Argumentative Essay

--- sirrhoyetheone

The argumentative essay is...

A kind of writing that requires the student

to investigate a topic, collect, generate,

and evaluate evidence, and establish a

position on the topic in a concise manner.

Please note...

Some confusion may occur between the

argumentative essay and expository

essay. These two kinds are similar, but

argumentative essay differs from the

expository essay in the amount of pre-

writing and research involved. The

argumentative essay is lengthy, detailed

research. Expository essays involve less

research and are shorter in length.

Argumentative...

Require research where the student

collects data through interviews,

surveys, observations, or experiments.

Detailed research allows the student to

learn about the topic and to understand

different points of view, so that s/he may

choose a position and support it with

evidence collected during research.

Argumentative...

Is required to consider the two different and

opposite aspects of the same topic – the

positive and the negative – and then draw a

conclusion.

The topic given to you will have arguments

„for and against‟ it. It is up to you to dwell on

both and arrive at a convincing conclusion.

Write each argument in about two or three

paragraphs. Thus, you should have a total of

five to six paragraphs.

Before writing:

Brainstorm ideas on the subject.

Identify the main topics.

Use these topics as headings for organising your notes.

Decide which side you are on i.e. which arguments are most convincing. Make sure you choose the side that you can fully support.

Plan and write an outline for your essay noting down the information you will include in each paragraph.

Introductory paragraph...

Your introduction should:

Introduce the topic with a general

statement.

State why it is important.

State there is a difference of opinion

about this topic.

Thesis statement must state what YOUR

claim is and can include the “parts” of

the argument you are going to state.

Body...

This stage is really important --- it is

where you plan the structure of the

essay.

Concluding paragraph...

Your conclusion should:

Restate the main claim.

Present one or two general sentences which accurately summarise your arguments which support the main premise.

Provide a general warning of the consequences of not following the premise that you put forward and/or a general statement of how the community will benefit from following that premise.