Image 1. Writing an argumentative essay takes research. Students need to find evidence to back their ideas. Photo from Pexels.
In an argumentative essay, your goal is to persuade the reader to agree with your point of view. To do this, your essay needs certain elements. It's important to choose an interesting topic, use strong evidence and make good arguments.

Find A Good Topic

Think of a few topics that have more than one point of view. Pick one that you are excited about. If you're not interested in the topic, your readers will probably be able to tell.

Although a good topic is important, you will need strong arguments. You need reasoning and evidence to make your case. It's one thing to have a strong belief, but you have to explain why your belief is reasonable and makes sense.

Consider Both Sides And Take A Position

Say your topic has two possible sides. You should make a list of points for both of them. You'll need to know the arguments for the "other" side in order to shoot them down.

For example, imagine that you have been given this topic:

Recently, a young man was suspended from high school for wearing makeup to class. He wore black lipstick and eyeliner. The young man protested that the school discriminated against him, since female students use makeup. Do you agree or disagree that the school discriminated against the young man?

Try drawing a line down the middle of a piece of paper. Label one side "pros" and the other side "cons." List at least three strong points for both sides.

Pros. Yes, it is discrimination, because:

Girls and boys should be treated equally

Sometimes makeup covers embarrassing scars or marks

High school is tough enough already for students who feel different

Makeup is a personal choice

The school is using stereotypes about boys and girls

If the school doesn't have a written rule about makeup, it can't make one up

Cons. No, it is not discrimination, because:

Makeup is traditionally worn by girls

The boy is just trying to get attention

The school has to make rules so that students don't distract each other

The school gets to decide the dress code

Now, you can decide which side is the most convincing.

Gather Evidence

See if your statements can be backed up by evidence. Types of evidence include numbers, examples, expert opinions and stories. You can also make observations and look at certain consequences.

Choose a side that will let you use different kinds of arguments and evidence. In our example, say you picked the side where the school is not discriminating against the student. You could say that students have always had to follow dress codes. You could make an observation that the boy's lipstick is black, so he might be trying to draw attention to himself. You could also look at the consequences. You might say that the boy's makeup has already created a distraction.

Write The Essay

Once you have a good outline and good arguments, you can begin writing your essay. All essays should have an introduction, a body and a conclusion.

The first paragraph should explain your topic in a few sentences. It should also give some background information and a thesis statement. Your thesis is your position on the topic.

The middle part of the essay contains the meat of your argument. This section can be many paragraphs long. You should go into more detail about both sides. This is where you describe the arguments for the other side. After that, present your own viewpoint and give evidence to show why it is right. Choose your strongest evidence and present your points one by one. Use a mix of different kinds of evidence.

In the last few paragraphs, repeat your position. Explain why it makes the most sense based on the evidence.

Follow These Guidelines

Avoid emotional statements. For example, don't say you love something or that it's the worst thing ever.

Don't make up evidence and don't use bad sources.

Cite your sources.

Make an outline.

Know the strongest arguments for the other side, and think of how to respond to them. You might be challenged by the teacher or by another student.

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