An Argumentative Essay

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An Argumentative Essay

• How to...

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Before Writing...

• Brainstorm ideas on the subject.
• Identify the main topics.
• Use these topics as headings for organising your
  notes.
• Decide which side you are on i.e. which arguments
  are most convincing. Make sure you choose the
  side that you can fully support.
• Plan and write an outline for your essay noting
  down the information you will include in each
  paragraph.

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Example Outline

• Thesis Statement
• Because of its cost, risk and alternatives, the
  building of nuclear reactors should not continue.
• Topic Sentence 1
• The first problem with nuclear reactors is their
  cost.
• Topic Sentence 2
• Another problem is the serious consequences of
  accidents.
• Refutation
• Some people might claim that there is no real
  alternative to nuclear power.
• Concluding Statement
• In short, although nuclear power is an attractive
  option, it has too many disadvantages.

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Introductory Paragraph

• Your introduction should
• Introduce the topic with a general statement
• State why it is important
• State there is a difference of opinion about this
  topic
• Thesis statement must state what YOUR claim is
  and can include the parts of the argument you
  are going to state.

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Example Introductory Paragraph

• There has been much discussion about the use of
  nuclear power ever since the first reactor was
  built. People who support nuclear power think
  that it provides a cheap and effective means of
  supplying energy needs. However, in reality it is
  not cheap at all and the dangers are well-known
  after the accidents at Chernobyl and Three Mile
  Island. The fact is that nuclear power is a
  tried, tested and failed technology. Because of
  its cost, risk and alternatives, the building of
  nuclear reactors should not continue.

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Body Paragraphs

• Arguments for The reasons parts of your
  thesis statement will be in your body paragraphs.
  
• Give clear arguments for your claim with support
  (examples, statistics, explanations, etc.)
• Use transition words as you move from paragraph
  to paragraph (Firstly, secondly, furthermore, in
  addition, moreover, finally).
• You can also use any of the transitions from the
  other essay types as long as they are appropriate
  for your argument. (You may want to
  compare/contrast things, give reasons/results,
  descriptions, definitions etc.)

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Refutation Paragraph

• This is also used to support your claim.
• Use the counter arguments to show that your idea
  is the stronger one.
• Do not focus only on the opposing ideas.

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Useful words and phrases

• When you can think of the opposing opinion but
  you have not seen it written anywhere
• could be claimed
• It may be asserted that... However,
• might be argued

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Useful words and phrases contd.

• When you have seen the opposing opinion written
  in another text
• claimed
• It has been asserted that... However,
• argued

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Example Refutation

• Some people might claim that there is no real
  alternative to a new generation of nuclear
  reactors. However, combined heat and power units,
  which generate electricity, are already
  economical for large houses or blocks of flats
  and smaller units will be on the market next
  year. Local generation of electricity eliminates
  the enormous losses of wasted heat in electricity
  generation by fossil fuels or nuclear reactors.
  Wind turbines and solar cells on the roof can
  also provide home solutions and will become more
  economical as costs come down with mass
  production.

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Concluding paragraph

• Your conclusion should
• Restate the main claim
• Present one or two general sentences which
  accurately summarise your arguments which support
  the main premise
• Provide a general warning of the consequences of
  not following the premise that you put forward
  and/or a general statement of how the community
  will benefit from following that premise

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?Your turn?

• Choose one of the topics below, brainstorm and
  write a thesis statement.
• Using animals for scientific and medical research
• Killing animals for food
• Cloning humans