ARGUMENT ESSAY
WRITING
INTRODUCTIONS
It is true that the first impression—whether
it’s a first meeting with a person or the first
sentence of a paper—sets the stage for a
lasting impression. The introductory
paragraph of any paper, long or short,
should start with a sentence that peaks the
interest of readers. In a typical essay, that
first sentence leads into two or three other
statements that provide details about the
writer’s subject or process. All of these
sentences build up to the essay’s thesis
statement.
INTRODUCTION PARAGRAPH
INCLUDES:
LEAD/ATTENTION GRABBER
 SET UP FOR THE THESIS


Bridge and background information
 THESIS
LEADS/ATTENTION GRABBERS
To get a paper off to a great start, writers should try to
have a first sentence or two that engages their reader.
This opening should be broadly related to the topic of
the essay.
WRITERS CAN BEGIN WITH…
 INTRIGUING STATEMENT
 SHOCKING STATEMENT OR STATISTIC
 RHETORICAL QUESTION
 ANECDOTE
 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
 PROVERB, QUOTE, OR STRONG STATEMENT
SET UP FOR A THESIS
After the lead, a writer needs to gradually narrow
the broad subject towards the thesis.
GRADUALLY NARROWING CAN:
 Provide background information
 Explain underlying information
 Describe the complexity of the issue
 Introduce various layers of he subject
 Help transition from these more broad ideas to
the narrow thesis
 Define terms that the reader may not know to
understand the issue
THESIS STATEMENTS
A thesis statement manages to encapsulate an essay’s main
argument in a succinct, one-sentence comment.
Beginning writers often times find it useful to create an essay map
thesis, where the thesis briefly lists the areas that will be
discussed in the essay.
A THESIS STATEMENT:
 Has a clearly stated opinion, but does not bluntly announce the
opinion (“In this essay I will…”)
 Is narrow enough to write a focused essay, but is broad enough
to write MULTIPLE body paragraphs
 Is clearly stated in specific terms
 Is easily recognized as the main idea
 Is forceful and direct
 Is not softened with token phrases (“in my opinion” or “I think”)
 Can list all the main points (PRONGS) that will be made
QUESTION: HOW IS THIS A GRAPHICAL REPRESENTATION OF AN
INTRODUCTION PARAGRAPH?
ANSWER: BECAUSE IT STARTS BROAD, AND GRADUALLY
NARROWS TOWARDS A FOCUSED, BUT NOT OVERLY SPECIFIC
THESIS. THE THESIS IS SPECIFIC ENOUGH TO FULLY EXPLORE THE ESSAY, BUT
IT IS NOT SO SPECIFIC THAT THERE IS NOTHING MORE TO WRITE ABOUT.
SAMPLE INTRODUCTION PARAGRAPH
[ATTENTION GETTER] After the September 11, 2001
terrorist attacks on New York’s World Trade Towers and the
Pentagon, the debate surrounding racial profiling in airports
intensified. Many people believed that profiling was the best
way to identify possible terrorists, but many others worried
about violations of civil liberties. While some airports began
to target passengers based solely on their Middle Eastern
origins, others instituted random searches instead. [BEGIN
SETTING-UP THE THESIS] Neither of these techniques
seems likely to eliminate terrorism. Now many experts in
the government and in airport security are recommending
the use of a national ID card or Safe Traveler Card.
[THESIS] If every US citizen had such a card, airlines could
screen for terrorists more effectively than they do now and
avoid procedures that single out individuals solely on the
basis of race.
BODY PARAGRAPHS
Each body paragraph will have basic structure. Body
paragraphs are the middle paragraphs that lie between
the introduction and conclusion. The key building
blocks of essays are the paragraphs as they represent
distinct logical steps within the whole argument.
BODY PARAGRAPHS TYPICALLY HAVE:
 Topic sentence starting with transition/ transitional
phrase introducing first reason or grounds for
argument.
 Warrants, Evidence, Backing/Analysis
 Acknowledge Counterclaim and Refute/Rebut
 Conclusion sentence beginning with transition or
transitional phrase summarizing info in paragraph as
well as transitioning to next body paragraph
BODY PARAGRAPHS:
TOPIC SENTENCES
Readers like to know why they’re reading a particular passage
as soon as possible. That is why topic sentences are placed at
the beginnings of body paragraphs. A topic sentence should
contain the main idea of the paragraph, and should follow the
same rules as the thesis statement (clear and to the point).
Writer should start by writing one of the main ideas, in
sentence form; the topic sentence should frame the paragraph.
Transitions are a crucial part of every body paragraph, but not
all topic sentences require a transition.
Transitions are not as necessary when composing the first
paragraph, but they help to move into the following
paragraphs; however, if concluding with a transition that
smoothly transitions into the next paragraph, a formal
transition may not be necessary.
 Writers have to decide where a transitional word or phrase
fits best.
BODY PARAGRAPHS: SUPPORTING INFORMATION
& EVIDENCE
Paragraphs should be constructed with some sense of internal order, so
after The topic sentence, writers will need to deliver their first warrant.
Supporting evidence should be facts, statistics, examples, quotes,
transitions, and other sentences which support the topic sentence.
TO SUPPORT THE TOPIC SENTENCE, WRITERS SHOULD:
 Begin with the first warrant/point to introduce evidence
 Give evidence to support the warrant
 Explain or give analysis by backing up the evidence to support
the warrant
 Repeat this process until all credible evidence has been
presented

Writers should remember to transition between new supporting
details/warrants within the paragraph. GOOD TRANSITIONS FOR
GIVING EXAMPLES: For instance, Specifically, In particular, Namely,
Another, Other, In addition, To illustrate
ACKNOWLEDGE PARTS OF THE
OPPOSITION THAT ARE VALID
The writer acknowledges that some of the opposition’s
claims may be valid, but the writer still shows that his
own claims are stronger. The strength of the writer’s
claims are more convincing than the opposing
viewpoints. A writer might explain the opposition’s
weakest points, contrasting them with his argument’s
strongest points.
WAYS WRITERS CAN BEGIN:
 Admittedly,
 Certainly,
 Of course,
 One cannot deny that…
 At the same time…
BODY PARAGRAPHS CONTINUED:
Acknowledge the Counterclaim and
Refute/Rebut:
Somewhere within your body paragraph you must
acknowledge the other side and then refute or rebut
the information to strengthen your argument.
 You, as the writer, will have to determine where
this should be placed in your body paragraph based
on the evidence you are presenting.
Don’t forget to refute/rebut the information
prior to concluding the paragraph.
You don’t want their side to win the argument!
Occasion/Position Statements
Can be used as Topic Sentences or used to
Acknowledge a Counterclaim and refute/rebut
An Occasion/Position Statement is a complex (two-part) sentence
that begins with one of these words or phrases:
After
That
In order to
Since
So that
Though
Unless
Until
When
Whenever
Where
Wherever
Whether
While
Although
As
As if
As long as
As soon as
Because
Before
Even
Even if
Even though
If
In order
THE OCCASION
1. Is the first part of the sentence
2. Introduce your reason for writing
3. Can be any event, problem, ideas, solution, or
circumstance that gives you a reason to write
4. Is the dependent clause (dependent meaning a
fragment) in the complex sentence
THE POSITION
1. Is the second part of the topic sentence
2. States what you plan to prove or explain in
your paragraph
3. Is the independent (complete sentence) clause
in the complex sentence
EXAMPLES: OCCASION/POSITION
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Although my family and I have taken many wonderful
vacations, none was more fun and exciting than our
camping trip to the Grand Canyon.
Even though bike helmets are sometimes
unfashionable and uncomfortable, all cyclists should
wear them.
Before you make the decision to light up a cigarette,
consider the problems caused by smoking.
If students use chemicals to do science experiments, it
is important that they learn the proper way to dispose
of them.
If you are ever fortunate enough to capture an anole,
William White’s book, “The American Chameleon,”
offers important rules for keeping your new pet
healthy and happy.
CONCLUDING BODY PARAGRAPH
CONTINUED:
When writing a concluding statement in a paragraph, writers want
to flag that they are concluding the paragraph by offering a
concluding transition.
TRANSITIONS FOR CONCLUDING STATEMENTS:

Therefore

Thus

Consequently

As a result

AS WELL AS MANY MORE IN THE ELA SURVIVAL GUIDE
TRANSITIONS TO SET-UP THE NEXT PARAGRAPH:

Another…

____________ is not the only…
SAMPLE BODY PARAGRAPH
[TOPIC SENTENCE] Perhaps the cheapest and most efficient security method for
the nation is a Safe Traveler Card or national ID card. [WARRANT] A Safe
Traveler Card or national ID card would be about the size of a credit card, contain
a computer chip and cost little to produce. [EVIDENCE] In some ways, these cards
are like the EZ Pass devices that enable people to drive on highways, bridges, and
tunnels without having to stop and pay tolls (Dershowitz 590). By scanning the
card, airport security officials would be able to obtain back ground information
from government databases for every passenger: flying history, residence, creditcard spending, travel habits, phone records, criminal background, and fingerprint
and iris patterns (Safire 587). [BACKING/ANALYSIS SUPPORTING EVIDENCE]
These simple measures could ease the mind of every traveler within our
continental borders. Also, the burden of cost for the consumer versus security
measures taken at airports or other means of travel would be universal, ensuring
that all measures of safety are taken into account when screening travelers. This
simple security measure may reduce the number of random searches leaving
regular travelers to go on their way without the burden of indiscriminate
examinations. [COUNTERCLAIM/REBUTTAL] Some might believe that this is an
invasion of privacy that undermines our rights as citizens in addition to the extra
expense; however, it is no more information than the Federal Government is not
privy to already if they deem necessary to investigate via the Drivers License that
citizens already pay to receive. [CONCLUDING STATEMENT] It is easy to see
how such a card could expedite security checks at airports, and one could tell at a
glance whether a person should be searched or let through.
CONCLUSION PARAGRAPHS
Writers have just taken the reader through an organized and
convincing essay. Now readers seek satisfaction by reading a
conclusion statement that wraps up all the main points nicely.
Frequently, the ideas in the body of an essay lead to some
significant conclusion that can be stated and explained in their
final paragraph.
Writers should also provide the reader with a fresh new outlook
on the subject, leaving them thinking about the issue, not
recycling the same words used previously in the essay.
Good conclusions can even have a striking ending. It should
evoke supportive emotions in the reader, reflecting the same
emotions the reader felt throughout the essay. Nothing is more
disappointing to a reader than reaching a flat & boring ending.
CONCLUSION PARAGRAPHS
Concluding statements which refer back to the
introductory paragraph (i.e. the attention-getter) are
appropriate here; it offers a nice stylistic touch which
brings the essay full circle.
Also, restating the thesis and summarizing the main
points will remind the reader of your position. Asking
your reader to do something about the issue (Call to
Action) or leaving the reader to ponder the magnitude of
the issue (Clincher) offers a well-rounded ending.
THE CONCLUSION PARAGRAPHS TYPICALLY:
 Restate the thesis
 Review the main points
 Leave the reader thinking

Writers should remind the reader of the magnitude and
timeliness of the issue.
CONCLUSION PARAGRAPHS:
1. RESTATE THE THESIS
2. REVIEW THE MAIN POINTS
The thesis and the
restatement of the
thesis are cousins, not
identical twins: They
share key similarities,
but they still look and
sound like separate
individuals. Make sure
the restatement looks
and sounds different
from the thesis.
Beginner writers may have
the tendency to sound like
they are making a list when
they review the main points
of the essay. Read and reread this section. Make sure
it flows and smoothly fits into
the conclusion paragraph
without sounding like a list.
CONCLUSION PARAGRAPHS:
3. LEAVE THE READER THINKING!
Now is not the time to introduce new key arguments; that argument
should have properly been addressed in the body paragraphs. Instead,
writer might want to extend the reader’s understanding on the
argument showing new aspects of the “big picture.” Writers can do
this by discussing what the future would look like if the situation
remains the same. Referring back to an anecdote or an attentiongetter that was used in the introduction paragraph adds a nice stylistic
ending. Writers should take some time to be creative in this part of
the conclusion; they should find a way to add an artistic, creative but
focused element to the ending.
STRATEGIES TO WRAP UP THE CONCLUSION:



Clincher: a final sentence that leaves the reader with an intriguing
thought, question, or quotation
Full Circle Ending: Connect your final thoughts with the grabber in the
beginning of your intro paragraph
Call to Action: Ask the reader to do something or get involved by doing
something
CONCLUSION PARAGRAPHS: IN THE
CONCLUSION PARAGRAPH NEVER EVER EVER…
Oversimplify the message
 Use clichés
 Apologize for the material you are writing
 Blatantly refer to the actual essay (“this essay shows
you…”)
 Introduce new arguments, evidence, or details you
might have forgotten
 Soften your argument by being wishy/washy
 Identical repetition of words in the thesis
 Sound repetitive or list-like
 Leave readers frustrated after reading an otherwise
wonderful paper

SAMPLE CONCLUSION PARAGRAPH:
[RESTATE THESIS & REVISIT VALU OF ESSAY] Clearly,
the only acceptable way of ensuring the safety of airline
passengers is to begin a program to issue Safe Traveler Cards
or National ID cards to United States citizens. [REVIEW
MAIN POINTS] These cards would screen out those who are
unlikely to be terrorists and would also eliminate the delays
that currently characterize air travel as well as equalizing the
cost to all residents. Most important, they would help prevent
terrorists from high jacking American planes. At the same
time, by making racial profiling unnecessary, these cards
would help protect personal and civil liberties of American
citizens. [LEAVE READER THINKING!] Only by instituting a
national ID card system can the U.S. make certain that the
terrorists who attacked the United States on 9/11 did not
hijack the liberties that are so precious to us.