Argument Essay Outline

Other words that have a similar meaning to argue include convince and persuade. When you write an
argument, your goal is to state your opinion and convince others to believe your ideas. The best way to
convince or persuade others is evidence.

Introduction

1. Attention Grabber (one sentence): Questions, statements, quotes, or facts can be used to grab
the audience's attention.
2. Background Information (two sentences): Two sentences to briefly introduce the overall issue
or explain the attention grabber.
3. Claim (one sentence): The controlling idea for the entire essay. It is a single sentence that states
your point of view about an issue. Key words are should, ought, or must.

Body Paragraph #1

1. Topic Sentence (one sentence): What is the paragraph about? One major idea only please! This
main idea needs to support your claim.
2. Explanation (one or two sentences): Summarize the situation around the topic sentence.
Clearly state the 5 Ws and H (who, what, when, where, why, and how).
3. Textual Evidence (one sentence): Quotation or paraphrasing that supports your topic sentence.
Your words + “quotation” + (author page#).
4. Analysis of Evidence (one or two sentences): Explain the meaning of the quotation or
paraphrasing. Why is this a good example? Why is it important for others to know this? Use key
terms and academic vocabulary here.
5. Link to Opinion Statement (one sentence): How does this paragraph prove your overall claim?
Transition into the next paragraph.

Continue to the next page

Body Paragraph #2

1. Topic Sentence (one sentence): What is the paragraph about? One major idea only please! This
main idea needs to support your claim.
2. Explanation (one or two sentences): Summarize the situation around the topic sentence.
Clearly state the 5 Ws and H (who, what, when, where, why, and how).
3. Textual Evidence (one sentence): Quotation or paraphrasing that supports your topic sentence.
Your words + “quotation” + (author page#).
4. Analysis of Evidence (one or two sentences): Explain the meaning of the quotation or
paraphrasing. Why is this a good example? Why is it important for others to know this? Use key
terms and academic vocabulary here.
5. Link to Opinion Statement (one sentence): How does this paragraph prove your overall claim?
Transition into the next paragraph.

Body Paragraph #3

1. Topic Sentence (one sentence): Recognize others will argue against your points.
2. Counterargument #1 (one sentence): Mention an idea that other people will use to argue
against you.
3. Refutation for Counterargument #1 (one sentence): Explain why your idea is still the best.
Explain why people should follow what you say or think.
4. Counterargument #2 (one sentence): Mention an idea that other people will use to argue
against you.
5. Refutation for Counterargument #2 (one sentence): Explain why your idea is still the best.
Explain why people should follow what you say or think.
6. Reminder (one sentence): Remind the audience your overall ideas are still the strongest

Conclusion

1. Restate Your Claim (one sentence): Rewrite your claim using new words. Rearrange the order of
your ideas.
2. Why Should Others Care? (one or two sentences): Remind your audience about why the overall
issue is important
3. Summary (one or two sentences): Remind your audience about your topics from body
paragraphs #1 and #2.
4. Conclusion (one sentence): Encourage people to take action or explain what will happen in the
future if no action is taken.