issues. This model aims to find common ground through clear logic and valid evidence. Besides, the Toulmin strategy eliminates unnecessary things and limits the points to agree upon.
An argumentative essay written by the Toulmin model includes the following elements:
Like the Toulmin approach, Rogerian strategy attempts to find common ground between two sides of one issue. However, the technique is slightly different.
The Rogerian model is often used in highly controversial debates when the parties do not accept each other’s position. Thus, the given strategy focuses on finding the agreement by proving the validity of the opposing arguments.
Below, you can find the primary outline for the Rogerian argumentative essay:
Before working on your essay, carefully read the assignment. Make sure you understand all the instructor’s requirements and the purpose of the paper.
After that, start composing your argumentative essay. Check out the following sections. We have a lot of insightful info to share with you!
The first step of writing an argumentative paper is an in-depth investigation of the topic. To validate your arguments, you have to refer to credible resources. The essay will look more professional if you use reliable sources in it.
To research like a professional , do the following:
The majority of students tend to underestimate the power of outlining. Don’t do this! An argumentative essay outline is a helpful tool for planning, structuring, and composing.
Firstly , a well-developed outline helps the writer to put all their thoughts in an appropriate order. None of the essential points will be lost if the student plans the essay before writing.
Secondly , it lets the writer figure out what evidence suits what argument most. Before writing, draft your essay first. Put examples, facts, etc. in the right parts of the paper. Then, write the entire text.
Thirdly , an outline provides a perfect opportunity to change the essay’s parts without rewriting the paper. Are you unsure of specific details? Not a problem. Change them in the outline without ruining the text.
There are essential elements that your outline should contain. Check out the following section to see them.
How to start an argumentative essay? First and foremost, include an argumentative essay introduction in your outline.
This part should grab the readers’ attention from the first words. Thus, put enough effort into composing a compelling hook . What can it be? An impressive statistic or an exciting fact? Be creative – decide yourself! But make sure that your intro is catchy enough.
After the hook, introduce your topic’s general background . Prove the readers the significance of your issue and gradually come to the thesis statement .
The concept of studying abroad is becoming increasingly popular in both developed and developing countries. Students around the globe strive to explore the world and broaden their minds, and studying in a foreign country is an excellent opportunity to do so. Such experience may be extremely beneficial because meeting new people and discovering foreign cultures help students to gain valuable knowledge and see the world from a new perspective. However, while presenting significant opportunities for personal growth, it may also bring about some challenges.
A thesis is an essential part of your argumentative essay. It should state your position regarding the issue clearly and concisely. Avoid general statements, vague words, and be as specific and possible. Your thesis statement should guide the readers throughout the main points of the paper.
The location of the thesis in the essay plays a crucial role. The most appropriate place for it is the last sentence of the introductory paragraph.
Although students face difficulties such as loneliness while studying abroad, it is a worthy experience to introduce them to new knowledge, people, and culture and promote their independence.
The body of your paper is supposed to develop your position, provide valid evidence and examples. Each paragraph has to focus only on one idea. This will ensure the logical structure of your argumentative essay.
A body paragraph should start from the topic sentence and end with the concluding sentence . Such a frame around every section will make your readers stay concentrated on your ideas and get your opinion.
Each body paragraph should include an argument (or a counterargument) with supporting evidence. Get your proof from credible sources and ensure that it directly corresponds to the point.
An example of a topic sentence :
The benefits of education abroad are almost innumerable, prominent examples being gaining new knowledge, making friends with people who have different mindsets, and discovering new cultures.
An example of a concluding sentence:
Participants of student exchange programs usually return more driven and eager to develop both themselves and their country.
A conclusion plays a critical role in understanding the entire paper. It summarizes the body and leaves the final impression. Besides, it may push the readers on further investigation of the issue.
One more tip:
To sum up, studying abroad is beneficial as it helps a person evolve and perceive a world from new perspectives. It is an opportunity for a participant to explore the world, meet new people, gain valuable knowledge and experience, and broaden their horizons. Education abroad might pose problems like homesickness, loneliness, and trouble with getting accustomed to a new environment. However, all of them can be easily overcome if a student is flexible and eager to become autonomous and independent.
The list of references is a crucial part of any argumentative essay. It should contain all the sources the writer uses in the paper.
Before organizing your reference list , double-check your argumentative essay format. Is it written in MLA, APA, or maybe in Chicago style? How many references does the professor expect you to include? What kind of sources are you required to use?
After figuring out these issues, move to the format requirements of the writing style you use for your paper. The most popular ones are APA (7th edition), MLA, and ChicagoAD (author-date) styles. Below, you can find the examples of a reference for the same book in different formatting styles.
Style | |
---|---|
Structure | Last name, First initial. Middle initial. (Year). Publisher. |
Example | Clifton, L. (1996). . Copper Canyon Press. |
Style | |
---|---|
Structure | Last Name, First Name. Publisher, Publication Date. |
Example | Clifton, Lucille. . Copper Canyon Press, 1996. |
Style | |
---|---|
Structure | Author’s Last Name, First Name. Year of Publication. Publisher’s Location: Publisher’s Name. |
Example | Clifton, Lucille. 1993. . Washington: Copper Canyon Press. |
Did you develop a good outline? Congratulations! You are almost done with the essay. Now, you need to fill in the blanks and create a final version of your paper. Here is where you need to demonstrate a high level of your writing skills.
The final step of your writing process is editing and proofreading. Although it is not that energy and time consuming, it still plays a critical role in the work’s success.
While writing your argumentative paper, plan your time accordingly. This will provide you with an opportunity to polish your essay before submitting it. And take a look at our checklist and always use it to improve your papers:
It is up to you to decide how many parts to include in your essay. However, the 5 paragraph structure is the most appropriate model for an argumentative paper. So, write an introduction, a conclusion, and three body paragraphs.
The pronoun “you” is acceptable for informal writing. Yet, in academic papers, avoid using the second person. The same situation is with the first person. Generally, academic papers require the use of the third person.
A hook aims to grab the readers’ attention. Thus, you could start your essay with an interesting fact about your issue. Another way to create a catchy hook is to prove the audience the relatability of your topic. Make the readers want to explore your essay by demonstrating the significance of your issue.
Yes, you can. A question might become a compelling hook. Just make sure that it is profound, thought-provocative, and concise. A too broad or complicated question will only confuse your readers.
A title is an essential part of the essay since it causes the first impression. While selecting a heading, take into consideration the following points:
1. The title must be catchy.
2. It has to be not too long (5-12 words).
3. The title has to reflect the topic of the paper.
4. It should not be too complicated: the simpler – the better.
Thank you for visiting our page! We hope the information was helpful and insightful. Do you have friends who seek help with writing an argumentative essay? Share our article with them. And don’t forget to leave your comments!
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The argumentative essay is a genre of writing that requires the student to investigate a topic; collect, generate, and evaluate evidence; and establish a position on the topic in a concise manner.
Please note : Some confusion may occur between the argumentative essay and the expository essay. These two genres are similar, but the argumentative essay differs from the expository essay in the amount of pre-writing (invention) and research involved. The argumentative essay is commonly assigned as a capstone or final project in first year writing or advanced composition courses and involves lengthy, detailed research. Expository essays involve less research and are shorter in length. Expository essays are often used for in-class writing exercises or tests, such as the GED or GRE.
Argumentative essay assignments generally call for extensive research of literature or previously published material. Argumentative assignments may also require empirical research where the student collects data through interviews, surveys, observations, or experiments. Detailed research allows the student to learn about the topic and to understand different points of view regarding the topic so that she/he may choose a position and support it with the evidence collected during research. Regardless of the amount or type of research involved, argumentative essays must establish a clear thesis and follow sound reasoning.
The structure of the argumentative essay is held together by the following.
In the first paragraph of an argument essay, students should set the context by reviewing the topic in a general way. Next the author should explain why the topic is important ( exigence ) or why readers should care about the issue. Lastly, students should present the thesis statement. It is essential that this thesis statement be appropriately narrowed to follow the guidelines set forth in the assignment. If the student does not master this portion of the essay, it will be quite difficult to compose an effective or persuasive essay.
Transitions are the mortar that holds the foundation of the essay together. Without logical progression of thought, the reader is unable to follow the essay’s argument, and the structure will collapse. Transitions should wrap up the idea from the previous section and introduce the idea that is to follow in the next section.
Each paragraph should be limited to the discussion of one general idea. This will allow for clarity and direction throughout the essay. In addition, such conciseness creates an ease of readability for one’s audience. It is important to note that each paragraph in the body of the essay must have some logical connection to the thesis statement in the opening paragraph. Some paragraphs will directly support the thesis statement with evidence collected during research. It is also important to explain how and why the evidence supports the thesis ( warrant ).
However, argumentative essays should also consider and explain differing points of view regarding the topic. Depending on the length of the assignment, students should dedicate one or two paragraphs of an argumentative essay to discussing conflicting opinions on the topic. Rather than explaining how these differing opinions are wrong outright, students should note how opinions that do not align with their thesis might not be well informed or how they might be out of date.
The argumentative essay requires well-researched, accurate, detailed, and current information to support the thesis statement and consider other points of view. Some factual, logical, statistical, or anecdotal evidence should support the thesis. However, students must consider multiple points of view when collecting evidence. As noted in the paragraph above, a successful and well-rounded argumentative essay will also discuss opinions not aligning with the thesis. It is unethical to exclude evidence that may not support the thesis. It is not the student’s job to point out how other positions are wrong outright, but rather to explain how other positions may not be well informed or up to date on the topic.
It is at this point of the essay that students may begin to struggle. This is the portion of the essay that will leave the most immediate impression on the mind of the reader. Therefore, it must be effective and logical. Do not introduce any new information into the conclusion; rather, synthesize the information presented in the body of the essay. Restate why the topic is important, review the main points, and review your thesis. You may also want to include a short discussion of more research that should be completed in light of your work.
Perhaps it is helpful to think of an essay in terms of a conversation or debate with a classmate. If I were to discuss the cause of World War II and its current effect on those who lived through the tumultuous time, there would be a beginning, middle, and end to the conversation. In fact, if I were to end the argument in the middle of my second point, questions would arise concerning the current effects on those who lived through the conflict. Therefore, the argumentative essay must be complete, and logically so, leaving no doubt as to its intent or argument.
A common method for writing an argumentative essay is the five-paragraph approach. This is, however, by no means the only formula for writing such essays. If it sounds straightforward, that is because it is; in fact, the method consists of (a) an introductory paragraph (b) three evidentiary body paragraphs that may include discussion of opposing views and (c) a conclusion.
Complex issues and detailed research call for complex and detailed essays. Argumentative essays discussing a number of research sources or empirical research will most certainly be longer than five paragraphs. Authors may have to discuss the context surrounding the topic, sources of information and their credibility, as well as a number of different opinions on the issue before concluding the essay. Many of these factors will be determined by the assignment.
Addressing “flow”: tips for organizing an argumentative essay.
“Flow”, in regard to a characteristic of an essay, is a fairly murky and general concept that could cover a wide range of issues. However, most often, if you’re worried about “flow”, your concerns actually have their roots in focus and organization. Paragraphs may not clearly relate back to the thesis or each other, or important points may be buried by less-important information. These tips, though by no means exhaustive, are meant to help you create a cohesive, “flowing” argumentative essay. While this handout was written with argumentative essays (particularly within the humanities) in mind, many of the general ideas behind them apply to a wide range of disciplines.
1) Pre-Write/Outline
2) Make sure you begin each paragraph with a topic sentence.
3) Make sure every topic sentence (and therefore, every paragraph) relates directly back to your thesis statement.
4) Use effective transitions between paragraphs
5) Re-read your paper!
About the slc.
Make sure your topic is neither too broad--something which warrants a dissertation--nor too limited. Decide what your goals are for the paper. What is your purpose? What opinion, view, or idea do you want to prove? Try to articulate your purpose clearly before you begin writing. If you cannot state your purpose clearly, try to freewrite about your topic.
Your thesis must be arguable; it must assert or deny something about your topic. To be arguable, a thesis must have some probability of being true. It should not, however, be generally accepted as true; it must be a statement with which people may disagree. Keep in mind that a thesis contains both an observation and an opinion:
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A good way to test the strength of your thesis is to see if it yields a strong antithesis.
Common thesis pitfalls:
Thesis writing tips:
Plan your paper with a specific audience in mind. Who are your readers? Are they a definable group--disinterested observers, opponents of your point of view, etc.? Perhaps you are writing to your classmates. Ask your professor or GSI who you should consider your target audience. If you are not certain of your audience, direct your argument to a general audience.
Strong essays consist of reasons supported by evidence . Reasons can be thought of as the main points supporting your claim or thesis. Often they are the answers to the question, "Why do you make that claim?" An easy way to think of reasons is to see them as "because phrases." In order to validate your reasons and make your argument successful, support your reasons with ample evidence.
The St. Martin's Guide to Writing (Axelrod & Cooper, 2nd ed., New York: St. Martin's Press, 1988) lists the following forms of evidence:
For most college papers, you will include evidence you have gathered from various sources and texts. Make sure you document your evidence properly. When using evidence, make sure you (1) introduce it properly, and (2) explain its significance. Do not assume that your evidence will speak for itself--that your readers will glean from your evidence that which you want them to glean. Explain the importance of each piece of evidence-- how it elucidates or supports your point, why it is significant. Build evidence into your text, and use it strategically to prove your points.
In addition to using evidence, thoughtful writers anticipate their readers' counterarguments Counterarguments include objections, alternatives, challenges, or questions to your argument. Imagine readers responding to your argument as it unfolds. How might they react? A savvy writer will anticipate and address counterarguments. A writer can address counterarguments by acknowledging , accommodating , and/or refuting them.
As is the case with any piece of writing, you should take your argumentative essay through multiple drafts. When writing and revising your drafts, make sure you:
After you have written a developed draft, take off your writer's hat and put on your reader's hat. Evaluate your essay carefully and critically. Exchange a draft of your essay with classmates to get their feedback. Carefully revise your draft based on your assessment of it and suggestions from your peers. For self-assessment and peer response to your draft, you may want to use a peer editing sheet. A peer editing sheet will guide you and your peers by asking specific questions about your text (i.e., What is the thesis of this essay? Is it arguable? Does the writer include ample evidence? Is the structure suitable for the topic and the audience?).
You may also want to avail yourself of the Writing Drop-In Tutoring or By-Appointment Tutoring at the Student Learning Center .
Luisa Giulianetti Student Learning Center, University of California, Berkeley ©1996 UC Regents
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
What you need to know.
Understanding Your Assignment
Before you begin looking for information you should make sure you understand your assignment. Some good questions are:
Your professor is your best resource to answer these questions.
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Argumentative texts are pieces of writing that include claims supported by reasons and evidence to take a stance on an issue. Students start encountering these texts in early elementary school and continue to engage with them through high school and beyond. Despite their prevalence in the classroom, resources specifically designed to teach these texts can be tricky to find.
Today, we’re reviewing nine steps for teaching argumentative text and providing tips, strategies, and resources you can use to introduce them to and use them with your students.
Tips to help students identify, understand, and refute claims and arguments, teaching argumentative text with newsela.
Where should you begin when teaching a lesson using argumentative text? Modeling how to break down this type of text to find important information is a good place to start! We’re using an article called “Pro/Con: Is media coverage of the NFL’s troubles over-the-top?” from our Debate and Discussion text set called “ Should the Media Spend Resources Covering Celebrities? ” to examine each step in more detail.
Students should be familiar with the following terms before you introduce argumentative texts in the classroom:
Arguments: Evidence-backed claims and reasons used to persuade an audience to agree or disagree with an issue.
Claims: Challengeable statements supported by reasons and evidence.
Reasons: Support the stance an author takes in their claim.
Evidence: Backs up reasons with proof or facts to persuade the audience to accept an author’s claim.
Proof: The body of evidence that gives the audience enough reasons to accept an argument.
Issues: Topics, ideas, and activities that lead to arguments.
Counterarguments or counterclaims: Opposing stances to an author’s argument or claim.
The ELA Standards and Skills collection has content for elementary and secondary readers to help you define these and other terms related to argumentative text and make the concepts stick for students.
When students understand the format or structure of a text, they have a better chance of knowing where to look to pick out the information they need to understand an argument. The most basic argumentative texts include three sections:
Intro: The opening section where the author states the claim.
Body: The middle section where the author supports the claim with reasons and evidence.
Conclusion: The closing section where the author restates the claim.
As students build their reading skills and start to encounter more complex texts, they may also come across more complex text structures, like cause and effect or compare and contrast. Make sure students have the background knowledge they need to understand and identify text structures to make their work with argumentative texts easier.
The different texts shared in our example text set have different text structures that you can show your students to help them compare the fundamentals of each type.
Read more: What Is Text Structure and How To Teach It Effectively
The first thing students must do when reading an argumentative text is find the claims. There are a few things you can teach them to look for to make it easier to find claims in a text. They include:
Authors may use six types of claims in argumentative texts to take a stance on the issue. Options include:
Fact: Argue that something is true or false based on quantifiable evidence
Value: Argue an issue’s worth
Policy: Argue if something should or shouldn’t be done
Definition: Argue how to define a concept
Cause: Argue how or why something happened
Comparison: Argue how two issues relate to each other
When students know the types of claims and what they argue, it’s easier to spot them in a text. In our example article, the authors use claims of policy and value to support their arguments, some of which we’ll discuss in more detail in subsequent sections.
Each claim type has a list of signal words and phrases that may indicate an author is setting up their argument. Some of them include:
Claim of fact: Research suggests; Data indicated; Results show
Claim of value: Good; Bad; Better; Worse; Best; Worst
Claim of policy: Should; Must; Solution
Claim of definition: According to; Explains; Shows
Claim of cause: Since; Because; For; So
Claim of comparison: Like; Same as; Different from
These words may not always signal a claim or argument, so it helps to teach signal words along with other strategies to help students determine if they’ve found one within a text.
The next step to breaking down an argumentative text is identifying the main claim. Texts may include multiple claims, but there is always one main idea that the author uses and refers back to throughout the piece. To help students find the main claim, teach them to ask questions while they read, like:
What does the author want me to think or believe?
Is the author trying to convince me of something?
Does the author have a clear viewpoint on this topic?
Helping students find the overall focus of the argument can help. The introduction or conclusion of the text usually states or implies the main claim. For example, in our sample article, we’re looking for a claim that supports the argument, “Should the media spend resources covering celebrities?”
Because our example, “Is media coverage of NFL scandals out-of-bounds?” is a pro/con article, it includes two claims, one supporting each side of the argument. The pro claim states that dedicating reporters to covering NFL star scandals is over the top and invasive. It supports the argument that the media shouldn’t spend resources covering celebrities.
The article's con claim states that the public has a right to know about sports news that happens on and off the field, and the league and players are responsible for making better choices. This supports the argument that the media should spend resources covering celebrities.
Once students identify the main claim, they must look for proof or reasons to back it up. These are typically found within the body paragraphs of the text. An author's list of reasons to support their claim may be more subtle than finding the argument or claim itself. You may spend the most time modeling this part of the process.
In our sample article, the author lists two reasons why the media shouldn’t spend resources to cover NFL stars. They include:
Watching and reporting on someone 24 hours a day violates privacy and civil liberties.
Media outlets judge the morality of players’ personal lives rather than just their on-field performance.
The second author also lists two reasons the media should spend resources covering NFL stars. They include:
The public is interested in sports stars’ personal lives outside of their gameday performance.
Reporting off-the-field issues in players' lives—like decisions influenced by head injuries sustained while playing—provides valuable information to the public.
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Anyone can make a claim. But it's baseless if someone can’t back up or prove their claim. That’s why the next step in breaking down argumentative text is to teach students how to look for evidence. Research studies, proven statistics, and personal or past verifiable experiences may all be evidence strong enough to support a claim.
In our sample article, the pro author uses testimonials, observations, and hypothetical examples primarily as evidence to back up their reasons. Some of this evidence includes:
The hypothetical example that companies like NBC News or General Motors can’t watch their employees’ behavior 24 hours a day like the media expects of the NFL.
The observation that media members called for the NFL commissioner to resign and teams in the league receive punishment for players’ actions off the field.
The con author uses observations, facts, and statistics as evidence to back up their reasons. Some of this evidence includes:
More breaking news comes from outlets like TMZ rather than traditional news sources.
Studies show that nearly 30% of former NFL players will end up developing brain diseases, likely caused by head injuries during their careers.
An ESPN poll found that 57% of parents said the news about increased concussions in football made them less likely to allow their children to play in youth leagues.
Counterarguments are those that refute the author’s claim. One-sided argumentative texts, like those your youngest students read, may not include counterarguments. For these types of texts, you can have students work in small groups to consider the opposite sides of an argument and create a list of potential counterarguments.
In pieces that include counterarguments, the author addresses other sides of an issue and then uses claims and evidence to refute them. You can teach students how to annotate their texts to find and mark counterarguments as they read.
There are also signal words and phrases that may indicate counterarguments. They can be:
Negative: The author blatantly disagrees with the counterargument, signaled by words like never, shouldn’t, or rarely.
Neutral: The author tries to present the counterargument unbiased, signaled by phrases like some think, others claim, and people believe.
Positive: The author sees some value in the counterargument but has a better point to make, signaled by words and phrases like admittedly, of course, and I acknowledge.
The author of the pro side of the sample article presents the positive counterargument that sports stars shouldn’t be excused from bad behavior just because they’re in the spotlight.
Like the main claim, all counterarguments also have responses called rebuttals, which allow the author to refute what others have said or past research shows. These rebuttals highlight the counterargument’s flaws or show readers why the author’s point of view or stance is more valid.
The author of the pro side of our sample text rebuts the counterargument that sports starts shouldn’t be excused from bad behavior by saying that the public shouldn’t be able to decide someone’s guilt or innocence without a trial, no matter what information is in the news.
Teach students to look for any ways the author may limit their argument. Authors do this to temper or scale back any claims that could be wild or outlandish. Hedging a point or limiting their argument can help save their credibility or validity if someone else’s counterargument is better than theirs. Some signal words for limiting arguments include:
It’s important to show students that arguments have limits and have them consider why an author limits what they say. Why aren’t they going all in on their stance? While you may not go in-depth with limitations on every article, drawing attention to them can boost students’ curiosity about what they read and build their critical thinking skills.
In our sample article, neither author limited their main claim. By presenting both the pro and con sides to an argument at once, students can compare viewpoints and see if they find any limitations in the argument for themselves, even if they’re not explicitly stated.
Want more information about how to help your students navigate argumentative texts? Try these tips:
The best lessons on argumentative text start with the right content! They often have real-world ties to relevant topics affecting students' other schoolwork or lives. Our Pro/Con , Debate and Discussion , and ELA Standards and Skills collections scratch the surface of our high-quality texts. You can use the Newsela ELA reading skills search filter to find argument and claims texts on any topic you choose so you know you’re providing high-quality texts designed to teach these skills.
When students find a claim in an argumentative text, their first instinct should be to question it. But building this intuition takes practice, especially when they’re transitioning from reading primarily fictional texts to informational texts.
In fiction, readers are often supposed to accept everything the author says. The characters, setting, and plot are the way they are because the author says so. In informational and news texts, that principle doesn’t hold. Teaching students to ask the right questions when encountering a claim can help get them into this inquisitive mindset.
During whole-class instruction, give them prompting questions like “Why did the author say that?” or “What reason does the author give so I’ll believe that?” These questions set students on the path to examining content rather than taking it at face value.
Though we mentioned using annotations specifically for locating counterclaims, you can use them to mark up all aspects of an argumentative text. Assign different colors for claims, reasons, evidence, and counterarguments. As you read the text as a class, highlight each piece of information in the correct colors.
Doing this exercise makes it easier for students to look back at the text and understand the main points at a glance. It’s also helpful when you ask students to summarize an argumentative text or if they’re using a piece as a guide when learning how to write their own arguments. After you’ve shown students how to annotate, they can start doing it themselves when they read independently or with small groups.
With Newsela subject products’ annotation feature , you can customize assignments with conversations, highlight key passages, or mark up texts at five different reading levels to support your differentiated classrooms .
Graphic organizers can help students order the pieces of an argument as they read. An opinion article analysis chart makes it easier to map out an argument or opinion in a text. Flowcharts and web charts can become argument maps that plot reasons and evidence against a claim. They help students visualize how reasons build on the claim. You can also use these charts to locate arguments and counterarguments within a text to see how authors weave in and refute them.
Arguments are at the center of all debates. Two people or groups take opposing sides on a topic, make claims, and cite evidence to convince the audience to take their stance. To further drive home your lesson about arguments, hold an in-class debate.
Choose a topic your students care about and one that has enough content and resources they can use to back up any side of an argument. Depending on the needs of your class, you can let students choose their claim or assign students to a specific claim for more balanced groups.
Have students research all sides of the issue, prepare their claims and reasons, find supporting evidence, and draft rebuttals for counterarguments. Use our Let’s Debate organizer and Debate Text Evidence organizer to help them during planning.
Then, you can invite a group of teachers or another class to visit and be your debate audience. At the end of the debate, give the audience a silent poll to ask which side of the argument was more convincing and why. Then, have students complete an after-debate reflection to share what they learned.
With Newsela ELA , you can teach students how to navigate and understand argumentative text using relevant, real-world content. Plus, it’s easy to check students’ comprehension to discover if they’re learning and can read and understand these texts independently. The standards and skill-aligned multiple-choice quizzes and checks for understanding on all informational texts make it easier to get the data you need to adjust your lessons in real time when teaching a skill.
Not a Newsela customer yet? When you register for Newsela Lite for free , you can start your 45-day trial to access all the content and skill-building scaffolds you need to teach argumentative texts in your classroom.
Browse more great content from Newsela.
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Simple tips to improve your argument essay writing skills and boost your grades.
When it comes to effectively communicating your ideas and viewpoints, argumentative writing provides a powerful platform for expression. This form of discourse allows individuals to present their opinions and persuade others to see things from their perspective. By leveraging a combination of reasoning, evidence, and logical thinking, argumentative essays enable writers to engage readers and influence their beliefs.
At its core, the art of persuasive composition lies in the ability to construct a strong and well-structured argument. Engaging in argumentative writing requires more than just expressing personal opinions – it necessitates meticulous planning, research, and the thoughtful selection of evidence. By employing diverse rhetorical strategies and presenting compelling counterarguments, skilled writers can effectively convey their ideas and sway readers to adopt their points of view.
One crucial aspect of argumentative writing is the utilization of logical reasoning. This involves building a coherent and logical sequence of thoughts that lead the reader from point A to point B. By developing a sound and systematic argument, writers can ensure that their ideas are presented in a persuasive and compelling manner. Moreover, through the use of deductive and inductive reasoning, writers can enhance the logical consistency of their essays and strengthen their overall persuasiveness.
Another key component of argumentative writing is the incorporation of credible evidence. Persuasive essays rely on the presentation of facts, statistics, and expert opinions to support the writer’s claims. By conducting thorough research and selectively choosing evidence, writers can bolster the validity and reliability of their arguments. The inclusion of these authoritative sources not only adds credibility to the essay but also serves to engage readers, fostering a sense of trust and confidence in the writer and their position.
When it comes to constructing a compelling and persuasive argument in your essays, it’s important to have a set of strategies in your arsenal. These tips will help you craft an argument that is not only persuasive but also effective in convincing your readers to see your point of view.
1. Clearly define your position: Before you begin writing, take the time to define your position on the topic. This will help you stay focused throughout your essay and ensure that your arguments are cohesive and logical.
2. Support your arguments with evidence: To strengthen your argument, it’s essential to support your statements with credible evidence. This can include facts, statistics, research findings, or expert opinions. By backing up your claims, you make your argument more compelling and persuasive.
3. Address counterarguments: Acknowledging and addressing counterarguments is a crucial part of writing an effective argument essay. By doing so, you demonstrate that you have considered other viewpoints and can effectively refute them. This shows your readers that your argument is well-reasoned and able to withstand criticism.
4. Use persuasive language and rhetorical devices: To make your argument more compelling, employ persuasive language and rhetorical devices such as analogies, metaphors, and rhetorical questions. These techniques can help you engage your readers and evoke an emotional response, making your argument more persuasive.
5. Organize your essay effectively: An organized essay is easier to follow and understand. Structure your argument essay in a way that presents your main points clearly and logically. Use paragraphs to separate different aspects of your argument and use transitions to guide your readers through your essay smoothly.
6. Revise and edit your essay: After writing your argument essay, it’s crucial to revise and edit it for clarity, coherence, and conciseness. Pay attention to grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors, as these can distract your readers and undermine the credibility of your argument.
By following these tips, you’ll be well-equipped to write effective argument essays that are persuasive, logical, and convincing. Remember to rely on strong evidence, address counterarguments, and use rhetorical devices to engage your readers. With practice and attention to detail, your argument essays will become powerful tools to communicate your ideas effectively.
When it comes to writing an argumentative essay, one of the most important steps is selecting a strong and controversial topic. Choosing a topic that is both strong and controversial will not only make your essay more interesting to read, but it will also give you the opportunity to present a well-reasoned argument with supporting evidence.
What does it mean to choose a “strong” topic? A strong topic is one that is significant and relevant in today’s society. It is a topic that sparks discussion and debate among individuals with differing opinions. A strong topic is often centered around a current issue, such as climate change, immigration, or gun control.
On the other hand, a controversial topic is one that elicits strong opposing opinions. It is a topic that people feel strongly about and can passionately debate. Controversial topics often involve ethical and moral dilemmas, such as abortion, euthanasia, or capital punishment. These topics can be challenging to write about, but they offer the opportunity to delve into complex arguments and explore different perspectives.
When choosing a strong and controversial topic for your argumentative essay, consider your audience and the purpose of your essay. Think about what issues are relevant and important to your readers, and choose a topic that will engage them and inspire them to think critically.
Additionally, it is important to conduct thorough research on your chosen topic before starting to write your essay. This will help you gather credible and up-to-date information to support your arguments.
In conclusion, choosing a strong and controversial topic for your argumentative essay is crucial for creating an engaging and thought-provoking piece of writing. By selecting a topic that is significant, relevant, and sparks debate, you will have the opportunity to present a well-reasoned argument and capture the attention of your readers.
Formulating a strong and effective thesis statement is crucial when writing an argumentative essay. This concise statement serves as the main argument or claim of the essay, setting the tone and direction for the entire paper. It is essential to carefully craft a thesis statement that is clear, concise, and engaging to captivate the reader’s attention from the start.
A clear thesis statement should succinctly express the main point or viewpoint of the essay. It should convey a strong argument or position on the topic without ambiguity. By clearly outlining the stance that will be taken in the essay, the thesis statement helps the reader understand the writer’s perspective and purpose.
In addition to being clear, a thesis statement should also be concise. A concise thesis statement avoids unnecessary repetition or wordiness, ensuring that the main argument is presented in a straightforward and efficient manner. This brevity not only keeps the reader engaged but also demonstrates the writer’s ability to convey their ideas concisely and effectively.
Creating a clear and concise thesis statement requires careful consideration of the topic and the writer’s intentions. It is important to analyze the key points that will be covered in the essay and to identify the most compelling argument to be made. By crafting a thesis statement that is both clear and concise, the writer can effectively communicate the purpose of the essay and guide the reader through their argument.
In summary, a clear and concise thesis statement is essential in argumentative essay writing. It sets the stage for the rest of the paper and allows the writer to present a strong and focused argument. By carefully crafting this statement, the writer ensures that their main point is effectively communicated to the reader, capturing their attention and making a compelling case.
When it comes to constructing a compelling argument, one of the key factors is the use of solid evidence and examples. An effective argument essay requires the incorporation of reliable and relevant information to support your points and persuade your readers.
First and foremost, it is crucial to gather evidence from credible sources. This can be achieved by consulting reputable publications, academic journals, or conducting thorough research. The reliability of your evidence plays a significant role in establishing the credibility of your argument. Make sure to choose sources that are recognized for their expertise and accuracy in the field.
Once you have gathered your evidence, it is equally important to evaluate its relevance and validity. Not all evidence will be equally impactful, and it is essential to critically analyze and consider its strength. Look for evidence that directly supports your thesis statement and bolsters your main arguments. Additionally, be cautious of any potential biases or limitations within the evidence and be transparent about them in your essay.
Incorporating examples can also enhance the persuasiveness of your argument. The use of real-life scenarios, anecdotes, or case studies can help illustrate your points and make them more relatable to your audience. Examples can add depth to your argument and demonstrate the practical applications of your ideas.
To strengthen your argument further, consider using a combination of quantitative and qualitative evidence. Statistical data and research studies can provide objective support, while personal experiences and stories can appeal to the emotional and subjective aspects of your readers. By integrating different types of evidence, you create a well-rounded and compelling argument that appeals to both logical and emotional reasoning.
In conclusion, gathering and evaluating solid evidence and examples is a critical step in crafting a persuasive argument essay. By selecting reliable sources, critically assessing their relevance and validity, and incorporating impactful examples, you can strengthen your arguments and provide the necessary support to convince your readers.
When crafting an argumentative essay, it is crucial to acknowledge and address counterarguments that may arise. By doing so, you demonstrate a thorough understanding of the topic and increase the credibility of your own argument. This section will explore the importance of presenting counterarguments and provide strategies for effectively refuting them.
One key reason to present counterarguments is to show that you have considered multiple perspectives on the issue at hand. By recognizing opposing viewpoints, you demonstrate a fair and unbiased approach to the topic. This can make your argument more persuasive, as it shows that you have critically analyzed the subject matter.
Furthermore, addressing counterarguments allows you to strengthen your own argument by refuting opposing claims. By carefully examining and debunking alternative viewpoints, you can establish your position as the most valid and well-supported one. This not only strengthens the overall quality of your essay but also demonstrates your ability to think critically and analytically.
When presenting counterarguments, it is important to anticipate and address the strongest opposing points of view. You should strive to understand the logic and evidence behind these counterarguments in order to effectively refute them. By providing a clear and logical rebuttal, you can undermine the credibility of the opposing claims and further support your own argument.
One effective strategy for refuting counterarguments is to provide strong evidence and examples that contradict the opposing viewpoint. This can include data, statistics, or expert opinions that demonstrate the flaws or weaknesses in the counterargument. By providing concrete evidence, you can strengthen your own argument and convince the reader of its validity.
Another approach to refuting counterarguments is to appeal to logic and reason. By carefully analyzing the logical inconsistencies or fallacies in the opposing viewpoint, you can emphasize the weaknesses of the counterargument. This can be done by using logical reasoning, providing counterexamples, or highlighting contradictory evidence.
In conclusion, presenting counterarguments and refuting them is an essential part of writing a persuasive argumentative essay. By acknowledging and addressing opposing viewpoints, you demonstrate a fair and unbiased approach to the topic. Furthermore, effectively refuting counterarguments strengthens your own argument and boosts its credibility. By employing strategies such as providing strong evidence and appealing to logic, you can effectively challenge alternative viewpoints and convince the reader of the strength of your own argument.
One of the key elements of a compelling argumentative essay is a well-structured and logically organized presentation of your ideas. Without a clear structure, your essay may appear disjointed and confusing, making it difficult for readers to follow your line of reasoning. By organizing your essay with a logical structure, you not only enhance its readability but also reinforce the coherence and persuasiveness of your argument.
To achieve a logical structure in your essay, consider using the following strategies:
1. Introduction
Start your essay with a captivating introduction that grabs your readers’ attention and provides an overview of your argument. Clearly state your thesis statement, which presents the main point or stance of your essay.
2. Background Information
Provide necessary background information to ensure that your readers have the context needed to understand your argument. This may include relevant facts, statistics, historical events, or definitions of key terms.
3. Body Paragraphs
Organize your essay’s body paragraphs in a logical order that supports your thesis statement. Each paragraph should focus on one main idea or argument and present evidence or examples to support it. Use topic sentences to introduce each paragraph and ensure smooth transitions between ideas.
4. Counterarguments
Acknowledge and address counterarguments to strengthen your argument. Identify potential objections to your position and provide counterpoints to refute them. Demonstrating an understanding of opposing viewpoints can enhance your credibility and persuasive power.
5. Conclusion
Summarize your main points and restate your thesis in a concise and impactful manner. Leave your readers with a lasting impression and a call to action, encouraging them to consider your argument and potentially adopt your perspective.
By organizing your essay with a logical structure, you can effectively engage your readers and guide them through your argument in a clear and coherent manner. Keep in mind that the specific structure may vary depending on the requirements of your assignment or the complexity of your topic. Adapt these strategies to suit your needs and maintain consistency throughout your essay.
When crafting an argumentative essay, it is essential to use language that is clear and convincing to effectively present your point of view. By carefully choosing your words and adopting an appropriate tone, you can enhance the persuasiveness of your essay and engage your readers.
One crucial aspect of using clear language is avoiding overly technical or jargon-filled terms that may confuse your audience. Instead, strive for simplicity and clarity by using everyday language that is easily understandable to a wide range of readers. This approach helps to ensure that your argument is accessible and relatable.
In addition to clear language, the tone of your argumentative essay plays a significant role in its effectiveness. It is important to strike a balance between being assertive and respectful in your tone. While it is essential to express your viewpoint confidently, you should also acknowledge and address counterarguments with respect. This demonstrates a thoughtful and well-rounded perspective, making your argument more convincing.
Using a persuasive tone throughout your essay can also help to engage your readers and hold their attention. By employing rhetorical devices such as appeals to logic, emotion, and credibility, you can increase the impact of your argument. Just make sure to support your claims with relevant evidence and logical reasoning to further strengthen your case.
Lastly, consider the overall structure and organization of your essay. Using clear language and tone should extend beyond individual sentences and paragraphs. Ensure that your ideas flow logically and cohesively, guiding your readers through a well-structured argument. Utilize headings, bullet points, and other formatting tools to enhance readability and help readers navigate your essay effortlessly.
In conclusion, using clear and convincing language and tone in your argumentative essay is crucial for effectively communicating your ideas and persuading your audience. By employing simple and understandable language, striking an appropriate tone, and organizing your essay effectively, you can make your argument more compelling and increase your chances of convincing your readers to adopt your point of view.
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Inicio > Blog > Ejemplos de ensayos de enunciados de tesis
Escribir un ensayo puede parecer un desafío, pero una declaración de tesis sólida puede facilitarlo. Una declaración de tesis es una parte crucial de cualquier ensayo. Le da al lector una comprensión clara de su idea principal. El objetivo debe ser entregar una declaración sólida, concisa y convincente que sumerja al lector en su escritura. Una declaración de tesis sólida significa una Buen comienzo para tu ensayo !
Hemos desarrollado esta guía completa para explorar qué hace que una declaración de tesis sea buena. Analizaremos diferentes ejemplos de declaraciones de tesis y le mostraremos los pasos para escribir una declaración sólida. Ya sea que esté escribiendo un artículo de investigación, un ensayo argumentativo o una propuesta de política, una declaración de tesis sólida es clave.
En pocas palabras, una declaración de tesis resume todo el trabajo. Suele aparecer al final del primer párrafo, conocido como introducción del ensayo. La tesis debe ser específica, concisa y clara.
Debe expresar una idea principal y guiar su redacción. Por ejemplo, si su artículo explica el cambio climático, su tesis podría afirmar que “el cambio climático plantea una amenaza significativa para los ecosistemas globales”.
En esta sección, incluimos cómo escribir una declaración de tesis con un ejemplo para ayudarte en el proceso. A continuación, enumeramos algunos de los pasos necesarios para redactar una declaración de tesis.
Toda buena tesis comienza con una pregunta. Piensa en lo que quieres explorar o decidir sobre tu tema. Por ejemplo, “¿Internet ha tenido un impacto positivo o negativo en la educación?”
Después de investigar un poco, escribe una respuesta sencilla y tentativa a tu pregunta. Esto guiará tu proceso de investigación y redacción. Por ejemplo, “Internet ha tenido un impacto positivo en la educación”.
Tu tesis final debería explicarle al lector por qué mantienes esa postura. Puedes explicar con más detalle qué aprenderán de tu ensayo y los puntos clave de tu argumento.
Por ejemplo, “el impacto positivo de Internet en la educación supera sus efectos negativos al facilitar el acceso a la información. La exposición a diferentes perspectivas y un entorno de aprendizaje flexible para estudiantes y profesores contribuyen a ello”.
Una buena declaración de tesis es concisa, coherente y contenciosa. Debe expresar claramente la idea principal y estar respaldada por evidencia específica. Observa el siguiente ejemplo de una buena declaración de tesis:
“Si bien muchas personas creen que el cambio climático es un fenómeno natural, la evidencia muestra que las actividades humanas contribuyen significativamente a su aceleración”.
Esta afirmación es clara, concisa y debatible. Presenta una postura firme que puede respaldarse con pruebas.
Tu tesis debe coincidir con el tipo de ensayo que estás escribiendo. A continuación, se muestran algunos ejemplos de diferentes tipos de declaraciones de tesis.
En una ensayo argumentativo , tu tesis debe tomar una posición fuerte.
Por ejemplo, mediante los siguientes elementos:
“El gobierno debería implementar regulaciones más estrictas sobre las emisiones de carbono para combatir el cambio climático”.
Un ensayo argumentativo presenta una afirmación clara y debatible que requiere evidencia y razonamiento. Esta tesis presenta un argumento claro que se sustentará con evidencia a lo largo del ensayo.
En una ensayo expositivo , su tesis debe explicar los hechos de un tema o proceso.
“La invención del braille mejoró la vida de las personas ciegas al permitirles leer y escribir de forma independiente”.
Esta declaración explica el impacto del braille sin tomar posición.
Veamos algunos ejemplos de ensayos de enunciados de tesis para comprender cómo elaborar uno de manera efectiva.
Tema: El impacto de la vigilancia en la sociedad
Declaración de tesis: “Aunque la vigilancia a menudo se considera negativamente, sus efectos positivos sobre la seguridad pública superan sus desventajas”.
Esta tesis presenta un argumento claro que será respaldado con evidencia a lo largo del ensayo.
Tema: La historia de Internet
Declaración de tesis: “Internet revolucionó la comunicación al permitir el acceso instantáneo a la información y conectar a personas a nivel mundial”.
Esta afirmación explica cómo Internet ha cambiado la comunicación sin presentar ningún argumento.
En ambos ejemplos, las declaraciones de tesis son claras y concisas y proporcionan una hoja de ruta para el ensayo.
Tema: El impacto de las redes sociales en la salud mental
Declaración de tesis: “Las redes sociales influyen en la salud mental al aumentar la ansiedad, promover imágenes corporales poco realistas y mejorar las conexiones sociales”.
Una declaración de tesis analítica divide una idea en partes para examinarla e interpretarla. Este ejemplo muestra el impacto de las redes sociales en componentes específicos para un análisis detallado. Un artículo analítico divide temas complejos en componentes para examinarlos y analizarlos en detalle.
Una declaración de tesis eficaz es la columna vertebral de un ensayo bien estructurado. Los ejemplos de declaraciones de tesis ayudan a ilustrar las diferencias entre declaraciones de tesis sólidas y débiles. A continuación, se presentan las características esenciales de una buena declaración de tesis.
Las mejores declaraciones de tesis deben ser breves y concisas. Evite las palabras innecesarias. Por ejemplo, en lugar de decir: “En este ensayo, analizaré las razones por las que el cambio climático es un problema crítico que requiere atención urgente”, puede decir: “El cambio climático exige atención urgente debido a su grave impacto en los ecosistemas globales”. Esto mantiene su tesis clara y centrada.
El objetivo es llevar la declaración a la Punto final tan efectivamente como sea posible.
En la redacción académica, la tesis debe estar respaldada por evidencia específica. No debe limitarse a hacer una afirmación, sino también proporcionar una pista de la evidencia que la respalda. Por ejemplo, “Las actividades humanas, como la deforestación y el consumo de combustibles fósiles, contribuyen significativamente al cambio climático”, indica que el ensayo analizará estas actividades específicas.
Una declaración de tesis sólida enuncia claramente la idea principal. Debe transmitir el punto central del ensayo de una manera que sea fácil de entender. Por ejemplo, “Las fuentes de energía renovables son esenciales para reducir las emisiones de carbono y combatir el cambio climático” enuncia claramente la idea principal del ensayo.
Segun el guardián Los profesores observan que los estudiantes tienen continuamente problemas para escribir ensayos. Esto puede deberse a varias razones, como la falta de habilidades básicas para escribir o la probabilidad de que cometan errores específicos al redactar sus ensayos y declaraciones de tesis.
A continuación, enumeramos algunos de los errores comunes que los estudiantes pueden cometer al escribir una declaración de tesis para su trabajo.
Una tesis demasiado amplia carece de enfoque y no ofrece un argumento claro. Por ejemplo: “El cambio climático es malo” es demasiado amplio. En cambio, limite su enfoque a algo más específico, como “El cambio climático afecta significativamente a las ciudades costeras al aumentar la frecuencia de las inundaciones”.
Una tesis vaga no brinda detalles específicos, lo que dificulta que el lector comprenda su argumento. Por ejemplo, “El cambio climático afecta el medio ambiente” es demasiado vago. Una tesis más precisa sería: “El cambio climático acelera el derretimiento de los casquetes polares, lo que provoca el aumento del nivel del mar”.
En un buen trabajo de investigación, una tesis que exponga un hecho en lugar de un argumento no es debatible. Por ejemplo, “El cambio climático existe” es una declaración de hecho y no es discutible. Una tesis más debatible sería: “Se requieren acciones inmediatas para mitigar los impactos del cambio climático en las generaciones futuras”.
Si su declaración de tesis es débil, aquí le mostramos cómo puede fortalecerla:
Una declaración de tesis débil, como “Internet es útil”, es demasiado general y carece de especificidad. No proporciona ninguna dirección para el ensayo, lo que hace que los lectores no tengan claro qué abordará el ensayo. Una declaración de tesis débil:
Por ejemplo, un ensayo basado en la tesis débil “Internet es útil” podría desviarse por diversos temas, como compras en línea, redes sociales e investigación, sin una estructura o argumento claros. Esto dificulta que los lectores comprendan el punto principal o el propósito del ensayo.
Una declaración de tesis sólida, como “Internet es útil para la educación porque brinda acceso a una gran cantidad de información y recursos”, es específica y brinda un argumento claro respaldado por evidencia. También indica lo que se tratará en el ensayo, lo que ayuda a orientar al lector.
Por lo tanto, una declaración de tesis sólida debe:
¿qué incluye una declaración de tesis.
Una declaración de tesis es una oración que resume el punto principal de tu ensayo. Suele aparecer al final del primer párrafo.
Lo ideal es que una declaración de tesis tenga una o dos oraciones.
La declaración de tesis debe estar al final del primer párrafo, conocido como introducción del ensayo.
Una buena declaración de tesis es la columna vertebral de tu ensayo. Guía tu redacción y le dice al lector qué esperar. Si sigues los pasos que hemos descrito en estos ejemplos, podrás escribir una declaración de tesis sólida.
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Here are some tips on how to use strong evidence and examples in your argumentative essay. 1. Conduct thorough research: Before you start writing your essay, conduct thorough research to gather relevant and reliable evidence and examples that support your arguments. Look for reputable sources such as academic journals, books, and credible ...
Focus Area #3: Writing the Conclusion. It's common to conclude an argumentative essay by reiterating the thesis statement in some way, either by reminding the reader what the overarching argument was in the first place or by reviewing the main points and evidence that you covered.
Make a claim. Provide the grounds (evidence) for the claim. Explain the warrant (how the grounds support the claim) Discuss possible rebuttals to the claim, identifying the limits of the argument and showing that you have considered alternative perspectives. The Toulmin model is a common approach in academic essays.
When you're writing a persuasive essay, you need more than just an opinion to make your voice heard. Even the strongest stance won't be compelling if it's not structured properly and reinforced with solid reasoning and evidence. Learn what elements every argumentative essay should include and how to structure it depending on your audience ...
Gather Evidence. One of your essay's first objectives will be to assess both sides of your issue. Consider strong arguments for both your side, as well as the "other" side—in order to shoot their statements down. Provide evidence without drama; sticking to the facts and clear examples that support your stance.
3 Drafting: Write a rough draft of your essay. It helps to include any data and direct quotes as early as possible, especially with argumentative essays that often cite outside sources. 4 Revising: Polish your rough draft, optimize word choice, and restructure your arguments if necessary. Make sure your language is clear and appropriate for the ...
Here's our 12-step recipe for writing a great argumentative essay: Pick a topic. Choose your research sources. Read your sources and take notes. Create a thesis statement. Choose three main arguments to support your thesis statement —now you have a skeleton outline.
An argumentative essay comprises five essential components: 1. Claim. Claim in argumentative writing is the central argument or viewpoint that the writer aims to establish and defend throughout the essay. A claim must assert your position on an issue and must be arguable. It can guide the entire argument.
1. First evidential support of your reason (known as confirmatio) 2. Second evidential support of your reason, then third, and so on. B. Summarize your first reason again and tie it together with evidential support. III. Second reason, etc. A. Continue to list your reasons in the same format as the first.
Tips for Writing a Well-Written Argumentative Essay. Introduce your topic in a bold, direct, and engaging manner to captivate your readers and encourage them to keep reading. Provide sufficient evidence to justify your argument and convince readers to adopt this point of view. Consider, include, and fairly present all sides of the topic.
An argumentative essay is a type of writing that presents a coherent and logical analysis of a specific topic. 1 The goal is to convince the reader to accept the writer's point of view or opinion on a particular issue. Here are the key elements of an argumentative essay: Thesis Statement: The central claim or argument that the essay aims to ...
An argumentative essay requires you to present effective, meaningful arguments. Writing one in your own voice and style can be tricky: But we make it easier. Dictionary Thesaurus Sentences ... argumentative essay writing tips with dos and don'ts list SOURCE Background: Tolchik / iStock / Getty Images Plus / via Getty created by YourDictionary ...
An argumentative essay attempts to convince a reader to agree with a particular argument (the writer's thesis statement). The writer takes a firm stand one way or another on a topic and then uses hard evidence to support that stance. An argumentative essay seeks to prove to the reader that one argument —the writer's argument— is the ...
Research Thoroughly: Gather credible sources to support your arguments and counterarguments. 3. Develop a Strong Thesis: Clearly state your position in a concise and debatable thesis statement. 4. Outline Your Argument: Organize your points logically and plan the structure of your essay. 5.
4. Write a rough draft. Now at last you are ready to start writing your paper. Start with a short introduction paragraph and then use your outline to draft the body and conclusion. Don't forget to begin each paragraph in the body with a topic sentence that conveys the main argument of that paragraph.
In order to succeed at this second step, though, you must have a particular point to argue. Arguments in academic writing are usually complex and take time to develop. Your argument will need to be more than a simple or obvious statement such as "Frank Lloyd Wright was a great architect.". Such a statement might capture your initial ...
Secondly, it lets the writer figure out what evidence suits what argument most. Before writing, draft your essay first. Put examples, facts, etc. in the right parts of the paper. Then, write the entire text. Thirdly, an outline provides a perfect opportunity to change the essay's parts without rewriting the paper.
Use logical fallacies sparingly or not at all, as they can weaken your argument and make it less convincing. 2. Emphasize the emotional aspect: While logic is important, humans are emotional creatures. Tap into your readers' emotions by painting vivid pictures, telling compelling stories, or using powerful language.
The argumentative essay is commonly assigned as a capstone or final project in first year writing or advanced composition courses and involves lengthy, detailed research. Expository essays involve less research and are shorter in length. Expository essays are often used for in-class writing exercises or tests, such as the GED or GRE.
5) Re-read your paper! Many issues that might hamper flow are small/general enough that you can catch them just by proofreading-i.e., sentence fragments, clunky/lengthy sentences, etc. Reading your paper out loud is especially helpful for catching awkward phrases/sentences. Addressing "Flow": Tips for Organizing an Argumentative Essay.
5. Draft your essay. As is the case with any piece of writing, you should take your argumentative essay through multiple drafts. When writing and revising your drafts, make sure you: provide ample evidence, presented logically and fairly; deal with the opposing point of view; pay particular attention to the organization of your essay.
5 Types of claims for your essay. How you present your main point or argument influences how readers will respond to your essay. Here are the five types of argumentative claims to consider: 1. Facts. A fact claim states whether something is true or false. A writer may choose this type of claim for presenting data. 2.
Writing an argumentative paper on a controversial issue requires that you look at both sides of an issue and take a position on one side or the other. You not only take a stand on an issue, but you must defend it against opposing points of view. Therefore, your argumentative research paper will involve advocacy and persuasion. What to do:
Today, we're reviewing nine steps for teaching argumentative text and providing tips, strategies, and resources you can use to introduce them to and use them with your students. How to break down an argumentative text in 9 steps. Tips to help students identify, understand, and refute claims and arguments. Teaching argumentative text with Newsela
5. Organize your essay effectively: An organized essay is easier to follow and understand. Structure your argument essay in a way that presents your main points clearly and logically. Use paragraphs to separate different aspects of your argument and use transitions to guide your readers through your essay smoothly. 6.
Read our post for tips to craft a compelling essay. ... Whether you're writing a research paper, argumentative essay, or policy proposal, a solid thesis statement is key. What Is a Thesis Statement? To put it simply, a thesis statement summarizes your entire paper. It usually appears at the end of the first paragraph, known as the essay ...