argumentive essay structure

argumentive essay structure

The Art of Crafting a Persuasive Argumentative Essay

1. Introduction to Argumentative Essays

The art of argumentation is not an easy skill to acquire. Many people might think that if one simply has an opinion, one can argue it successfully, and these folks are always surprised when others don’t agree with them because their logic seems so correct. Furthermore, how easy is this process of persuasion? The answer is simple and it allows you to perform it easily. To write an excellent argumentative essay, there are four major parts of the essay you’re going to need to be aware of. Keeping in mind that you have to follow a clear and understandable structure from the introduction to the conclusion.

So, what exactly is an argumentative paper? It is a form of academic writing that involves a clear discussion that has two sides. The writer takes a clear position about the topic and personal opinion, then develops a thought-out argument to persuade the reader. Unlike other forms of essays, you are trying to convince your reader of something. Think of it as your opening statement in your debate team or a legal trial. You need to get your argument in as quickly as possible. You need to make your opinion as well. So, the purpose is not only to tell an entertaining tale but also show the reason for the story and the importance of the experience. The most important part is that you are supposed to give the reader a strong, convincing argument that supports your stance.

2. Building a Strong Thesis Statement

The American colonies were, from the very beginning, subject to old world control. They were also familiar with atrocities caused by coalition forces, both French and Indian. “In 1806, J. Willard published a sermon addressed to the 350th anniversary of the settlement of American Puritans in which he jubilated that ‘colonies have passed… through two great races of degradation and sufferings — the rule of French and Spanish revenge and also the endless Indian wars’ (Pioneer Society of the State of Michigan, 76).” They were also very familiar with the devastating impact of British colonial politics on their daily lives. Yet, the British military created the last untenable argument, which specifically promoted deep feelings of both agoraphobia and cleithrophobia, and prompted them to rebel.

The thesis statement is the keystone within any well-written argumentative essay. You should begin it in a way that influences your readers, convincing them to care about the topic and understand its importance. The thesis is an important, essential part of your paper, which should be located at the end of your introduction paragraph. It consists of several main points of your essay. First of all, you should refine and narrow your argument. You will include only the strongest, developed, and supported arguments that will make your point effectively. For example, if you write an essay with the following thesis: “The American colonies rebelled against Great Britain because they were tired of being taxed, and they resented British military presence in their lives and homes,” your reader will be able to recognize that only the first part of your essay will deal with tax issues, and the second part will deal with military presence.

3. Supporting Your Claims with Evidence and Logic

Similarly, it is crucial to have a well-grounded and logically derived examination of every aspect of an argument rather than appealing to emotions or strongly-held beliefs. When the reasoning is based on logic, there are no gasps or perplexity; a response goes automatically. The best arguments respond to raised questions, and most raised questions are a product of the natural intuitions of the people who will judge the strength of an argument. The sole purpose of legitimately-based reasons that support the idea is to ground the claim in the persuasion process, showing that a simple truth is influential. Any reasoning towards belief is bound to collapse.

Every argumentative persuasive should be firmly based on adequate evidence. Strong evidence is successful only if supported by interconnected and logical reasoning. Therefore, appeal to reason, logic, objectivity, and intuition as you construct the appeal. Establish the appeal through the foundation of your argument formed and serving the meeting purposes. Simplify your argument through the statement of reasons clearly posed. Use a widely-accepted structure and the unwavering support of evidence you hold to make your argument effective.

At the heart of each conclusion must live the evidence it was built upon. Bear in mind that evidence means relevant facts. They must be strong enough to describe the idea properly and to demonstrate the sense of its interpretation. Moreover, they should communicate interest to the reader. Pile your ideas with details, and support details with examples, anecdotes, and evidence. This greatly impacts the persuasiveness of the text.

4. Addressing Counterarguments and Rebuttal

So ask questions like why is this issue important, what are the most important ideas about the issue, what evidence would support my idea, and who would be the opposers against my position. The opposition does count. As a writer, therefore, you provide the audience with a list of possible objections so that you’ll be prepared to address these in the body of the essay. While readers are watching and judging your truthfulness, you take notes and craft drafts of the ideas that might persuade a person to be convinced. The response to the counterargument can reinforce and enhance the essay’s thesis. Often the successful writer reframes (explains) the opposition’s viewpoint. Then the writer adjusts the audience’s attitude by acknowledging that a different viewpoint often involves a trade-off that the opposition fails to articulate.

Through a process called brainstorming, you might discover questions, objections, and new ideas about your narrowed issue. You want to pose the objections and provide your refutations all in the body of the essay. Make sure you use signal words and phrases (e.g. on the other hand, some people may argue, some people say, some people claim, however, but, regardless, although) to introduce counterarguments and rebuttals. After all, the purpose of the essay is to demonstrate or prove a point, not simply to speak the persuasive point of view. In fact, most people are not easily convinced, and the more relevant, accurate proof or explanation is, the more persuasive the essay will be.

5. Concluding with Impact

In conclusion, there are many of the things that you need to have in the conclusion. You need to have statements of what the essay was about, and statements reflecting the points that you brought up in the writing. You need to have points from your essay that reflect why some parts of the essay were done, and statements of what you used in your writing and whether or not these items worked or not. The point of the conclusion is explicitly to say more now than you could say earlier on. Do your best to provide a concrete description of the essay you are concluding.

It’s important for the author of the essay to realize that this, the conclusion, is actually the last thing that you want the reader to do. Unfortunately, for some very to the point conclusions, it is what actually happens. Especially in a short argumentative essay, where you are able to say things quickly and concisely in just a few words, this may be necessary. For longer essays, however, where you are able to go into much more depth in the writing you are able to give the reader much more of what you’d like to, this is not the case at all. You can give much more to the reader of the argument and the different directions that it can go instead of just cutting off abruptly at the end because you ran out of time, and you can do this by giving the reader clear and elegant reminders of what the essay has shown in the conclusion.