How to write an argumentative essay

Writing an argumentative essay but having no idea where to start from? Worry not! As difficult as it may seem at first glance, things get much less complicated with the right approach and a bunch of useful tips.

However, there are a lot of things to keep in mind. Not only do such tasks require good writing skills, but they also demand pretty deep research, meaning that being an Oscar Wilde of writing is not enough – you should also become a Sherlock Holmes of analysis.

So what is an argumentative essay?

Since the name can be misleading, you should keep in mind that such essays have nothing to do with quarrels. An argumentative essay is basically an essay where writers are required to use solid arguments to back up their points of view. This means every point you make should rely on facts and be based on research.

Importance of effective communication skills: good argumentative essay examples

Another problem students may face is the inability to communicate their points properly. To avoid this, one must work on communication skills such as clarity, eloquence, and persuasive language. Learn how to use metaphor, analogy, and repetition to enhance the impact of your message.

Overview of the argumentative essay outline

Before starting to write an argumentative essay, you should get familiar with the structure you need to follow. According to experts from Purdue University and their definition of an argumentative essay that you can see here, a typical argumentative essay consists of five paragraphs: an introduction, a few body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

Besides, the essay has to include evidence and support and rely heavily on the referenced sources. The thesis you defend must be clear to the reader. Acknowledging and addressing opposing viewpoints is also essential in an argumentative essay to demonstrate critical thinking skills.

Understanding argumentative essays: what types of argumentative essays are there?

Here, on writepaperforme, we receive a lot of requests for help with such papers daily, so it seemed to me like a sound idea to create a reliable guide students and aspiring writers can use while writing an argumentative essay.

As a writer myself, I know how hard it may be to conduct your own research and write profound argumentative essays, especially for students who are often limited in time and have a pile of other assignments looming over them.

Depending on the purpose of your essay, you may have to use a specific type of argumentative essay.

The types of argumentative essays:

• Classical Argument

The classical argumentative essay outline was proposed by Aristotle and means analyzing two sides of an argument, presenting your perspective in a logical way, and having evidence claiming your point of view is true when the contrary belief is wrong.

• Toulmin Argument

Such a method implies breaking your topic into small separate parts and explaining each one, using the strongest evidence in support of the points made. Usually, such argumentative essays are broken into 6 parts: claim, grounds, warrant, qualifier, rebuttal, and backing.

• Rogerian Argument

This type of argument implies that the writer should compromise, taking into account two sides of the argument and trying to find a common ground, which is a common task you can see in GED essay examples.

Key components of an argumentative essay structure

No matter what model of an argumentative essay you choose, each of them should contain the results of thorough research and a clear presentation of the point (or points) you are trying to make, convincing the audience to support your ideas.

Key Components

• Clear Thesis

• Evidence

• Counterarguments & Rebuttals

• Convincing Conclusion

Audience psychology: how to write a thesis for an argumentative essay

To write a successful argumentative essay, one should try wearing the reader’s shoes. To do that, just think of things that would annoy or repel you while reading someone else’s essay. Show respect to your reader by avoiding claiming that your opinion is the only correct one.

Argumentative essay structure and organization

Although an argumentative essay outline may slightly vary, the typical structure remains mostly the same and has to be followed strictly.

1. Starting with an Introductory paragraph

Don’t forget to provide all the background information needed for your audience to be able to follow your train of thought. To avoid making your readers feel confused and lost, present them with the general idea of the discourse you are aiming to engage them in. State the thesis of your argumentative essay in a clear manner, highlighting the main topic.

1. Including body paragraphs

When working on your body paragraphs, stay focused. These paragraphs include the major part of information and evidence, that’s why you need to work hard on your delivery. Every argument should be presented in a clear, elaborate way and backed with evidence. To learn more about it, read some GED essay examples.

Each body paragraph of your argumentative essay should begin with a clear topic sentence that introduces the main point or argument of the paragraph. After introducing the main point, provide evidence and support to substantiate your argument.

1. Conclusion

Just like with persuasive essay examples, the conclusion part is your chance to leave an impression. It should be short and stress the main idea you want to convey. Consider it as a brief summary encompassing all the main points.

Best writing techniques and argumentative essay tips

Feeling lost? Luckily, I know how to make the process easy and use the nature of argumentative essays to your advantage. The main pro is, actually, the “argumentative” part. 

Although here you won’t have an opponent to argue with, it doesn’t mean you can’t pretend. Treat this task as a chance to practice your debating talent and persuasion skills, playing both the role of yourself and your opponent.

Here are several writing techniques you can use:

1. Developing strong claims

Outlining ideas is crucial. That’s why you should begin by identifying the central thesis or main argument of your argumentative essay. This serves as the cornerstone for your claims and provides direction for your entire essay. Ensure your claims are narrow and precise. That’s how to write a thesis for an argumentative essay.

1. Using evidence effectively

The most important thing about how to write an argumentative essay is providing supporting evidence. Quotes, examples, and data act as rations on this literary expedition. Accurate citation is essential as well.

If you already know how to write a reflection paper like a pro, you must be aware that as self-explanatory as some idea seems, you should explain the logic behind it. While doing so, reference statistics, scientific data, and studies as well as other relevant sources you can find in the library or online.

1. Creating compelling narratives

If you want to convince someone about something, you need them to like you as well as your ideas. Here is the most important advice out of all argumentative essay tips: don’t try to seem smarter than everyone else around and avoid being categorical. That can evoke defensiveness and resistance.

So, how to write a thesis for an argumentative essay? Make your ideas appealing and hard to object to with the help of the evidence and explanation you present. Such an approach helps to build trust, which is essential for effective communication and persuasion.

Your strategy should be similar to the one you can see in persuasive essay examples. Being too cocky and overconfident is not an effective strategy for convincing people you are right. It is more likely to backfire, creating barriers to communication.

1. Utilizing logical reasoning

Show your readers the reasoning you were guided by when making the conclusions you made in your essay. This will help the audience understand your logic and stay on board while reading.

How to write an argumentative essay avoiding common mistakes and pitfalls

Now when we answered the question “What is an argumentative essay?”, it’s time to learn what traps await you and what mistakes to avoid:

1. Fallacies and biases

Fallacies and biases are common mistakes that render your essay unreliable, so you should watch out. But what are they exactly?

Fallacies are errors in reasoning that happen when the premises of an argument are flawed and, as a result, lead to false conclusions. There are various types of fallacies you can notice in bad argumentative essay examples:

• False dichotomy
• Appeal to Ignorance
• Circular Reasoning
• Hasty Generalization

Biases occur when your personal preferences or prejudices influence the narrative you present. In argumentative essays, biases can manifest in various ways, such as cultural, confirmation, or selection biases.

1. Poor organization and flow

To avoid poor organization, use transitional words and phrases to connect paragraphs and ideas smoothly in your argumentative essay. Organize your paragraphs so that related ideas are grouped. This helps create a cohesive and logical structure for your essay and makes it easier for the reader to follow your argument.

1. Weak writing style

While expressing your thoughts, be specific and explain the logic you follow step by step. Remember that your audience can’t read minds, thus all important details should be mentioned in your argumentative essay. Use examples to illustrate your arguments if needed.

Don’t overload your paragraphs with ideas and excessive pondering; otherwise, you risk leaving your readers confused. Use linking words and make sure your thoughts are cohesive.

1. Insufficient research

Insufficient research in an argumentative essay refers to a lack of thorough investigation and gathering of relevant evidence to support the claims and arguments presented. Without sufficient evidence to support the claims, the argument lacks credibility and persuasiveness.

What is the difference between argumentative and expository essays?

Some may confuse argumentative essays with expository essays, so it’s important to highlight the difference between those two.

Expository essays present different points of view and leave it to the reader to decide which point of view is valid.

Argumentative essays use a formal style and contain facts, evidence, statistics, and logic to back up the thesis. Usually, they are meant to persuade the reader, presuming only one point of view is valid.

Conclusion

A well-crafted argumentative essay considers its target audience. This entails grasping their anticipated preferences, the value they place on specific evidence, and any apprehensions they may harbor regarding your argument. It's crucial to address these concerns sensitively within the argument itself, even if they challenge prevailing beliefs.

Presenting evidence isn’t enough. You need to explain why it’s relevant and how exactly it validates the point you are trying to make. Without it, your evidence may seem unconvincing or unclear, meaning the purpose of your argumentative essay isn’t achieved.