The Argumentative Essay

What exactly is an Argument?

An argument involves the process of

establishing a claim and then proving it with
the use of logical reasoning, examples, and
research.
What is an Argumentative or Argument
Essay?

The purpose of an argumentative essay is to

present well-reasoned conclusions in order to
persuade the audience to accept or at least
seriously consider a point of view.
 The aim of writing argumentative
essays

• To convince or persuade the reader.

• One attempts to change the reader’s mind and
convince the reader to agree with the point of
view or claim of the writer.
 Key terms to learn before writing an
argumentative essay
1. Argumentation: the act or process of forming reasons,
drawing conclusions, and applying them to a case in
discussion.
2. Pro Argument (PRO): point or statement that supports
one’s ideas.
3. Counter Argument (CON): point or statement in opposition
to the argument being made in a written document or
speech.
4. Refutation: the process of disproving an opposing
argument.
5.
 Elements of Argumentation

Argument/Claim

An argument states a claim and supports it

with reasons and evidence from sources.

Arguing your side makes you the proponent.

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 Elements of Argumentation

Counterargument/Counterclaim

• The counterargument/counterclaim is an
argument that stands in opposition to your
argument/claim.
• The counterargument/counterclaim is your
opponent’s (the other side’s) argument that
tries to explain why you are wrong.

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 How to write argumentative essays

Choosing a topic and writing the thesis statement

• Decide on a controversial topic (debatable and

interesting).
• Write an argumentative thesis statement.

• Generate ideas (free writing or brainstorming).

 When Supporting your Argument
One important concern in writing an argumentative
essay is to strengthen your argument. To do this, you
need to base your argument on sound evidence. In
supporting your argument, the evidence that you
include can be:
• Facts: data that have been objectively proven and are
generally accepted (such as historical facts, scientific
data, statistics etc.)
• Examples: should be sufficient number of examples to
prove the case.
• Support from authority
• Opinions of experts
 Don not be rude!

• You should make sure that you reach your

audience without offending them!
• Use tactful and courteous language
• Avoid sweeping statements like ‘’everybody
knows’’ or ‘’people with any intelligence
agree that’’.
 Useful sentences
• Yes ____, but ____
• Although I agree up to a point, I still insist . . . (59).
• “I agree” that ____, but I cannot agree that ____.”
• X is right that ______, but she claims that ____ (60).
• I agree that ______ because my experience [of]
________ confirms it (57).
 Practice
Invent an argument statement for an audience

• Topic: pet ownership

• Audiences:
– Middle-class elementary school-age kids
– 25-y.o. Indian women in Seattle
– Dog show enthusiasts

What might each group care about? Already know?

Need to know? What points could you make about
owning a pet?
 Examples

Click “Writing Exercises, “cancel” the registration

option, then select “Model papers”:

http://bcs.bedfordstmartins.com/writersref6e/Player
/Pages/Main.aspx
 In Conclusion

• Have a point to your argument—make your own

decisions about your topic
• Identify your audience
• Explain what “They” say about your topic
• Respond to what “They” say with your argument
• Address potential objections with respect
• Show why your audience should care
• Parts of the Persuasive Essay
1. The Introduction
The introduction has a "hook or grabber" to catch the reader's
attention. Some
"grabbers" include:
1. Opening with an unusual detail: (Manitoba, because of its cold
climate, is not thought of as
a great place to be a reptile. Actually, it has the largest seasonal
congregation of garter
snakes in the world!)
2. Opening with a strong statement: (Cigarettes are the number
one cause of lighter sales in
Canada!)
3. Opening with a Quotation: (Elbert Hubbard once said , "Truth is
stronger than fiction.")
4. Opening with a Statistic or Fact: Sometimes a statistic or fact
will add emphasis or interest
to your topic. It may be wise to include the item's authoritative
source.
• to your topic. It may be wise to include the item's authoritative
source.
6. Opening with a Question. (Have you ever considered how many
books we'd read if it were
not for television?)
7. Opening with an Exaggeration or Outrageous Statement. (The
whole world watched as the
comet flew overhead.)
The introduction should also include a thesis or focus statement.
•
The Thesis/Hypothesis is your statement of purpose. The
thesis/hypothesis should be one
sentence in length. This is the foundation of your essay and it will
serve to guide you in
writing the entire paper. The thesis is the last sentence in the
introduction
• 2. The Body
The writer then provides evidence to support the opinion offered
in the thesis
statement in the introduction. The body should consist of at least
three paragraphs.
Each paragraph is based on a solid reason to back your thesis
statement. Since
almost all issues have sound arguments on both sides of the
question, a good
persuasive writer tries to anticipate opposing viewpoints and
provide
counter-arguments along with the main points in the essay. One
of the three
paragraphs should be used to discuss opposing viewpoints and
your counterargument. Use the last sentence of each body
paragraph to transition to the next paragraph in order to
establish flow in your essay.
The following are different ways to support your argument:
• Facts - A powerful means of convincing, facts can come from your
reading,
observation, or personal experience.
Note: Do not confuse facts with truths. A "truth" is an idea
believed by many people,
but it cannot be proven.
Statistics - These can provide excellent support. Be sure your
statistics come from
responsible sources. Always cite your sources.
Quotes - Direct quotes from leading experts that support your
position are invaluable.
Examples - Examples enhance your meaning and make your ideas
concrete. They are
the proof.
• Hints for successful body paragraphs:
1. Clarify your position in your topic sentence – state your
argument or reason that
supports your position (thesis), think about what needs to be
explained, and then
think about how you can elaborate.
2. Use transitions between sentences to serve as cues for the
reader (first, second,
then, however, consequently, therefore, thus, still, nevertheless,
notwithstanding,
furthermore, in fact, in contrast, similarly, instead)
• 3. The Conclusion
A piece of persuasive writing usually ends by summarizing the
most important details
of the argument and stating once again what the reader is to
believe or do.
1. Restate your thesis or focus statement.
2. Summarize the main points: The conclusion enables your
reader to recall the main
points of your position. In order to do this you can paraphrase the
main points of your
argument.
3. Write a personal comment or call for action. You can do this:
o With a Prediction: This can be used with a narrative or a cause
and effect
discussion. The conclusion may suggest or predict what the
results may or
may not be in the situation discussed or in similar situations.
•o With a Question: Closing with a question lets
your readers make their own
predictions, draw their own conclusions.
o With Recommendations: A recommendations
closing is one that stresses the
actions or remedies that should be taken.
o With a Quotation: Since a quotation may
summarize, predict, question, or call
for action, you may use a quotation within a
conclusion for nearly any kind of
paper.
 Sample
• "You might be ending the cigarette, but in fact, the cigarette is ending you;
smoke eats you alive," Vikram Verma. Smoking is the act of inhaling and
exhaling the fumes of burning plant material. It comes in many different
types and forms: cigarettes, cigars, hookahs, and vapes. Statistics show
that over 1 billion people, which is approximately 20% of the world's
population, are persistent smokers. Smoking has physical, emotional, and
sociological effects not only on the level of individuals but also on the level
of society as a whole.
An old Chinese saying says, "if you can't stop smoking, cancer will."
Smoking is indeed responsible for more than 480,000 deaths per year, 15%
of which are because of cancer. In addition to causing cancer, smoking can
cause heart, lung, and eye diseases, tuberculosis, and even fertility
problems. Overall, smoking results in a much weaker immune system that
will eventually attack itself. Furthermore, smoking affects smokers as well
as nonsmokers. Shortness of breath, coughing, and even heart problems
are very common in nonsmokers who stay near smokers. In conclusion,
smoking doesn't only affect you; it also affects everyone around you.
• The physical effects of smoking lead to emotional and mental issues. While
smoking may seem to make you calmer and happier at one time, it makes
you feel hysterically stressed and angry at another. As a result, stress will
make you unable to cope with pressure which might then lead to
depression. In the UK, depression rates among adults who smoke are about
twice as high as among adults who don't. In general, it negatively affects
your mood. It can simply make you feel irritable, anxious, or even low. The
phony benefits of heavy smoking in the short term are overweight by mental
and physical health problems in the long term.

While some argue that smoking is beneficial to the economy of a

society, its great, unchangeable drawbacks outstand its few, replaceable
aids. Smoking negatively affects our environment by causing air, land, and
water pollution. Cigarettes, specifically, are toxic since they contaminate our
land and water, thus harming our wildlife and decreasing biodiversity.
Smoking can even be one of the factors that will lead to natural disasters,
such as wildfires, soil erosion, and global warming. Smoking might please
you for a while, but it's, indeed, killing everyone slowly.
• Each year about 1.3 million smokers quit, and today is the day you add
your name to the list of quitters. Although quitting may seem impossible at first,
the gains surpass the pains. Quitting smoking ensures better physical and
mental health for you and everyone around you. Quitting smoking ensures an
overall better Earth for you and your kids. Quit smoking for the sake of your
heart and the hearts of those you love!
•
• -Is there something that you believe is truly worth fighting for? Write an
essay persuading others that this cause is worth a fight.
• Write an essay convincing readers to break a specific habit that is harmful
to their physical, emotional, or financial health.
• -Is reading fiction a waste of time? Why or why not? Explain your answer
using specific reasons and examples to support your position.
• -Who makes a better leader: someone who is loved, or someone who is
feared? Take a position and explain your answer.
• -Imagine that you had a friend who ate only junk food. You know that this is
not good for him or her. Think of some reasons why eating junk foods is not
good for people. Now write an essay to convince your friend that eating healthy
foods is a good idea
 • The Hidden Art of Reading Fiction
•
• Have you ever wondered how books could affect you personally even
though they’re just words on a paper? In life, various scenarios occur, from the
minor to the major. Books are a way of expressing emotions and individuality
through words. They provide an inside portal to someone’s mind and way of
thinking. In the world of books, many genres are set up, such as fiction and
nonfiction. Fictional stories may seem like a waste of time and a waste of energy to
read; however, they have several benefits. Some of which include an increase in
creativity, an increase in memory and open-mindedness, and a way to relieve
anxiety.
•
• Firstly, one of the major reasons why fictional books are favorable is the
increase in creativity and imagination. A study in 2009 by Raymond Mar, a
psychologist from York University, analyzed 86 MRIs that prove how much fiction
can affect the brain. The more fictional books you read, the more your imagination
increases, and as imagination increases, empathy increases. Empathy is a trait that
is exceedingly important in someone’s personality. It allows him or her to
communicate better with people, which builds better friendships and overall
human interactions. Creativity is another essential skill that a person can achieve
through the reading of fictional books and analyzing the characters in the stories.
It helps people to build their artistic side and flourish as a human.
• Secondly, reading fictional books increases one’s memory capacity. Picture
this, when you read fictional stories you come across many different characters
with their characteristics. To understand the story completely, you’d need to
memorize the character and their traits. As a result, your memory increases in the
long run in life. In addition to a growth in memory, one’s vocabulary and
imaginary writing skills increase as well. Reading Harry Potter books, for instance,
not only educates children on important life lessons but it also shows them how
writing in a fictional sense can be advantageous.

• Finally, books are one of several ways to relieve anxiety and help with
depression. How might you ask? Books are a way to illustrate words by using
imagination and visual description. This method helps distract people with
anxiety from any unwanted thoughts. Research at the University of Sussex shows
that the most effective way to release stress and to induce a better sleep schedule
is reading fictional stories. Despite the various benefits of reading fictional books,
many people argue that there are a few drawbacks. One of the disadvantages of
reading fiction is the idea of unrealistic life scenarios. This causes readers to think
of life as an easy path when in reality, it isn’t. It ruins the realistic expectation of
yourself and your life. In addition to unrealistic ideas, fictional books set illogical
human traits and characteristics. This impracticality causes many people to have
low self-esteem. However, these disadvantages don’t outweigh the advantages of
reading fictional books as they helped countless people to live life in a better way
mentally.
• Words are more powerful than a human brain can register. Fictional stories
can make you look at life differently and with more beauty despite its harshness.
Reading fictional books have plenty of advantages, including the spark of
creativity and the boost of open-minded thinking. These benefits are hidden by
people’s ideology of reality. As Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “fiction reveals
truths that reality obscures”.
•