Writing the Argumentative Essay can be a daunting task for most EFL learners. Here's help on how to get it right :)

1. WRITING THE
ARGUMENTATIVE
ESSAY
Title
Chanella Cubbins
WIS, Sharjah

2. DEFINITION
• In this kind of essay, we not only give
information but also present an argument
with the PROS (supporting ideas) and CONS
(opposing ideas) of an argumentative issue.
We should clearly take our stand and write as
if we are trying to persuade an opposing
audience to adopt new beliefs or behavior.
The primary objective is to persuade people
to change beliefs that many of them do not
want to change.

3. DESPITE THE TITLE • DON’T fight with your reader(s) – convince
them!
• Remember you WANT them to believe your
stand on the subject is the best one and to
change their current belief.

4. ORGANIZATION:
• All argumentative topics have PROs and
CONs. Before starting writing, it is
imperative to make a list of these ideas and
choose the most suitable ones among them
for supporting and refuting.

5. FROM THE BEGINNING…
• Your lead in sentence is the most important
for this is when you grab the reader’s
attention.
• Let’s say your topic is “Should the Death
Penalty be abolished?”
• Your lead in could be something like this;
“The most recent statistics reveal that about as
much as 39% of convicted criminals in county
and state prisons are innocent and will be
unjustly executed for no good reason.”

6. MORE ABOUT THE BEGINNING…
• After you have given your lead-in, you need
to show that you can see both sides of the
issue, the “pros” and “cons” with one short
reason.

7. MORE ABOUT THE BEGINNING…
• The “pros” is where you say: “Some people
say yes, the death penalty should be
abolished, for it is cruel and unusual
punishment.”

8. MORE ABOUT THE BEGINNING…
• The “cons” would say: “Other people say no,
it should not be abolished, the death penalty
is necessary to stop murders.”

9. TELL THE READER WHAT YOU THINK
• After you have briefly mentioned the “pros”
and “cons” it is now time to let the reader
know what you think. In the THESIS
statement giving reasons why you feel the
way you do.
• “The death penalty should be abolished
because many innocent people will unjustly
lose their lives, it is cruel, unjust and
inhuman and is forbidden by most
religions.”

10. THE SUPPORTING PARAGRAPHS
• The next three paragraphs support and
elaborate on the reasons that you stated in
your thesis. Be sure to be specific and don’t
generalize.
• For instance, to support your first reason
“many innocent people will be executed”
you could say:

11. THE SUPPORTING PARA’S …
“Studies have shown that 39% of the people
on death row are innocent and do not
belong there. Some are there because they
are a member of an unpopular minority.
Many are there because the police needed
to make an arrest and didn’t care who they
arrested as long as they had someone to
blame. It is totally wrong for the state to kill
innocent people just to look good in the
papers.”

12. THE SUPPORTING PARA’S…
• The next 2 paragraphs should do the same
thing.
• Remember to save your strongest reason
for last to leave the reader with your best
thought. (You may also begin with your
strongest reason in order to get the reader’s
attention if you so wish)

13. FINALLY…YOUR CONCLUSION!
• Here, you summarize what you said in your
paper. You repeat your thesis and briefly
give your three supporting reasons again. It
is a good idea to paraphrase (say in
different words) your thesis and reasons, so
that your essay is not too repetitive.

14. …YOUR CONCLUSION
• Your conclusion should be a “mirror-image”
of your introduction. But you do not need to
give the pros and cons again in the
concluding paragraph, just your thesis, your
3 reasons and your “tag line.”

15. …YOUR CONCLUSION
• The “tag line” is the last line of your essay
and is the second most important line after
the lead-in because this is where you leave
the reader with your final thought.

16. …YOUR CONCLUSION
“The death penalty has no place in the
modern world; it is a throwback to older
barbaric times. The death penalty causes
many innocent people to be unjustly killed, it
is against the law of God as is found in most
religions, and it is cruel and inhuman.
Therefore everyone must strongly oppose
the death penalty and advocate its abolition
once and for all.

17. REMEMBER, A GOOD ESSAY…
• Is interesting.
• Is well organized.
• Uses proper grammar, spelling, and
punctuation.
• Has all the elements in the right place.
• Has a powerful “grabber” lead-in sentence.
• Shows both sides of the issue.
• Has a well-defined thesis statement (your
opinion) which takes a definite side.

18. REMEMBER, A GOOD ESSAY…
• Has three different reasons to support the
main opinion of the thesis.
• Has three well-elaborated specific reason
paragraphs.
• Saves the best, strongest reason for last.
• Concludes by “mirroring” the introduction
by repeating the thesis and the 3 supporting
reasons and leaves the reader with a strong
“tag line” to remember.

19. Don’t forget!!!
• Write your first draft.
• Self edit your work and if possible get
someone to peer edit it for you as well.
• Then write your final draft.
• Proof read it before you submit.