How to Write an Argumentative Essay

Summary

This video script offers a comprehensive guide on crafting an argumentative essay. It emphasizes the importance of taking a stance on a topic and persuading the reader through evidence and logical reasoning. The script outlines the structure, which includes an engaging introduction with a thesis statement, at least three body paragraphs presenting main points and counterarguments, and a conclusion that reiterates the thesis and strengthens the writer's viewpoint. The video also stresses the need to consider multiple perspectives and to refute opposing arguments effectively. It suggests using credible evidence such as expert opinions and statistics to bolster the argument, and advises on organizing the essay to address both the writer's and opposing viewpoints.

Takeaways

• 📝 An argumentative essay takes a position on a topic and aims to convince the reader of its validity.
• 🔑 It provides evidence and reasons to support its viewpoint and acknowledges opposing arguments.
• 📖 The essay should present at least two sides of an argument, possibly more if there are multiple viewpoints.
• 📑 The introduction should include a hook, background information, and a thesis statement that outlines the essay's position.
• 📈 Body paragraphs should each focus on a main point supporting the thesis, providing evidence and examples.
• 🔍 Evidence can include expert opinions, factual information, or statistics, which should be properly cited.
• 🔚 The conclusion restates the thesis and gives reasons why the writer's viewpoint is correct, appealing to the reader to agree.
• 🤔 The essay's goal is to persuade even those who initially disagree with the main argument.
• 🧩 The structure of an argumentative essay typically includes an introduction with a thesis, body paragraphs for arguments, and a conclusion.
• 📊 Counterarguments are an essential part of an argumentative essay, requiring the writer to present and refute opposing viewpoints.
• 📝 The persuasive essay differs in that it only presents one side and its evidence, unlike the argumentative essay which considers multiple viewpoints.

Q & A

What is an argumentative essay?

An argumentative essay is a type of writing that takes a position or opinion on a certain topic and aims to convince the reader that this viewpoint is true or correct by providing evidence and reasons.

What should an argumentative essay include?

An argumentative essay should include evidence and reasons to support its point of view, present both sides of the argument, and aim to convince the reader of the writer's opinion.

What is the purpose of the hook in an argumentative essay?

The hook in an argumentative essay is meant to interest the reader and encourage them to continue reading the essay.

What should be included in the introduction paragraph of an argumentative essay?

The introduction paragraph should include a hook, background information about the topic, and a thesis statement that clearly states the writer's plan for the essay.

How many body paragraphs should an argumentative essay have?

An argumentative essay should have at least three body paragraphs explaining the main points that support the thesis statement, though there may be more.

What is the role of evidence in an argumentative essay?

Evidence in an argumentative essay is used to prove the points made by the writer and can include expert opinions, factual information, or statistics.

What is the function of the conclusion paragraph in an argumentative essay?

The conclusion paragraph restates the thesis statement and gives the writer's reasons for believing their viewpoint is correct, appealing to the reader to agree with the argument.

How does an argumentative essay differ from a persuasive essay?

An argumentative essay presents both sides of an argument and provides evidence for both, while a persuasive essay only presents the writer's side and provides evidence for that viewpoint.

What is the objective of an argumentative essay?

The objective of an argumentative essay is to convince readers, especially those who may object to the writer's main argument, by presenting the strongest objections and showing why they are flawed or not true.

What is a strategy for writing the argument in an argumentative essay?

One strategy for writing the argument in an argumentative essay is to predict the consequences of the opposing point of view, which includes considering what would happen if the situation continues.

How should evidence be referenced in an argumentative essay?

Evidence in an argumentative essay should be referenced using a citation method such as APA or MLA to add credibility to the argument and prove the writer's points.

Outlines

00:00

📝 How to Write an Argumentative Essay

This paragraph introduces the concept of an argumentative essay, which is designed to take a stance on a topic and persuade the reader of its validity through evidence and reasoning. It emphasizes the importance of presenting both sides of an argument and providing a clear thesis statement in the introduction. The paragraph outlines the structure of an argumentative essay, which includes an introduction with a hook, background information, and a thesis statement, followed by at least three body paragraphs presenting main points with evidence, and a conclusion that restates the thesis and reasons for the writer's viewpoint. It also discusses the objective of an argumentative essay to convince readers, including those who may initially disagree, by addressing the strongest objections and demonstrating their flaws.

05:02

🎓 Argumentative Essay on Higher Education

The second paragraph focuses on the practical application of writing an argumentative essay on the topic of whether higher education should be free for everyone. It advises starting with brainstorming or research to gather reasons supporting the free higher education stance and counterarguments. The suggested essay structure involves first presenting the arguments for free higher education, followed by the opposing view, and concluding with the writer's opinion supported by evidence. The paragraph highlights the use of credible evidence such as expert opinions, factual information, and statistics, and stresses the importance of citing these sources using a recognized method like APA or MLA. It concludes by encouraging the use of these strategies to write an effective argumentative essay.

Keywords

💡Argumentative Essay

An argumentative essay is a form of academic writing that requires the writer to take a position or opinion on a particular topic and support that position with evidence and reasoning. The video emphasizes that this type of essay aims to persuade the reader of the validity of the writer's viewpoint. It is central to the video's theme as it sets the stage for discussing how to construct such an essay effectively.

💡Position

In the context of the video, 'position' refers to the writer's stance or viewpoint on the topic of the essay. The script explains that the essay should take a clear position and attempt to convince the reader of its correctness. This is crucial as it guides the writer on what to focus on when developing their argument.

💡Evidence

Evidence in an argumentative essay is the factual information, statistics, or expert opinions that support the writer's position. The video script stresses the importance of providing evidence to substantiate the points made in the essay. It is a key component in convincing the reader and is used throughout the script to illustrate the necessity of backing up claims.

💡Introduction Paragraph

The introduction paragraph sets the stage for the essay by introducing the topic, presenting the different sides of the argument, and stating the writer's thesis. The video script uses the introduction paragraph as an example of how to hook the reader and provide necessary background before diving into the body of the essay.

💡Thesis Statement

A thesis statement is a clear assertion that outlines the main argument or point of the essay. The video script explains that the thesis statement should be included in the introduction paragraph and is vital for guiding the reader through the writer's argument.

💡Body Paragraphs

Body paragraphs are the sections of the essay where the main points supporting the thesis statement are discussed in detail. The video script mentions that there should be at least three body paragraphs, each providing evidence and examples for the points presented in the thesis statement.

💡Counterarguments

Counterarguments refer to the opposing viewpoints or claims that are presented and refuted in an argumentative essay. The video script highlights the importance of acknowledging and addressing counterarguments to strengthen the writer's own position.

💡Conclusion Paragraph

The conclusion paragraph is the final section of the essay where the writer restates their thesis and summarizes the main points made. The video script explains that in the conclusion, the writer should also give reasons why they believe their viewpoint is correct and appeal to the reader to agree with their argument.

💡Persuasive Essay

A persuasive essay is compared to an argumentative essay in the script to highlight the difference in approach. While a persuasive essay focuses solely on presenting one side's point of view with evidence, an argumentative essay considers multiple viewpoints, making it a key distinction in the video's message.

💡Citation

Citation in the context of the video refers to the practice of giving credit to sources of information used in the essay. The script mentions that any factual information or expert opinions should be properly cited using citation methods like APA or MLA, which is essential for academic integrity and credibility.

💡Free Higher Education

Free higher education is used as an example topic in the video script to illustrate how to structure an argumentative essay. It serves as a practical application of the concepts discussed, showing how to brainstorm ideas, present arguments, and counterarguments on a specific issue.

Highlights

An argumentative essay takes a position or opinion on a topic and aims to convince the reader of its validity.

The essay should provide evidence and reasons to support its viewpoint.

It's important to acknowledge that there are at least two sides to every argument.

The introduction paragraph should introduce different sides and the writer's opinion on the strongest evidence.

A hook, background information, and a thesis statement are essential components of the introduction.

The body paragraphs should explain the main points supporting the thesis statement, with at least three required.

Each body paragraph must provide evidence, examples, and explanations for the points in the thesis.

The essay must have evidence to prove its points.

The conclusion restates the thesis and gives reasons why the writer's opinion is correct.

The goal is to convince readers who may object to the main argument.

The essay should address the strongest objections and show why they are flawed.

The argument can be presented by first discussing the side the writer disagrees with or their own viewpoint.

The final paragraph should discuss why there is more evidence for the writer's viewpoint.

Argumentative essays are different from persuasive essays as they consider multiple viewpoints.

Counterarguments should be presented with reasons for their point of view.

Predicting the consequences of a viewpoint can be a good way to write the argument.

For a topic like 'higher education should be free,' brainstorm reasons for and against.

The essay structure should include arguments for free higher education, arguments against, and the writer's conclusion.

Evidence can include expert opinions, factual information, or statistics, which must be cited.

Support paragraphs should make a point and provide further details or examples to back it up.

The essay should present a quote or example from the opposing viewpoint to show their perspective.

An argumentative essay presents multiple sides of an argument and attempts to convince the reader of the writer's opinion.

Transcripts

[Music]

often

in writing assignments you're asked to

write an argumentative essay

in this video we're going to talk about

how to write an argumentative essay

first let's talk about what an

argumentative essay is

an argumentative essay takes a position

or

an opinion on a certain topic and tries

to convince the reader that their point

of view is true

or correct the essay will provide

evidence

and reasons to support their point of

view

so how do you write an argumentative

essay

when developing an argument it is good

to remember that there are always

at least two sides to an argument

in your essay you will need to present

each of these two sides

or more if there are multiple arguments

then in the introduction paragraph of

your essay you will need to introduce

the different sides

and give your opinion about which side

you believe has the strongest

evidence the introduction paragraph

should include a hook

some background information and a thesis

statement

the hook is something that will interest

the reader to continue reading your

essay

the background information would be

information about your topic

that would be helpful to the reader and

the thesis statement will state

clearly what you plan to write in your

essay

after the introduction paragraph there

should be at least

three body paragraphs explaining the

main points

that support the thesis statement you

may have more than three body paragraphs

but you should have at least three

each body paragraph will give evidence

examples and

explanations for each of the points

presented in the thesis

statement the argumentative essay needs

to have

evidence to prove your points

the final paragraph is the conclusion

paragraph

the thesis statement is restated and the

writer gives his reasons why he believes

his opinion is the correct one

and appeals to the reader to agree with

his argument in the essay

so your format for an argumentative

essay looks something like this

the introduction paragraph with a thesis

statement

the opposing claims about your topic

your viewpoint about the topic and then

the conclusion that gives your reasons

for why you believe

your viewpoint is correct

the object of the argumentative essay is

to convince those who

object to your main argument this is

what you need to do in an argumentative

essay

so try to choose the strongest of the

objections

and show why that objection is flawed

or not true

the order of the argument can be

presented in two ways

you can present the side you do not

agree with

followed by the side you believe is

better

or you can present your side first and

then present the

opposing side next

in your final paragraph or paragraphs

you will want to discuss why you believe

there's more

evidence for the side you think is

stronger or

true

the argumentative essay is slightly

different from the persuasive essay

the persuasive essay only presents your

side

or your point of view and gives evidence

for that the argumentative essay looks

at both

of the points of view and also gives

evidence

for both so you need to consider

both sides of an argument in an

argumentative essay

we sometimes call these counter

arguments

so be sure to present the other side and

their reasons for their point of view

now one good way to write the argument

in their essay is to

predict the consequences of their point

of view

so this would include your ideas of what

would happen if

this situation continues

let's look at a possible argumentative

essay assignment

higher education should be free for

everyone

present the different arguments about

this topic and defend your opinion

now the first thing you should do is to

brainstorm for some ideas or

do some research to find reasons why

people believe that higher education

should be free

thinking of at least three ideas is a

good idea

then you should brainstorm for ideas of

the other side of the argument about

higher education should not be free

the structure for your essay may look

something like this

you decide to first write about the

ideas that argue that

higher education should be free

in the next paragraph you would talk

about the reasons why some believe that

higher education should not be free in

your conclusion

you would write why your point of view

is correct

so after some research or brainstorming

maybe you decide on these ideas for your

essay

you would develop each of these

paragraphs with evidence

and examples to prove that point of view

now evidence that you can use in an

argumentative essay

include experts opinions

factual information or statistics

be sure to reference any of these facts

in your writing by using a citation

method either the apa

or the mla

now all of these types of evidence can

add credibility

to your argument and prove your point

so when writing your support paragraph

be sure to make your point

and then give further details maybe an

example or some type of

evidence to back it up

do this for both sides of the argument

for example you need to find a quote or

some kind of an example from the

opposing point of view

to show how they see the topic

so to review what an argumentative essay

is

an argumentative essay takes a position

on a topic

it presents both sides of the argument

or multiple sides if there are more than

two sides

and then it attempts to convince the

reader that the writer's opinion

is correct

try using these strategies the next time

you need to write an argumentative essay

happy writing

you