Argumentative essays are a standard format for writing in college courses. They often require the writer to construct an argument that meets specific criteria.
Writing an argumentative essay can be stressful as it presents you with two challenges at once: developing a thesis and supporting it with evidence. An argumentative essay must prove a point, but it must also do so in a way that is supported by facts and evidence. It is important not to rely on unsupported assertions or conjectures when making an argumentative essay.
Parts of an argumentative essay
A strong argumentative essay will have three parts: the introduction, body and conclusion.
- The introduction will lay out the topic of your paper, provide an outline of your argument and state your thesis statement, which is the main point you will be arguing for in the body of your essay.
- The body of the essay will contain each piece of evidence for your thesis as well as counter-arguments that you believe need to be considered in making this decision.
- Finally, the conclusion will summarize your views on the subject at hand and remind your reader what position you are arguing for.
Make your thesis statement
Tell the reader what you intend to argue in the essay. Then create three different points around which you will organize your evidence. This way, it’s clear where your essay is going, and the reader has a better idea of what to expect.
Use transition words and phrases
Use transition words and phrases to tie everything together and indicate how paragraphs are related. For example, if you mention “another point” in one paragraph, then use “however” or “on the contrary” when beginning the next paragraph so that it’s clear the two points are related.
Tone
Argumentative writing aims to provide logical and factual evidence that supports one side of a debate. One side can either be the author’s point of view or it can be an argument against another point of view.
Tone is critical in argumentative writing because it often has a conversational style that makes your points more convincing. The writer usually presents their opinion as if it were common knowledge and then proceeds to make a case for their opinion.
The primary function of the tone in an argumentative essay should not be to persuade readers that they are wrong but rather to convince them that the author’s opinion makes sense given all of the facts involved in the situation.
Here are some possible tone choices for your argumentative essay:
1) Authoritative: Use this tone if you are trying to answer a question or prove a point that is debatable. When you have facts and statistics on your side, this tone makes sense because it establishes credibility and leaves little room for argumentation from your audience.
2) Factual: This tone is used when presenting information as fact or describing events with no room for interpretation or arguments. You may use this tone when writing about historical events, scientific phenomena or even religious beliefs that cannot be argued against.
Offer counter-arguments and supporting details
When writing an argumentative essay, you should not only state your position but also try to persuade the reader to accept your opinion. To do this, you will need to provide reasons that support your viewpoint. These reasons are called supporting details or evidence. The best way to present supporting details is by grouping them into paragraphs, each one focusing on a single argument or piece of evidence.
Use reasoning and facts
Suppose you’re writing an argumentative essay about whether or not it’s okay for teenagers to drink alcohol. In that case, you can’t just say that you feel it’s okay for teenagers to drink alcohol – that’s not what your professor is asking for. You have to support your argument with facts and reasoning that support the idea that it’s okay for teenagers to drink.
If you simply state that it’s okay for teenagers to drink because they’re old enough to make their own decisions, you’re going to lose points with your professor because you haven’t backed up your opinion with logic and evidence. Clearly state why you feel that way, then back up your opinion with sound reasoning and factual evidence so that it is clear why you believe what you believe.
Give examples
The best argumentative essays use examples in order to support their thesis statements. These essays present facts, events, or data to reinforce the essay’s main idea. An argumentative essay should never contain only general statements; facts and specific details are important in establishing credibility.
TIP: Make sure your examples are relevant and do not distract from the topic.
Examples can be drawn from a wide range of sources, including observation, personal experience, history, and scientific research.
Trying to persuade someone? Don’t just tell them what you think. Give them some examples of why they should agree with you. This is a persuasive essay editor trick, and it works!
Don’t be afraid to use detailed examples in your essay, even if you’re giving a short argumentative speech. The more specific and detailed you are, the better your argument.
As another example: If you’re arguing that teens should have later curfews on weekends, don’t just say that teens will stay out later if they can stay out later — explain what studies have shown about why this is bad for them (for example: “A study published in 1998 showed that…..)
Use statistics
When you are trying to persuade your readers about something, statistics can be handy. However, you have to use them correctly if you want your readers to believe your argument.
Treat statistics as a supporting point for your argument. You might have another point or two that you want to make when you are writing your essay. Statistics can help support those points and make them seem more believable.
When using statistics in an essay, try only to use facts that are entirely true. If you do not know something for sure, it is better not to include it in the essay. This will help to avoid misquotes or misinterpretations of the information and could help keep your credibility high.
Statistics can provide a different perspective on an issue or topic and change how people think about things. They show the reader that there is evidence behind what they are reading but do not give them a chance to say it was made up or biased because of how it was gathered or presented.
Remain focused on your thesis
The ability to engage in a healthy debate is an excellent skill that can be used to resolve conflicts and argue for a point of view. When arguing in an argumentative essay, it is vital to remain focused on your main point and not get sidetracked by tiny details or side issues. Avoid getting so caught up in defending your position that you forget the purpose of the essay.
Review the prompt before you begin writing, and make sure that you are addressing the question one way or another. If there is no actual argument to be made, then do not try to force one. Instead, pick a side, and argue for it passionately.
Conclusion
The most important thing to remember when you are writing an argumentative essay is that your ideas have to make sense, and the evidence you use has to support the claims you are making. If your ideas do not support your thesis, then you will have made a logical fallacy. It is also important to remember that arguing a point is not the same as attacking someone else’s idea or point of view. Arguing a point simply means that you want to convince other people that what you are saying is more valid than what they previously believed or thought.