The Achilles heel of many students, an argumentative essay, has been a challenge for many years. Many of you do not take this as the first choice of academic work and would need some form of external help. Especially for the current lot, whose first choice would be to procrastinate, are on the brink of losing grades. Therefore, in this blog, you will come to know the perfect format of an Argumentative Essay Structure that will be invaluable.
What Is An Argumentative Essay?
An argumentative essay takes a firm stance on a topic and then tries to persuade the reader. The only difference between a good one and an average one is that the writer will try to persuade the reader in the good one by making them understand and support their point. Essays like this generally have a clear thesis statement, a series of body paragraphs supported by detailed evidence to support the claims, and a section addressing opposing claims and counterclaims. The use of facts, examples, and expert opinions is used here rather than emotions.
Therefore, the key features it has include:
- A clear thesis statement.
- Maintaining a logical structure.
- Keeping a persuasive tone.
When Is The Need To Write An Argumentative Essay?
You might think that the argumentative essay is written only for academic purposes. However, it is also written for various other purposes that are completely irrelevant to the academic curriculum.
Academic Assignments
As a part of the coursework, your instructor may assign this as one of the tasks. One of the possible reasons for doing so is to develop critical thinking and the ability to persuade people through writing.
Persuasive Speeches
The main intent of any speech is to move the masses in their favour. Thus, the foundation needs to be strong when doing this, just to deliver speeches.
Policy Proposals
To alter existing political scenarios or go for some policy changes, the use of argumentative essays is quite common.
Opinion Pieces
This most commonly appears in magazines, newspapers, and online publications that present arguments on existing topics. Through this, the writer will try to influence the public through opinions.
Debates & Discussions
Even in an academic and political scenario, an argumentative essay can serve as the basis of debates and discussions.
Common Pitfalls You Must Avoid While Writing An Argumentative Essay
It is more common than you think to fall into the traps of a persuasive essay. Once committed, you will definitely lose grades more seamlessly than you think. Thus, you must avoid them no matter what the situation is.
Weak Thesis Statement
A weak thesis statement is the single most common problem in argumentative essays. If your thesis is too broad, too evident, or has no arguable position at all, it will have little to no focus. To avoid this issue, make sure your thesis is brief, arguable, and clearly indicated at the end of the introduction.
One-Sided Evidence
An argument is only possible when you have at least two sides. If you don’t have the second side, your task is eventually biased and offers no real value. Moreover, it may indicate you might have even conducted research that is unprofessional. Then, you must take the help of Assignment Writers who will help you with sources (academic journals, previous research, expert opinions, or case studies).
Ignoring Opposing Views
A critical aspect of writing this type of essay is that it must have opposing views. Having them balances out the stage of argument and offers unique perspectives. However, due to the lack of research, there might come a point where there are no rival points of view.
Overuse of Generalisations
Phrases like 'Everyone knows that' or 'All teenagers are addicted to their phones' are overgeneralisations and will often lower your grades. These may be true or false, but using them will only drag your grades and will negatively affect your overall performance. Rather than try to make absolute claims, use more adept language that appreciates the variety of opinions.
Introducing New Arguments In Conclusion
The conclusion is meant to close an argument, not to introduce new ones. Evidence or new points should not be added at the end of your essay, and if you do, you'll confuse the reader. This will only undermine your reputation as a writer and will result in no credible value. The conclusion is restating your thesis in relation to the evidence and summarising the main arguments, and not introducing new ones.
Essential Elements of Writing An Argumentative Essay
The general argumentative essay format is a mix of multiple things that need to be kept in account. Thus, the elements that make it a success involve:
Make A Claim
It serves as the main point of your argument, which you must make and support throughout the essay.
Proof
It is any material knowledge that provides credibility to your task, such as data, statistics, or facts.
Counterargument
An argument or a list of arguments made against a belief.
Rebuttal
You must be able to disprove the counterargument when you write it, which falls under this clause.
Experts Follow These Steps To Write An Argumentative Essay
For many students, writing an argumentative essay from nothing can be a bit of a task, which might be time-consuming. Doing research, using persuasive writing skills, understanding the topic in-depth and much more can also be challenging. Hence, following these steps to structure your essay is the best way to proceed, and the experts follow it too.
First, Choose A Debatable Topic
First and foremost, the topic you choose must have enough material to be debated upon. Here, choose a topic that has opposing views because this is what makes your essay debatable. The topic should be appropriate for people to have reasonable disagreement, rather than a matter of fact. Ideally, you will select a topic that is of interest to you and has enough information to provide support for both sides of the argument.
Do Thorough Research
Research is what gives your topic considerable value because you will come across insightful information about it. Refer to credible sources that generally include academic journals, books, government sources, and trusted media. When you search on the topic, look for facts, statistics, expert opinions, and real-life examples to support your case.
Structure A Clear Thesis Statement
Your thesis statement is the main idea and the main argument of your essay. It must clearly state your position on the topic in one or two sentences. A thesis statement has to be specific, arguable and focused. For example, rather than saying "Pollution is bad," a thesis statement would be "Governments should impose stricter regulations on industrial pollution to protect public health and the environment."
Follow An Outline
To help you organise your thoughts and structure your essay, following an outline is the way to proceed. Begin with an introduction that has three parts: a hook, background information, and your thesis statement. Then outline 2 - 3 body paragraphs to support your main points. Then, include one paragraph to address the counterargument and disprove it. In the end, conclude with a final impression that reiterates your argument summary.
Begin With The Essay
Once you have structured the essay and done all the necessary research, it’s time to start writing. At this point, you have all the ingredients of writing an effective and structured argumentative essay. Start with an introductory paragraph, and in the body, use topic sentences that introduce the point. Then you can provide evidence or reasoning that supports the point, and explain how the evidence supports your point. You can also take the help of facts or examples to support each claim you make.
Revise & Edit
Most of you will make the mistake of simply not going through the whole essay. This may be due to procrastination, approaching deadlines, or just not having the will to go through it again. This section, revising and editing, will assist you in identifying errors or missing topics related to facts. Hence, going through this process will help you to improve clarity and logic.
Proofread In The End
After compiling all the necessary information, writing on it, revising and editing it, in the end, proofread the essay. Reading your draft aloud can be an effective way to identify awkward phrasing or mistakes that you might not notice when reading silently. If you are able, ask a peer, teacher, or tutor to read your draft and give you feedback. This is the step that makes your essay refined, professional, and persuasive.
Conclusion
An argumentative essay has plenty of bits and pieces that must be put together for a better outcome. First, you need a topic that can be debated upon, then you need to conduct thorough research, and develop a proper thesis statement. Afterwards, you need to follow an authentic outline that suits the project. Now begin writing the essay, revise and make changes and then finally proofread it all. All of this is an Argumentative Essay Structure that you must apply and follow every step of the way. And even for a single per cent, you think you will not be able to do this, then connect with the Assignment Writers.
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