ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY

ENL102
 DEFINITION
It is an opinion (claim) supported by evidence.

• Evidence can take on different forms depending on the nature of the

argument, the purpose of the argument, and the needs of the audience.

• An argument doesn’t necessarily have to be persuasive.

• An argument is simply an opinion supported by evidence; persuasion

involves moving people to act.

• Although an argument doesn’t have to persuade people, an argument can

implicitly be persuasive.
 DEFINITION

• ARGUE FOR / AGREE WITH THE TOPIC

• If you agree with the topic, you need to state the reasons why.

• ARGUE AGAINST / DISAGREE WITH THE TOPIC

• If you disagree with the topic, you need to state the reasons why.
 PURPOSE
• Argue for OR against the issue / topic.
• Take a firm stand.

Should abortion be legalized?

YES
NO
X DEPENDS
 PURPOSE
• Your arguments will be STRONG if you use your reasoning well.

• Your arguments will be STRONGER if you support them with concrete facts
and specific data instead of repeating yourself.

• Your arguments will be the STRONGEST only if you support them with experts‘
opinion, results based on extensive research AND anticipate and refute the
opposition.
 ESSAY RATIO
• If you are writing an ARGUMENTATIVE essay:
• 2 : 1 - It’s always this ratio

If you argue for the topic: 2 agree reasons and 1 disagree reason
OR
If you argue against a topic: 2 disagree reasons and 1 agree reason

• Always write a breakdown of your reasons to agree or disagree, so you can

pick the best points to write your thesis statement.
 PARAGRAPHS
ALWAYS REMEMBER:
• An ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY always has 6 (SIX) PARAGRAPHS

• WHAT ARE THEY?

• 1. Introduction
• 2. Body Paragraph 1
• 3. Body Paragraph 2
• 4. Body Paragraph 3
• 5. REBUTTAL
• 6. Conclusion
 REBUTTAL
What is it?
• It is your answer, or how you prove your opponent’s ideas are wrong or
flawed.

• Example: This idea is wrong (flawed).

Technology allows students access to information that local libraries do not
have. This information allows the students to write a better report.
HOW would you counter this statement?
 PARAGRAPHS
• 1. Introduction
• 2. Body Paragraph 1 – AGREE / DISAGREE
• 3. Body Paragraph 2 – AGREE / DISAGREE
• 4. Body Paragraph 3 – DISAGREE / AGREE
• 5. REBUTTAL – Take the last reason and make it a counter point.
AGREE / DISAGREE
• 6. Conclusion
 BREAKDOWN
AGREE DISAGREE

AGREE DISAGREE
1. 1.

2. 2.

3. 3.
 THESIS STATEMENT
• FOR AN ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY
• Decide if you are going AGREE or DISAGREE with your topic.
• TOPIC: Parents should control the Internet use of their college age children.

• Topic Sentence: Many would disagree that parents should control the
Internet use of their college age children.

• THESIS STATEMENT: ( 2 : 1 ratio – ALWAYS THIS, not 1 : 2 )

• Many would disagree that parents should control the Internet use of their
college age children as this would restrict the hours of research that could
be done and stress the children further while some might agree, stating that
children should not spend long hours in front of a computer screen.
 REBUTTAL EXAMPLE
• Based on the thesis statement from the last slide, if the last reason was an
‘agree’, you will need to take that agree and counter it with a disagree in
the rebuttal paragraph.

• FOR EXAMPLE: Rebuttal Paragraph – Paragraph 5 (FIVE)

• Even though some people agree that children should not spend
long hours in front of a computer screen to use the Internet, it can be argued
that with proper time management on the part of the child, this wouldn’t be
an issue anymore. For instance, …