ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY
The whole purpose of writing an argumentative essay is to try and persuade or convince someone to believe what you are writing. Any and every argumentative essay should have a claim. The claim is something you believe to be true or accurate on whatever the subject matter is.
You, as a writer, include all this book evidence and then elaborate or explain the evidence.
There is a counterclaim in every argumentative essay, and the counterclaim is a kind of claim that you believe someone else may make.
The last piece to the argumentative essay is the reaffirmation, which comes right after disproving the counter claim.
The 5-Paragraph Essay Format for an Argumentative Essay
1) Introduction Paragraph:
A) Create a hook for this essay
B) Give a little background information on your subject matter
Share an insight or reflection on the subject
C) Make a claim about the topic
D) Create a thesis statement that tells the reader what you will be looking to examine in the essay
This should include the three events, or topics that you will be addressing by topic
E) Transition to the next paragraph
2) Body Paragraph Number 1
A) Make sure this is topic number 1 from your thesis statement
B) Write down some evidence
C) Elaborate or Explain that evidence in depth
If you do not elaborate or explain then you are just summarizing. Remember that you are like a
lawyer building up evidence.
D) Transition to the next paragraph
3) Body Paragraph Number 2
A) Make sure this is topic number 2 from your thesis statement
B) Write down some evidence
C) Elaborate or Explain that evidence in depth
If you do not elaborate or explain then you are just summarizing. Remember that you are like a
lawyer building up evidence.
D) Transition to the next paragraph
4) Body Paragraph Number 3
A) Make sure this is topic number 3 from your thesis statement
B) Write down some evidence
C) Elaborate or Explain that evidence in depth
If you do not elaborate or explain then you are just summarizing. Remember that you are like a
lawyer building up evidence.
D)Transition to the next paragraph
5) Conclusion Paragraph
A) Restate your thesis statement a little differently
B) Hit the reader with your counterclaim
C) Argue the counter claim a little and point out why it is inaccurate
D) Then reaffirm your claim as the better claim and why your argument is important
i) This is where you give the KNOCKOUT PUNCH. This is your best point!!
E) Leave the reader with a good impression or something you learned about yourself.
You, as a writer, include all this book evidence and then elaborate or explain the evidence.
There is a counterclaim in every argumentative essay, and the counterclaim is a kind of claim that you believe someone else may make.
The last piece to the argumentative essay is the reaffirmation, which comes right after disproving the counter claim.
The 5-Paragraph Essay Format for an Argumentative Essay
1) Introduction Paragraph:
A) Create a hook for this essay
B) Give a little background information on your subject matter
Share an insight or reflection on the subject
C) Make a claim about the topic
D) Create a thesis statement that tells the reader what you will be looking to examine in the essay
This should include the three events, or topics that you will be addressing by topic
E) Transition to the next paragraph
2) Body Paragraph Number 1
A) Make sure this is topic number 1 from your thesis statement
B) Write down some evidence
C) Elaborate or Explain that evidence in depth
If you do not elaborate or explain then you are just summarizing. Remember that you are like a
lawyer building up evidence.
D) Transition to the next paragraph
3) Body Paragraph Number 2
A) Make sure this is topic number 2 from your thesis statement
B) Write down some evidence
C) Elaborate or Explain that evidence in depth
If you do not elaborate or explain then you are just summarizing. Remember that you are like a
lawyer building up evidence.
D) Transition to the next paragraph
4) Body Paragraph Number 3
A) Make sure this is topic number 3 from your thesis statement
B) Write down some evidence
C) Elaborate or Explain that evidence in depth
If you do not elaborate or explain then you are just summarizing. Remember that you are like a
lawyer building up evidence.
D)Transition to the next paragraph
5) Conclusion Paragraph
A) Restate your thesis statement a little differently
B) Hit the reader with your counterclaim
C) Argue the counter claim a little and point out why it is inaccurate
D) Then reaffirm your claim as the better claim and why your argument is important
i) This is where you give the KNOCKOUT PUNCH. This is your best point!!
E) Leave the reader with a good impression or something you learned about yourself.
Opinion/Argument Writing Checklist
The Opinion (4th Grade) Argument (5th Grade) checklist below can help the writer
make sure that he/she are writing an argumentative essay.
make sure that he/she are writing an argumentative essay.
BELOW IS AN ANNOTATED EXAMPLE
OF AN ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY ABOUT WHITE MILK
OF AN ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY ABOUT WHITE MILK
This argumentative essay was written on why white milk is a better choice at school when compared to chocolate milk. Students had a passage to pull evidence from.
BELOW IS AN ANNOTATED EXAMPLE
OF AN ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY ABOUT LOUIS ZAMPERINI'S OPTIMISM
OF AN ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY ABOUT LOUIS ZAMPERINI'S OPTIMISM
This Argumentative Essay was written on the character of Louis Zamperini, in the book, Unbroken, by Laura Hillenbrand. This example does not include a direct quotation from the text:
Below is a short story by Langston Hughes and is titled, "Thank You, Ma'am." This is a great story and what follows is an example of an argumentative essay in which I try to establish Ma'am's best quality is her ability to love others.
In this 6-Paragraph Argumentative Essay, I write it a little differently. I write that her best quality is her ability to love and then I show how in the short story she loved Roger in three different ways, respectively 3 of the 4 body paragraphs. I also use a separate paragraph, 1 of the 4 body paragraphs, to focus the counterclaim and reaffirmation.
