Writing An Argumentative Essay

By Jon Ginsburg

Being assigned essays is a fundamental task for both high school and college students. There are many types and styles of essays, though the basic expectations are the same. When you write an essay, you being with your opening statement, most often called a thesis or topic sentence, that outlines what you essay is about in a succinct manner. You follow this up with supporting evidence for your thesis, and conclude with a closing statement that echoes your opening one. But while the basic structure is the same, many students get lost in the intricacies, similarities and differences in different types of essays.

While many students get the two confused, an argumentative essay is substantially different from a persuasive essay. While a persuasive essay outlines and provides only the positive aspects of the writer’s point of view, not exploring the opposing stance at all, an argumentative essay will use the negative aspects of the opposing perspective as another means of swaying the audience.

In an argumentative essay, a typically conflict-ridden or influential topic is introduced, but only one standpoint is chosen to be promoted. With a goal of educating and convincing the reader to accept the writer’s stance, or at the very minimum encouraging them to consider it, as the writer you must use whatever tools are at your disposal to form a convincing argument. Unlike a persuasive essay, you must use both sides of the topic in order to fully inform and sway your readers to accept your thesis.

When you write an argumentative essay, you will find it easier if you can find a topic that has concrete and objective evidence that you can share with your readers. It is even more helpful if you are able to provide facts that both support your point of view and simultaneously discredit the opposing one. Your thesis statement must be clear and concise, as well as supportable, and your evidence should also be strong and objective. You must also be able to defend against the opposing viewpoint, with tangible evidence against it as well.

At the conclusion of your essay, your reader should be well informed about not only your point of view but the opposing point as well, with enough convincing and factual evidence to at the very least educated on both sides of the issue, with enough information to at the very least sway them to consider your perspective.

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