An argumentative essay is a type of writing where the writer’s purpose is to convince and persuade the readers about the argument presented. Usually, this essay is coupled with the presentation of facts and information gathered through research. This essay is not an easy task for a beginner writer. Aside from thorough studying, it would be best to do solid research while presenting it in a logical manner.
Here are the simple steps on how to write an argumentative essay.
1. Write a thesis statement
Most people think that the sole purpose of a paper’s introduction is to get their readers’ attention by telling a story, using quotes, or sharing anecdotes. Writing an argumentative essay, just like any other essay type, requires a thesis statement. The thesis statement identifies the topic you are going to discuss in your writing. It also includes the critical points of your arguments, and it is written for a specific audience.
Thesis statements are usually formed between one to two sentences and are found in the last part of the introduction. Aside from the hook, this gives your readers an overview of what they will be expecting in the paper. How can you expect your audience to dive into reading if they do not know what they are getting into?
2. Create an outline for your essay
Don’t know how to start an argumentative essay? Maybe it is because you fail to have a writing plan for your paper. It would be helpful if you have a guide, especially when you are not familiar with the type of writing you are composing. You can follow the argumentative essay format to help you with your writing process. Just like any other composition, argumentative essays have an introduction, main body, and conclusion. The introduction part is where you try to get your readers’ attention by presenting a quote from famous people, a shocking statistic, or a narrative.
This is also where you give your audience an overview of your paper by providing the thesis statement. The body is where you discuss your arguments. If you have multiple views, remember to discuss them in separate paragraphs not to confuse your viewers. And as for the conclusion part, this is where you summarize all your arguments and tie them all together. Make sure to use solid and persuasive words to win over your readers.
3. Provide relevant examples that support your key arguments
The hardest part of writing argumentative essays is convincing your readers that your arguments are correct. People have different opinions and points of view, and some are too stubborn to bend their ideologies. To lure significant people on your side, it is helpful that you present your arguments with supporting data. Gather facts and information that proves your statements are correct and accurate. You can use previous studies as pieces of evidence to support your claims.
You can also research scholarly publications, academic journals, and on the internet. Remember to use recent books and be careful of the sources you use when you find them on the internet. There is much false information on the web. Make sure that you filter your data and use genuine information. Using inaccurate data can significantly affect the credibility of your paper, making your audience harder to convince.
To help you with your research, here are some websites you can trust when you are searching for support pieces of evidence for your arguments:
- Google Scholar
- Microsoft Academic
- Virtual Learning Resources Center (VLRC)
- ResearchGate
- Bielefield Academic Search Engine (BASE)
- Educational Research Information Center (ERIC)
- iSeek
These websites have thousands of published research papers you can use for your essay.
4. Outline your main points
Aside from following the argumentative essay structure to help you with your writing process, it is also helpful to outline your arguments. Indeed, you can present several reasons to convince your readers of your side. But remember only to include the statement that is relevant to your specific audience. Including a lot of crucial points can make more questions than answers.
An extended paper does not mean it is more substantial. Be straightforward and concise. If you want to avoid the redundancy of ideas, creating an outline will be valuable for you. List the subtopics you wish to include the revolve your writing around those claims. This way, you can avoid including unnecessary information, and it will help you write faster.
5. Proofread and review your essay
Most people tend to forgo reviewing and editing their papers not because they have complete faith in their writing skills but because they are out of time. Professional writers know the importance of editing their work. Remember that your first draft isn’t the one. It is full of flaws and mistakes you might have overlooked while writing it. Always make a window for editing your work. One way of proofreading is reading your composition aloud; it is easier to spot errors when you hear them.
Another one is you have your work edited by professional writing services. Aside from doing your essays, their services also include editing your paper. This way, you are sure that all errors will be fixed. Lastly, if you are in a rush, you can use applications downloadable from the internet, such as Grammarly. These applications can help you spot and correct your grammatical mistakes, misspelled words, and wrong punctuation with a click of a mouse.
It also has a built-in plagiarism checker so you can check your paper against billions of papers on the internet. Editing made easy and faster. With these options, you have no excuse for skipping this step. All your brilliant ideas and argumentative skills will be all for nothing if you submit an error-plague paper – no one will read it.
