Argumentative Essays
The Wonders of Persuading Your
Readers in Academic Writing
What is the Purpose of an
Argumentative or
Persuasive Essay?

To persuade your audience to consider your
point of view, even if they disagree with it.
The Five Key Elements of an
Argumentative Essay
(adapted from Oshima and Hogue, 2006):
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Explain the issue or problem.
Analyze and choose one side.
Present your arguments.
Present arguments from the other side
(“counter arguments”).
Give your responses to the counter
arguments (“concessions and refutations”).
Preparing the Five Key
Elements of Your
Argumentative Essay
Step One: Explain the
Issue. What EXACTLY are you
debating?
Make a question.
Be clear. Define. Limit.

Issue: Should schools
provide moral
education?
– What is Moral education?

Issue: Should
teachers use letter
grades?
– What are letter grades?
Step One: Explain the
Issue. What EXACTLY are
you debating?

Issue: Should
teachers use letter
grades?
– Which teachers?
– What age?
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Issue: Should
students work?
– Which students?
– How long?
Issue Revised:
Should teachers in middle
school use letter grades
(A, B, C) for their
students?
Issue Revised:
Should high school
students work parttime during the school
year?
Step Two: Analyze and
Choose One Side
1. Put the problem
into a question.
2. Brainstorm
responses from
both sides of the
issue.
3. Look to see which
side has stronger
arguments for you,
and identify your
side of the issue.

Should high school
students work parttime during the school
year?
– Yes (For/Pro)
– No (Against/ Con)
Step Two: Analyze and Choose
One Side Indirect Thesis Statements
Any thesis statement must contain an
opinion (usually expressed with
the modal ‘should’ or words and
expressions that show your
opinion).
Examples:

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Teenagers should have
part-time jobs while they
are in high school.
Part-time work is not a
good idea for teenagers
in high school.
Step Three: Present Your
Arguments

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Brainstorm your
arguments.
Be sure you have
strong Supporting
Points (Arguments)
that you can defend
with many Details
and Examples.
Step Three: Present Your
Arguments Direct Thesis Statement
Teenagers should have part-time jobs while
they are in high school because it helps
them organize their time, build responsibility
and get important work experience.
Step Four: Present
Arguments from the Other
Side (counter arguments)
What Are CounterArguments?
(Oshima and Hogue, 2006)
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The opposing
points of view.
What do the people
who DON’T agree
with your ‘side’
think?
What are their
arguments?
Counter Argument
Key Phrases & Examples:
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Some people feel
that..
Many think that…
Opponents of
______ claim that…
Proponents of
______claim that…
It is often argued
that…
It is sometimes
argued that…
Why do we need to
include counter
arguments in our essays?

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Why is this
important?
How can we
respond?
Look at this example. Where is the
counter argument? What is the purpose
of the other two sentences?
Some people feel that However, the high
the United States
number of uninsured
should not have a
people in the U.S. is
national health care
costing our country
plan because it is too
much more in
expensive.
emergency medical care
than we realize. This
Granted, it is important
could be prevented with
to be aware of how
a national health care
much money we are
plan.
spending as a nation.
Step Five: Give your responses to
the counter arguments with
concessions and refutations:
(Oshima and Hogue, 2006)

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You must refute
what the ‘other
side’ says and
clearly show why
you disagree with
their ideas.
If you do, it makes
your argument
even stronger.
Refutation Key Words:
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Transition words
(for simple or
compound
sentences):
However,
In fact,
As a matter of fact,
Nevertheless,
Yet or But (FANBOYS)
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Subordinating
conjunctions (for
complex
sentences):
Although
Even though
While
Whereas
Despite the fact.
Example of Refutation with
Transition Word (simple or
compound sentence)
Some people say that
teenagers should not work
during their high school
years. However, teenagers
who do work learn valuable
skills, including organizing
their time, building
responsibility and getting
important work experience.
Example of Refutation with
Subordinating Conjunction:
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Although many think
that genetically
engineered(GM) crops
can alleviate world
hunger and malnutrition,
GM crops are actually
causing more harm
because they are a grave
danger to the
environment.
Concessions:
(Fitzpatrick, 2005)
When you feel that
the ‘other side’ has
some good points,
it is good to
acknowledge it.
Readers appreciate
when you show
them what you
think is valid about
the ‘other side’
Concession Key Words:
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Granted,
Certainly
Indeed,
It is true that…
It is a fact that…
Example of a Concession and
Refutation

Many people believe
that stem cell research is
dangerous. There are
certainly reasons to be
cautious with stem cell
research or any new
technology. Nevertheless,
its potential benefits are far
more important than its
dangers.
Now that you have your Key
Elements, you will decide
how to organize them.
Do you want to…
 Focus on your arguments: Choose
three main reasons to explain ‘your
side’
OR
 Focus on the counter arguments:
Choose three main reasons from the
‘other side’
Do you want to focus on
YOUR arguments?

Introduction
– Hook
– Explanation of the Issue
– Thesis Statement

Body
–
–
–
–
Your Argument #1
Your Argument #2
Your Argument #3
Counter Arguments (Opposing Viewpoints)
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Your Concessions (if you have any)
Your refutations
Conclusion
– Restatement of your main arguments
OR Do you want to focus on the
COUNTER arguments?
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Introduction
– Hook
– Explanation of the Issue
– Thesis Statement

Body
– Counter Argument #1 (Opposing Viewpoints)
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Concessions and Your refutations
– Counter Argument #2 (Opposing Viewpoints)
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Concessions and Your refutations
– Counter Argument #2 (Opposing Viewpoints)
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Concessions and Your refutations
Conclusion
– Restatement of your main arguments
Review of Argumentative
Essays:
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What
What
What
What
What
What
What
is the purpose of this kind of essay?
are the five elements?
are counter arguments? (key words?)
are concessions? (key words?)
are refutations? (key words?
are two ways to organize an essay?
are three types of thesis statements?
Activity #1
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Read “Adopting a Vegetarian Diet.”
Identify the following:
–
–
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Thesis statement
Counter arguments
Concessions
Refutations
What kind of intro. technique is used?
Analyze the essay’s coherence, cohesion,
unity and development.
Is it effective as an argumentative essay?
Activity #2
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Add a counter argument or refutation to
each thesis statement:
Example: Doctors or family members should
never be aloud to “pull the plug”.
Although some people believe that doctors and
family members should never be allowed to “pull
the plug,” sometimes it is more humane to do
so.
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The sale of CDs with songs containing
lyrics that degrade women should be
prohibited.
Television is the worst invention of
modern times.
References
Fitzpatrick, M. (2005). Engaging writing:
Paragraphs and essays. White Plains,
NY: Pearson Longman, 241-244.
Oshima, A. & Hogue, A. (2006).
Academic writing. White Plains, NY:
Pearson Longman, 142-149.