THE ARGUMENTATIVE

ESSAY

To develop an arguable thesis

To argue both sides of an issue
To support and explain arguments
To refute opposing arguments
To review cohesion
To organize and write an argumentative essay

Is an essay in which you

agree or

disagree with an issue

Your aim is to convince your
reader that you are right
You have to take a stand on an issue
& support it with solid reasons/ evidence

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

An explanation of the issue

A clear thesis statement
A summary of the opposing arguments
Rebuttals/refutations to the opposing
arguments
Your own argument

The structure of an argumentative essay is

reflected in the way the facts and opinions are
organized.
There are 3 possible structures

Introduction
Weakest argument that
supports your opinion
Strongest argument that
supports your opinion
Concession and refutation

Conclusion

Background information.
Thesis: Take a stand
Present argument from the weakest to the
strongest
Show that you are aware of arguments on
the other side of the debate. Than, refute
by showing that their arguments are not
as strong /valid as your arguments
Restate your stand
Give comment (s)
Make predictions (s)
Give recommendations
Summarize

Introduction
Concession and
Refutation
Weakest argument that
supports your opinion
Stronger argument
that supports your
opinion
Strongest argument
that supports your
opinion

Conclusion

Clearly state your point of view.

Introduce the topic by defining relevant
key terms
Show that you are aware of arguments on
the other side of the debate. Than, refute
by showing that their arguments are not
as strong as your arguments.
Present the arguments, from the
weakest to the strongest to support your
opinion
Restate your stand
Give comments
Make prediction
Give recommendations
Summarize

Introduction
Concession I and
Refutation I
Concession II and
Refutation II
Concession III and
Refutation III

Conclusion

Clearly state your point of view.

Introduce the topic by defining relevant
key terms

Show that you are aware of

arguments on the other side of the
debate. Than, refute by showing
that their arguments are not as
strong /valid as your arguments.
Restate your stand
Give comments)
Make predictions)
Give recommendations
Summarize

Introduce the topic by giving background information

Define the issues clearly

Example
Thesis: Minors who break the law should
get the same treatment as adults
Does minors mean anyone from age 3 to 17?
What exactly does get the same treatment as
adult mean?
Also important to limit the issue to be discussed

THESIS STATEMENT
-You have to take a stand/position or choose a side
on an issue.
Example:

1. Doctors should be allowed to assist patients

who are terminally ill and in pain to commit
suicide.
2. University students should be required to take
a year off to pursue community service
projects in order to increase their maturity
and global awareness.

Present reasons to support your

position.
Example:

Topic: Fireworks should be

prohibited in this country
Reasons:
1. Fireworks hurt people
2. It can cause property damage
3. Annoy many people

Some form of Evidence

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Facts/statistics
Authorities (experts in their field)
Examples
Anecdotes
Logical interpretation

Thesis: Fireworks should be prohibited in

this country.
Reason: Many children are injured each
year.

Types of evidence that can be used

to support your position.
1. Fact
Last year there were 2,000 injuries during
Hari Raya.
2. Authority
Dr. Radin, director of the University Hospital
Trauma Centre, had stated that the bamboo
canon alone is responsible for hundreds of
injuries every year

3. Example
Even relatively harmless fireworks like sparklers
can cause severe burns when children grab the
glowing wires in their hands or step on them with
their bare feet.
4. Anecdote
When my younger brother was 7 years old, he
threw a fire cracker at my face. Since then I have
not been able to see clearly with my right eye.
5. Logical interpretation
Because children get caught up in the moment
and so often dont think of the consequences,
they will continue to be injured by fireworks.

1.Violence in video games, movies and television

programs should be censored.
a
b..
c..
2.Engaged couples should be required to take
marriage preparation classes for one full year
before the wedding.
a
b....
c

Give reasons for your opinion and support them

with evidence or facts
Each body paragraph relate back to a point of the
argument stated in the thesis
Body paragraphs should be ordered so that the
strongest reason is last.
Recognize the opposing view and prove it wrong, or
refute it.
Generally, the refuting occurs in the last paragraph

Argument paragraph
Topic sentence stating the argument
..
Support point 1 ..
. detail from experience or facts from trusted
sources
Support point 2 ...
.. .detail from experience or facts from trusted
sources
Support point 3 ..
.. detail from experience or facts from trusted sources

DEVELOP SPECIFIC DETAILS

i) make your side stronger -with descriptions
of events in your life accounts of events in other
peoples life, facts you have heard or read
ii) make the other side weaker
by finding incorrect information in the
opposing argument
looking for unsupported claims in the
opposing argument

 Because issues have at least 2 side,

there is more to argument than
presenting reason.

First acknowledge opposing reasons, in some

cases conceding points that are
true, and then refuting them, showing
how they are wrong.

Refuting often involves giving more

evidence (facts and examples), further
clarifying your reasons, showing how
opposing reasons /objections are poorly
defined, incomplete, or illogical.
Refuting should be tactful, aimed at
persuading, not forcing agreement from
the audience.
Do not attack the character of the
opposition.
Example: All lawyers are liars.

Example
Thesis: Doctors should be allowed to
assist patients who are terminally ill
and
in great pain to commit suicide.
Reasons favoring
Assertion

1.Patients free will

2.Compassion for
patient
3.Compassion for
family

Reasons
Opposing
Assertion

1.Sanctity of life
2.Possibility of cure
3.Depressed patients
making bad
decisions.

Thesis: The benefits of eating only organically

grown food outweighed the drawbacks
Reasons favoring assertion
A. Organic food has fewer health hazards
B. Organic food is more nutritious
C Organic food often taste better

Reasons Opposing assertion

A..
B
C..

Refuting opposing reasons

Summarize the main points of your argument

or restate the thesis
End your conclusion with a strong statement,
such as a demand for action or an alternative
solution.

1. Overgeneralization
Example
Vegetarian diets must be bad for people because
one of my friends got sick when she tried to go
vegan.
All teachers children excel in examinations.

Be specific with your statement and

support it with valid reasons.

2. Sterotyping

Only young people use the Facebook to socialize.

3. Jumping to unwarranted
conclusion

The little boys face is dirty, and his clothes are

old; his parents must not care much about him.
Ban all carbonated drinks before we all die of
diabetics.
Going on holidays is a sure way of wasting money
and time.

4. False cause-and-effect relationship

Example
Sheila scored straight As because she drinks Milo
every night.

Jason was chatting late last night, so he failed to

finish the road race

5. Attacking a person not an

argument

How can anyone want to elect a governor like

Samuel, who has been divorced three times and
still sees a therapist three times a month?

INTRODUCING AN ARGUMENT
First
similarly
Next
moreover
Again
above all
Hence
in addition
Finally
in other words
As such
furthermore
Besides
to begin with
Like wise
equally important

Making a concession
Certainly
indeed
It must be stressed
In fact
It may be argued
it has been argued
it may be objected
It has been asserted
it has been contended
It is claimed
It has been maintained
At this point one may wonder if
A question comes to mind as to whether
Certain reservations must be considered about
whether

Making a refutation
Yet
Instead
Even so
However
In contrast
Despite

conversely
even though
nevertheless
on the contrary
at the same time
on the other hand

To Propose
urge
recommend

that killing of whales be stopped

because..

insists

To cite a source or statistics

According to
Based on

information from the United Nations..

The opponents of this proposal

Those who disagree

argue
assert
declare
that.
claim
say
take the position

To summarize
It is

essential
important
necessary
vital
urgent

that the killing of whales be stopped.

Introductory paragraph
-are there general statements about the topic?
-Does the thesis statement express your stand on the
issue clearly?
Body Paragraphs
-Is your essay logically organized?
-Is there clear topic sentences with controlling ideas?
-Do all the specific details offer logical reasons and
support for your opinion.
-Are there concluding sentences?
-Does your essay attempt to refute opposing arguments?
Concluding paragraphs
-Have you concluded your essay well?

1.Pre-writing
- brainstorm the topic.
- Write 3 reasons for and 3 against some
aspect of the topic
- select the strongest points.
- Which side do you support?
- Work on the thesis statement.

2. Develop An Outline
a. Organize your ideas
Step 1:Write your thesis statement,
including the 3 reasons for and
against
Step 2:Order your reason.
Choose the opponents' argument that
you will refute.
Step 3: decide what kind of support would
be relevant. Look up relevant facts in the
library and internet
b. Make a detailed outline

3. Write a rough Draft

4. Revise and edit your rough draft
5. Write your final copy

Write an essay on one of the following

topics:
1.Should the internet be monitored or
censored?
2.Rapist should be sentenced to death.
Do you agree?
3.People under 30 should not be allowed
to marry.