Different types of essays are based on convincing a reader about a particular point of view. But, argumentative essays stand out from others in this aspect. It goes further to support opinion using factual evidence and logical reasoning.
The entirety of an argumentative essay depends on how you present your case. Structure is crucial when writing an argumentative essay. Hence, when writing, it’s essential to follow the prescribed sequence.
Firstly, writing a compelling argumentative essay requires the use of persuasive language. Your interest is to prove to the reader that your point is the only logical conclusion. This article goes through other crucial things to note when writing an argumentative essay.
Parts of an argumentative essay
Like every other type of essay, an argumentative essay comprises different parts. These different parts are what constitute building up the essay. The five elements of a well-written argumentative essay include:
- Well-structured thesis
The thesis of an argumentative essay is a vital part of the essay. It’s the introductory section that explains to readers why they should be interested in the content of the essay.
- Supporting body paragraphs
The supporting body paragraph contains three different but unified paragraphs that convey the message the title intends. Each of these paragraphs contains a different idea that weaves into the next section.
Every paragraph should contain a topic and a supporting sentence. There should also be room for instances and citations in the paragraphs. Each section should also have an effective claim in an argumentative essay.
An effective claim is primarily a genuine statement that facts and convincing evidence can back up. It serves as the foundation for your counterarguments.
- Counter arguments
The counterargument is contained in the body of the essay. That’s to say, it should be situated within one of the three paragraphs. Here, you counter a point, explore your opposing views, and explain why your argument is relevant.
- Persuasive conclusion
This is the closing part of your argumentative essay. Your conclusion should be as compelling as your introduction. Instead of introducing new information, your conclusion is to explain how the given evidence supports your argument.
- Transitional phrases
Using transitional phrases is essential in every type of writing. It’s equally important in argumentative writing. It helps lines and sentences glide into others to convey clear thoughts. You can use transitional phrases like “in support of,” “given that,” “all things considered,” etc.
What is the purpose of an argumentative essay?
The purpose of argumentative writing is to present facts and evidence that contradicts a previously given opinion. Therefore, an argumentative essay organizes and presents a well-reasoned opinion or belief in an orderly manner to persuade an audience.
Essentially, an argumentative essay requires others to see a subject from a different light. It uses persuasive words and factual evidence as tools to achieve the result.
Steps to writing an argumentative essay
A well-written argumentative essay follows a logical sequence to convey the intended meaning. When writing your argumentative essay, here are the steps to follow.
- Choose a compelling topic
Always go for a topic you’re well-informed on. Strong opinions are the foundation of well-written argumentative essays; your topic will help you bring it to life.
- Thoroughly research your ideas
Research helps you build up knowledge on your chosen topic. Moreover, since the essence of an argumentative essay is to persuade an audience using information, research helps develop necessary points.
- Organize your findings
During the research, you’ll gather a lot of different ideas. For these ideas to convey logical sense, it has to be correctly organized.
- Draft your essay using the structure
After organizing your thoughts, the next step is to write your draft. Your essay draft should go in line with the structure of an argumentative essay. It starts with the thesis statement, three body paragraphs, and the concluding paragraph.
- Study the argumentative essay rubric
An argumentative essay rubric is a tool teachers use to assess the quality of your essay. The essay rubric forms the foundation of the grading system and criteria used to score your essay. Most times, your teacher will give this to you so that you can structure your essay correctly and provide the best you can. If your teacher doesn’t provide you with one, you can search online to understand what an argumentative essay rubric looks like.
- Review & proofread your essay
The final stage of every piece of writing is review and editing. Reviewing and proofreading help finesse your essay, making sure all points are correctly arranged and errors corrected.
The proper style for an argumentative essay is?
Every type of essay has its writing style. For an argumentative essay, the style is persuasive. Therefore, the language used when writing an argumentative should reflect this.
In addition, the language should be critical, reflective, rational, and convincing.
Argumentative essay outline example
An outline is essential in writing, and that includes an argumentative essay. Here’s a sample of what your outline should look like:
- Introductory paragraph (thesis statement)
- Body paragraph I
- Body paragraph II
- Body paragraph III
- Concluding paragraph
Argumentative essay conclusion
The concluding part of your argumentative essay is as essential as the introduction. Your conclusion should not be a paragraph for new ideas. Instead, it should restate your topic and summarize opposing viewpoints using provided evidence.
Conclusion
Of all types of essay writing, an argumentative essay requires considerable attention. Because crafting a compelling argumentative essay requires a lot of work.
