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Updated: August 19th, 2023

How to Write an Argumentative Essay: 101 Guide [+ Examples]

An argumentative essay is a genre of academic writing that investigates different sides of a particular issue. Its central purpose is to inform the readers rather than expressively persuade them. Thus, it is crucial to differentiate between argumentative and persuasive essays.

While composing an argumentative essay, the students have to demonstrate their research and analytical skills. The secret of a successful paper lies behind strong arguments and counterarguments. So, the writer should focus on facts and data rather than personal values and beliefs.

Besides, a good argumentative essay should be structured appropriately:

The introduction and conclusion have to create a frame for the entire essay.
The body paragraphs are supposed to cover the essential points.
Supporting evidence should make a paper more professional and reputable.

Are you still wondering what an argumentative essay is and how to write it? Check out the sections below prepared by our experts. Here, you can find the most valuable info, helpful tips, and useful examples.

📌 Argumentative Essay
🧐 How to Write
❓ FAQ
🔗 References

📌 Argumentative Essay in a Nutshell

Are you trying to figure out what an argumentative essay is? It’s a type of academic paper that covers both sides of a given issue. An author can decide whether they aim to present both sides equally or support one side more dynamically.

One of the mistakes among students is the confusion of argumentative and persuasive essays. Do you want to figure out the differences? Take a look at the following table.

	Argumentative Essay	Persuasive essay
Purpose	To inform the reader about both sides of a particular issue. To acknowledge the audience that your viewpoint is worth consideration.	To persuade the reader in the rightness of your position. To call the audience to an action that supports your perspective.
Tools	Useful info, credible facts, relevant reasons, appropriate evidence.	The mix of data, personal opinion, and emotions.
Technique	Presenting credible resources to validate your claims and counterclaims.	Providing data from reputable sources, along with your feelings about the given issue, to persuade your reader.

Before writing an argument essay, it would be helpful to choose an appropriate model to rely on. There are three strategies to consider: Classical, Toulmin, and Rogerian.

Look at the following sections and choose the most suitable one for you.

📜 Classic Strategy

Are you wondering how to write an argumentative essay? Consider using the classical approach. It is the most popular way of composing an argumentative paper.

Under the classical strategy, the author has to follow these rules:

research the issue;
present both sides;
express own opinion;
prove the reader the validity of the conclusion.

It is up to the audience to decide whether your position is right or wrong. Yet, you should try to convince the readers of the effectiveness of your opinion.

Usually, the classical argument paper is structured in the following way:

Introduction. Use the hook to catch the readers’ attention. State the problem and explain why your topic is relatable to the audience.
General background. Introduce the general info and several facts about your issue.
Thesis statement. State your position clearly and concisely.
The central argument. Provide valid evidence and appropriate examples to support your position. Refer only to reliable sources.
Rebuttal. Include a counter paragraph in your essay, presenting the opposing arguments. Provide specific examples to make the reader understand your position. Also, explain to the audience why the counterclaims are incorrect.
Conclusion. Synthesize your arguments and counterarguments. Give the readers a question for further investigation of your problem. To make your essay more impressive, compose a memorable concluding sentence.

📋 Toulmin Strategy

Toulmin strategy is the most suitable for the discussion of controversial issues. This model aims to find common ground through clear logic and valid evidence. Besides, the Toulmin strategy eliminates unnecessary things and limits the points to agree upon.

An argumentative essay written by the Toulmin model includes the following elements:

Claim. A viewpoint that the author aims to prove.
Evidence. Supportive facts from reliable resources that highlight the significance of the claim.
Warrant. An element that connects the claim and that evidence.
Backing. Additional reasoning that underlines the warrant’s validity.
Rebuttal. Counterarguments that contradict the author’s position.
Qualifier. An additional element (usually, a word or a short phrase) that narrows the claim’s capacity. Several examples of qualifiers: “typically,” “usually,” “occasionally,” etc.
Exceptions. Specific limitations that indicate the cases where that claim may not be valid.

🗣️ Rogerian Strategy

Like the Toulmin approach, Rogerian strategy attempts to find common ground between two sides of one issue. However, the technique is slightly different.

The Rogerian model is often used in highly controversial debates when the parties do not accept each other’s position. Thus, the given strategy focuses on finding the agreement by proving the validity of the opposing arguments.

Below, you can find the primary outline for the Rogerian argumentative essay:

Introduce the problem. Present the issue clearly and explain why it is worth the readers’ attention.
Summarize and analyze the counterarguments. Take into consideration all the possible counterpoints and look at them from different perspectives. Discuss the cases in which the opposing claims could be valid. Demonstrate your open-mindedness. This will make the opposite party more loyal to you.
Present your position. After discussing the counterpoints, state your opinion. Convince the audience about the validity of your points.
Prove the advantages of your position. Explain to the opposite party how the acceptance and adoption of your points will benefit them.

🧐 How to Write an Argumentative Essay

Before working on your essay, carefully read the assignment. Make sure you understand all the instructor’s requirements and the purpose of the paper.

Pay enough attention to the task. Did your professor assign you a topic? Or do you need to choose it yourself? Make sure you have an idea that will turn into an outstanding essay.
Select the strategy you are going to apply. An argumentative essay format will depend on the model you choose to compose your paper. Analyze the issue you will arise and decide what strategy is the most suitable. Is it the Classical model, the Toulmin, or the Rogerian one?

After that, start composing your argumentative essay. Check out the following sections. We have a lot of insightful info to share with you!

📚 Research the Topic

The first step of writing an argumentative paper is an in-depth investigation of the topic. To validate your arguments, you have to refer to credible resources. The essay will look more professional if you use reliable sources in it.

To research like a professional, do the following:

Use only credible sources. You can refer to the books, research articles, materials from academic databases, or Google Scholar. Webpages registered as governmental or educational institutions (.gov, .edu.) and widely-known news websites (New York Times, BBC, CNBC) are also considered appropriate.
Avoid using blog posts, outdated materials, and any other data from unreliable sources. You may get into huge trouble, taking information from random websites, since it may be invalid.
Pay attention to the publishing date. You may be required to use the sources released no later than five years ago. Yet, it is not always the case, especially when you’re dealing with historical documents. Thus, double-check your instructions regarding recommended sources.
Keep your topic in mind. Concentrate on what you are writing about and select the sources for your exact issue. Avoid sources that provide too general information and look for more limited ones. If your idea is World War II’s economic consequences, the history book from ancient times to modern days will not be the best option.
Become an expert. Take enough time to investigate the issue you are writing about. Read numerous articles, compare and contrast the scientists’ opinions. Prove your reader that you are a reliable person who selected the best sources.

📝 Outline Your Essay

The majority of students tend to underestimate the power of outlining. Don’t do this! An argumentative essay outline is a helpful tool for planning, structuring, and composing.

Firstly, a well-developed outline helps the writer to put all their thoughts in an appropriate order. None of the essential points will be lost if the student plans the essay before writing.

Secondly, it lets the writer figure out what evidence suits what argument most. Before writing, draft your essay first. Put examples, facts, etc. in the right parts of the paper. Then, write the entire text.

Thirdly, an outline provides a perfect opportunity to change the essay’s parts without rewriting the paper. Are you unsure of specific details? Not a problem. Change them in the outline without ruining the text.

There are essential elements that your outline should contain. Check out the following section to see them.

Introduction

How to start an argumentative essay? First and foremost, include an argumentative essay introduction in your outline.

This part should grab the readers’ attention from the first words. Thus, put enough effort into composing a compelling hook. What can it be? An impressive statistic or an exciting fact? Be creative – decide yourself! But make sure that your intro is catchy enough.

After the hook, introduce your topic’s general background. Prove the readers the significance of your issue and gradually come to the thesis statement.

Example:

The concept of studying abroad is becoming increasingly popular in both developed and developing countries. Students around the globe strive to explore the world and broaden their minds, and studying in a foreign country is an excellent opportunity to do so. Such experience may be extremely beneficial because meeting new people and discovering foreign cultures help students to gain valuable knowledge and see the world from a new perspective. However, while presenting significant opportunities for personal growth, it may also bring about some challenges.

Thesis Statement

A thesis is an essential part of your argumentative essay. It should state your position regarding the issue clearly and concisely. Avoid general statements, vague words, and be as specific and possible. Your thesis statement should guide the readers throughout the main points of the paper.

The location of the thesis in the essay plays a crucial role. The most appropriate place for it is the last sentence of the introductory paragraph.

Example:

Although students face difficulties such as loneliness while studying abroad, it is a worthy experience to introduce them to new knowledge, people, and culture and promote their independence.

Body Paragraphs

The body of your paper is supposed to develop your position, provide valid evidence and examples. Each paragraph has to focus only on one idea. This will ensure the logical structure of your argumentative essay.

A body paragraph should start from the topic sentence and end with the concluding sentence. Such a frame around every section will make your readers stay concentrated on your ideas and get your opinion.

The topic sentence is the first sentence of the passage. It should reflect its point and correspond to the thesis statement.
The concluding sentence aims to wrap up the author’s thoughts. Thus, make sure that the last sentence of a paragraph is insightful enough.

Each body paragraph should include an argument (or a counterargument) with supporting evidence. Get your proof from credible sources and ensure that it directly corresponds to the point.

An example of a topic sentence:

Example:

The benefits of education abroad are almost innumerable, prominent examples being gaining new knowledge, making friends with people who have different mindsets, and discovering new cultures.

An example of a concluding sentence:

Example:

Participants of student exchange programs usually return more driven and eager to develop both themselves and their country.

Conclusion

A conclusion plays a critical role in understanding the entire paper. It summarizes the body and leaves the final impression. Besides, it may push the readers on further investigation of the issue.

To make your argumentative essay conclusion powerful, it is not enough just to summarize the arguments. It has to synthesize your ideas and show the connection between them. In other words, your points should be summarized and analyzed.
Moreover, a conclusion refers to the thesis statement. A mere restatement of the central idea is not the most successful way of finishing your paper. You should try to develop it to demonstrate the reason you’ve written the previous paragraphs.

One more tip:

Give the audience an incentive to explore the topic more in-depth. Insert the questions for further investigation at the end of your essay. It would play a significant role in making an impressive conclusion.

Example:

To sum up, studying abroad is beneficial as it helps a person evolve and perceive a world from new perspectives. It is an opportunity for a participant to explore the world, meet new people, gain valuable knowledge and experience, and broaden their horizons. Education abroad might pose problems like homesickness, loneliness, and trouble with getting accustomed to a new environment. However, all of them can be easily overcome if a student is flexible and eager to become autonomous and independent.

References

The list of references is a crucial part of any argumentative essay. It should contain all the sources the writer uses in the paper.

Before organizing your reference list, double-check your argumentative essay format. Is it written in MLA, APA, or maybe in Chicago style? How many references does the professor expect you to include? What kind of sources are you required to use?

After figuring out these issues, move to the format requirements of the writing style you use for your paper. The most popular ones are APA (7th edition), MLA, and ChicagoAD (author-date) styles. Below, you can find the examples of a reference for the same book in different formatting styles.

Style	APA
Structure	Last name, First initial. Middle initial. (Year). Book title: Subtitle. Publisher.
Example	Clifton, L. (1996). The Book of Light. Copper Canyon Press.

Style	MLA
Structure	Last Name, First Name. Title of Book. Publisher, Publication Date.
Example	Clifton, Lucille. The Book of Light. Copper Canyon Press, 1996.

Style	ChicagoAD
Structure	Author’s Last Name, First Name. Year of Publication. Title of the Book. Publisher’s Location: Publisher’s Name.
Example	Clifton, Lucille. 1993. The Book of Light. Washington: Copper Canyon Press.

✒️ Fill in the Blanks

Did you develop a good outline? Congratulations! You are almost done with the essay. Now, you need to fill in the blanks and create a final version of your paper. Here is where you need to demonstrate a high level of your writing skills.

Make sure your paper has no logical fallacies. Information from an untrustworthy source, a hasty generalization, or a false conclusion may put your reliability as an author under threat. So double-check all the data you include in your essay. Moreover, make sure all your statements are well-developed and supported by valid evidence.
Check your argumentative essay structure. All the arguments should refer to the thesis statement and must be presented in the logical sequence. The supporting evidence and examples have to be inserted in the text logically, according to the arguments.
Pay enough attention to the citations. References and in-text citations are incredibly tricky. Always check every detail according to your essay format. If you are unsure of specific issues, refer to a citation guide and make your paper free of formatting mistakes.
Ensure the coherence of your argumentative essay. Often, the paper’s material seems raw only because it is presented without a logical connection.
To ensure a smooth connection between the ideas, use transitions between the paragraphs and linking words inside them. Insert them in the text to connect the points. As a result, you will have a coherent essay with the logical flow of the arguments.

🔍 Edit and Proofread

The final step of your writing process is editing and proofreading. Although it is not that energy and time consuming, it still plays a critical role in the work’s success.

While writing your argumentative paper, plan your time accordingly. This will provide you with an opportunity to polish your essay before submitting it. And take a look at our checklist and always use it to improve your papers:

NO first and second person. Use only the third person in your argumentative essay. It is a general requirement for any kind of academic paper.
NO slang. The word choice is an essential part of the essay writing process. Ensure you use only formal vocabulary and avoid using informal language (jargon, slang, etc.).
NO unchecked words. Sometimes, words can raise questions and lead to misunderstandings. If you are unsure whether the term is used appropriately, double-check its meaning or replace it with another.
NO plagiarism. While proofreading, make sure your citations are either properly paraphrased or taken in quotation marks. You can change the sentence structure to avoid plagiarism.
NO minor mistakes. Grammar, spelling, punctuation play a crucial role. Want to make your paper look professional? Make sure it is free of minor mistakes then.

Argumentative Essay Topics

Should student-athletes benefit from sports?
Do celebrities really have influence on people behavior?
Will decriminalization of drugs increase drug menace?
Does social and environmental reporting promote organizations’ financial success?
Should online learning be promoted?
Can space exploration resolve human problems?
Is success really the outcome of hard work?
Is there discrimination against women in sports?
Will banning tobacco sales promote public health?
Is euthanasia a clemency?
Should college education be free and accessible for every student?
Should football be banned for being too dangerous?
Is it time to change social norms?
Should public servants’ strikes be prohibited?
Does media create a negative image of ageing and older people?
Is capitalism the best economic system?
Can children under 18 make an appropriate decision on getting tattoo?
Should net neutrality be protected?
Can an improper use of social media provoke a family crisis?
Is it right to use animals in biomedical research?
Does the climate change affect our indoor environment?
Are children’s crimes a result of poor parenting?
Should health care be universal?
Does the increased use of technology hurt students’ efficiency?
Is transformative education a key to the system modernization?
Why should patients have access to truthful information?
How does language barrier affect health care access?
Would allowing adoption by same-sex couples benefit the country’s child welfare system?
Is spanking children a proper way to improve their behavior?
Does gun control law lowers crime rates?
Will ban on spamming improve users’ internet experience?
Should behavior be made illegal because it’s immoral?
Is globalization really a progress?
Does aid to developing countries bring more harm than good?
Can parents improve children mental health by restricting internet use?
Is trusting our senses the best way to get the truth?
Why parents should not have the right to choose their children based on genetics.
Is college education really worth it?
Will wearing a body camera by police officer enhance public trust?
Immigration: a benefit or a threat?
Is it a duty of adult children to take care of their elderly parents?
Should abortions be legal?
Are agents an integral part of professional sports?
Will ban of cellphones while driving decrease the car accident rates?
Should marijuana be legal for medical use?
Is veganism diet universally beneficial?
Should museums return artefacts?
Is water birth beneficial for women’s health?
Will paying people to stay healthy benefit the nation in the long-term perspective?
Is obesity a disease or a choice?

❓ FAQ

❓ How many paragraphs should an argumentative essay have?

It is up to you to decide how many parts to include in your essay. However, the 5 paragraph structure is the most appropriate model for an argumentative paper. So, write an introduction, a conclusion, and three body paragraphs.

❓ Can you use “you” in an argumentative essay?

The pronoun “you” is acceptable for informal writing. Yet, in academic papers, avoid using the second person. The same situation is with the first person. Generally, academic papers require the use of the third person.

❓ What is a good hook for an argumentative essay?

A hook aims to grab the readers’ attention. Thus, you could start your essay with an interesting fact about your issue. Another way to create a catchy hook is to prove the audience the relatability of your topic. Make the readers want to explore your essay by demonstrating the significance of your issue.

❓ Can you start an argumentative essay with a question?

Yes, you can. A question might become a compelling hook. Just make sure that it is profound, thought-provocative, and concise. A too broad or complicated question will only confuse your readers.

❓ How do you write a good title for an argumentative essay?

A title is an essential part of the essay since it causes the first impression. While selecting a heading, take into consideration the following points:

1. The title must be catchy.

2. It has to be not too long (5-12 words).

3. The title has to reflect the topic of the paper.

4. It should not be too complicated: the simpler – the better.

Thank you for visiting our page! We hope the information was helpful and insightful. Do you have friends who seek help with writing an argumentative essay? Share our article with them. And don’t forget to leave your comments!

🔗 References

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