HOW TO WRITE AN ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY

HIGHLIGHTS:

1. WHAT IS AN ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY?
2. BENEFITS OF LEARNING ARGUMENTATION SKILLS
3. FEATURES OF AN ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY
4. WRITING AN ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY

WHAT IS AN ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY?

An argumentative essay is the type of essay in which you present your arguments for or against a given topic. In an argumentative essay, the writer’s goal is to persuade his or her readers or audience to accept his or her view as a valid option. In a debate, there is a given topic and there two sides: for and against (the proposition and the opposition).

BENEFITS OF LEARNING ARGUMENTATION SKILLS

Argumentative writing is a skill that helps you to develop some critical thinking skills that are of central importance not only to scoring high in your exams but also to personal development and career success. The following are some of the benefits of developing debate writing skills:
1. The ability to think on your feet.
2. The ability to articulate your thoughts clearly.
3. Presentation skills
4. The ability to focus attention on reasons instead of abuses
5. Emotional Intelligence
6. Conflict Resolution
7. Broadening your horizon

8. The ability to convince others of an opinion, belief, or the merits of a course of action

9. The ability to defend an accused person in a court of law.

10. The ability to defend a proposal or policy.

11. The ability to persuade the electorate to vote you into a political office.

12. The persuasive power to sell a product or service.

FEATURES OF AN ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY
The features of an argumentative essay are as follows:

1. The Title or Topic
2. The Greetings
3. Introduction (Paragraph 1)
4. Body of the Essay (Paragraphs 1,2,3…)
5. Conclusion (Final Paragraph)

WRITING AN ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY
As shown in the features, the first thing to write in an argumentative essay is the title or topic. Here, you can simply write the given topic. This is followed by the greetings. In a debate (which is what the argumentative essay is meant for), you are expected to greet in a descending order – that is, from the top to the bottom. For example, you can write as follows: Mr. Chairman, Panel of Judges, Time-keeper, Ladies and Gentlemen.

The next thing is to write the introduction in which you are expected to state on which side you are. For example: I am here to support (or oppose) the motion which states that civilian rule is better than military rule. When stating your side, whether you are supporting or opposing the topic, you state the topic as it is. In other words, if you’re opposing, you don’t have to say: I am here to oppose the motion which states that military rule is better than civilian rule. It is wrong to change the topic simply because you want it to read exactly according to your own side of the argument. Leave the topic unchanged even if you’re opposing it: I am here to oppose the motion which state that civilian rule is better than military rule. You also have to avoid the error of using the unnecessary personification: “…the motion which says…” Obviously, a motion is not a human being and therefore can say things. Use the word “which states” instead. As part of the introduction, you can define the key terms in the topic if the definition is necessary, and particularly if the definition will emphasize or strengthen your arguments. In the topic stated above, for example, you can define civilian rule and military rule respectively in a manner that highlights the good side of one and the bad side of the other. Examples: According to Abraham Lincoln, civilian rule or democracy is the government of the people, by the people, and for the people. Military rule or dictatorship is a government of the dictators, by the dictators, and for the dictators who decided to seize power and rule by force. You may decide not to define the terms; so, you can go ahead and state your thesis. The thesis is a sentence that captures your central argument or viewpoint. You can also give the enumeration of the key points as part of your introduction.

The body of the essay is where you discuss your key points or arguments one by one. For example, you can pick point 1and discuss it in paragraph 2; discuss point 2 in paragraph 3; discuss point 3 in paragraph 4, and so forth. You can use an additional paragraph to demolish the perceived points of your opponents.

Finally, use last paragraph for the conclusion. Here, you can summarize the key points you already discussed, and re-emphasize your thesis or central argument. Your conclusion should highlight your viewpoint is such a powerful way that leaves your readers or audience with no option but agree with you.

It is important to use appropriate transitional phrases to indicate your movement from an old point you’ve fully discussed to a new one in a new paragraph. Such phrases include to start with, moreover, next, furthermore, finally.