Argumentative Essay
Brainstorming
● Find a topic that is both arguable and of interest to you
● After sufficient background research, formulate a thesis
● Consider your target audience. Who are you trying to convince?
Structure
● Generally, argumentative writing is structured using an introduction, background paragraph,
2-3 body paragraphs, and a conclusion
● Transitions are critical in creating relationships between sentences or paragraphs and adding
cohesion to writing
● Signposts, which refer to words and phrases that indicate the introduction of an idea or a
transition between ideas, help organize a piece of writing
Context
● Establishes the background information needed for the audience to understand the thesis
● Summarizes pre-existing discussion on the issue an hand
● Defines key terms and theories
● Establish why the reader should care about the issue at hand
Thesis
● A thesis should have a definable, arguable claim and be as clear and specific as possible
● Common thesis pitfalls to avoid
○ A thesis that is too broad
○ A thesis phrased as a question
○ A thesis asserting commonplace opinions
○ A thesis that makes generalizations (employing words like always, none, and everyone)
Evidence
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Evidence is critical to substantiate claims
Types of evidence to employ
○ Facts
○ Statistics
○ Logic
○ Anecdotes
○ Textual evidence
Use a mix of both primary and secondary sources
Consideration for the reliability of evidence
○ An author’s area of expertise
○ A peer-reviewed source
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○ The recency of evidence
○ The methodology of cited studies
Do not let evidence speak for itself. Explain how evidence bolsters your claims
Counter-arguments
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Two strategies to respond to counter-arguments are
○ Refutation, through which a writer seeks to disprove opposing arguments
○ Accomodation, through which a writer concedes that opposing arguments are, to some
extent, valid, but clarifies why other considerations outweigh
Persuasion
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Consider the rhetorical devices of ethos, pathos, and logos
Logos is based on rational thinking, through which an author can employ
○ Comparisons
○ Cause and effect thinking
○ Deductive and inductive reasoning
Pathos is an appeal to emotion, through an author can employ
○ Vivid imagery and description
○ Personal anecdotes
Ethos appeals to values and trust, through which an author can employ
○ References to the legitimacy and moral character of the author
○ Acknowledging and affirming the values of the intended audience
Poor Argumentation Techniques
● Ad Hominem Attacks: attack a person and not the argument they are making.
● Embellishment and skewing of facts
● Inflammatory language: speaking in a manner or using words to promote an emotional
response
● Slippery slope arguments
● Straw man arguments
● Circular argumentation
Sources:
https://slc.berkeley.edu/writing-worksheets-and-other-writing-resources/suggestions-developing-arg
umentative-essays
https://pressbooks.ulib.csuohio.edu/eng-102/chapter/rhetorical-strategies-building-compelling-argum
ents/
https://writingcenter.mst.edu/media/studentsupport/writingcenter/documents/writinghandouts/Cou
nterargument.pdf
Sample Argumentative Essay:
From The New York Times’ 2021 Student Editorial Contest Winners. Written by Ju Hwan Kim.
Why Singapore’s ‘Ugly’ Buildings Should Be Conserved
If you were to see the Golden Mile Complex in real life, your reaction would probably be something
along the lines of “Wow, that building is ugly.” The roughly stamped, varied colors of concrete would
strike most people as untidy: a far cry from the modern steel-glass buildings of the financial district
just two miles away.
This building has loomed over the vibrant district of Kallang for 48 years. When it was completed,
people widely praised it for its stair-like exterior; Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas called it a “unique
work.”
Fast forward to 2019: 80 percent of tenants supported the decision to sell the complex to developers,
and one politician even called it a “vertical slum.” Pragmatic and aesthetic considerations make it
compelling to say that buildings like this should be destroyed. But hear me out, they shouldn’t:
There’s certainly more to them than their looks.
The building’s architectural style, Brutalism, became popular in Singapore during the 1970s.
Brutalism is well known for its heavy reliance on exposed blocks of concrete and angular shapes,
which has garnered polarizing opinions from many. However, the architecture embodies the rapid
growth of Singapore during this period, right after the country attained independence in 1965. These
buildings reflect the hard work and resilience of that era and have come to represent Singaporean
identity itself. Now, many Brutalist structures are under threat: The Pearl Bank Apartments, built in
1976, were demolished last March despite conservation efforts.
I believe that looking at buildings is one of the easiest ways to understand a city’s identity. Two years
ago, when I moved to Singapore, I immediately fell in love with the city’s modern architecture and
learned how it expressed the island nation’s identity as a high-tech global hub. But there seems to be
an obsession with modernity and cleanliness, only creating an artificial veneer of the city. These
Brutalist buildings add layers to Singapore’s history. To simply destroy and replace them with new
structures would make the city seem shallow.
Moreover, massive urban renovation isn’t only the case for Singapore. Many cities — both Asian and
Western — focus too much on redevelopment, sacrificing their heritage for the sake of
modernization. Buildings don’t only shape the city’s looks, but also its heritage; more people need to
know this. I’ve noticed a similar trend in my hometown, Seoul. The cookie-cutter apartments, while
pragmatically sound, take away from the city’s unique atmosphere.
So, you might ask, “What can I do?” Personally, I’m not asking for much. Next time you pass by an
“ugly” building, take a moment before you frown. Look at it closely; you might learn something
beautiful about where you live.