Imagine that you and your roommate are arguing about the recently released law regarding the death penalty. You support those who are against the law as you believe killing people makes their judges murderers just like them. Thus, such measures would rather turn legal authorities in the same monsters. However, your friend needs more credible information like facts and statistics to support your point of view. In case he has enough evidence from the credible sources which proves that through sentencing criminal authorities to death it is possible to reduce the criminal activity by, for example, 11%, your friend’s argument sounds more powerful. An argumentative essay is a tool which helps to learn how to defend your personal point of view in any life situations.
A good argumentative essay should be powerful in terms of its claims and evidence. It means that the reader has to agree with the author’s point of view or at least research the topic deeper to find more supporting evidence.
The process of writing an argumentative essay requires the same steps as any other type of college paper:
- Research
- Topic selection
- Reading and comprehension
- Outline
- Abstract (optionally)
- Introduction
- Body paragraphs
- Conclusion
- Bibliography (you check how to cite essays first)
- Appendix (optionally)
As you can see, most of the parts are obligatory. Sometimes, the teachers may ignore outline, but students then have to create one for themselves. This section does not necessarily have to become part of your essay or research paper. If there is a limited word count, just keep the outline of your argumentative essay in front of you all the time to serve as your main writing plan.
General Outline Structure Checked by the Time
By reading this information at least twice, you will remember the easiest way to structure your argumentative paper. You can try our tips on other types of academic essays on any topics too.
Every part of your research contains equally important information, and your outline helps to cover every sub-topic in full. Also, it helps not to get lost in the pool of your ideas.
Argumentative essays are almost completely based on the research findings and resources with credible information. Still, the writer is encouraged to share his opinion through developing at least one great argument. The author’s idea should correspond to the main idea of the whole text known as a thesis statement.
You know you must create thesis, claims, and find supporting evidence to defend your arguments. Here is an example of how your information appears on the paper:
- Introduction paragraph (1)
- Body paragraphs (2-5) – Developing the writer’s arguments and debunking opponent’s arguments
- Conclusion paragraph (1)
The founding fathers of some English proficiency tests like TOEFL and IELTS offer another example of essay outline to dig deeper to the point.
- Introduction paragraph
- Hook sentence
- Background information
- Thesis statement
- Working on the argument
- Claim 1 with corresponding evidence
- Claim 2 with reliable evidence
- Claim 3 with supporting evidence
- Working on the opponent’s point of view:
- Opposing argument 1 with
- Opposing view 2 with
- Conclusion paragraph
- Rewritten thesis statement
- Summary of the main arguments
- Forecasts and recommendations (for example, future implementations)
Does not this example sound complete and powerful to you? Then, write down an argumentative essay outline following the given template. You may try to memorize it to use on the English language tests/exams.
Common Academic Essay Sections
Let’s have a closer look at the role of each paragraph.
The introduction introduces the topic of your argumentative essay. The first sentence is a hook which has to include an interesting fact or quote to attract the attention of the reader. If you manage to do that with the first line, most probably the audience will read your paper from cover to cover. Another good example of a hook sentence might be a joke or literary quote. There are even more great ways to write a hook.
Write down an abstract before your introduction: it will help to understand what exactly your paper covers.
The main point of the entire persuasive essay is a thesis statement. Usually, it is made of 1-2 sentences. Try to keep them concise and clear.
Body paragraphs are based on your research. Find different ways to support your arguments. For example, in the first body paragraph, you may use facts and statistics. The second paragraph has to describe your personal point of view. Finally, think about an existing opposing argument to discuss in your last body paragraph. It will show your objectivity and sober mind.
Conclusion paragraph starts with the rewritten thesis statement to remind the readers of the main topic. Then, summarize the supporting arguments which you write at the beginning of each body paragraph. It is important to include some expectations in your argumentative essay. Stress the meaning of the main problem/claim for people living within your society.
10 Argumentative Essay Topics That Work
Before you choose the topic of your essay, have a look at the fields where you can face the need to write one:
- Humanities
- Political science
- Economics
- History & Anthropology
- Linguistics
- Human Geography/Demography
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Archaeology
- Jurisprudence
In other words, studying different types of social sciences requires a lot of argumentative writing. Most often, students write essays based on the topics related to the role of human being in society, friendship, love, and other relationships. These topics are relevant at any age.
Please take a look at the list of recommended argumentative topics:
- Remote Learning/Distant Education: Two Sides of the Coin
- Should There Be One More Official Language in the US in Addition to English?
- Are Online Writing Services Helpful?
- Present Ways of Communication Are Much More Effective They Used to Be a Century Ago
- Silence Can Say More Than Words in Many Cases
- Second World War Was the Greatest Catastrophe So Far
- Students and Professionals Should Not Be Forced to Follow Dress Code
- Death Penalty Is Not the Most Effective Sentence
- People Must Stop Playing Violent Video Games
- Government Positions Should Be Paid Fairly
110 argumentative topics you will find in this article. Whenever you need an example of good topic or sample of the essay, you can find online writing services with the most qualified authors on board. If you have any questions regarding the structure or any particular paper section, the best way to overcome all obstacles is to place an order with the professional writing company which has been present on the academic market for almost 10 years. These guys won’t let you down!