How to Write an Argumentative Essay: Easy Steps and Tips

Structuring an argumentative essay instills essential skills in students, which eventually helps them score well as well as enhances their communication abilities, thus enabling them to make wise decisions in the professional world. In a school debate, a presentation, or examining sources to pass a standardized test, it is priceless to be able to go by the evidence to build a coherent argument. Using the argumentative essay, one gets to learn how to analyse, think critically, and evaluate various viewpoints of a topic or a subject, and how to think and develop ideas in a logical and orderly manner.

In this article, we will break down the process of writing an effective argumentative essay with simple and actionable steps. You will understand the whole process from selecting a strong topic to crafting the final draft of an argumentative essay, and creating a structure to flow logically from one point to another. A few tips and pitfalls to avoid are also provided. With these steps, you will be in a position to make a fine argumentative essay.

What Is an Argumentative Essay?

An argumentative essay refers to a kind of essay that puts forward and defends an argument giving evidence to support the argument. It evaluates both sides arguments and subsequently gives out the evidence, facts and arguments in support of the argument that the author supports. The aims of an argumentative essay are to provide counterarguments with rational evidence and statistics to present its viewpoints to the readers. 

However, it is different from an Expository and a Persuasive essay. The table below shows the difference among the argumentative essay, expository, and Persuasive essay.

With this comparison, we can see that argumentative is leaning more towards the logic. On the other hand, expository essays aim to inform the reader, and Persuasive essays are mainly influenced by the emotions. 

Steps to Write an Argumentative Essay

Writing an argumentative essay can be overwhelming for many students due to the research involved and bringing strong evidence and statistics into the essay to make their point. We have explained the steps of an argumentative essay to write an effective argumentative essay. Go through the steps below, select the best topic, and maintain the argumentative essay structure to create an effective draft. 

Step 1 – Choose a Strong Topic

An argumentative topic must be:

• Debatable: Legitimate, differing viewpoints have to exist; select a subject that will develop debate.
• Relevant and Significant: It must have real-world implications and mean something to readers.
• Narrow and Specific: Do not use broad topics with more narrow arguments.

Step 2 – Do Thorough Research

• Support arguments with credible and varied sources such as academic publications, books, and credible news sources.
• Credible sources are essential to persuading readers and to substantiating assertions.

Step 3 – Create an Outline

The format of argumentative essay outline helps to structure ideas and make the flow logical:

• Introduction
• Body paragraphs (point, evidence, and counterpoint each).
• Conclusion

Step 4 – Write the Introduction

Begin an argumentative essay by:

• Hook: CAQ (Claim, Argument, or Question) or quote and hook attention.
• Background: Provide a critical background of the problem.
• Thesis Statement: state your key point.

Example (sample of argumentative essay introduction):

Fee or not to free in college? Due to increasing tuition and student debt, this question is more pressing than ever. Without tuition, everyone can access education, and this would be an advantage to society through the expansion of opportunities and the curbing of inequality.

Step 5 -Build the Body Paragraphs

• Apply a counterpoint format: Make an argument, back it up with facts, and then make and rebut the counseling argument.
• Offer discussion and examples, facts and professional quotes to support statements.

Step 6 – Write the Conclusion

• Put the thesis in new words.
• Summarize the main arguments.
• Close by a concluding thought, or call to action, or general implication.

Step 7 – Revise and Edit

• Clarity/Coherence Checklist:
• Are contests logical and supported?
• Are the transitions strong, and is the flow smooth?
• Have grammar, spelling and formatting been verified?
• Do citations identify all of the complete citations?

With an argumentative essay outline, credible sources, and effectively developed introductions, following these steps will be useful in writing an effective argumentative essay.

Argumentative Essay Outline

Instruction to Create Diagram: Argumentative Essay Outline Structur

The outline for an argument essay is very important because it develops a road map that the writer will use to place all the important points, show the ideas in an orderly manner, and come up with a logical flow of the whole essay. In the case of an argument essay, a good introduction, body, counterargument, and conclusion can be successfully incorporated. Simply put, an argumentative essay outline simplifies and proves more efficient in terms of writing a convincing and well-grounded argument in the complicated task. To understand this better, we have provided argumentative essay outline example below: 

1. Introduction

• Hook: Use an interesting sentence to get attention.
• Background Information: Short background on the subject.
• Thesis Statement: Be transparent and articulate your stand and key ideas.

1. Body Paragraph 2 (Second Supporting Argument)

• Topic Sentence: First Reason To Support Your Thesis.
• Evidence: Facts, statistics, quotes of experts or examples.
• Explanation/ Analysis: How does this evidence help you to make your argument?
• Move into a paragraph.

III. Body Paragraph 2 (Second Supporting Argument)

• Sentence on the subject: Name the second reason.
• Evidence: Back up with plausible sources.
• Explanation/Analysis: Relationship to thesis.
• Transition

1. Body Paragraph 3 (Third Supporting Argument).

• Topic Sentence: explain the third reason.
• Evidence: Additional evidence/examples.
• Explanation/Analysis: Support the argument.
• Transition

1. Paragraph of Counterargument.

• Current Objectionable Position: Accept an argument to your thesis.
• Refutation: Present argument or facts to disallow or invalidate the opponent.

1. Conclusion

• Rewrite Thesis: Recapitulate your key point.
• Overview Major Observations: Wave strong evidence.
• Closing Idea or Action: Make an impression or make a recommendation.

This argument essay format offers a common and rational argumentative essay format that is easy and commonly useful in the majority of academic essays.

Argumentative Essay Template

The following is a plug-and-play argumentative essay template, along with an argumentative paper outline, to be easily scaled to suit the student:

Draft of an Argumentative Essay.

1. Introduction

• Hook: [Begin with an interesting quote, question, or fact].
• Background: [Give a concise explanation of the subject and why it is important].
• Thesis Statement: [Write your stance in a short and clear manner].

1. Body Paragraph 1 - First Supporting Argument.

• Topic Sentence: [To begin with, in favor of your thesis, the first reason is...].
• Evidence: [Statistics, facts or quotes of an expert].
• Explanation/Analysis: [Explain how the evidence backs your point].

III. Body paragraph 2 - Second Supporting Argument.

• Sentence Topic: [Second reason].
• Evidence: [Examples, data, or research findings]
• Explanation/Analysis: [Relate evidence to thesis].

1. Body Paragraph 3 - Third Strong point.

• Topic Sentence: [Third reason or example].
• Evidence: [Additional supporting information].
• Elaboration/Discussion: [Why this is important to your argument].

1. Counterargument & Rebuttal

• Counterargument: [Put forward an opposite opinion].
• Rebuttal: [prove wrong or erode the counterargument with explanations or facts].

1. Conclusion

• Re-affirm Thesis: [Re-state your thesis].
• Overview of the Key points: [A short overview of the arguments].
• Parting Conclusion/Action: [Get the reader to think on or perform an action].

This argumentative essay template presents a clear outline for the argumentative paper writing process, and it is easier to structure thoughts and come up with arguments in a logical and convincing manner. This is a clear argumentative essay format example that students can insert their particular topic and supporting points in order to have a complete essay.

Argumentative Essay Introduction Examples

These are examples of brief argumentative essay introductions, including a well-defined thesis statement, showing how to write a good argumentative essay intro paragraph, and an argumentative essay introduction example:

Example 1

• Hook: As climate change continues to pick up pace, there is an emerging debate on whether it is our own moral obligation to reduce our carbon emissions.
• Background: There are a lot of industries that significantly contribute to the emission of greenhouse gases that have an impact on the global weather patterns and temperatures.
• Thesis Statement: Governments need to impose tougher policies on industries in order to curb carbon emissions due to the fact that voluntary initiatives have always yielded insignificant outcomes.

Example 2

• Hook: Social media has brought about a new aspect of communication among people, and it has also raised the question of privacy.
• Background: The existence of data breach activities on social platforms is life-threatening, bearing in mind that they have billions of users worldwide.
• Thesis Statement: Social media companies ought to be forced under the law to establish more robust data protection practices to ensure that the personal data of users is not compromised.

Example 3

• Hook: School uniforms are a hot topic among parents, students, and teachers.
• Background: As much as uniforms could create unity, as some individuals might assert, uniforms do not help to create individuality, according to others.
• Thesis Statement: Compulsory school uniforms must be implemented in public schools because of the advantages associated with school uniforms, such as student concentration, reduction of bullying, and development of community within the school.

A hook of attention, a little background information to contextualize the subject matter, and a narrow thesis statement that the writer is talking about are all the elements of an argumentative essay intro paragraph.

Tips for Writing a Strong Argumentative Essay

The following are the most significant tips on how to write a good argumentative essay with emphasis on logical transition, foresight of counterarguments, and evidence-based argument:

1. Make logical transitions: Transition words and phrases (e.g., moreover, however, therefore) may help you connect the ideas and paragraphs and present your paper in a logical flow that would make sense to your readers.. Logical flow will allow evading the confusion and enhancing the unity of the essay.
2. Anticipate counterarguments: Find out the counterarguments and address them respectfully in your essay. It is a major indicator of critical thinking and credibility as it helps your side because it shows that you are aware of other opinions and can refute or nullify them in the right way.
3. Ensure that Arguments are Evidence-Based: Support everything with hard facts, statistics, professional opinions or examples of reliable sources. Do not simply go out there and make personal arguments and appeal to emotions because evidence will render your argument convincing and credible.

All of these combined would make your argumentative essay readable, convincing, and well-organized, which is most attractive to the reader.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

The quality of the argumentative essay can be interrupted by a few common mistakes made by a large number of students. These are some of the mistakes that the writers commit without awareness. Thus, we have also created a list of the main errors that students usually commit when writing. When writing an argumentative essay, remember the following points: 

1. Over-reliance on emotional appeal: Emotions can be very helpful in capturing the attention of the readers; however, in an argumentative essay, they do not hold the arguments and can distract the logical flow of the essay. As such, you should take into consideration the evidence and facts rather than feelings and personal opinions. 
2. Weak Thesis Statement: A Thesis statement is the direction of the readers to know what they should expect in the essay. Therefore, an ambiguous or question-based thesis can cause misunderstandings of the reader. Compose a clear, succinct, and debatable thesis statement. 
3. Lack of structure: A vague structure can hamper the quality of an argumentative essay. So, follow the clear structure where your essay starts with an introduction, body, counterargument, and finally a conclusion. 

Final Thoughts

An argument essay can only be written by identifying a good and controversial topic, conducting extensive research, and following the outline for an argument essay, which consists of an introduction paragraph, body paragraphs, and a conclusion paragraph. Every step must also be thought carefully, how to introduce an interesting hook or how to state clear arguments supported by evidence, and how to answer counterarguments. Also, remember to proofread and make it clear and well-connected. You have to practice, and you can use the essay templates as guidelines to sharpen your abilities. Through practice, you would be fine-tuned to write convincing essays that can be relied upon to convey your opinions and reach your readers in an effort to make them listen.