The Ultimate Guide On Argumentative Essay

Composing an argumentative essay requires thorough preparation and planning. You might be writing essays your whole life; however, with this kind of paper, you need to prove that your claims are correct while applying strong evidence. So, let's find out what elements you need to incorporate to create a perfect argumentative essay. Then, let our write my essay service professionals show you how to write an argumentative essay step by step.

What Is An Argumentative Essay

Let's first address the elephant in the room - 'what is an argumentative essay?'. An argumentative essay definition is a common academic assignment requiring a student to discuss a controversial view or idea. Such an essay differs from expository and analytical pieces because it requires its author to take a stance and prove that their point of view is correct. It is not a piece of cake as a person needs to apply critical thinking skills, use persuasive techniques, and be able to refute opposing opinions to create a successful essay. 

Types of Arguments

Traditionally, we distinguish three types of arguments: the Toulmin argument, the Rogerian argument, and the Aristotelian argument. They help to organize an essay and persuade a reader in the veracity of your words. 

• The Toulmin argument

This argument type is based on the statement of opinion, which is grounded on solid facts and data from reliable sources. The author should link their claims to the grounds and provide additional support. It allows introducing an opposing thought and providing a counter-argument, using a 'rebuttal.' 

• The Rogerian argument

The Rogerian argument allows recognizing the existence of opposing opinions before you introduce your own claim. This type of argument aims to find a compromise between the two sides. Thus, the author should work towards a balanced view discussing any controversial issue. 

• The Aristotelian argument

Using the Aristotelian argument, you should express your claim and convince the reader that it is true. First, introduce the problem and take a stance. Then, mention the opposing opinion and prove it is wrong, providing undeniable evidence. Again, ethos, pathos, and logos can serve as persuasion tools.

The Elements of Argumentative Essays

Here are the elements of argumentative essays from an argumentative essay writer:

• Clear and concise language 
• Arguable argumentative essays topics
• Thorough research of a controversial issue
• The organized structure of an argumentative essay
• Persuasive techniques 
• Logical argument
• Effective transitions between paragraphs
• Strong evidence and reason

Argumentative Essay Format

Proper structure is the foundation of a successful paper. You need to understand the argumentative essay structure before formulating your arguments. So, how to organize a good argumentative essay? Our paper writing service writers recommend starting with a compelling introduction, adding 3-4 purposeful body paragraphs, and creating a reasonable conclusion. Take a close look at the argumentative essay format.

Argumentative Essay Topics

If you are wondering what the main key to writing a brilliant argumentative essay is, it's worth saying that overall success depends on many factors. From the sources you find how to structure your work, the choice of words and plagiarism score - every tiny detail matters when the professor starts grading your paper. But it all starts with the choice of a topic.

Your argumentative essay topic is the key to success. And while this is a vital step on your way to a perfectly written essay, there is no need to sugarcoat it - choosing good argumentative topics can be rather hard.

Good argumentative essay topics should be debatable, relevant, relatable, and compelling. Also, argument topics should not be too broad or, on the contrary, too narrow but have to give you enough scope for research and developing your ideas in a short essay. And, most importantly, it has to be interesting to you because only this way can you handle the task well and without a hassle.

If you've been looking for worthy argument essay topics, below you will find a list of 50 great argumentative essay ideas to spark your creativity and inspiration! 

Technology Topics

• Is social media addiction real?
• Does technology make us smarter or dumber?
• The danger of cell phones.
• Should online content be censored?
• Kids should not use technology
• Will virtual money replace real money?
• Pros and cons of technology in households.
• Do social networks make us feel lonely?
• Can people continue developing without technology?
• Are paper books better than e-books?

Religious Topics

• Do all religions worship the same God?
• The role of the church in the modern society.
• Should religion be taught at schools?
• Religion vs. Science.
• Why do people lose faith?
• The change of religion as a sin.
• Is God a well-thought-out myth or reality?
• The purpose of religion.
• Can one have faith but ignore the church?
• The issue of atheism.

Political Topics

• Are wars politically advantageous?
• Presidential vs. Parliamentary state structure.
• Are revolutions a good thing?
• The problem of corruption.
• What are the advantages and drawbacks of democracy?
• Stricter gun control is a necessity.
• Is American foreign policy effective?
• The political party I support (why?).
• Should there be a wall on the US border?
• The importance of having nuclear weapons for countries.

Education Argumentative Essay Topics

• Should schools stop giving homework?
• The pros and cons of uniforms.
• Is cheating a problem today?
• The points for the elimination of standardized testing.
• Is the standard grading system already outdated?
• Students should grade teachers too.
• Are textbooks a thing of the past?
• Pros and cons of tech classrooms.
• Is higher education still a thing today?
• Single-sex vs. mixed classrooms.

History Topics

• Should everyone know history?
• Pros and cons of colonialism.
• How did WWII create new professions?
• Reasons for the Mexican-American war.
• How did minority civil rights change through US history?
• The role of wars in global progress.
• What led to the expansion of women’s rights?
• Major triggers for global conflicts.
• Why did slavery exist?
• The results of the American Civil War.
  

Argumentative Essay Outline

Just like other 5-paragraph essays, an argumentative essay outline should have an introduction, body paragraphs (for arguments and counter-arguments), and a conclusion. You should carefully organize and structure your persuasive essay. It will help the reader to understand your point. Your argument and reasoning must be evident and clear.

Introduction

If you feel intimidated by a blank page and do not know how to start an argumentative essay introduction, pause and think about your argument. First, you should clearly understand what you are going to write about. Determine why you are interested in the topic and why it is relevant to society in general. 

The introductory paragraph does not have to be long. You need only 3-5 sentences to introduce the topic. Start with a hook that will catch the reader's attention. You may use a quotation, provide statistics, or address the audience directly by asking a question. 

For example:

• Nelson Mandela once said, ' the greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.'
• The Inter-Parliamentary Union reports that only 17% of government ministers are female. 
• Are people morally obliged to save the planet? 

Then, provide general information about the topic and outline the context within which you will discuss it. Finally, create a thoughtful thesis statement as the last sentence of the introductory paragraph. 

Thesis Statement

A thesis statement is one of the most important elements of an argumentative essay. It should be formulated to make it arguable, allowing the reader to support it or disagree. A thesis statement reflects the main claim of the paper. It should be precise and give the reader a hint about the author's position and findings. For an argumentative essay, you can either state your main point or mention the opposing view and refute it immediately. Remember that each body paragraph should support your argumentative essay thesis statement and provide claims with adequate reasoning.  

Argumentative Essay Body Paragraphs

A typical body of an argumentative essay usually includes 3-4 paragraphs. Each must focus on one particular claim connected with the thesis statement. Make sure you provide your reasoning for each idea. You can use proven facts, statistical data, examples, and professional quotations to make your argument look trustworthy. 

Each paragraph of the main body requires the following format:

1. Topic sentence with a claim that backs up the thesis statement
2. Evidence 1 that supports the first sentence with reasoning
3. Evidence 2 that supports the first sentence with reasoning
4. Evidence 3 that supports the first sentence with reasoning
5. Concluding sentence

However, the last body paragraph has a slightly different format. Here you should address the claims of your opponents and prove them wrong. It allows you to discuss the problem from various perspectives and make your writing look more reliable to the reader. This paragraph includes the following:

1. Opposing view with its description
2. Refutation of the opponents' claims

Conclusion of Argumentative Essay Outline

A good concluding paragraph will reinforce your arguments. Ideally, it should summarize your claims and motivate the audience to research the topic further. Do not add any new information; restate your argument so that your audience knows what is most important in your writing. It would be a good idea to appeal to your readers' emotions and include your personal experience.

How to Write an Argumentative Essay?

You must be wondering: what are the steps in writing an argumentative essay if you study in one of the top colleges for astrophysics? The writing process can be generally divided into six smaller chunks of work. Let us look at them more closely.

Come Up with an Idea

To find a suitable topic for your argumentative essay, you should find a controversial issue you care about. Then, you can practice brainstorming to gather your thoughts about it. It would be a good idea to create a mind map, diagram, or list the ideas that come up in your mind. Then, when they are written down, it will be easy to sort them and form claims on their basis. Besides, you can use such preparation to create an argumentative essay outline. 

Gather Evidence 

You need to find solid evidence to ensure that your viewpoint is correct and to persuade the audience of the credibility of your words. Research the topic of your choice and choose the facts, statistics, and quotes you can potentially use in the paper. Focus only on reliable sources, such as books, scholarly journals, websites of governmental organizations, etc. You need to find a piece of evidence to support each claim you make and then comment on it. 

Plan and Organize

It is necessary to create an outline of a 5 paragraph essay to make it organized and well-structured. You should use the basic structure we mentioned before as a template and insert your claims and pieces of evidence in it. The plan does not have to be detailed. You just need to write short phrases that will put everything in order. This outline will guide you during the next step, the actual writing process. 

Start Writing an Argumentative Essay

This step is the most responsible one as you need to put together all the information you have found and formulate your argument. Start with an introductory paragraph and think carefully about the thesis statement. It is the basis of your paper, as all the claims from the body must support your thesis statement. 

Do not forget to work on transitions between sentences. The argumentative essay must be smooth to allow you to persuade the audience. The smooth flow of the text, its logical structure, and the use of persuasive techniques will help you get the grade you want. 

Remember that you can always order essay from our service if you would like to avoid writing an essay yourself.

Proofread

When you are through the writing stage, you need to rest to go back to your argumentative essay with a fresh mind. Read your paper and correct grammar and style mistakes. Do not neglect this stage as, in most cases, the initial draft is imperfect and requires improvements. Your teacher can lower your grade even for spelling and punctuation mistakes. All your efforts will be in vain if you do not proofread the paper.

Submit

Even though all the hard work is done by this stage, submitting an argumentative essay may still be intimidating. However, you should not be afraid to get your work graded. It is a great chance to grow as a writer and develop your skills. We are sure that the result will be outstanding if you follow your assignment instructions and our guidelines.

Argumentative Essay Example

Look through this example of an argumentative essay. It is formatted according to the APA style guidelines, but when writing your paper, you should use the citation style required by your teacher: MLA, Harvard, etc.

Higher Education Increases the Chances of Employment

Today the necessity of higher education becomes controversial. Some people refuse to acquire a college degree. They claim it to be an old-fashioned way of learning that only imposes outdated norms, standards, and decision-making patterns on students. On the contrary, there are those who believe that higher education is essential for better employment opportunities as it gives excellent preparation for the future job. Nevertheless, although college education undergoes some critique, it is still useful for building a successful career, seeking employment, and improving promotion chances.

First, university education increases the chances of being successfully employed. Organizations are often looking for people with a formal degree to be sure that these candidates have sufficient knowledge and qualifications for the job. According to the National Center for Education Statistics (2019), students with a bachelor’s degree demonstrate the highest employment rate, which constitutes 86%, in comparison with non-graduates. An academic degree makes people more sustainable as a part of the labor market. In addition, it becomes a decisive factor for occupying certain jobs, for example, at a hospital or research institution. Therefore, higher education enhances employment chances. 

Second, higher education allows students to have more opportunities for personal development, which is useful for improving future promotion chances. According to Kopzhassarova et al. (2016), the curriculum of most educational institutions is built with a focus on independent learning that enhances critical thinking skills. This helps students to learn how to analyze, structure, and interpret information. Moreover, they can become more responsible and improve personal discipline. Thus, education allows students to develop the skills necessary for promotion. 

Finally, college and university graduates are more likely to get the desired job and eventually earn more. As the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2019) claims, the salaries of people with a formal degree tend to be higher than those of non-graduates. Most organizations set higher education as a requirement for their vacancies. This means that employers value people with qualifications and recognize the importance of education. Thus, graduating from a college or university gives a significant advantage for employment and potentially higher salaries. 

Naturally, some people doubt the necessity of higher education. They believe that young people gain experience and soft skills easier through practice. What is more, college or university education is expensive and sometimes not effective. It does not provide enough practice and soft skills training. However, a solid knowledge base students get at educational institutions is undeniable. It allows them to grow as professionals and become competent experts in their subject area. Besides, they can still get practice as most educational programs allow students to participate in the actual working process during internships. Thus, higher education can get the necessary experience in addition to theoretical knowledge. 

To sum up, higher education provides a solid competitive advantage in the long term. It multiplies employment chances for graduates and allows them to earn more. Although universities may not always provide students with all the skills, a diploma is still valued by most employers. Therefore, acquiring higher education is the right way to successful employment.

References

Kopzhassarova, U., Akbayeva, G., Eskazinova, Z., Belgibayeva, G., & Tazhikeyeva, A. (2016). Enhancement of students’ independent learning through their critical thinking skills development. International Journal of Environmental & Science Education, 11(18),11585-11585.

National Center for Education Statistics. (2019). Employment rates of college graduates. https://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=561

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2019, September 4). Unemployment rates and earnings by educational attainment. https://www.bls.gov/emp/chart-unemployment-earnings-education.htm

To Sum Up

Argumentative essays can be rather challenging as you need to present your argument and prove it is the correct viewpoint. It requires critical thinking skills and basic knowledge of argument types. Additionally, the format of an argumentative essay is tricky since in addition to supporting your assertions, you must refute the opposing views. All of these aspects can be successfully handled with the help of proper preparation, an organized writing process, and attentive proofreading. 

With these argumentative essay writing tips, you can be confident while submitting your paper from now on. However, if you need help with your argumentative essay examples, feel free to contact EssayService. In addition, you can find a qualified writer on our argumentative essay writing service to assist you in crafting or editing your paper. This way, you will get the grade you want without extra effort.