Argumentative Essay Terms

the specific pieces of information that support a claim; can be facts, quotations, examples, statistics, personal experiences, etc.

• evidence

• claim

• argumentative essay

• counterclaim

what you are trying to prove; a writer's position on a problem or an issue

• thesis statement

• purpose

• claim

• counterargument

a type of writing that tries to convince the reader of something; it presents a claim and supports the claim using an argument based on evidence

• argumentative writing

• refute

• thesis statement

• pro

the people who are reading your essay; the people you are trying to convince

• central idea

• pro

• cite

• audience

an author's reason for writing

• con

• purpose

• refute

• counterclaim/counterargument

A sentence that states the purpose and main point of a paper or essay.

• thesis statement

• reason

• audience

• central idea

what a text is mostly about; the main idea

• rebuttal

• con

• central idea

• audience

the opposite view or position of yours

• con

• pro

• rebuttal

• counterclaim/counterargument

a statement that supports your claim; why you believe something is true

• reason

• claim

• refute

• argumentative writing

the quality of being believable or trustworthy; your sources of evidence need to be credible

• evidence

• purpose

• credibility

• reason