Argumentative essay

Argumentative essay

The purpose of the argumentative essay

Persuade the reader to accept or seriously consider your opinion on a controversial issue.

The Arguemetativ Essay has 5 parts

• Thesis (Claim) presented in the Introduction

• Reasons

• Evidence

• Counterclaim

• Rebuttal Presented in the Conclusion

Consider your audience

Who are you trying to reach? What do they already know about your topic? What is your relationship with your audience and how does it impact your word choice and tone (diction)

How to develop the Thesis (Claim)

• Your opinion or position on an issue

• Must be supported with reasons and evidence

• evidence can include quotes, facts and data

• evidence MUST be explained

How to include your reasons

• your reasons support the thesis and form your argument with your evidence

• typical supporting paragraph structure: topic sentence (A reason why your thesis is correct), then evidence/support of that reason. Finally include an explanation of the evidence.

• Be sure to repeat a similar structure with each body paragraph

Your Counter claim

• Consider the opposite side

• Argues against your claim

• Turn against your argument to challenge it

• Then turn back to reaffirm your position

The Rebuttal

• Turn back to your original position

• Responds to and refutes issues presented by the counterclaim

• Refute-prove (a statement or theory) to be wrong or false: disprove

• 
  

The Opposing Side

• Who might disagree with my position? Why?

• What reasons do people have for disagreeing with me?

• What evidence would support an opposing argument?

Example of Claim and Counterclaim

• CLAIM: "More Americans are choosing low-carb diets because the media promotes low-carb diets as the new way to a skinnier body."

• COUNTER CLAIM: "Some Americans don't watch television commercials because they own a DVR or TIVO, but most Americans are exposed to other forms of advertisement in magazines, newspapers, and highway billboards."

The organization of the Essay: Where to put it

• Introduction w/Thesis

• Reason 1 w/Evidence

• Reason 2 w/Evidence

• Counter Claim/Rebuttal

• Conclusion w/Restated Thesis

• Each of these will be one paragraph!