The structure of an argumentative essay is frequently misjudged by students. They frequently rely on reasoning and opinion, but there are some organized rules that should be followed to guarantee the success of the essay.
Like any other academic essay structure, there are three essential parts of an argumentative essay structure which include:
- Introduction,
- Body,
- Conclusion.
The above 3 sections form the basic structure of an argumentative essay.
There is a lot of advice written about how to write an incredible introduction for any sort of essay and argumentative essay structure is not an exception.
Argumentative introduction must be concise and to-the-point, yet it has to reach the desired effect which is to grab the reader’s attention and make him want to know more.
It may sound strange but it is advisable to start with a certain fact or quote that will back up the thesis statement. This creates intrigue in the reader’s mind and makes him want to read on, just to find out whether the fact was related with the thesis statement or not. Make sure that you do not give away too much information in your introduction because it may change the effect of your essay.
The structure is needed for an argumentative essay because it provides the argumentative structure and helps to show how each part of the essay will support or prove your thesis. While writing an argumentative essay, you should consider various ways to convince your audience that you are correct and able to defend your point of view as such.
Contents
Argumentative essay structure example
An example of a suitable structure for an argumentative essay would be:
- Introduction: An argumentative essay introduction should be one or two paragraphs that outlines what the essay is going to be about. There should be a thesis statement and an argumentative question.
- Body: The body of an argumentative essay requires three or more different parts containing at least two arguments for your point of view and one against it. Ensure that the content has a clear structure which begins with a topic sentence followed by supporting ideas in order to prove the thesis statement from different perspectives. Use clear transitions between paragraphs, don’t forget about formatting your academic paper properly because this shows how you have organized your thoughts and proves that you are attentive to details which will get you good grades, not just entertainment from reading them.
- Conclusion: In this part there should be a conclusion sentence, followed by paragraph which presents new facts or extends the ideas introduced previously. This part of argumentative essay structure helps to make your audience aware of the pros and cons of the topic.
Argumentative essays are significant because they enable students to think critically about important issues in our society today through writing. For example, an argumentative essay on abortion can help students understand that this is one issue that does not have easy answers. By thinking critically about the different sides of this argument, students learn to come up with their own opinions rather than simply repeating what their parents believe.
This type of writing also prepares students for writing more complex academic papers once they get to college. Because formal research papers also require clear thesis statements and logical analytical thinking, students gain helpful skills by writing argumentative essays now.
Tips on how to structure an argumentative essay well
Below are some tips that will come in handy when you are structuring an argumentative essay.
- Don’t try to cover all the points in one essay, choose 2 or 3 main ones and then expand on these. You should balance your argumentation between the topics you are discussing (i.e., say something good about it but also give examples of things which can be improved). Suggestions for improvement should always come last, this will show the reader that you have considered both sides of an argument before coming up with a final solution.
- You can include at least one example where you applied what is being discussed (i.e., if talking about the importance of cutting down on salt intake, talk about how you’ve changed your diet recently)
- Make sure your claims are backed up with evidence (statistics, quotes etc.) which are relevant to the point you are making.
- The essay introduction should provide background information and explain what your essay will be about. It must also communicate what it is that you want to say and why this is important, i.e., give away your argumentative essay thesis statement.
- Don’t forget to include a conclusion where you can briefly restate what was discussed in the body of the paper, while providing an opinion on its value or explaining how useful it really is. How you end your argumentative essay is very important.
Example of a 5 paragraph argumentative essay structure
A 5 paragraph argumentative essay structure typically includes an introductory paragraph that introduces the topic of discussion, three or four body paragraphs that presents facts and information in favor of the subject being discussed, and a final summarizing paragraph.
- Introductory paragraph: The introduction is typically one to two sentences long and serves as a lead-in for what you will be discussing. The first sentence should introduce the topic of discussion.
- 3 Body paragraphs: Body paragraphs are used to present facts in support of your argument. Each body paragraph should have its own separate supporting fact(s) about your topic. In total, there should be three or four body paragraphs but is not always limited to this number.
- Conclusion paragraph: The conclusion is usually a few sentences at most in length and serves as a conclusion for your argument. It restates that which you have already stated in the introduction and body paragraphs.
Learn more – how to write a 5 paragraph essay
An example of a 5 paragraph argumentative essay structure
Here is how the 5 paragraph argumentative essay structure will look like with examples:
- Introduction paragraph: States the thesis and introduces the arguments.
- Body paragraph 1: There are three types of people who will benefit from reading this article regarding the five paragraph essay format.
- Body paragraph 2: First, students who have been told by their teacher they must follow a certain model will be able to understand one structure for writing including examples on how it is filled out so they can practice filling in the blanks.
- Body paragraph 3: Second, students who are taking standardized tests, such as the ACT or SAT may be able to remember this model when considering which question type they should answer first on their test.
- Conclusion paragraph: Either way it goes for any student who is trying to understand how to write an essay using the five paragraph format will benefit by gaining knowledge of at least one structure that can be used in various situations.
Now you know how to structure an argumentative essay perfectly. Hopefully your academic essay will turn out to be great by following the 5 paragraph essay structure example above!
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