infographics about how to write a good argumentative essay with background of By Assignment Expert logo and site link

How to Write a Good Argumentative Essay?

Argumentation essays allow the writer to take a specific opinion and support it with arguments and facts. An excellent argumentative essay needs skills that make you efficient in presenting your ideas correctly. 

Proper arguing is essential in history papers, sociological or economic issues, and other papers. In this blog, you will get the outline and examples of how to write a good argumentative essay to acquire well-crafted essays.

What is an Argumentative Essay

An argumentative essay is a type of academic writing where you present a topic and provide arguments for and against it. Unlike the other forms, an argumentative essay demands a stand to be taken. Such writing is often used in subjects that involve critical evaluation and reflection, such as history, sociology, and economics. 

Hence, argumentative essays must be unique from other types, like descriptive essays, to meet this requirement. Performance essays promise to explain a certain object and situation. On the other hand, argumentative essays seek to sway the reader to the writer’s line of argument by appealing to reason and laying down evidence.

Argumentative Essay Format

A standard argumentative essay follows this format:

Introduction

  • Hook
  • Background Information
  • Thesis Statement

Body Paragraphs

  • Topic Sentence
  • Evidence and Analysis
  • Counterargument and Rebuttal

Conclusion

  • Summary of points
  • Restate Thesis
  • Closing Statement

Formatting Tips

  • Arrange your essay with headings and subheadings.
  • Use MLA, APA, or another required format.
  • Ensure consistent formatting throughout.

Related blog: How to Write a Personal Narrative Essay?

How to write a good argumentative essay? A step-by-step Guide

The various significant steps in writing a proper argumentative essay Are as follows: All contribute to developing a good foundation for your essay with sensible, reasonable, and convincing arguments.

Step 1: Choose a topic

The first and most critical step is picking the right topic. Choose an area you would like to focus on which will spark controversy. Make sure you have enough source material. For example, in history, you can argue over the effects of the Second World War on contemporary society.

Examples of Good Topics

  • History: “An analysis of the current business practices given how the commercial revolution has affected them.”
  • Sociology: The impact of social media on society: a case of forming people’s opinions.
  • Economics: The impact of globalization on developing countries, particularly the effect of world trade systems.

Step 2: Research Thoroughly

Once you have restricted yourself to a specific topic, the next step is to search for information from credible sources in books, journals, and the Internet. Note as much complex data as possible and categorize observed results. It is always valuable to employ professional evidence, including those linked with sociology or economics, to amplify your stand.

Research Tips

  • Use the different links: JSTOR, Google Scholar, or your university library.
  • Your sources must be valid and on the subject that you are discussing.
  • This way, you will write significantly faster with all the notes by theme or argument.

Step 3: State a thesis

One important thing that a student must observe is that the thesis statement must be well-defined and brief. It should contain a summary of the stand that you are going to take. These are also the key highlights that will be presented.

Example Thesis Statements

  • History: Many historiographers have lectured that the Treaty of Versailles tiled the way for World War II because it was very shameful to Germany.
  • Sociology: Social media has the most significant effect on a person’s psychological well-being in this generation. This effect will vary and can either have a positive or a negative impact on the business’s performance.
  • Economics: The minimum wage laws are crucial in decreasing pay inequity and promoting fair employee treatment.

Related blog: How To Write a Ph.D. Thesis?

Step 4: Create an Outline

An outline supports the management of thought processes and guarantees that the created essay will be logical. It should include:

  • Introduction: This is an excellent place to formally state your topic and thesis statement.
  • Background Information: Contextualize your reasoning.
  • Argument 1: explain your First argument.
  • Argument 2: Look at another central argumentative point and explain your second argument.
  • Counterargument: Meet counterarguments.
  • Rebuttal: They must be able to support their clients in developing powerful counterarguments, which should be addressed.
  • Conclusion: Review your arguments and express your opposition.

Step 5: Write an introduction

The introduction states the points that should first have the hook, followed by the background of the case and thesis statement in argumentative essay

Hook Examples

  • Quote: Start with a relevant and thought-provoking quote related to your topic which will interest the reader.
  • Statistics: Give shocking statistics to the subject.
  • Narrative: Introduce an attention-grabbing short story or anecdote that reveals the importance of your subject and sets up your argument.

Step 6: Develop Body paragraphs

It is recommended that each body paragraph discusses a particular point. Start with a declaration before providing the evidence and explaining the analysis.

Example Body Paragraph Structure

  • Topic Sentence: State the purpose of the speech or talk and explain it in a few words.
  • Evidence: You should provide relevant facts, quotes, or data to support the argument being presented.
  • Analysis: Proves it by explaining the evidence.
  • Conclusion: If they are proposals, they must be linked to your thesis or moved to another point.

Step 7: Address Counterarguments

Responding to the counterarguments helps show that you are fair in your arguments and makes your essay strong. Could you state the opponents’ arguments and show that they are wrong and you are right with the help of the examples given?

Counter Argument Tips

  • Explain that you can understand and realize the valid reasons that the other side may have.
  • Provide counterevidence and make sure the sources you used are genuine.
  • Please do not use words that demean or ridicule a person or his opinions.

Step 8: Conclusion

The conclusion is the last portion of an essay and provides an account or summary of the report.

Conclusion Tips

  • Summarize Key Points: It is now time to restate the significant premises with which we started the paper.
  • Restate Thesis: Repeat the argument you are presenting in the essay.
  • Call to Action: If it is applicable, provide some recommendations for further research or something that should be done.

How to start an argumentative essay: Example

Examples are a separation of general beings involving entities that are not uniquely universal but can be found in more than one species. This pattern is so, especially when dealing with argumentative essays. The following are some of the issues you must deal with while developing the essay. Here are some examples which help you to write this:

  • Historical Topic: The Treaty of Versailles led to World War II because of its harsh provisions on Germany.
  • Sociological Topic: Thus, social media has a significant positive and negative influence on an individual’s mental health.
  • Economic Topic: This and that; “Minimum wage laws are crucial in fighting off lack of equal treatment in employment.”

Starting Tips

  • Choose simple words in which the reader will begin to take an interest in the first case.
  • In giving background information, explain the factors leading to the formation of the business.
  • Instead, particularly state your thesis statement.

Good Argumentative Essay Topics

Selecting the right topic for the essay is very important. Here are some ideas to help you begin with this I have: Follow some tips:

Topic Selection Tips

  • Make sure you hear or get different opinions.
  • Please choose the right topic: it should be attractive to the participants, the students, and the audience.
  • It must be made sure that there is sufficient information out there.

What’s a Rebuttal in an Argumentative Essay?

In the rebuttal of an argumentative essay, the counterarguments are given to existing arguments. Their validity is also discredited. It proves that there is more than one way to look at things and provides your views with credibility.

Rebuttal Tips

  • For the counterargument, understand every point that is fixed and relevant.
  • Make sure to use all the sources that proved your first contention to support the second contention.
  • When formulating your response, it only fits that your arguments are well-structured and rational.

FAQs About Argumentative Essay

Author info

Picture of Gulnaz Rasheed

Gulnaz Rasheed

Hi, I'm Gulnaz, a professional research writer. I have vast experience in writing research-based essays, assignments and literature reviews. I assist the international student community worldwide in writing their university-assigned tasks. I've been working with byassignmentexpert.com since 2020 as an assignment expert and have contributed to the success of many students from several universities worldwide.