ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY Group Members: Amtul Noor Sabeeka Rauf Faiza Urooj Shafia Mubarik Afia Nayab Sabaha What is an Argumentative Essay? • The argumentative essay is a genre of writing that requires the student to investigate a topic; collect, generate, and evaluate evidence; and establish a position on the topic in a concise manner. • An argument follows when two groups disagree about something. An argumentative essay is also one that attempts/tries to change the readers mind, to convince the reader to agree with the point of view of the writer. • Argumentative essays attempt to be highly persuasive and logical. • When writing an argumentative essay assume that your reader disagrees with you, but remember your reader is no less intelligent than you. Consider counterarguments. This lets you address potential objections to your point preemptively, strengthening your own argument. The Five Paragraph Essay • A common method for writing an argumentative essay is the fiveparagraph approach. This is, however, by no means the only formula for writing such essays. • A good argument is a simple numbers game with a clear winner. A fiveparagraph argumentative essay teaches students how to present their claims clearly and confidently, while backing their views with solid evidence from literary texts and credible research materials. • The five parts include: 1. a strong introductory paragraph with a clear thesis 2. three evidentiary body paragraphs that may include detailed discussion of evidence 3. a conclusion. Structure of the Argumentative Essay • A clear, concise, and defined thesis statement that occurs in the first paragraph of the essay. • Clear and logical transitions between the introduction, body, and conclusion. • Body paragraphs that include evidential support. • Evidential support (whether factual, logical, statistical, or anecdotal). • A strong conclusion that does not simply restate the thesis, but readdresses it in light of the evidence provided. Introducing your Argument • Like other academic essays, an argumentative essay begins with an introduction. The introduction serves to capture the reader’s interest, provide background information, present your thesis statement, and (in longer essays) to summarize the structure of the body. • In the first paragraph of an argument essay, students should set the context by reviewing the topic in a general way. • Next they should explain why the topic is important or why readers should care about the issue. • Lastly, students should present the thesis statement. Body paragraphs of the Essay • The body of an argumentative essay is where you develop your arguments in detail. Here you’ll present evidence, analysis, and reasoning to convince the reader that your thesis statement is true. • In the standard five-paragraph format for short essays, the body takes up three of your five paragraphs. In longer essays, it will be more paragraphs, and might be divided into sections with headings. • Each paragraph covers its own topic, introduced with a topic sentence. Each of these topics must contribute to your overall argument; don’t include irrelevant information. A Persuasive Conclusion • Create a compelling conclusion that brings your argument to a close. • Don't introduce new information in your conclusion. • Explain how your evidence clearly supports your arguments and why your thesis is well-founded, logical and credible. • The conclusion will leave readers with a lasting impression of your essay. • Challenge readers to consider your viewpoints, using passionate, persuasive language to make your closing remarks. Argumentative VS Persuasive Essay Attempts to convince the readers to accept the writer's idea as true by using statistics, facts and figures, etc. Based on logic and reason Attempts to convince the readers to agree with the writer, by using emotions, personal ideas, etc. Based on emotions or personal opinions Acknowledge opposing views May not acknowledge opposing views Writer needs to do a thorough Writer can write without doing research and collect some facts much research
