Argumentative Essays

Communication Skills Center

 sample essays

1. college lectures p.277

2. let's put the excellence back in the A
p.279
 When to Use
 When you have an opinion and try to
convince your listener or reader to accept
your opinion.
 When you are agreeing or disagreeing
with something or someone.
 Types of argumentative compositions:
 Advantages and disadvantages
 Expressing opinions/ providing solutions to
problems
 Expressing arguments for and against a topic
 Purpose of Argumentative
Essays
 An argument follows when two groups disagree
about something.
 An argumentative essay is also one that
attempts/tries to change the readers mind, to
convince the reader to agree with the point of
view of the writer.
 Argumentative essays attempt to be highly
persuasive and logical.
 When writing an argumentative essay assume
that your reader disagrees with you, but
remember your reader is no less intelligent than
you.
 Write objectively, logically, and respectfully.
 Thesis Statement in
Argumentative Essays
 The argumentative thesis takes a side of
an issue;
– An argument concerning the nuclear power
plant, the thesis for a paper on this topic might
be:
“Governments should ban further construction of
nuclear power plants.”
Someone else might argue:
“The U.S. should continue building nuclear power
plants.”
 Planning/ Organizing the
Argumentative Essay
• When you are planning the
argumentative essay, be aware that the
essay should contain the following
characteristics:
1. The argumentative essay should introduce and
explain the issue or case. The reader needs to
understand what the issue is going to be.
2. The essay should offer reasons and support for
those reasons. The essay should prove its point.
3. The essay should refute (prove wrong) opposing
arguments.
 Organization of an
Argumentative Essay
1. Introduction. You can first introduce the
problem and give background information
necessary for the argument and the thesis.
2. Reasons. It is usually a good idea to spend
one paragraph for each reason.
3. Refutation. Depending on the points the writer
wants to make, one or two paragraphs are
typical.
4. Conclusion. Restate your premise and
summarize the reasons your thesis makes
sense.
organizing the argumentative essay

p. 290.291
 Tips
 Avoid strong feelings (e.g. nobody does this, it is impossible to
disagree with me)
 Use generalizations (e.g. people say/believe/consider)
 Do not use generalization (e.g. everybody believes that…)
 Do not use strong personal expressions (e.g. I think)
 Use linking words (e.g. therefore, although, however etc.)
 Use sequencing (e.g. firstly, secondly, lastly)
 Make reference to other sources (e.g. The government claims
that…)
 Give examples- not personal thoughts (e.g. products such as
sprayer can destroy the environment)
 Give up banal (unoriginal, boring) introductions. Write
something more original (Don’t write: This topic has been
important since ancient times.)
example:

topic:
sharing of music files through the
Internet
Make an assertion about the
narrowed topic.

assertion: a statement that expresses an

opinion, a point of view, etc.
example:
not an assertion (just a statement of
fact):

Earlier this year a law went into

effect that allows music publishing
companies to track down and sue
people who share files of copyrighted
music through the Internet.
assertion:

It’s wrong for music companies to

be able to access people’s personal
computers and get them in trouble for
files that happen to be there.
assertion:

This law is good and needed

because it protects the copyrighted
material and thus the whole business
of these companies.
4. Compose an argumentative thesis
statement

(you may also do this after you’ve

planned or after you’ve drafted your
entire essay)
argumentative thesis statement:

Even though the U.S. electoral system has

served our country well for more than 200
years, it is clearly in need of major reform.
assertion

(indicates that the essay will pay attention to the

historical background of the issue and to contrary
arguments)
argumentative thesis statement:

The U.S. electoral system needs to be

assertion
reformed because it is antiquated, it doesn’t truly
reflect the will of the voters, and it causes too much
division in our country as shown in the last
presidential election.

(indicates that the first major part of the essay will discuss the
obsolescence of the system, the second will argue how it is
unrepresentative and the third will talk about the political and
social conflicts caused by it)
argumentative thesis statement:

The United States sometimes

resembles a banana republic with the
way our system for electing presidents
has become so uncertain and strife-
ridden.

(assertion is implied)
Example Outline
Thesis Statement:
Because of its cost, risk and alternatives, the building of
nuclear reactors should not continue.
Topic Sentence 1:
The first problem with nuclear reactors is their cost.
Topic Sentence 2:
Another problem is the serious consequences of
accidents.
Refutation:
Some people might claim that there is no real alternative
to nuclear power.
Concluding Statement:
In short, although nuclear power is an attractive option, it
has too many disadvantages.
Example Introductory Paragraph
There has been much discussion about the
use of nuclear power ever since the first
reactor was built. People who support
nuclear power think that it provides a cheap
and effective means of supplying energy
needs. However, in reality it is not cheap at all
and the dangers are well-known after the
accidents at Chernobyl and Three Mile Island.
The fact is that nuclear power is a tried, tested
and failed technology. Because of its cost, risk
and alternatives, the building of nuclear
reactors should not continue.
Grab your readers attention

General Topic

Narrow Topic

Controlling Idea

Thesis

The introduction
Ex.

General Topic:
Social Networking Websites
Narrowed Topic:
Facebook
Controlling Idea:
Security on Facebook
Thesis:
We must put an end to Facebook because it
compromises personal, emotional, and financial security.
Body Paragraphs

 Arguments for: The reasons “parts” of your

thesis statement will be in your body
paragraphs.
 Give clear arguments for your claim with
support (examples, statistics, explanations,
etc.)
 Use transition words as you move from
paragraph to paragraph (Firstly, secondly,
furthermore, in addition, moreover, finally).
 You can also use any of the transitions from
the other essay types as long as they are
appropriate for your argument. (You may want
to compare/contrast things, give
reasons/results, descriptions, definitions etc.)
Provide strong evidence for your main points

 Scholarly journals
 Authorities or experts in the field
 Well chosen examples

DON’T
Appeal to fear or make sweeping generalizations
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
Refutation Paragraph

This is also used to support your claim.

Use the counter arguments to show that
your idea is the stronger one.
Do not focus only on the opposing ideas.
Useful words and phrases

When you can think of the opposing

opinion but you have not seen it written
anywhere:

could be claimed
It may be asserted that... However,
might be argued
Useful words and phrases contd.

When you have seen the opposing

opinion written in another text:

claimed
It has been asserted that... However,
argued
Example Refutation
Some people might claim that there is no
real alternative to a new generation of
nuclear reactors. However, combined heat
and power units, which generate electricity,
are already economical for large houses or
blocks of flats and smaller units will be on
the market next year. Local generation of
electricity eliminates the enormous losses
of wasted heat in electricity generation by
fossil fuels or nuclear reactors. Wind
turbines and solar cells on the roof can
also provide home solutions and will
become more economical as costs come
down with mass production.
Revision Checklist

 Grab your readers attention

 State a clear thesis
 Identify your reasons for asserting your thesis
 Provide strong evidence for your main points
 Address your oppositions argument
 Convince the reader that your position is valid
 Make it easy for your reader to read
 Cite your sources
 Prevent plagiarism
exercises
12.3 p.282
12.4 p. 284
reading p.285
reading p.287
reading p.287
sample essay: who needs science p. 292
 2. Argumentative Essay
 Topics
• We are becoming overwhelmingly dependent on computers.
• Technology is making life easier in today's world.
• Cigarettes smoking should be banned.
• * Should drivers of automobiles be prohibited from using cellular
phones?
• * Shall we integrate from Marketing to E-Marketing?*
• Should the death penalty be mandatory for people that kill other
people?*
• Should the "Right to Die" be Considered a Right?
• * Should there still be colleges and schools just for men/boys and
some just for women/girls?
• * Forests are the lungs of the earth. Should the rain forests
destruction be prohibited? How is it possible to protect forests?
 essay topics
• Human beings do not need to eat meat in order to maintain good
health because they can get all their food needs from meatless
products and meatless substances. A vegetarian diet is as healthy as
a diet containing meat.
• Advertising: Information or Manipulation?
• Education is an indivisible part of the prosperity of the nation. The
more educated and cultured people there are in the country the more
flourishing and thrifty the country is.
• The mass media, including TV, radio, newspapers have a great
influence on people and especially on the younger generation. It plays
an important role in shaping the opinions and positions of the younger
generation.
• or a topic of your choice