Argumentative

Essay
A Student’s Guide to
Argument Writing
Basic Outline
1. Introduction
a. Hook
b. Background on issue
c. Thesis (Claim with your reasons)
2. Reason 1
a. Topic Sentence
b. Evidence
c. Explain - How does this evidence support your reason? Why is this significant?
d. Conclusion
3. Reason 2
a. Topic Sentence
b. Evidence
c. Explain - How does this evidence support your reason? Why is this significant?
d. Conclusion
Basic Outline Continued
4. Reason 3 (Optional during Air Testing)
○ Topic Sentence
○ Evidence
○ Explain - How does this evidence support your reason? Why is this significant?
○ Conclusion
5. Counterargument and Rebuttal
○ Concluding Transitional Phrase /Counter Argument
○ Contrasting Transitional phrase/Rebuttal
○ Evidence to prove counter argument wrong
○ Explain - How does this evidence support your reason? Why is this significant?
○ Conclusion
6. Conclusion
○ Restate thesis (Concluding transitional phrase, claim and reasons)
○ Recap main points
○ Knockout Punch
Introduction:
Body Paragraphs- You
will have 1 for each of
your reasons.
Remember to
use transitional
phrases when
switching
ideas!
Last Body
Paragraph-
Counterclaim and
Rebuttal