A Brief Guide to Writing Argumentative Essays

FEATURES
1. So, what do you write about? Pick a well-defined, controversial issue.
2. A clear position taken by the writer. In your thesis sentence, state what your position is.
You do not need to say: "I believe that we should financially support the space station." Using
the first person weakens your argument. Say "Funding for the space station is imperative to
maintain America's competitive edge in the global economy." The thesis can be modified
elsewhere in the essay if you need to qualify your position, but avoid hedging in your thesis.
3. A convincing argument. An argumentative essay does not merely assert an opinion; it
presents an argument, and that argument must be backed up by data that persuades readers
that the opinion is valid. This data consists of facts, statistics, the testimony of others through
personal interviews and questionnaires or through articles and books, and examples. The
writer of an argumentative essay should seek to use educated sources that are nonbiased,
and to use them fairly.
4. A reasonable tone. Assume that your reader will disagree with you or be skeptical. It is
important, therefore, that your tone be reasonable, professional, and trustworthy. By
anticipating objections and making concessions, you inspire confidence and show your good
will.
STEPS OF A RESEARCH PAPER
1. Decide on a topic. Make sure it is one you are interested in and that it is not too broad
or too narrow to analyze adequately.
2. Begin your library and/or web research.
3. Write the outline, rough draft, and the final paper. Then rewrite it to make it sound as
professional as possible.
To analyze something, divide it into parts. Since you are writing about a problem, the body of
your paper might look something like this:
Paragraph 1: General introduction of the problem. Thesis statement
which states your opinion.
Paragraph 2-3: History of the problem (including, perhaps, past attempts
at a solution). Sources needed
Paragraph 4-6: Extent of the problem (who is affected; how bad is it,
etc.). Sources needed
Paragraphs 7-8: Repercussion of the problem if not solved. Sources
needed.
Paragraphs 9-10: You should have led up to a conclusion that your
argument is sound. Pull it all together by connecting your argument with
the facts. Anticipate objections and make concessions.
Paragraph 11: Conclusion: Restatement of thesis and summary of main
ideas.

5. Once your paper has been written, check every quotation in it for accuracy. Your instructor
may require that every quotation should be photocopied and included with what you turn in.
All quoted matter should be clearly marked on the photocopy.

WHAT IS A PARAGRAPH?
A paragraph is a collection of related sentences dealing with a single topic. To be as effective
as possible, a paragraph should contain each of the following: Unity, Coherence, A Topic
Sentence, and Adequate Development
INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPHS
The most important paragraphs in an essay introduce your topic to your reader. Your
introduction may be one paragraph in a fairly short essay or several paragraphs in a longer
essay.
A proper introduction should:

Some approaches to writing an introduction:

NOTE: Regardless if one uses a single paragraph or three paragraphs, the introduction should
be proportionately no more than one-fifth of the overall essay.

Introductions
Thesis Statement Opening- This is the traditional style of opening a paper. This is a "minisummary" of your paper.
Opening with a Story (Anecdote)- A good way of catching your reader's attention is by
sharing a story that sets up your paper. Sharing a story gives a paper a more personal feel and
helps make your reader comfortable.
Specific Detail Opening- Giving specific details about your subject appeals to your reader's
curiosity and helps establish a visual picture of what your paper is about.
Open with a Quotation- Another method of writing an introduction is to open with a
quotation. This method makes your introduction more interactive and more appealing to your
reader.
Open with an Interesting Statistic- Statistics that grab the reader help to make an effective
introduction.
Question Openings- Possibly the easiest opening is one that presents one or more questions
to be answered in the paper. This is effective because questions are usually what the reader
has in mind when he or she sees your topic.
Beginning with a question- When you begin your essay with a question, you ask your reader
to consider with you the problem that inspired you to write. What question are you trying to
answer in your essay? Why is this question important to you and to your readers?
Beginning by Stating a Position- When you are writing an argumentative essay, you may
decide to begin by stating your position in the first paragraph. When you state your position,
however, you need to be sure to help your reader understand the context for your argument.
Your thinking about this topic did not spring from nowhere: why is this topic important to
you? Why should it interest your readers?
Beginning by Offering Background- If your readers may be unfamiliar with the topic about
which you are writing, your introductory paragraph may serve to give them necessary
background. Sometimes that background can summarize the results of other people's writing
about the topic. Sometimes background information can place your topic in a larger context.

Beginning by Defining- Whenever you present an essay to readers, you want to be sure that
you and your readers are defining terms in the same way. Starting out by defining key terms
may be useful when those terms are confusing or able to be misread.
Beginning by Illustrating- An illustration, example, or anecdote can be an effective way of
generating your readers' interest in your essay. Vivid details, suspenseful narrative, or
interesting descriptions can make your reader want to continue reading. Illustrations,
however, should relate to the focus of your essay.
BODY PARAGRAPHS
A typical body paragraph should concern itself with a single focus.
The number of body paragraphs to which a writer should dedicate her essay development is
often debated; three body paragraphs are the least development expected of you because your
thesis should bear enough complexity to warrant at least three points of further discussion.
THE TOPIC SENTENCE
A topic sentence is a sentence that indicates in a general way what idea or thesis the paragraph
is going to deal with. Although not all paragraphs have clear-cut topic sentences, and despite
the fact that topic sentences can occur anywhere in the paragraph (as the first sentence, the
last sentence, or somewhere in the middle), an easy way to make sure your reader understands
the topic of the paragraph is to put your topic sentence near the beginning of the paragraph.
Typically, body paragraphs organize themselves around the following pattern of development.

CONCLUDING PARAGRAPHS

Your concluding paragraph should give your readers a sense of closure or completion.
Very often, your concluding paragraph will develop naturally as you finish writing
your body paragraphs.

You should avoid doing the following in concluding paragraphs. While there are those that
believe the first two, especially, are necessary in argumentation papers, these techniques can
take a fairly good paper and turn it into BAD writing. Be sure that your concluding paragraph
exemplifies the same kind of careful consideration during development that your body
paragraphs do.

AVOID restating the thesis statement from the introductory paragraph in exactly
the same words
AVOID listing the main points of each of the body paragraph
AVOID introducing an entirely new topic.

Once you have written your concluding paragraph, reread your thesis statement. Has your
paper strayed from the original thesis? Do you need to rewrite the thesis statement, the
concluding paragraph, or both? A common freshman writing error is letting the paper develop
naturally to its conclusion, even if it strays from the thesis, then submitting the paper without
making sure that the thesis statement and the conclusion express the same opinion. Don't be
afraid to change your thesis statement to reflect the main idea of the paper that you have
written, but do be sure that the rest of the paper supports that final thesis statement.
Once you have written your concluding paragraph and you know what your paper is really
about, it's time to work on the introductory paragraph.
Conclusions
Summary Closing
Many times conclusions are simple re-statements of the thesis. Many times these conclusions
are much like their introductions .
Close with a Logical Conclusion
This is a good closing for argumentive or opinion papers that present two or more sides of an
issue. The conclusion drawn as a result of the research is presented here in the final
paragraphs.
Real or Rhetorical Question Closings
This method of concluding a paper is one step short of giving a logical conclusion. Rather
than handing the conclusion over, you can leave the reader with a question that causes him or
her to draw his own conclusions.
Close with a Speculation or Opinion
This is a good style for instances when the writer was unable to come up with an answer or a
clear decision about whatever it was he or she was researching.
Close with a Recommendation
A good conclusion is when the writer suggests that the reader do something in the way of
support for a cause or a plea for them to take action.
Coherence
Ensure your paragraph is coherent. Every sentence in your paragraph should connect naturally
with the surrounding sentences. Avoid lengthy or complicated paragraphs that lose the
readers attention even when only one idea is presented. Instead, use transitional expressions
to direct the reader along your train of thought and repeat key words to connect each item to

your main idea. For example, transitional expressions can help you expand an idea further by
using words such as: and, also, besides, and furthermore. For more information on
transitional expressions see the "Transitional Expressions" handout.

Some Useful Transitional

Expressions
If you want to:

Use these transitional expressions:

Add

also, and, and then, as well, besides, beyond that, first (second,
third, last, and so on), for one thing, furthermore, in addition, in
fact, moreover, next, what is more

Compare

also, as well, both (neither), in the same way, in like manner,

likewise, similarly

Contrast

although, be that as it may, but, even though, however, in contrast,

instead, nevertheless, on the contrary, on the other hand, still, yet,
whereas

Concede (a point)

certainly, granted that, of course, no doubt, to be sure

Emphasize

above all, especially, in fact, in particular, indeed, most important,

surely

Illustrate

as a case in point, as an illustration, for example, for instance, in

particular, one such, yet another

Place

above, beside, below, beyond, further, here, inside, nearby, next to,
on the far side, outside, to the East (North, South, and so on)

Qualify

perhaps

Give a reason

as, because, for, since

Show a result

and so, because of this, as a consequence, as a result, consequently,

incidentally, for this reason, hence, so, therefore, thus

Summarize

all in all, finally, in any event, in brief, in conclusion, in other words,

lastly, on the whole, to sum up

Place in time

after a while, afterward, as last, at present, briefly, currently, during,

eventually, finally, first (second, and so on), gradually, immediately,
in the future, later, meanwhile, now, recently, soon, suddenly, then

PARAGRAPH UNITY
Every paragraph in an essay should have a topic sentence with a controlling idea. Each
sentence in the paragraph should relate to the topic and develop the controlling idea.

Ayse Ackam. (2015). A brief guide to writing argumentative essays. Retrieved from Ayse
Ackam website:
http://www.umaine.edu/peace/files/2011/01/PEER_MEDIATION_FINAL_11.pdf
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