To write an argumentative essay, you need to pick a debatable claim or statement that can be supported or negated with evidence. Write a strong thesis statement, add relevant references, and address available counterarguments from research papers, discussions or dissertations.
You can follow the 7 steps mentioned below about how to write an argumentative essay to learn the art of academic writing.
7 Steps to Write an Argumentative Essay
Step 1: Choose a Strong and Debatable Topic
- Pick an issue or an incident that has two or more opposing viewpoints.
- Avoid overly broad or narrow topics that can’t be covered completely.
- Ensure the selected topic is relevant to the data available, researchable, and engaging for your audience.
Step 2: Conduct Comprehensive Research
- Collect data from credible sources like top-tier journals, books, surveys, reports, etc.
- Understand or discuss counterarguments alongside supporting arguments.
- Take notes and categorise information into different sections to strengthen your position.
Step 3: Develop a Clear Thesis Statement
- Craft a single-line thesis statement that presents your stance clearly and hooks the reader.
- Ensure the sentence statement is specific, arguable, and focused for the audience.
- Your developed statement should guide your entire text from the essay introduction to the conclusion.
Step 4: Create a Structured Outline
- Develop an introductory paragraph containing an engaging and clear hook, background information, and a thesis statement.
- Add body paragraphs, each discussing one argument with supporting references, and also add counterarguments with rebuttals.
- Complete an essay outline with a conclusion that restates the thesis statement and summarises the main points.
Step 5: Write a Compelling Introduction
- Start with a hook (stat, question, or fact) that can move the reader from the first sentence to the last word of the conclusion.
- Provide context so readers can understand the issue or subject under discussion.
- End with your thesis statement as the roadmap for the essay.
Step 6: Build Strong Body Paragraphs
- Begin each paragraph with a clear topic sentence.
- Present supporting evidence collected from credible sources with proper citations to avoid plagiarism.
- Use transition phrases to jump from one argument to another while maintaining the flow.
Step 7: Conclude with Impact
- Restate your thesis statement mentioned in the introduction with new words and style to avoid copying and pasting the same content in the concluding paragraphs.
- Summarise all the key arguments without repeating the whole discussion done in the body paragraphs.
- End your essay with a thought-provoking statement, solution, or a call to action to leave a lasting impression.
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Argumentative Essay Example
Argumentative Essay Introduction Example
For many people looking to change or advance their professional careers, choosing whether distance learning is the right choice is a question of critical importance. Distance education programs rely on information technology and online teaching tools to provide education to students who are not present in the classroom setting due to their personal commitments and limitations. Over the last several years, distance learning has emerged as one of the most popular education trends. It has provided opportunities to many non-traditional students to receive a high-quality education.
Argumentative Essay Main Body Paragraph Example
Distance learning is one of the most economical and viable forms of education available to adult students who are juggling many responsibilities due to financial and time constraints in their lives. The burden of responsibilities prevents adult students from studying in a foreign country or another city. Distance learning enables them to overcome these challenges and complete their education. Learning in a distant mode, they can also mitigate the economic, social, psychological, and cultural difficulties. Distance learning students often achieve better results when compared with on-campus students because the pursuit of knowledge is undertaken for its own sake rather than as an obligation.
Argumentative Essay Conclusion Example
The distance learning programs offered by various universities worldwide have had a very positive effect on the world of education. Occasional pitfalls aside, this teaching method has enabled underprivileged students and those with personal limitations to receive a high-quality education. Its value is evident in numerous applications. Digital education offers accessibility and flexibility to students, so the popularity of distance education has been rising in recent years. Educators should take advantage of this. The limitations of distance education, such as lack of motivation for students, absence of physical interaction, and employers’ reluctance to embrace distance learning, have been documented extensively by opponents. Still, this new method of teaching is here to stay.
When are students required to write an Argumentative Essay?
You could be asked to produce an argumentative essay in a composition class or as a course assignment. In most cases, the essay brief will prompt you to argue for one of two positions.
An argumentative essay title includes keywords such as “argument”, “assert”, “claim”, and usually takes the form of a question.
The title of an argumentative essay can be either open or two-sided. Here are examples of argumentative titles so you know when to write an argumentative essay.
Open Argumentative Essay Title
What was the most outstanding achievement of Manchester United FC under Sir Alexander Chapman Ferguson CBE?
Two-sided Argumentative Essay Title
Has distance learning had a positive or negative impact on education?
Examples of Argumentative Essay Titles
The following essay titles suggest that the essays in response should be argumentative in nature.
You will be able to develop an exact position as you dig deep to collect data and improve your knowledge. Once you have taken a defined stance, you will need to express the essay’s main argument and convince the reader to agree with your position by presenting analysis, evidence, and evaluation.
Discuss the effects of climate change on the human population.
- The above title does not merely ask you to state all the effects of climate change you can think of.
- It would be best if you instead built a focused argument about the overall effects of climate change on the human population, mentioned the significance of your argument, and backed it up by providing evidence from authentic academic sources.
Evaluate the efficacy of anti-racism measures put in place at workplaces in the UK.
- Just providing a selection of statistics about anti-racism measures will not be sufficient.
- Present your argument about what measures have proved to be the most effective or least effective.
Assess the impact of the conquest of Constantinople in the 15th century on world history.
- Don’t just assess a few random details of the battle of Constantinople.
- Present your argument about the specific impact of the conquest of Constantinople on the power dynamics of the world.
How to Approach an Argumentative Essay?
An argumentative essay should be based on rational thinking. The approach of the author should be objective in nature. Rather than basing your argument on emotions, you should rely on logic and evidence.
While there are many approaches to writing an argumentative essay, the two most common methods that would enable you to write a first-class piece are the Rogerian method and the Toulmin method.
Toulmin Argument Building Model
The Toulmin method involves four key steps to build an argument. The same strategy can be applied throughout the essay where necessary.
- Make a claim
- Present your evidence to support the claim
- Provide the warrant which explains the evidence to support the claim
- State the potential refutation to the claim, which involves establishing the limits of the argument to demonstrate that you took into consideration the alternatives
The Toulmin model is a popular argument-building strategy in academic essays. While using specific terms (refutations, warrants, claims) is not necessary, you should show a clear link between your claim and the grounds of your claim in an argumentative essay.
Example of Toulmin Argument Building Model
For example, if you are making an argument about the efficacy of anti-racism measures put in place at workplaces in the UK, then you should follow these four steps:
- Enlighten that anti-racism training programs are not bringing the desired results, and it would be better to invest the resources in other approaches.
- Back your claim with evidence from authentic academic sources. The evidence could take the form of numbers, statistics, and quotations.
- Explain how the data shows the inefficacy of the current training and educational programs.
- Expect objections to your argument based on counter data that might indicate why your argument is unsound, and so provide justifications accordingly.
Rogerian Argument Building Model
The Rogerian model of building an argument also involves four steps:
- Start by indicating what the counter-argument gets right and why people might agree with this argument.
- State the problems with the counter-argument.
- Present your argument and demonstrate how it solves the problem—showing why your position is stronger than the opposition will enable you to convince the reader.
- Suggest a possible middle-ground – what components of your argument would advocates of the opposing claim can adopt?
The Rogerian model is an interesting way to reach a compromise between two sides of an argument. It is advised to approach an argumentative essay with this method when people strongly disagree on the issue under discussion.
Example of Rogerian Argument Building Model
For example, if you had to make an argument about the positive effects of distance learning on the quality of education, then you might:
- Recognise that distance learning has helped mature students upgrade their qualifications.
- Claim that many critics view distance learning as more unreliable than it really is.
- Argue that distance learning programs can enable many students worldwide to upgrade their skills without leaving the comfort of their homes.
- Suggest critical engagement with distance education providers as a possible task for opponents who doubt its effectiveness.
When writing an argumentative essay, you can use elements of both models. It is not necessary to stick to one of these two methods, but it would be helpful to do so to structure your argument appropriately.
Frequently Asked Questions
An argumentative essay is arguably the most popular type of essay in academic writing. It involves independent research and presenting an original argument about the topic in discussion in the form of a thesis statement. The claim made in the thesis statement must be supported by evidence and analysis.
An expository essay aims to explain an idea, topic, or process clearly and concisely. It does not express an original argument but is somewhat objective in nature. Expository essays are almost always less extensive as compared to argumentative essays.
All essays written for college and university-level assignments should include in-text citations and a list of references. You should use citations in an appropriate referencing style whenever you quote or paraphrase any information from another academic source. The in-text citations must match the items in the list of references or bibliography at the end of your essay.
It would be best to use the referencing style or citation style according to your institution’s instructions. Harvard referencing is the most popular style of academic referencing in the UK.
Most essays at university are argumentative. Unless told otherwise, you should aim to build an argument in an essay you have been assigned.
Argumentative essays include keywords like ‘discuss’, ‘claim’, ‘evaluate’, ‘argue’, so look out for these keywords and instructions in the essay title.
You can use the Rogerian argument-building model when aiming for compromise and mutual understanding. On the other hand, for formal logic, evidence and warrant-based academic arguments use the Toulmin model.
A counterargument presents the opposing viewpoint of others about your topic: a rebuttal directly challenges and weakens that viewpoint using stronger logic or evidence.
