An Argumentative Essay
Argument writing is not about emotion; argument
writing is about facts, data, and logic.
The purpose is to persuade the reader to accept –
or seriously consider – your opinion on a
controversial issue.
Claim Statement
*Three-prong thesis statement (your position on the issue and your three
reasons)  Goes in the last sentence of your introduction paragraph!
3-prong means there are 3 important parts
Each prong is a subtopic
Example: Bullying should have harsher punishments because it is an ongoing
problem, bullies know what they are doing and choose to continue doing it,
and there are serious effects to the individual being bullied.
What is the topic/question the student received based on this thesis
statement?
Introduction
First sentence: Hook – interesting tidbit to make the opening paragraph
captivating.
Next few sentences: Background information – What information is necessary
to understand your claim statement? This is where you can include definitions,
some statistics, etc.
Last sentence: Claim Statement (Thesis) – Three-prong thesis statement that
clearly states your position on the issue/topic and states your three reasons.
TOPIC: Should there be harsher
punishments for bullying?
Introduction Paragraph Example:
One out of five students admit to being a bully, or doing some act of bullying. Each
school district has their own definition of what they consider bullying but the most common
definition is “unwanted, aggressive behavior among school aged children that involved real
or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be
repeated, over time.” Another form of bullying is cyberbullying and it is bullying that takes
place using electronic technology. According to “The Issue of Bullying,” up to 43% of students
have been bullied while online. Bullying is a constant problem in schools that needs to be
addressed and dealt with in a serious manner. Bullying should have harsher punishments
because it is an ongoing problem, bullies know what they are doing and choose to continue
doing it, and there are serious effects to the individual being bullied.
YOUR TURN!
 Write your introduction to your argumentative writing.
- Hook
- Background information – information that is necessary to
address so that the reader fully understands your claim.
- Claim Statement (Thesis) in 3-prong format
Complete Argumentative Essay
 A complete argumentative essay includes:
 Introduction with claim statement
 Body Paragraph #1 with reason #1 and supporting evidence
 Body Paragraph #2 with reason #2 and supporting evidence
 Body Paragraph #3 with reason #3 and supporting evidence
 Counterargument and rebuttal paragraph
 Conclusion
 We will talk about:
 Introduction with claim statement
 Body Paragraph #1 with reason #1 and supporting
evidence
 Body Paragraph #2 with reason #2 and supporting
evidence
 Body Paragraph #3 with reason #3 and supporting
evidence
 Counterargument and rebuttal paragraph
 Conclusion
Body Paragraph(s) for each reason
 Must include
 Topic Sentence – Sentence that states your reason
 Quote – Specific evidence taken from research
 Explain Quote – What is the quote saying? (in your own
words)
 Evidence – How is this fact/data evidence for your reason?
 Transition – Leads to the next reason
Body Paragraph(s) for each reason
Bullying is an ongoing problem in schools across the country.
According to the article, “Cyberbullying and Georgia’s Schools,”
social media programs like Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat are
platforms that have given new ways for students to bully their
classmates in and outside of school. Not only do schools have to deal
with the bullying happening inside the school building, but they also
have to address the bullying happening beyond the regular school
day. This shows just how enormous the bullying problem is in schools
and this calls for harsher punishments in order for students to
understand the seriousness of the issue. Students who bully do it
because maybe they feel the punishment is not harsh enough and
the consequences will not greatly affect them.
Body Paragraph(s) for each reason
 Topic Sentence – Sentence that states your reason
Bullying is an ongoing problem in schools across the country.
 Quote – Specific evidence taken from research
According to the article, “Cyberbullying and Georgia’s Schools,” social media programs like
Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat are platforms that have given new ways for students to
bully their classmates in and outside of school.
 Explain Quote – What is the quote saying? (in your own words)
Not only do schools have to deal with the bullying happening inside the school building, but
they also have to address the bullying happening beyond the regular school day.
 Evidence – How is this fact/data evidence for your reason?
This shows just how enormous the bullying problem is in schools and this calls for harsher
punishments in order for students to understand the seriousness of the issue.
 Transition – Leads to the next reason
Students who bully do it because maybe they feel the punishment is not harsh enough and
the consequences will not greatly affect them.
Body Paragraph(s) for each reason
Bullies know that what they are doing is wrong yet continue to bully
others. In the article, “Why Do Teens Bully Interview,” Karen Duling,
president of Bully Know More, said that “bullying is about power. They
try to gain more power by bullying others… They do it to get attention
from other kids – thinking this will make them more popular.” Students
who bully have reasons why they bully others but it does not justify
their actions. This only shows that bullies fail to consider how their
actions are affecting others around them and they need more severe
consequences in order to get the point across that they need to stop.
Students who are bullied need help in stopping those who bully them.
Body Paragraph(s) for each reason
 Topic Sentence – Sentence that states your reason
Bullies know that what they are doing is wrong yet continue to bully others.
 Quote – Specific evidence taken from research
In the article, “Why Do Teens Bully Interview,” Karen Duling, president of Bully Know More, said
that “bullying is about power. They try to gain more power by bullying others… They do it to
get attention from other kids – thinking this will make them more popular.”
 Explain Quote – What is the quote saying? (in your own words)
Students who bully have reasons why they bully others but it does not justify their actions.
 Evidence – How is this fact/data evidence for your reason?
This only shows that bullies fail to consider how their actions are affecting others around them
and they need more severe consequences in order to get the point across that they need to
stop.
 Transition – Leads to the next reason
Students who are bullied need help in stopping those who bully them.
Body Paragraph(s) for each reason
The horrific effects of bullying in the victim is long-term. The article,
“Effects of Bullying,” states that “kids who are bullied can experience
negative physical, school, and mental issues” that include depression,
anxiety, and increased feelings of sadness and loneliness. It also says
that these issues can continue into adulthood. Not only do the victims
of bullying have to suffer at the moment but may also suffer in the
future because of one bully’s actions. Having harsher punishments for
bullying can prevent many bullies from taking it too far because they
don’t want to face the tough consequences put in place for bullying.
Bullying can be decreased but harsher punishments must be
promoted even though there are others that argue that harsher
punishment is not necessary.
Body Paragraph(s) for each reason
 Topic Sentence – Sentence that states your reason
The horrific effects of bullying in the victim is long-term.
 Quote – Specific evidence taken from research
The article, “Effects of Bullying,” states that “kids who are bullied can experience negative
physical, school, and mental issues” that include depression, anxiety, and increased feelings
of sadness and loneliness. It also says that these issues can continue into adulthood.
 Explain Quote – What is the quote saying? (in your own words)
Not only do the victims of bullying have to suffer at the moment but may also suffer in the
future because of one bully’s actions.
 Evidence – How is this fact/data evidence for your reason?
Having harsher punishments for bullying can prevent many bullies from taking it too far
because they don’t want to face the tough consequences put in place for bullying.
 Transition – Leads to the next reason
Bullying can be decreased but harsher punishments must be promoted even though there
are others that argue that harsher punishment is not necessary.
YOUR TURN! Write your Body Paragraph
-
Make sure you include all three reasons and support each reason with at least
one piece of evidence from the articles.
Your body paragraph could be written like this:
Sentence 1: Statement about reason #1
Sentence 2: Quote from article related to reason #1
Sentence 3: Explain quote in your own words and how it supports reason #1
Sentence 4: Statement about reason #2
Sentence 5: Quote from article related to reason #2
Sentence 6: Explain quote in your own words and how it supports reason #2
Sentence 7: Statement about reason #3
Sentence 8: Quote from article related to reason #3
Sentence 9: Explain quote in your own words and how it supports reason #3
Sentence 10: Concluding sentence
Counterclaim/Counterargument &
Rebuttal
Counterargument/counterclaim: an argument opposing
your thesis and expresses the view of a person who
disagrees with your claim statement
Rebuttal: The response/evidence that disagrees with the
counterclaim.
Example of Counterargument
Counterargument/counterclaim:
On the other hand, some people say that bullying does not need
harsher punishment because kids are going to be kids and it is only a
part of growing up.
Evidence that supports counterargument:
In the article, “Mom Tells Parents Bullied Kids Should ‘Toughen Up’” a
mom blogger, Stephanie Metz, believes that “Kids are being raised to
never have to deal with adversity. I don’t think we are raising a
generation that will be able to function in the real world. Understand I
am not condoning kids to be cruel to each other, but I think kids need
to toughen up when kids are not nice to them.” She thinks that we are
failing to raise kids to stand up for themselves and this is setting them
up for failure in the future.
Example of Rebuttal
Rebuttal:
However, bullying should not be considered part of growing up and
addressing bullying will only help kids have a better future .
Evidence that supports rebuttal:
The article, “School Bullying Is Common, Mostly By Boys, Study Finds”
mentions that harassment and ridicule have been linked to incidents of
school violence that were fatal. Dr. Tonja R. Nansel from the National
Institute of Child Health and Human Development says that bullying “is a
serious problem that we should not ignore. In the past, bullying has simply
been dismissed as kids will be kids but the findings from this study suggest
that it should not be accepted as a normal part of growing up.” She is
referring to the national study of bullying in schools where they surveyed 15,
686 6th – 10th grade students. Therefore this study and its findings should be
taken seriously and supports the need for harsher punishments for bullying.
Your Turn! Write your
counterargument/rebuttal paragraph
 Sentence 1: Counterargument/counterclaim statement
 The argument opposing your thesis statement (On the other hand, some people say
_______________________________________________________.)
 Sentence 2: Evidence to support counterargument
 Find evidence in your articles to support the counterargument
 Sentence 3: Explain the counterargument evidence in your own words
 Sentence 4: Rebuttal
 Your response to the counterargument (However, ___________________________________________)
 Sentence 5: Evidence to support rebuttal
 Find evidence in your articles to support your rebuttal
 Sentence 6 and beyond: Explain your evidence and re-emphasize why your argument is better
than the counterargument.
Conclusion
 Sentence 1: Restate your claim statement
 Sentence 2-3: Summarize your argument referring to reason #1
 Sentence 4-5: Summarize your argument referring to reason #2
 Sentence 6-7: Summarize your argument referring to reason #3
 Sentence 8: Write a call to action. Provide a general warning of what will happen if your
argument is not put into action and/or a general statement of the benefits of following the
argument and not ignoring it.
Conclusion Example
 Restate your claim statement
It is critical that the consequences for bullying are harsh enough that bullies will think twice before they bully
others.
 Sentence 2-3: Summarize your argument referring to reason #1
Bullying in schools happen too often that it has become a serious problem. Not only does it happen in schools
but it is also happening outside of school due to the increasing use of social networking sites.
 Sentence 4-5: Summarize your argument referring to reason #2
Even though bullies are aware of their actions, they still decide to continue harming others physically and
emotionally. Bullies need to be taught that their actions come with serious consequences.
 Sentence 6-7: Summarize your argument referring to reason #3
Victims of bullying suffer unnecessarily and it causes many issues. Being bullied impedes the victim’s learning and
negatively affects their life.
 Sentence 8: Write a call to action. Provide a general warning of what will happen if your argument is not put
into action and/or a general statement of the benefits of following the argument and not ignoring it.
Bullying will continue to happen as long as society keeps a lighter punishment for bullying. Everyone should push
for severe punishments for anyone caught bullying others in order to make school a safe place for everyone.