How to write an argumentative essay

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How to write an argumentative essay

How to Write an argumentative essay

Students taking the SAT, ACT, and IELTS exams that often require to have skills for how to write argumentative essays. Many of these Students may have difficulty writing argumentative essays. It might seem complicated and multilayered to those who have acquired skills on how to write an argumentative yet informative essay. We are here to help.. This paper can also serve as coursework.

This style of writing will help you get the grades you want. This article will teach you how to write an argumentative paper. The contents of this essay address distinct aspects of the argumentative writing process like the elements of an argumentative, three commonly used ways to approach the topic, the sequential steps to follow, and sample argumentative essays. To get assistance from our essay writing service, ask our dedicated team of writers who are experts in how to craft argumentative essays.

What is an Argumentative Essay?

A style of academic writing in which both sides are represented is called an argumentative essay. An argumentative essay’s main purpose is to inform, not convince. This paper should not be confused or misunderstood by a persuasive essay.

These skills are used to grade argumentative essays:

  • Research skills
  • Writing skills
  • Analytical skills

Writing argumentative essays helps students how to debate. This paper can have a significant impact on a person’s ability to speak in public later in life. It is important to have skills on how to write argumentative essays and concentrate on facts and information when writing. An author can present both sides of an argument or favor one side. The thesis must contain all the primary points and counterpoints that will be discussed in the essay. It’s almost like having a political conversation with yourself. All these require one to employ the skills needed how to write argumentative essays.

The Elements of an Argumentative Essay

  • The position: It is important to know which side you are on. You might argue that cannabis and tobacco products should be illegal. Be clear about why you were originally in that position. You might give specific reasons why you believe tobacco products are harmful to people’s health.
  • Evidence – This is where you provide factual support for your arguments from outside sources. It is important that you give references and citations to where your evidence was gathered. The evidence might not be considered if there isn’t enough proof. To support your claim, you might cite studies on the health effects of tobacco products or scientific papers.
  • Counterarguments – This is where you will present the opposing side to the issue. You should present the counterargument. These counterarguments should be rebutted by you. You can then present further evidence to support your argument.

Three Ways to Approach Argumentative Writing

There are three main approaches to an argumentative essay. These techniques reiterate the how to an argumentative essay and will assist you in creating a structure.

  1. Classical Approach

This is the most popular approach, and it consists of:

  • The introduction is where you introduce your central message (the thesis statement) for your paper. Example: Smoking tobacco products can cause various health problems such as cancer, heart attacks, and obesity.
  • The background of the subject in which you present early studies on children who grew up in adoptive homes. You can also discuss the long-term effects of smoking.
  • The main arguments — Discuss the key points of your position. You could, for example, write about how it is difficult to quit smoking.
  • Refutation — This is where you can put your counterarguments. You will need to present the opposing side and refute it as invalid. Example: Some people believe that smoking doesn’t affect your health, and that genetic predispositions are more harmful to your health. There is overwhelming evidence that smoking can cause more long-term damage to the lungs than a genetic predisposition for cancer.
  • Conclusion — Provide all the main arguments and solutions, or any studies, that are needed in the future.

2. Rogerian Approach

This approach is best when the topic of your argumentative essay has a strong polemic or could spark other discussions. Rogerian approaches work well for issues such as gender identification and causes of global warming. The Rogerian approach does not require a specific structure. It is more about the way you present the information. Be open to all sides. You must accept that opposing views may be valid. The better you can view a topic from a wider perspective, the better. It doesn’t matter if you solve the problem. Instead, it is important to find a compromise between the opposing sides in order to resolve a pressing issue.

  1.  Toulmin Approach

This strategy is very useful for polemical arguments. This strategy seeks to find common ground in an argument and eliminate irrelevant arguments. If your topic is about whether or not drugs should be legalized, you will need to address the most important issues from both sides. You can discuss the pros and cons.

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Steps to Writing an Argumentative Essay

 

Step 1: Search for Argumentative Essay Topics

There are many topics you can choose from, just like in all other types of essays. These should be your main criteria:

  • relativity and coherence to your subject matter;
  • importance;
  • Inherent values
  • Potential for further research.

How to write an argumentative essay good practices means you have to keep in mind that the argument must be presented in a debate format. This means that you should explain why A is better than B or vice versa. You must be able and willing to choose a side in the Rogerian approach. However, it is important to do so with care.

These are some great topics for argumentative essays to get you started.

  • Apple vs. Microsoft – Which software brand is better for students?
  • Are violent video games having a psychological impact on children?
  • Should one consider investing in cryptocurrency from a financial standpoint?
  • Is it better to drive electric cars from an economic perspective?
  • Is society too dependent on technology?

High School Argumentative Essay Topics

It is important to provide students with easy topics to help them grasp the task when they begin to write this type of content at school. Here are some examples.

  • What is the most important language you should learn in the US as a student?
  • Is it possible to lower the driving age?
  • Do standardized tests accurately reflect a student’s abilities?
  • Are athletes being overpaid?
  • High school students should be able to choose their own classes.

Topics for College

The complexity of the questions should increase as we move to university. Here are some topics that college students might find challenging, yet writing them using the suggested tips on how to write argumentative essays makes it easy.

  • Does sufficient evidence exist to show that news sources adopt agendas that are biased?
  • Is legalizing marijuana for recreational use economically feasible?
  • Is Russia a superpower that is equal to the USA or China?
  • Which technological breakthrough was the most significant in human history?
  • Do we have to sacrifice public services in exchange for lower taxes?

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Step 2 – Conducting Research

There are several steps to conducting research:

  • Choose which side you want to represent.
  • Choose an argument that appeals to your audience.
  • This argument can be supported by research.
  • Consider the objections that your reader may raise.
  • Organizing your evidence.

To ascertain that you have applied the how to write argumentative essays recommended tips, you should also verify the validity of your information using these five parameters, namely;

  • Accuracy
  • Sources’ credibility
  • Timeliness
  • Subjectivity or objectivity
  • Reliability

Step 3 – Outlining an Argumentative Essay

Once we have the skills and competencies how to draft and present argumentative essays, we can begin to put together the outline of an argumentative essay. Let’s now take a look at the steps that demonstrate one has utilized how to write argumentative essay guidelines.

But before we proceed remember that we normally use the five-paragraph format to write the argumentative essay format. It usually consists of an introduction and 2-3 body paragraphs followed by a conclusion. Each of these three sections will have its own structure. Understanding them individually will ensure that you write a smooth process. As an example, we will use “the Internet” to highlight the most important technological advance in society.

  1. Introduction

  • Hook Statement An argumentative essay introduction, like all other assignments, should aim to arrest the readers’ attention from the beginning. Create a sentence that is distinct from the rest of your text. Use a rhetorical question or a meaningful quote to make your sentence stand out. After reading the hook, your goal is to have your audience reach for the popcorn. Constant practice on essays that require the application of how to write argumentative essay skills is paramount in crafting a good hook.

Example: Can you imagine what our world would look like without the Internet?

  • Background Information Once you have attracted the attention of the audience, it is time to provide any context that will help narrow the focus of your discussion. It should not reveal the main arguments of the body. It should also transition the thought to the thesis statement.
  • Thesis Statement The final sentence of the introduction should be the central argument/focus of your entire paper. Your primary goal is to defend your idea. Therefore, the thesis should clearly state your idea and its validity.

Example The invention of the Internet has made the world more connected than ever before. It has created millions of jobs and the majority of the world’s people are using it.

2. Paragraphs for the Body

  • Topic Sentence Begin with a sentence that shifts the focus from the preceding paragraph to the current. It should also include the main argument for that section.

Example: In addition to global connectivity, the Internet has also helped create more than 10 million jobs around the world.

  • Claim Now that you have presented your topic sentence, it’s time to link your main argument to your thesis statement. This is where you will explain how the point in context validates and strengthens your central message.

NexExample: Thanks to IT’s job creation, many students find a rewarding career that promotes their field and pays high wages.

  • Evidence Once you have made a valid claim, it is important to support it with facts. This can include statistics, references, or logical ideas to support your claims. If this information is from credible outside sources, it will enhance the essay’s validity.

Example: Internet technology gives 0.15% of the world’s people a steady income. This salary can support a family with 4-5 children, as IT-related jobs are consistently worth over 6 figures annually. IT-related jobs contribute slightly less than 1% to global income.

  • Concluding Declaration: After presenting an argument and supporting it with evidence to support it, close the body paragraph with a conclusion statement. This sentence serves to summarize the overall claim and thesis. This sentence summarizes the significance of this claim to the thesis.

Example: From digital marketing to software engineering and the pursuit of one’s passion, the impact of IT has been overwhelmingly positive.

This structure is applicable to each paragraph of the body. The major difference lies in the paragraph’s actual claim and supporting evidence among other components.

  1. Conclusion of well- written argumentative Essays

  • Restate your Thesis. The conclusion’s first sentence should always contain a summary of your central message (thesis assertion). Use assertive language to restate your thesis in an “I have 100% proved this point” way. Confidence is a key factor in convincing an audience to accept the other side of the argument.
  • Concise Summary of Sub-Arguments: It is likely that the audience has forgotten some of your information. You can review the main points and give your argument closure and make appropriate use how to write argumentative essay tips.

Another Example: As you can see, the creation and evolution of the Internet was undoubtedly the greatest technological advance of all time.

  • Conclusion Statement: A memorable conclusion statement will help you end your argumentative essay outline. This sentence should usually express the importance of the information and give the reader a prompt to investigate further.

Example: Realistically speaking, our society would not have developed as exponentially fast without the invention of the internet; the unparalleled value of global connectivity within seconds is an unrivaled perk, and with thorough exploration, more development will inevitably be uncovered.

Step 4 – Editing

Make sure you do these things when editing:

  • Let the first draft rest for a while before you pick it up again.
  • Ensure that grammar and punctuation are checked again before you revise the draft.
  • Double-check the evidence that you have used to support your arguments.
  • You can take advantage of the fact that someone is available to proofread your work.

These are some questions you should ask yourself before you submit your argumentative essay.

  • Is your thesis a statement that anyone could argue for or against?
  • Are your arguments clear and coherent?
  • Did you use the most compelling examples to support your arguments
  • Are you able to present and disprove any counterargument?
  • Is the conclusion a fascinating look at the future of the topic?

Students with experience on how to write argumentative essays include a claim, reason, evidence, counter-claim, and rebuttal in their argument.

Also, read an informative article on how to write film review essays

Argumentative Essay Examples

Here are some examples of good essays from our writers. This essay focuses on the benefits of public workers being free to strike.

This essay aptly illustrates the writer understands how  to write an Argumentative  essay titled:

  1. Should Public Workers Be Allowed to Strike

Let go of stress at the office and embrace the ‘freedom you have to express yourself’. Even after exposure to poor working conditions or rights violations, most public employees do not get the right to express themselves. They are unable to perform their duties well because of these violations. Workers will be motivated to work if they are allowed to strike. This encourages workers to speak up if their safety, rights, or regulations are violated. All countries should allow public workers to strike

Our services on dissertation writing as the second essay discuss the importance and consequences of economic equality within a country, as well as potential threats and repercussions if it is not achieved.

Another example that one can use to revise and practice how to write an argumentative essay is titled:

2. Wealth Inequality

Wealth inequality does not refer to how much wealth a country has, but how that wealth is distributed within the society. There are many factors that make every society unique. Inequality can lead to a variety of problems. Financial inequality refers to the uneven distribution of wealth among members of a group or society. Wealth does not just include a person’s annual pay. It also includes all assets or resources that one earns through employment, investments, state benefits, and rent. Pay, wealth, or income can all lead to economic inequality. Income can be defined as any income earned through investments, savings, or employment. Pay inequality refers to the difference in the earnings received from employment. If there is too much economic inequality, children will be more likely to become poor and have less chance of succeeding than their parents. Not all societies have the same levels of economic inequality.

Final Tips on How to Write an Argumentative Essay

Each tip below should be considered when writing or constructing your final draft.

  • Consider a topic, and ensure that there are counterarguments.
  • To avoid biases, gather research from both sides of the argument.
  • Be sure to verify all facts in your argumentative essay.
  • To improve your performance in these assignments, follow the steps of these guides.
  • Or you’ll lose marks if you don’t structure your essay correctly with Introduction, Body, and Conclusion.
  • Make a list of all details before you start writing.
  • Be sure to cite all sources and avoid plagiarism
  • Ask others to read your work and see if you are convincing them.
  • Do not include your opinion in your work. Keep to the facts and evidence.
  • Just in case, run your paper through a grammar checker.

These writing tips will help you become a master of argumentative essay writing. Also, we recommend how to write an autobiography paper.