Argumentative Paper
An argumentative paper strives to convince a reader to agree with the writer’s point of view, to
make a particular decision, or to follow a certain course of action.
Choose a Good Subject:
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Choose a subject that is persuasive.
Do not choose a subject that cannot be logically addressed.
Make sure that your position on the subject is clear, concise, and arguable.
Know Who You Are Writing to:
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Who are your readers?
What do they already know about the subject?
What do they not already know about the subject?
How are they likely to feel about this subject?
Is there any way to present this information so that the audience receives it logically and
not emotionally?
Organize Your Thoughts:
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Write out your main points about the subject.
Make sure to look at your evidence and discover how effective it will be in proving your
thesis.
Avoid inaccurate evidence.
Consider the Opposition:
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Be aware of your audience’s counterarguments or oppositions.
Think about and write down a list of all of the counterarguments that you can think of
about your subject.
Find ways to answer those counterarguments with rebuttals.
End Forcefully:
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Make the conclusion strong. It will be the last thing that your audience will take away
from the paper.
Remind the audience of what your position was on the subject.
Make sure to emphasize the importance of your argument.
Do not fizzle out at the end. Try to avoid unsure wording such as “I think,” “maybe,” or
“in my opinion.”