The Argumentative Essay
United States History
Mt. Lebanon High School
2013-2014
An argument is…
The
reasonable, educated opinion
of a writer that
establishes a claim
and offers evidence to prove it
while mediating the opposition.
Features of the argumentative essay
1. You will take a side on the question, so your essay
will clearly state a viewpoint.
For example:
QUESTION: Was Andrew Carnegie a robber-baron or
a captain of industry?
THESIS: Though he took advantage of his employees
and the competition, it is Andrew Carnegie's
personal initiative and innovation that clearly
position him among America's most successful
captains of industry.
Features of the argumentative essay
2. You will concede some of the opposition’s position, so
you will include a concession.
Think of the concession as a “yes, but” statement.
Yes, acknowledge some of the opposition’s concerns,
but follow with a rebuttal of your own position.
For example:
YES:
…Andrew Carnegie took advantage of his
employees and his competitors.
BUT:
…Andrew Carnegie’s personal initiative
and innovation make him a captain of
industry.
Concession statements
• Concede some of the opposition's concerns.
− Consider what you might have used as support for
your argument if you had chosen the other side
− To signal the contrast between the opposition's
argument and yours, it uses words like
though, however, on the other hand, by contrast, yet,
although, but, granted, naturally, of course, admittedly,
naturally, or although it is true that.
―
•
Does not constitute an argument equal in size or scope
to your own
Concessions must appear EITHER in each body
paragraph or in a separate paragraph.
Thesis statement
• Present a clear, concise, argumentative thesis that
takes a side on the question.
− Take a clear position on the question (Yes or no,
Agree or disagree, It did or it didn’t)
− Include an argumentative statement of WHY you
agree or disagree, WHY yes or no, WHY it did or
didn’t.
• The thesis statement must include a reference to
your concession statements in an effort to
transition to your argument.
Concession AND Thesis Statement,
for example
Question:
Was Andrew Carnegie a robber-baron or
a captain of industry?
CONCESSION
• While Andrew Carnegie may
have exploited his workers to
help him succeed,
POSITION
• his role as a captain of industry is
clear
ARGUMENT
• because his hard work,
innovations in the steel industry,
and philanthropic contributions
positively affected America.
Introduction
• Introduce the topic; set the topic in the greater
scope of history.
− What is the context?
• What preceded this topic historically?
• How has this topic evolved from others like it?
• What other events precipitated this topic?
− 4-5 sentences
• Transition clearly to the question.
• Present clear, concise, argumentative thesis that
takes a side on the question and concedes some
of the opposition's concerns.
In the last half
of the 19th
century,
American
industrialists
were amassing
great personal
fortunes.
Through
business
savvy,
innovation,
and enterprise,
these men
made their
riches and also
earned their
reputations in
American
history.
Those who
exploited
others on the
road to
wealth were
branded
“robberbarons.”
Others, those
whose
personal
success
positively
impacted the
country as a
whole,
earned the
title
“captains of
industry.”
Andrew
Carnegie
was arguably
both.
Though it was upon the backs of
Americans who worked long
hours for low pay that Carnegie
became one of the richest men
in America,
considering his rags to riches
history, the way he
revolutionized the steel industry,
and, most importantly, his vast
philanthropic contributions,
Carnegie’s innovation and
humanitarian efforts clearly
merit him a post among the
American captains of industry.
The Body Paragraphs
CONTENT
• Include carefully
selected details that
advance the argument
ANALYSIS
• Use topic sentences to
tie to the argument of
the thesis
• Include at least three
different major topics,
supported by 2-3
examples each
• Discuss the significance
of each example in
relation to the topic
sentence
• Concede the
opponents concerns
EITHER in a paragraph,
or throughout the ¶s.
• Explain why these
concerns aren’t as
valid as the position of
the argument.
Finally,
Andrew
Carnegie’s
dedication to
philanthropy
and charity,
not only for
himself but for
all people of
wealth,
undoubtedly
position him
among
America’s
most
prominent
captains of
industry.
One of
Carnegie’s
primary
interests was
to establish
and fund free
public
libraries.
When he
began his
quest in 1881,
only a few
libraries
existed in the
world, but to
date, more
than 2,500
libraries have
been made
possible by
the Carnegie
Corporation.
Admittedly,
Carnegie
relied on the
working poor
to provide
the
manpower to
fuel his
factories and
make him his
millions.
but Andrew Carnegie
believed that his
responsibility went
beyond just profit.
Carnegie was a leader
in his community by
captaining efforts to
improve the lives of the
common man.
Carnegie believed that
all men should have
the resources to selfeducate and
consequently be
successful.
Undoubtedly, then,
Carnegie’s leadership
and libraries earn him
the title of captain of
industry, whereas his
Gospel of Wealth
doctrine precludes him
as a robber baron.
Conclusion
• Restate the thesis statement.
• Review the basis of your argument (briefly
summarize the why element of your thesis as
supported by the topics of your body
paragraphs.)
• Put the topic into the greater context of history.
• What follows this topic historically?
• How have other topics evolved from this one?
• What other events did this topic cause?
• What might the impact of this topic be on the future?