ESL 117

Argumentative Essay Outline Template Name: Eric Chan Jun Hong ___/50
Requirements:
1) Must be typed.
2) Include a full reference for each source for your evidence.
3) Choose one of the Organization Patterns of Argumentation:
a) You first (counterargument/refutation at the beginning of the body)
b) Me first (counterargument/refutation at the end of the body)
c) Point by point (each body paragraph begins with a counterargument which you refute)
4) Include one fully written body paragraph. That means you should write not only the topic
sentence and evidence but also the buns for one of your body paragraphs.
Note The organization pattern below is for me first organization. If you use a different
pattern, please change the outline to reflect this.
Research question:
I. Introduction
Opening statements (to engage the reader and introduce the topic):
Globalization, for better or worse has altered the economic arena for every country around the
world since the colonial era. For both developed and developing countries, the economic playing
field has evolved from the mercantile system to the renowned free market capitalist system.
Russia, China, France, England since the 17th century tried to solidify mercantilism in their
countries but failed tremendously, causing the downfall of each reigning economic empire.
Evidently, free market capitalism without a doubt justifies to be a better system than
mercantilism.
Thesis statement:
Free market capitalism proves to be a better economic system because it provides higher
standard of living, promotes specialization in production of goods, and greater equality in the
division of labor.
II. Body (Remember, for one of your counter-argument / refutation paragraphs you must write a
complete paragraph. The rest of your arguments can be written in outline form).
A. First Counter argument and refutation (topic sentence): Mercantilism reduces the cost of
living
a. Counterargument: Mercantilism only favors the elite class or large major
companies
b. Evidence for counter argument: Greedy barons could earn wages or profit, greatly
above their natural rate shown by past even during the ruling of East India
Company back then. (Smith, 1776)
c. Refutation: While it may be true that mercantilism helps to protect revenues and
increase the amount of profits earned, lower class citizen will suffer more because
the upper class rulers can take advantage of the tariffs and restrictions law thus
causing a greater inequality in society.
B. First pro argument (topic sentence): Free trade reduces the cost of living
a. Evidence #1: Mercantilism restricts import but more exports, thus price of goods
will increase (Hutchison, 1988)
b. Evidence #2: Free trade increases access to higher-quality, lower-priced goods
(Boudreaux, 2015)

C. Second Counter argument and refutation (topic sentence): Mercantilism increases

productivity of goods within a country due to the high volume of export
a. Counterargument: Restriction of imports globally force countries to compete in
production of manufactured goods, creating unbalanced flow of trade
b. Evidence for counter argument: British introduced limits on what goods to
produce, whom they trade with and even tax on imported goods to prevent
colonist to purchase from European countries, forcing both sides to be constantly
at war. (Ladenburg, 2007)
c. Refutation: While mercantilism may increase the production of goods but it will
eventually lead to competition for scarcity of resources due to the constant
unbalanced trades favoring one side of the competition.
D. Second pro argument (topic sentence): Free trade promotes specialization in production
of goods more efficiently
a. Evidence #1: Free trade means more growth. Freeing trade reduces importedinput costs, thus reducing businesses production costs and promoting economic
growth. (Boudreaux, 2015)
b. Evidence #2: Free trade improves efficiency and innovation. Free trade works
with other market processes to shift workers and resources to more productive
uses, allowing more efficient industries to thrive as a result of mutual teamwork.
(Froning, 2000)
c. Evidence #3: Free trade drives positive competitions. Free trade does require
American businesses and workers to adapt to the shifting demands of the
worldwide marketplace. But these adjustments are critical to remaining
competitive, and competition is what fuels long-term growth. (Boudreaux, 2015)

E. Third Counter argument and refutation (topic sentence): Mercantilism increases wealth of
nation and profits
a. Counterargument: Mercantilism leads to more outsourcing of jobs and greater
inequality
b. Evidence for counter argument: Outsourcing of American Jobs to China leads to
further unemployment to maintain the mercantile economic system (Chhaya &
Sagun, 2012)
c. Refutation: While mercantilism may increases the wealth of one country, it is
inevitable that the system requires more outsourcing of jobs to maintain the
system, thus leading to higher unemployment rates and further negative impact
socially.
F. Third pro argument (topic sentence): Free trade introduces greater equality in the division
of labor
a. Evidence #1: Free trade introduce a more level playing field for both developed
and developing countries, supporting more jobs globally. For example, trade
between U.S and Korea on machinery and equipment makers, pork and beef
producers and the chemical and plastic products industries helps supports ten
thousand jobs across both countries. (Keith, 2011)
b. Evidence #2: Total trade with the 14 FTA partners boosted U.S. GDP by $1.0
trillion. Total U.S. exports of goods and services to the world were $462.7 billion
higher than they otherwise would have been because we trade with these

countries. Further, trade with the FTA partners supported 17.7 million U.S. jobs
across the range of U.S. industries. (U.S Chamber of Commerce, 2010)
III. Conclusion
Final analysis or interpretation of main point:
All in all free market Capitalism is still a better system in a globalized world than
mercantilism because it reduces the cost of living, increases more efficient, cheap and higher
quality production of goods and fairness in all division of labor.
Ending comment:

References:
1.