AP Language
Mr. Walker
Advice for Writing an Argument
Opening Paragraph
1. Write the argument from the prompt in your own words as much as you can. You may
borrow key words from the source in the prompt. Name the writer and the source from
which the writer’s argument comes. State the writer’s argument fairly, completely,
concisely, and accurately. You may be objective, you may be subjective. It depends on
your position. Are you going to defend, challenge or qualify?
2. Place the argument into a specific context that indicates the direction that you will take
the argument/discussion.
3. Write a thesis statement This statement should 1) Take an arguable stand and justifies
discussion; 2) Expresses at least one main, controlling idea; 3) Imply or directly state the
evidence that will prove the point; 4) Establish your voice and point of view.
4. Bonus: Use a rhetorical technique in your opening paragraph. Start with an image,
create a metaphor, write an anecdote, make an allusion, and so on.
Discussion Paragraphs
1. Write a topic sentence that has a subject and an opinion about that subject. The
sentence, called an assertion, should connect in idea and content to the thesis.
2. Write evidence statements that support the idea stated in the assertion. Show what you
know about the evidence. Clear, concise, and complete evidence statements lead to clear,
concise, and complete commentary statements.
3. Write commentary sentences that explain the importance of the evidence, advance the
argument to the next evidence statements, and discuss the important idea of the
discussion.
4. Rinse and repeat, keeping in mind the “They Say, I Say” structure.
5. If you are taking a position that defends or challenges, you must present
counterargument. If you are taking a position that qualifies – identifies exceptions to
assertions and evidence, then you are already writing counterargument.
6. Evidence comes from the following sources: experience, observation, academics, current
events, expert opinion, statistics, and so on. Evidence needs to be both convincing and
appropriate (on topic).
7. Come down from the clouds and write about real people, real places, and real events. You
may write about theory, but you should connect theory to practice and experience to
make your argument relevant.
8. Find the subtext of the discussion, the “what is really going on here” or the “what is really
being discussed here” or the “what this is all really about” part of the argument.
Conclusion Paragraphs
1. Several different options here. You may write 1) a brief summary of main points that
leads to why the discussion is important; 2) Frame the discussion and make a broader
point; 3) Pose a question for future consideration, but make sure that you finish with an
possible answer to that question; 4) Connect discussion to a quotation and then finish
with your commentary about the importance of the main points; 5) Finish with an image,
a metaphor, an analogy; 6) Make a call to action; 7) Express a warning about
consequences of action or inaction; 8) Identify results, effects, or consequences to action,
inaction, indifference, status quo, and so on.