Argumentative Essay

It is important to put in mind the essence of respecting and

tolerating other people who have a perspective different from yours.
In writing, viewpoints can
be expressed in an opinion essay,
a persuasive essay, or an
argumentative essay, which are all
in adherence to the Argumentative
Standard. These three types of
essay have some similarities,
causing them to be confused with
one another in some
circumstances. To be able to
distinguish each text type, study
the table next slide.
 The Argumentative Standard
Opinion Essay Persuasive Essay Argumentative
Essay
Purpose The aim is to The aim is to The aim is to let the
express the writer’s persuade the reader/s accept the
personal opinion or reader/s to agree “side of the truth”
preference. with the writer’s presented by the
perspective. writer.
Technique The opinion of the The writer’s stand The claim or
writer is explained. is justified with argument is
facts. validated through
reasons and data.
Point of View The writer uses the The writer uses the The writer uses the
first person (i.e. I). first person (i.e. I) third person (i.e.
and second person he, she, it).
(i.e. you).
Content The writer’s opinion The writer’s opinion The writer’s logical
and feelings is supported by reasoning and facts
comprise the facts comprise the comprise the
substance. substance. substance.
STRUCTURES OF AN ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY

01 02
INTRODUCTION ARGUMENT DEVELOPMENT
The introduction of an This section functions as the
argumentative essay is made supporting details. It is
up of a hook, background composed of the claim and
information, and a thesis. evidence.

03
REFUTING THE OPPOSITE
ARGUMENT
This section is where a
persuasive essay and an
argumentative essay are set
apart from one another
04
CONCLUSION
Like in the introduction, the
conclusion of the argumentative
essay also states the relevance
of addressing the issue.
I. Introduction
Similar to a persuasive essay, the introduction of an
argumentative essay is made up of a hook, background
information, and a thesis.

A. A hook is a sentence which grabs the

reader’s attention.
Statistic Hook
If you’re writing an essay about the link between sleep and
stress, you can begin with a powerful statistic from APA, like this one:

According to a recent survey by the

American psychological Association, 43% of
adult claim that stress has caused them to lie
awake at night in the past month.

https://www.grammarly.com/blog/how-to-write-a-hook
Quotation Hook
If you’re writing about resiliency, you might start off this way:

Maya Angelou once said,

“Stand up straight and realize
who you are, that you tower
over circumstances.”
https://www.grammarly.com/blog/how-to-write-a-hook
Anecdotal Hook
If you’re writing about the differences between British and American baking, you
might discuss an experience you had on a trip to London at the start of the essay:
“When I first arrive in London, I was
ravenous. I headed to a café just outside the hotel to
test out some of the local flavors and ordered a pot
of tea, a scone, and pudding. But when the pudding
arrived, I was surprised not to find a sweet,
chocolatey custard. Instead, this pudding was made
from something I’d never encountered before:
mutton fat.”
https://www.grammarly.com/blog/how-to-write-a-hook
Question Hook
An essay about a dog psychology might begin with a question similar to this:

“What is the difference between a

well-adjusted dog and an anxious one?
For starters, owners that encourage their
dog’s excitement can make anxiety
seem like a behavior that’s rewarded.“

https://www.grammarly.com/blog/how-to-write-a-hook
Statement Hook
When exploring the historical vale of French cinema, you
could start with a strong, declarative hook like this one:

“French cinema is the most

influential genre of film in the last 100
years and has singlehandedly shaped
modern cinema as we know it.”
https://www.grammarly.com/blog/how-to-write-a-hook
cont. (I. Introduction)

 The background information tells about the

issue at hand. It also indicates the person/s
concerned with the issue, and more importantly, it
states the relevance or significance of addressing
the issue.
 The thesis or thesis statement points out your
argument or stand on the given issue. It is usually
positioned as the last sentence of the introductory
paragraph.
An effective introduction is
important in writing as it
serves as the foundation of a
strong argumentative essay.
Hence, you should make sure
that each part of your
introduction is well written.
II. Argumentative Development
This section functions as the
supporting details. It is composed of the
claim and evidence.

The claim is the statement

supporting your argument, which is
expressed in the introduction.
(cont.) II. Argumentative Development

The evidence, on the other hand,

pertains to the factual information, which is
utilized to support the claim/s. It is
imperative that you present pieces of
evidence that come from reliable sources.
Typically two to three claims are necessary
in order to come up with an insightful
argumentative essay.
A video on
Body of
paragraph

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53WpIc2FhE4
III. Refuting the Opposite Argument

This section is where a persuasive

essay and an argumentative essay are
set apart from one another. In an
argumentative essay, the two sides of
the issue must be presented.
(cont.) III. Refuting the Opposite Argument

If you are in favor of the thesis

presented, you must identify its
disadvantages too. Then, find ways to
counter or refute each of them. Commonly,
two opposite arguments should be
presented and later on refuted in order to
enrich the argumentation.
IV. Conclusion
Like in the introduction, the conclusion of
the argumentative essay also states the
relevance of addressing the issue. Although
it is made to reiterate or emphasize the thesis
statement, the conclusion should be
paraphrased or rephrased in order to avoid
obvious redundancy.
(cont.) IV. Conclusion

In the conclusion of an argumentative essay,

you must also let your reader accept the truth you
have presented but not in an outright manner. This
means that your tone should not be dictating and
didactic. Rather, you can simply describe the
possible ramifications if your argument is not
considered. It is an indirect way of letting your
reader believe in the validity of your argument.