Argumentative Writing

Argumentative Writing

How should my argumentative essay look?

Essay Structure

Many essays follow a FIVE PARAGRAPH structure. This is an easy format to remember, and it allows you to clearly state your ideas.

Our essay will include:

Introduction/Thesis Paragraph

Body 1

Body 2

Body 3

Conclusion Paragraph

Multiple Choice

How many paragraphs should your essay have?

• 2

• At least 5

• 4

• 3

Introduction Paragraph

Your introduction paragraph tells the reader what you are going to write about in your essay. The intro paragraph should tell the reader:

The topic Which side you are taking (Claim)

An idea the REASONS you will give

Multiple Choice

Your introduction should have a HOOK that makes the reader interested.

• True

• False

Body Paragraphs

A basic body paragraph:

Tells ONE of your reasons

Cites evidence

Explains how that evidence shows your reason is true

Multiple Choice

How many reasons should you include in each body paragraph?

• Only 1

• 2

• 3

• 4 or more

Body Paragraphs - Template

Reason: State a good reason why your thesis is correct. 

Evidence 1: Introduce your evidence with some context.

Evidence 2: Use facts, statistics, or expert opinions to support your claim. (This is where you quote or paraphrase.)

Commentary: Explain why your evidence is important.

Conclusion: Wrap up by restating your reason in new words.

Multiple Choice

What TYPE of sentence is NOT in a body paragraph?

• Reason

• Evidence

• Commentary

• Introduction

Body Paragraph - Example

Reason: Takis have a better flavor than hot cheetos.

Evidence 1: To see how unique Takis flavor really is, you only need to look at the bag.

Evidence 2: Each bag of Takis includes a picture of a lime, highlighting its lime flavor (Takis 3).

Commentary: This is unique to Takis alone, Cheetos don’t have any lime!

Conclusion: This shows that Takis have a special flavor.

Body Paragraph - Example

Takis have a better flavor than Hot Cheetos.

To see how unique the flavor of Takis really is, you only need to look at the bag. Each bag of Takis includes a picture of a lime, highlighting its lime flavor (Takis 3). This is unique to Takis alone, Cheetos don’t have any lime! This shows that Takis have a special flavor.

Multiple Choice

You can change the order of your evidence and commentary sentences if you need to.

• True

• False

Conclusion Paragraph

Your conclusion paragraph tells the reader what you just explained in your essay. The conclusion paragraph should:

Re-state which side you supported (claim)

Summarize your three reasons

End with a strong statement about WHY you are correct

Multiple Select

Your conclusion paragraph should:

• Summarize your reasons

• Restate your claim

• End with a strong statement that shows you are correct

• End with "This is the end of my essay."

• Include spelling and grammar errors