Both beliefs cannot be correct at the same time, and so the cult members are forced to make their choice. Last Updated: June 16, 2020 No. But make sure not to introduce any new information in the conclusion so that you can effectively. It may feel daunting to turn an outline into a complete draft, but just remember that you’ve already laid out all the groundwork; now you’re just filling in the gaps. Is your argument logical? An argumentative essay attempts to convince a reader to agree with a particular argument (the writer's thesis statement). Have you successfully presented and refuted the counterargument? The thesis statement. Strong argumentative essays present relevant evidence that supports an argument and convinces the audience of a particular stance. But while the topics of an argumentative essay can span several different fields, the structure of an argumentative essay is always the same: you must support a claim—a claim that can reasonably have multiple sides—using multiple sources and using a standard essay format (which we'll talk about later on). You can also search individual university or school libraries and websites to see what kinds of academic articles you can access for free. Does your supporting evidence support your reasoning? Often, you can use the same topics for both a persuasive essay or an argumentative one—the difference is all in the approach and the evidence you present. How would I write one? For example, if you’re arguing that New York should be the new capital of the US, you would have to back up that fact by discussing the factual contrasts between New York and DC in terms of location, population, revenue, and laws. Start With an Enticing Hook But if this sounds daunting, never fear! Once you’ve made your revisions to the overall structure, mark all your small errors and grammar problems so you can fix them in the next draft. The first two sentences set the scene and give some hypothetical examples and stakes for the reader to care about. As for the essay topic, you'll most often be asked to write an argumentative essay in an English class on a “general” topic of your choice, ranging the gamut from science, to history, to literature. You could cite cases where people with criminal records or mental illnesses were sold firearms and went on to use them. Now that you’ve laid out exactly what you’ll need for your essay and where, it’s time to fill in all the gaps by writing it out. So be sure to pick a topic that other people have studied (or at least studied elements of) so that you can use their data in your argument. Writing the best argumentative essay is all about the preparation, so let's talk steps: If you have the option to pick your own argumentative essay topic (which you most likely will), then choose one or two topics you find the most intriguing or that you have a vested interest in and do some preliminary research on both sides of the debate. use a quote from someone with a PhD in environmental science if you are writing an argumentative paper on the dangers of global warming) or published in scholarly, peer-reviewed outlets. It tells the reader what the. This article has been viewed 789,519 times. Does the conclusion present a compelling idea for the future of this topic. The first part is often a catchy hook that involves a pun on your topic or an impactful quote, and the second part is usually a sentence that sums up or provides details about your argument. Pull quotes from reputable sources to support your stance, and end by restating your thesis and reasserting your main points. This type of analysis can be augmented by historical context or other expert or widely-regarded opinions on the subject, but is mainly supported directly through the original source (the piece or art or text being analyzed). Ask a reference librarian for assistance in finding reputable, useful sources for your argument. Often, it is helpful to end with a look forward to further research that could be done on the topic in light of what you have said in your paper. (Do you feel persuaded?). Use basic writing techniques to write the essay. What do I do if I disagree in an argumentative essay? The writer takes a firm stand one way or another on a topic and then uses hard evidence to support that stance. Once you've given yourself a solid foundation of information, begin to craft your essay. Copyright © 2020. Include only relevant information. In this case it could be that limiting gun access could strip innocent people of their right to defend themselves against violent criminals who could still obtain guns through illegal ways. But there are also plenty of other ways to frame an argumentative essay as well: Though these are worded differently than the first three, you're still essentially forced to pick between two sides of an issue: yes or no, for or against, benefit or detriment. Pick your topic, do your research, make your outline, and fill in the gaps. 20 May 2020. If you're given complete free reign of topics, then it'll be up to you to find an essay topic that no only appeals to you, but that you can turn into an A+ argumentative essay. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. There are several different formatting methods that are used in different fields. Before you know it, you'll have yourself an A+ argumentative essay there, my friend. ", "I found this article very useful as it clearly shows methods of how to write an effective augmentative essay. Some will claim that it is possible to maintain conflicting beliefs or loyalties permanently, but this is often more a matter of people deluding themselves and still making a choice for one side or the other, rather than truly maintaining loyalty to both sides equally. It would be best if you can do this with every paragraph. We hire only the best academic writers to our team. Your thesis CANNOT be a mere statement of fact (e.g., “Washington DC is the capital of the United States”). Be prepared and ♪ you'll never go hungry again ♪, *cough*, or struggle with your argumentative essay-writing again. Topic: Is it possible to maintain conflicting loyalties? So let's get started. It is also important not to base your reasons on opinions. Yes. Your job is to convince the reader that your view on the subject is the best one, so choose a topic you can investigate and support with research. Open the essay with a concise thesis that asserts your viewpoint, then sum up all aspects of the issue, including your opinion and counterarguments. Try summarizing each paragraph as one sentence. With over 11 years of professional tutoring experience, Jake is also the CEO of Simplifi EDU, an online tutoring service aimed at providing clients with access to a network of excellent California-based tutors. This article has been viewed 789,519 times. People's backgrounds and experiences often influence how they will react to views different from their own, so it is helpful for you to be knowledgeable about these factors. Theory is all well and good, but examples are key. You can write an argumentative essay on any topic, so long as there's room for argument. This answered all of my questions. She has years of tutoring experience and writes creative works in her free time. With over 11 years of professional tutoring experience, Jake is also the CEO of Simplifi EDU, an online tutoring service aimed at providing clients with access to a network of excellent California-based tutors. But it can also be near impossible to write an argumentative essay on a topic that has no room for debate. The Toulmin approach is another strategy that’s useful in polemical arguments. How to Write a Compare and Contrast Essay. Your thesis will be the basis of your entire essay, so make sure you know which side you’re on, that you’ve stated it clearly, and that you stick by your argument throughout the entire essay. Persuasive essays are similar to argumentative essays, so it can be easy to get them confused. Sentences should logically flow and have a specific purpose. Lancelot tells himself and others that he is equally devoted to both King Arthur and his court and to being Queen Guinevere’s knight (Malory, 2008). A great argumentative essay always combines the same basic elements: approaching an argument from a rational perspective, researching sources, supporting your claims using facts rather than opinion, and articulating your reasoning into the most cogent and reasoned points. https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/685/05/, http://www.roanestate.edu/owl/argument.html, https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/625/02/, https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/625/01/, https://umanitoba.ca/student/academiclearning/media/Writing_a_Great_Title_NEW.pdf, https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/588/01/, https://depts.washington.edu/owrc/Handouts/Argumentative%20Paper%20Format.pdf, https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/section/2/, https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/section/1/5/, https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/620/01/, https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/623/01/, https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/599/01/, http://homeworktips.about.com/od/essaywriting/a/argument.htm, Escrever um Texto Dissertativo Argumentativo, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. It always helps to have an example to learn from. I've written a full 5-paragraph argumentative essay here. Psychological theory states that human beings are not equipped to maintain conflicting loyalties indefinitely and that attempting to do so leads to a state called “cognitive dissonance.” Cognitive dissonance theory is the psychological idea that people undergo tremendous mental stress or anxiety when holding contradictory beliefs, values, or loyalties (Festinger, 1957). Is your thesis a statement that someone could argue for or against? Do I need to add counter statements? Consider which of the strategies, Classical, Rogerian or Toulmin, that you’re using and adapt your tone and arguments to reflect it. The second statement sounds far stronger and more analytical. (In other words: a ridiculously awesome skeleton). For example, the question of whether or not global warming is caused by human activity or if it is a natural cycle. Though every essay is founded on these two ideas, there are several different types of essays, differentiated by the style of the writing, how the writer presents the thesis, and the types of evidence used to support the thesis statement. The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 160+ SAT Points, How to Get a Perfect 1600, by a Perfect Scorer, Free Complete Official SAT Practice Tests. I have an examination tomorrow and this site helped me a lot. Persuasive essays seek to persuade a reader to agree with the point of view of the writer, whether that point of view is based on factual evidence or not. A good argumentative essay should follow this structure: Introductory paragraph. They will probably be happy to help you. Check out our top-rated graduate blogs here: © PrepScholar 2013-2018. In an attempt to maintain his fealty both to the established system and to what he believed, he sat on his findings for a number of years (Fantoli, 1994). All rights reserved. ", "I have always had trouble writing essays, but now I don't.". Thanks for creating this kind of page. This type of essay provides the reader with a thorough overview of a topic, covering all facets, but also attempts to persuade the reader into agreeing with the author's point of view. Look at how I state my thesis in paragraph 1, give supporting evidence in paragraphs 2 and 3, address a counterargument in paragraph 4, and conclude in paragraph 5. Let's take a look. The Rogerian method also benefits from taking a wide-scoped view of a subject, “This research will afford us not only the ability to identify the cause, which we may then have time to change, but will also give us a chance to apply technology to adapt to the earth’s own natural rhythms, if that is, indeed, the source of global warming.”. This approach does not have a specific structure that needs to be followed. Refutation - The opposing side should be briefly presented and refuted as not valid. For example, Stricter gun laws will reduce access to firearms. In the Rogerian approach, the author recognizes and is sympathetic to both sides of the argument, though he/she favors one. That will make it easier to research and to write. SAT® is a registered trademark of the College Entrance Examination BoardTM. Understanding how to structure and write an argumentative essay is a useful skill. A more effective thesis would be something like this: There are many different ways to organize your argument, Be sure to include counterarguments (those ideas that are at odds with your own view), but explain to your reader why your own viewpoint is more logical and accurate, perhaps because the opposing view is based on outdated information, etc. The length of paragraphs in these parts will vary depending on the length of your essay assignment. Conclusion - The conclusion may present a summary of the main arguments or suggest solutions or studies that should be conducted in the future. These two paragraphs provide the reasons why the author supports the main argument and uses substantiated sources to back those reasons. Essays can be roughly divided into four different types: #1: Argumentative#2: Persuasive#3: Expository#4: Analytical. If not, you may need to pick another topic or side of the argument to support. You would then have to talk about the precedents for what makes for a good capital city and why New York fits the bill more than DC does. Follow the five-paragraph outline structure from the previous section. Check scholarly journals online at Google Scholar, the Directory of Open Access Journals, or JStor. And you must support the side you choose with evidence as to why your side is the correct one. If not, go back and make notes so that you can fix it for your final draft. So long as your evidence is relevant to your point and you can extrapolate from it to form a larger whole, you can use it as a part of your resource material. Use the notes you made on the rough draft and go in and hack and smooth away until you’re satisfied with the final result. Main arguments - Some time should be spent elaborating the main arguments. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. This article received 15 testimonials and 80% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. In addition to using concrete evidence, you always want to keep the tone of your essay passionate, but impersonal. How to Start an Argumentative Essay Your introductory paragraph should be crafted around your thesis statement, providing background information needed to understand your argument and presenting pieces of evidence that back up that argument. For example, Lancelot du Lac typifies a person who claims to maintain a balanced loyalty between to two parties, but his attempt to do so fails (as all attempts to permanently maintain conflicting loyalties must). This method gets to the heart of the problem: the earth is warming. This is part of your first paragraph. We're going to cover them so you know what not to do for your argumentative essay. Expert Interview. Steps on Writing Your Argumentative Essay Step 1 - Choosing A Topic Whichever style of argument you choose, you will still need to choose an appropriate topic for an argumentative essay. Background on the subject. We’ll show how an argumentative essay differs from other kinds of papers, how to research and write them, how to pick an argumentative essay topic, and where to find example essays. The paragraph on cognitive dissonance theory gives both broad supporting evidence and more narrow, detailed supporting evidence to show why the thesis statement is correct not just anecdotally but also scientifically and psychologically. You’ve taken a gander at what the internet at large has to say on your argument, but now’s the time to actually read those sources and take notes. What SAT Target Score Should You Be Aiming For? Your first task is to introduce the reader to the topic at hand so they’ll be prepared for your claim. Avoid implicating opposing views as, Be sure to review your main points and restate your thesis. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. It is important to remember that anyone can write things on the internet without any kind of publication standards for accuracy, so using blogs and many websites is not a good idea in an academic paper. Citing sources involves writing quotation marks (") around the verbatim quotes and then including a parenthetical in-text citation at the end of the quote that refers to a source listed on the Bibliography or Works Cited page at the end of your paper. Next, you absolutely must have a position on an argument and make that position clear to the readers. This is typically a fact-forward essay with little argument or opinion one way or the other. Courtney scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT in high school and went on to graduate from Stanford University with a degree in Cultural and Social Anthropology. Write the Essay. Example topics of an argumentative essay: The next three types of essays are not argumentative essays, but you may have written them in school. For example, if the topic is gun control you could cite a statistic about the number of deaths by firearms in the US per year or a quote from a parent who lost a child in a school shooting. Your argument can’t simply be that a lot of people think New York is the best city ever and that you agree. Are you writing the paper for a class, in which case your audience is your professor and your classmates? Does it make sense as a whole? This article was co-authored by Jake Adams. Jake holds a BA in International Business and Marketing from Pepperdine University. Example: Though there are obvious benefits to society by legalizing drugs in terms of eliminating the violent crime associated with them and allowing for treatment of addiction, some regulations should be implemented to limit their consumption and sale in order to ensure safer and more responsible use. Write another essay from your point of view and explain why you disagree. The average argumentative essay is between three to five pages, and will require at least three or four separate sources with which to back your claims. For this subject, the arguments could include things like: the sense of alienation some children feel when put in foster homes at an older age and the danger of facing even worse abuse or neglect through the foster system. Did your preliminary reading influence you to pick a side or change your side? Whether it be through literature or history, time and time again, people demonstrate the challenges of trying to manage conflicting loyalties and the inevitable consequences of doing so. The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 4+ ACT Points, How to Get a Perfect 36 ACT, by a Perfect Scorer. If you take time to write a well-crafted one, all you’ll have to do is fill it in. You should also refute the counterargument: By introducing stricter laws that specifically limit the sale of guns to criminals and those with mental illness, the number of gun-related homicides would be reduced. But he can neither be in two places at once to protect both the king and queen, nor can he help but let his romantic feelings for the queen to interfere with his duties to the king and the kingdom. ", "I liked part 3: Structuring your argument. Try to address some of these questions in your introduction: why is this topic important? So let’s look at each type and what the differences are between them before we focus the rest of our time to argumentative essays. Thus, an argumentative essay has a burden of substantiated proof and sources, whereas some other types of essays (namely persuasive essays) do not. Whichever style of argument you choose, you will still need to choose an appropriate topic for an argumentative essay. Even if human beings initially hold a conflicting loyalty, they will do their best to find a mental equilibrium by making a choice between those loyalties—stay stalwart to a belief system or change their beliefs.

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