Argumentative Essay Outline
If you received an assignment to craft an argumentative essay outline, and you have absolutely no idea where even to start the process, you are reading the right article: we will cover all the vital aspects of this task and show you the right way to success in this area.
Or if you have already composed an argumentative essay outline but are not sure whether you did it correctly, we are here to help you too. Not only we will provide you with sufficient theoretical background but also show you great examples of an outline as well as a template to use whenever you work on this piece.
So, if you have heard enough and now can’t wait to start writing your outline, let’s get the ball rolling!
But before we show you the examples and templates, we want to make sure that we are on the same page about the definition of an argumentative essay. So, let’s take a closer look at this issue.
What is an argumentative essay?
It is one of the most common types of writing ever assigned to students. An argumentative essay requires a student to conduct in-depth research on a given subject, formulate his own opinion regarding it, find arguments supporting this opinion and refute the claims of various opponents.
Even if you are not the type of person to get into an argument, or if you feel that no matter arguments you provide, you will ever get to win, we believe that it is far from being true.
The secret of any argumentative essay is in proper preparation for it. It takes time and efforts, but as long as you dedicate time to profound research, you will bring your opponents to their knees, we promise.
So, from what we said, it is clear that to create an excellent outline for argumentative essay, you have to start early and do your homework.
Besides, the success of an argumentative essay also depends on the evidence you choose. We recommend searching for supporting evidence in the trusted sources. Look for well-known and respected authors, read interviews, and study recent surveys on the subject. Reliable sources help readers believe you more. So, do not lose this chance.
Finally, sound persuasive. Opt for words that demonstrate your confidence. Show no sign of doubts, even if you are not quite frankly sure that your evidence is sufficient. Readers should see you confident in what you are saying. So, give them what they are looking for.
These are the basics of the definition of persuasive writing. Now let’s explore how to write an argumentative essay outline, what components to bear in mind and what pieces to include into each one of them.
How to compose an argumentative essay outline
If you are a student, then you know this formula from school. Ever since you started writing, your tutors always told you that when presenting an argument in an essay, you should make sure to add these four stages into the piece:
- An introduction with a hook, a subject development, and a clear thesis statement.
- Main body paragraphs explaining your arguments that support the thesis statement.
- Several sections refuting opposing thoughts on the issue.
- A conclusion that summarizes everything said above and calls the readers to action.
As long as you have these four sections, you are on the right path to success.
But it is vital to mention that each of these sections has its pitfalls and tricky aspects you cannot afford to lose sight of. So, to make sure you are ready to craft an excellent argumentative essay outline, let’s discover what these pitfalls are.
An introduction to the essay
An introductory paragraph of an essay of this type should consist of three main items.
- A hook.
The hook defines whether the readers will want to continue reading or listening to your report. Therefore, it is in your best interests to make the introduction count.
Few things can be considered a right hook: statistics, surprising facts, or an anecdote. They can grab reader’s attention and encourage him to read the whole piece. So, spend some time to develop a good hook first. - A few sentences proving the importance of the topic in question.
Right after you catch their attention, consider explaining why your topic is important. What makes it stand out? What happens if nothing changes about it? Who is it important for? Answer all these questions in this part of your essay. And continue to the next point. - A thesis statement.
Finally, one of the most important parts of an introduction is a thesis statement. It aims to explain the main idea of the text in one brief sentence. Later in the text, you will be supporting this thesis with solid arguments. So, it is important to deliver your ideas in right way to avoid all the confusion.
These are the important parts to include in your introduction. Now let’s explore how to write main body paragraphs in this type of essay.
How to develop arguments in main body paragraphs
According to the trusted sources, there are two most popular approaches to crafting the main body paragraphs.
The first approach allows you to write several paragraphs demonstrating your arguments, providing supporting evidence to each one of them, and then showing the readers what opposing thoughts there are.
The other approach allows the writer to provide opposing claims and refuting them with substantial arguments and reliable evidence paragraph after paragraph.
There are no restrictions on which way to choose. So, think of the ways you feel the most comfortable in writing. If it is easier for you to present your idea and support it first and then show the opponents’ claims, so be it.
However, if you are a good conversationalist and are not afraid of confrontation, then go over the opponents’ statements and show their flaws. This is also known as a powerful approach.
How to refute opponents’ claims
While it seems quite self-explanatory, refuting the claims can be a tricky business.
- First of all, you need evidence to support your position. Otherwise, you will sound shallow.
- Besides, you have to sound persuasive. Choose the right words to express your ideas.
- Last but not least find at least three pieces of evidence to back up your position.
A conclusion
The very last paragraph of the essay is vital to the success of your writing. It is probably the only thing your audience will remember after finishing your piece. Therefore, remind them of the significance of your subject, restate the arguments you used to back up your ideas, and show how weak opponents’ arguments are. In the end, you can start a discussion or call readers to take measures in accordance with what they read.
This is a recipe for a strong conclusion.
We are sure that you have sufficient theoretical knowledge by now. So, let’s take a closer look at an argumentative essay outline template. It can help you out if you lose track of what you are to do when crafting an outline.
How to compose an argumentative essay outline template
- An introduction:
Craft a hook grabbing readers’ attention (surprising facts, anecdotes, funny stories, statistics, etc.)
Show them why it is important to talk about this issue.
State what the main goal of your piece is at the end of the paragraph. - Main body paragraphs with your arguments.
Start each paragraph with a sentence stating the argument.
Provide at least three pieces of evidence for each argument.
Summarize the paragraph briefly. - Several sections explaining opposing thoughts.
State one of the opposing thoughts.
Point out its inconsistency and weakness.
Provide information from the reliable source supporting your position.
Summarize the section in a concise manner. - A conclusion:
Talk about the importance of the issue and why you decided to bring it up.
Remind the readers about the arguments you chose to support your opinion and refute opposing ones.
Encourage them to take measures.
While this is a great tool you can use in your writing, we find it important to provide you with an argumentative essay outline example so that you can see how to apply these tips in action.
An argumentative essay outline example
Does the freedom of speech allow us to use hate speech?
- Introduction:
Show the readers the effects of hate speech.
Talk about the freedom of speech and human rights connection.
State that one cannot use hate speech because it is a violation of human rights. - Argument #1: Hate speech has flooded the social media.
Talk about insults in the commentaries.
Provide statistics of social media hate speech affect on the society. - Argument #2: Hate speech raises waves of negative attitude toward specific groups of people.
Explain how freedom of speech encourages people to humiliate others based on race, ethnicity, gender, etc.
Show examples of how one hate speech caused a wave of anti-Semitism, anti-Muslim movements, etc.
Explain the dreadful impact of such turns of events. - Refuting the argument: Freedom of speech is a good thing.
People often use it to hard others.
If there is no control over this freedom, it will be used to claim one’s superiority over others. - Conclusion.
Remind the significance of the issue.
Restate the arguments.
Explain what the world would look like if measures are not taken regarding this problem.
This is an excellent example of an argumentative essay outline you can use whenever you need help with it. Do not hesitate to bookmark this article to get back to it whenever you need assistance. We are sure that now with our tips you are all ready to impress your teacher with an A-grade essay!
