Master The Art Of Writing Argumentative Essays

You may get an assignment to write an argumentative essay in your academic institution. If you have already written you may not find it difficult, but if you are new to it, you will need to understand the basics of writing an argumentative essay. Every essay type has a pattern; so have argumentative essays too.

So, how to write an effective argumentative essay? Here, we will discuss the steps and flow of an argumentative essay, which you may follow as a reference.

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1. Select a topic

When your essay is argumentative, you will need to think about a topic that can break an argument. You preferably have to select a topic that is interesting, appealing, and perplexing.

It is important to keep in mind that your essay topic is neither too broad, which will be deserted soon, nor insubstantial, which fails to develop interests. Keep your goals in mind. Know what you want from this paper. What is the purpose behind writing it? What opinions, views, and ideas will it lead to? Will it prove what you want to prove? All these points are very crucial before you start writing. You should know the purpose of your writing and the objective you want to achieve through it. If you do not find a purpose, you will not be able to achieve your goal of proving your points through your essay.

 

2. Take a position on your topic, and form a thesis statement

Your thesis must have the content to create an argument. Whatever topic you pick, you must be able to start either agreeing or disagreeing on your topic. To make it arguable, your thesis must have some possibility of truth. However, it should have some points to create disagreements and debates. At the same time, it should not be accepted as true; in general. It must create disagreement among people. You must be aware that a thesis topic should have both an observation and an opinion:

observation (what you observe or find) + opinion (what you conclude from your observation) = thesis

The strength of your thesis can be judged from the level of strong antithesis it can create.

Common drawbacks of a thesis:

• If a thesis is written in fragments.
• If a thesis is too lengthy
• If a thesis contains questions (Usually a thesis is an answer to the questions)
• If the thesis has irrelevant information.
• If the thesis begins with, I think, or in my opinion.

If the thesis deals with a stale, old or uninteresting issue.

• If a thesis contains words with generalizations like (all, none, always, only, everyone, etc.)

Follow the below tips while writing a Thesis:

It takes a lot of effort and thinking to come up with an effective thesis. It evolves as you begin and progress in writing it.

A thesis evolves as you work with your topic. It starts with brainstorming, researching, talking, and thinking about your topic and everything that comes within its scope before shaping it into a thesis. If you are finding the entire process too complicated and challenging then you can start by freewriting about your topic. As you do your free writing, you will come up with ideas to write a workable thesis.

During the process of free writing; consider it to be a working thesis and keep in mind that you will need to make modifications to it and refocus on it as you draft and revise the paper.

Now, copy your working thesis on an index card and when you research and write, keep it in front of you. If you start giving your thesis a plain and simple start, it will help you focus on your writing.

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3. Identify your target audience

You should always have your target audience in mind, those who become your readers. Can you define your target audience, like those who disagree with your point of view, disinterested observers, etc.? Maybe you are writing to your classmates. Take advice from your professor or GSI, about whom should you see as your target audience. If you are not very sure about your specific audience, you can target a general audience.

4. Your essay should contain convincing evidence

A good quality essay should consist of clarity and clear reasons backed by evidence. Reasons in your essay are seen as the main points to support your claim or thesis. Most of the time, the reasons are the answers to the question, usually, that occupies a reader’s mind while reading the thesis, like, “Why do you make that claim?” The most convenient way to define these reasons is to consider them as “because phrases.” Now, if reasons are there, evidence too should be there to validate your reasons. Evidence will make your arguments stronger and more successful. So ensure your reasons are supported by sufficient evidence.

Following are the forms of evidence as per the St. Martin’s Guide to Writing (Axelrod & Cooper, 2nd ed., New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1988):

• facts
• statistics
• authorities
• anecdotes
• scenarios
• cases
• textual evidence

You can collect your evidence from various sources and texts. It is important to document your evidence in a structured manner. If you are assuming, your evidence will speak for itself, then you are just taking the process lightly. You make sure, you are very clear about what you write and it should be very convincing. Make sure there is a proper introduction and explanation of the significance of your reasons. Let your readers conclude from the evidence and see if they are able to observe what you want them to observe. Every piece of evidence should be able to prove your points on the topic and explain why it is significant.

Moreover, along with including evidence, thoughtful writers can anticipate the counterarguments of their readers and those may include challenges, alternatives, objections, or questions to your argument in your essay. So, when you write, also imagine how your readers will react to your argument as the essay opens. Prepared writers can anticipate and prepare to address their readers’ counterarguments. As a writer, you can acknowledge, accommodate and/or disapprove of them.

5. Write, revise, review and draft your essay

Usually, in any type of writing, you will have to make multiple drafts before you get your final copy. In the case of an argumentative essay, too, you will need to pass through multiple drafts, before you have your final copy in front of you. While writing, rewriting, drafting, redrafting, and revising your essay, make sure you follow the below listed steps.

• provide ample evidence, presented logically and fairly
• deal with the opposing point of view
• pay particular attention to the organisation of your essay. Make sure its structure suits your topic and audience
• address and correct any fallacies of logic
• including proper transitions to allow your reader to follow your argument

6. Make the final copy of your draft

Once your writing is complete and you have your final copy in your hands, it is time to don your readers’ hat and read your draft as a reader. Also, allow your classmates to read your draft. Be open to criticism and feedback. Become a critic of your own writing. Do a careful revision of your draft. Consider your own assessment and also the suggestions from your batchmates and friends. Maintain a peer editing sheet. Let your peers ask you questions about your topic. What is the thesis of this essay? Is it arguable? Does the writer include ample evidence? Is the structure suitable for the topic and the audience?).

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