what is a argumentive essay

what is a argumentive essay

The Art of Writing a Persuasive Argumentative Essay

1. Introduction to Argumentative Essays

An argumentative essay is basically an academic paper in which the student is supposed not only to state some theory or opinion but also to assure the readers that this viewpoint is a well-reasoned one. For this essay, you need to discuss both opinions – not only yours but also the opposite point of view. My recommendation is to leave the hardest for the last. The more information you can find about both viewpoints, the better, as you can then use all these facts to rebut the opposition’s side. You can always refresh your memory a bit, but it is important to have some background information to start with, so work in the library or scour the internet!

So, you’ve definitely got some great concepts within the realm of your favorite topic, but they aren’t as well-thought nor expressed in academic terms as you need. Worry not! Your writing will definitely improve with some practice and careful research. But first things first: what on earth is an argumentative essay in academic terms? Well, we are about to clarify this for you.

2. Building a Strong Thesis Statement

In creating the thesis statement, ask yourself what it is you will be arguing or explaining about the topic. Therefore, write your thesis statement as a complete sentence. There are four key components to consider when constructing a thesis statement. The first is your claim about an issue. The thesis is the writer’s opinion and then what they believe about the issue. This statement can give you, the reader, an overview of the issue and can orient the reader when considering the purpose of the essay. The second component is support for your claim. With the thesis statement, you are discussing the reasons to believe your topic sentence. These are the pieces of evidence and examples that you will use to support your claim. You will use this part of the thesis to generate the structure of your essay. By including these three supporting points in the thesis statement, you make it specific enough to be explanatory while maintaining the generality needed to draw conclusions from this comment. The third component is counterargument and refuting. Addressing the counterargument in the thesis will help your essay fulfill your purpose in proving your argument. The last component of your thesis statement is a conclusion. In making the thesis statement, you can decide if the essay is arguing and convincing. You want to draw support from your reader by making it persuasive. While making the thesis, ask yourself how you can create the thesis to be interesting to you and stay engaging to your reader. You can conclude the argument rather than simply be done with it. In conclusion, you can have differing viewpoints and attention.

Let’s first understand what a thesis statement is before discussing what goes into building a strong thesis statement. A thesis statement is a one or two-sentence statement in which you state the purpose for conducting the study or writing the essay. Where does the thesis statement belong in your essay? It is usually placed at the end of the introduction. It serves as a road map to let the reader know what’s coming. When you write the body of the essay, the thesis statement presents the main focus of the argument, enabling you to support it within that structure.

3. Supporting Your Arguments with Evidence

It’s important to remember that not only should you write convincingly but in a persuasive and engaging manner too! When the teacher has seen the importance of the argument made within the essay, the conclusion should not just summarize this argument but also encourage the ruling to be more justified. The conclusion should answer any outstanding questions and end with a bang! It’s also a good idea to imply the actions that will take place if the reader doesn’t adopt your views. This clause typically hints that the rest of the paper is going to be a sort of ‘grand finale’ and will give you the best chance of obtaining that ‘A+’.

It’s also really important to support your arguments with evidence and to clearly state if this evidence is your own or comes from an outside reading or some other source. Your arguments become more powerful when they’re backed by facts or examples. For instance, if you’re writing an essay that argues that “none of the students in your school work hard,” it makes sense to tell readers about that one time your stupid friend Dennis totally slept through that amazing History class.

Supporting your argument with evidence: It always sounds more convincing when you can prove your point with hard facts. Much of your evidence will come from readings, observations, and experiences, but evidence goes beyond this. It must be established through providing solid reasons to support your argument that is underpinned by proof that is largely based on unbiased, precise, and accurate relevant information about the subject matter being evidenced. When writing an argument, in order to prove your point, it’s essential to develop a line of reasoning or use specific examples.

4. Addressing Counterarguments and Rebuttals

Finally, an author has the right to omit counterarguments if they are not relevant to the essay. For example, in the concluding paragraph, “The issue of euthanasia of the terminal patient with a living will must be addressed in court for better protection.”

Third, the essay can refute a counterargument with evidence.

Second, the essay should acknowledge the strength of the opposing argument by conceding to it. Acknowledging the worth of another’s argument is a way to gain respect. For instance, “Second-hand smoke does cause harm, but unfortunately, the level of harm has been grossly exaggerated.”

To achieve this, an essay can address counterarguments in several ways. First, it can approach them in a conciliatory manner, finding points of agreement. For example, “While it is true that excessive carbon may contribute to global warming, an equal danger lies in methane released from farm animals.”

Addressing counterarguments is the next step in crafting an argumentative essay. It is important to address counterarguments in a persuasive manner, rather than insulting the opposing point of view. The art of persuasion involves smoothly embedding counterarguments in the body of the essay, allowing the reader to understand the opposing perspective and potentially change their mind.

5. Crafting a Compelling Conclusion

Take a day or two off! Let your essay sit and your mind rest. Then, read your persuasive essay with fresh eyes. Ask yourself if your essay is logical and convincing. Will your readers be persuaded by your argument? Did you provide enough evidence in the way of facts, statistics, quotes, and examples?

In a persuasive essay, it’s the writer’s job to convince the reader to accept a particular point of view or take a specific action. Persuasive essays require good research, awareness of the reader’s biases, and a solid understanding of both sides of the issue. A good persuasive essay demonstrates not only why the writer’s opinion is correct, but also why the opposing view is incorrect. Persuasive writing is a fixture of modern life—found in advertising, newspaper editorials, blogs, and political speeches. Often persuasive writing assignments and test prompts concern contemporary issues, for example, the school’s policy or community issues. Knowing how to write a persuasive essay will be a benefit for students throughout their lives. The conclusion should restate the main argument and supporting points. After all, the point of a persuasive essay is to convert your readers to your point of view.