HOW TO WRITE AN ARGUMENTATIVE
ESSAY
The following outline
attempts to show you how to construct a good essay; it represents, in as
simple a form as possible, the basic pattern to follow in putting together any
“argument paper” whether this paper is a class essay, a dissertation, or an
article designed for publication. An “argument paper” is best defined as a
paper which states a thesis, or says something, and attempts to back it up or
support this thesis with evidence which tends to convince the reader of the
truth and validity of this thesis; this kind of paper is distinct from the kind
of paper which merely presents information. (Also, the argument paper is more
interesting, both to write and to read). These instructions are presented in
outline form merely to make it more apparent that a good essay is put together
step by step. If you are writing outside of class you will be able to follow
this outline at your leisure; if you are writing in class, or answering an
essay question on an exam, you still should mentally follow this outline to
construct your essay before you start to write.
I.
Form a good, strong thesis sentence, stating what
you propose to show.
This
is the most important part of the whole process, the foundation upon which your
whole essay is constructed, and it must be the first thing done; until you have
written the thesis sentence it is useless to try writing anything else. Given a
topic, assemble your material and review it (mentally if in class during an
exam) until you are familiar enough with this material to form an opinion or
judgment about your topic. This opinion or judgment is the stand you are taking
on this particular topic and it will be the conclusion which your entire essay
will to try to establish and support. This is your thesis sentence; and this is
why the thesis sentence has to come first when you construct an essay.
II.
Build your argument to support this thesis
sentence.
Return
to your assembled material. Go through it again, and this time copy down every
argument, every bit of evidence, or every reason you can find in it which will
support your conclusion. After you have done this you should be able to tell
whether your conclusion is valid or not. If you cannot find enough support to
convince yourself of the validity of your own conclusion, you should discard
your thesis sentence and form a new one. Never attempt to argue on behalf of
something which you yourself do not believe, if you
do, your paper will not be very good.
III.
Arrange your argument to produce the maximum
effect on the reader.
Go
through the evidence or separate arguments you have copied down and arrange
them in the order of their strength. Usually it is best to arrange them in the
order of their strength. It is often best to start with the weakest and end
with the strongest; this arrangement is not always possible, but
when it can be done your argument will accumulate more force as it progresses.
If this type of arrangement cannot be use, merely arrange the arguments in the
order in which they will appear in your paper. Along with each argument, list
any contrary arguments. You must state these fully and fairly, but show that on
balance your viewpoint is to be favoured. If you
ignore them, your essay will be weak, one sided and unconvincing.
IV.
Write your outline.
a)
Begin with a
thesis sentence
b)
Always write
complete sentences
c)
A brief
introduction is needed if any questions or terms have to be defined before you
start your argument; otherwise it is optional
d)
Roman
numeral I will be the first argument or reason in support of your conclusion.
Roman numeral II will be the second argument – and so on – as you have already
arranged these arguments in order
e)
Just as the
Roman numeral entries must support your conclusion, so must the sub-head
entries under each roman numeral support that
particular argument (usually by clarifying, explaining or the citing of
examples).
f)
Copy your
thesis sentence word for word as the conclusion at the end of your outline. (This
may seem a bit of an insult to your intelligence, but if your outline has gone
astray you will fins that your thesis will no longer fit in the position it was
originally created to occupy. Thus, by doing this you can sometimes save
yourself time and wasted effort.
V.
Check your outline
a)
Are there
any self-contradictory concepts in it?
b)
Is any of
your material irrelevant?
c)
Does each
argument follow logically from everything preceding it?
d)
Are there
any gaps in your reasoning?
e)
Are there
any terms which need to be defined?
f)
Are there
any statements which are merely platitudes?
g)
Have you made
any dogmatic statements?
VI.
Write the paper itself
About
three-fourths of your work should be done before you reach this step. If
steps I-V are done well and carefully, the paper
should just about write itself.
VII.
Proofread you Paper.
And
do it at least twice- more times if possible. (Never write anything which will
be read by others unless you proofread it to the best of your ability; this is
one rule that is rigidly observed by all mature scholars and authors who have
been writing for years).
a)
Proofread
your thought and style, and again check the list in V. Also does your paper
read smoothly and easily? (Read it aloud, if possible, and you will find out).
b)
Proofread
for mechanical errors.
VIII. Turn in your finished paper
and wait patiently for your “A”.