Name_______________________________________________Class____________

Argumentative Essay Writing
In an argumentative essay, your job is make the reader agree with your opinion about a controversial topic.
You have to (1) state your opinion, (2) give reasons to support your opinion, and (3) argue against the opposite
opinion. Overall, you must convince the audience that your side of theargument is correct. To convince the audience, your essay must bebalanced—it must include your viewpoint and the opposing viewpoint,
or counterargument.
Even though you are arguing only one side of an issue, you must
think about what the other side would say about your opinion. Afteryou give the counterargument, you must refute it by showing that it iswrong. If your essay is balanced, a reader is more likely to agree withyou.

ORGANIZATION
The most common type of argumentative essay has six paragraphs. Like all essays, it begins with anintroduction and ends with a conclusion. In between are the body paragraphs where you must do threethings: support your opinion, present the opposing point of view, and tell why that viewpoint is wrong.

INTRODUCTIONBODY

CONCLUSION

Paragraph 1

HookConnecting/Background Information
Main idea Statement/Thesis Statement

Paragraph 2

Support 1 (first reason)
 Explanation, detail, example
 Explanation, detail, example

Paragraph 3

Support 2 (second reason)
 Explanation, detail, example
 Explanation, detail, example

Paragraph 4

Support 3 (third reason)
 Explanation, detail, example
 Explanation, detail, example

Paragraph
5Opposite Side
 Counterargument 1
 Refutation (ATTACK) Counterargument 2 Refutation (ATTACK)Paragraph 6

Repeat your thesis statement in different words
Suggestion/Opinion/Prediction for the future

Studying an Argumentative Essay
The following essay argues for the use of school uniforms. Discuss the Preview Questions with the class. Then
read the example essay and answer the questions that follow.
Preview Questions
1. Did you wear a uniform when you went to school?
2. Some people believe that children are too materialistic these days. For example, they may be toointerested in wearing expensive brand name clothes. What is your opinion?
Matthew Barbee, 20151

Matthew Barbee, 20152

Matthew Barbee, 2015

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TOPICS FOR ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAYS
What is a great topic for an argumentative essay? Obviously, it should be an issue that you feel strongly
about, know something about, and would like to share your opinion about. What is your opinion, why do you
feel this way? Can you think of some reasons why people might disagree with you?
When you choose a topic, consider these two questions: Does the topic have two sides?
 How much do you know about the topic?
Look at the list of argumentative topics below. What is your opinion about each topic? Are they two sides ofeach topic?

Topics for Argument
Banning cigarettes
Requiring school uniforms
Mandating military service
Lowering the drinking age to 18
Getting rid of zoos

ACTIVITY

Banning violent video games
Using animals for medical research
Requiring a test for people who want children
Banning cell phones in schools
Requiring a year of study abroad

Identifying Topics for Argumentative Essays

Read these eight topics. Put a check mark () next to the ones that could be good topics for argument essays.
_________1. The first time I flew in a plane.
_________2. University education should be free.
_________3. How and why birds fly south for the winter.
_________4. High school teachers need a higher salary.
_________5. Steps needed to get a driver’s license.
_________6. Legalizing gay marriage.
_________7. Increasing tax on imported food.
_________8. How to become a karate master.
Can you think of three additional topics that would be excellent for an argumentative essay?
1. __________________________________________________________________________________
2. __________________________________________________________________________________
3. __________________________________________________________________________________TOPICS FOR ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAYS
After you choose a topic, think about what you know about it. What do you know about your side of theargument and what do you know about the opposite side of the argument? A good way to organize yourideas is to use a Pro & Con T-chart. [Pro = in favor of thesis statement, Con = against thesis statement]
If you cannot think of several ideas for one or both sides, you should do more research about that topic
or choose a different topic.

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Here is a Pro & Con T-Chart for an essay about cell-phones being allowed in classrooms.

Thesis statement: Cell phones should not be allowed in university classrooms.

PRO
1. Cell phones distract students fromlearning if they send messages or playgames in class.
2. Cell phones might ring in class anddisturb the teacher.
3. Students could use cell phones to cheaton tests.

ACTIVITYCON
1. Cell phones can easily be turned off
and kept out of sight.
2. University students are not children andcellphones are important in an emergency.
3. Cell phones can be useful tools for educationsuch a being used as a dictionary or to makememos.

Brainstorming Supporting Ideas

Read the thesis statements and complete the Pro & Con T-charts. Write three ideas to support eachstatement. Then write three ideas against each statement. Finally, choose an original topic and write a thesisstatement of your own. Then fill in the pros and cons for your new topic.
1. Thesis statement: Adults should be required to pass a test before they can become parents.
PROCON

1.

1.

2.

2.

3.

3.

2. Thesis statement: The drinking age in Japan should be lowered to 18 years old.
PROCON

1.

1.

2.

2.

3.

3.

3. ORIGINAL Thesis statement: _____________________________________________________________PROCON

1.

1.

2.

2.

3.

3.

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Name_______________________________________________Class____________

Original Student Writing: Argument Essay
Brainstorming will help you get started with your argumentative essay. In this section, you will choose a topic foryour essay, write your thesis statement, think about several supporting ideas for your opinion, and think about thecounterargument.

Planning your Essay

ACTIVITY

Follow the steps below to develop ideas for an argument essay.
1. First, choose any other topic and thesis statement that you want to write about. Remember that the topic
must have more than one point of view to qualify as an argument.
Essay topic: _____________________________________________________________________________
Thesis statement: _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. Now brainstorm ideas about your topic. Fill out the Pro & Con T-Chart with as many ideas as you can.
PROCON

1.

1.

2.

2.

3.

3.

4.

4.

5.

5.

3. Look at your Pro & Con T-chart again. Choose three reasons from your PRO list that support your thesismost effectively and circle them. You now know what your major supporting information will be.
4. Now give attention to opposing points of view. In the box below, choose two counterarguments from yourCON list and write a refutation for each.
Counterargument (from CON list)

Refutation (ATTACK - Why is it wrong?)

1.

2.

Matthew Barbee, 20156

Planning with an Outline

ACTIVITY

Try to complete the following outline before you begin writing your essay. You may use more support
sentences if you need. And try to use complete sentences when it is possible.
1. Introduction (Paragraph 1)
A. Hook: _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
B. Connecting Information:_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
C. Thesis Statement: ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. Body
A. First Reason (Paragraph 2) topic sentence: _______________________________________________Support_________________________________________________________________________________
1. _____________________________________________________________________________
2. _____________________________________________________________________________
3. _____________________________________________________________________________

B. Second Reason (Paragraph 3) topic sentence: ____________________________________________

Support_________________________________________________________________________________
1. _____________________________________________________________________________
2. _____________________________________________________________________________
3. _____________________________________________________________________________

C. Third Reason (Paragraph 4) topic sentence: ______________________________________________

Support_________________________________________________________________________________1. _____________________________________________________________________________
2. _____________________________________________________________________________
3. _____________________________________________________________________________

D. Counterargument (Paragraph 5)
1. Counterargument #1: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Refutation (attack): __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. Counterargument #2: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Refutation (attack): __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. Conclusion (Paragraph 6)
A. Restated Thesis: _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
B. Opinion/Suggestion/Prediction: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Matthew Barbee, 20157