Argumentative Essay Example (PDF)
Essay intimidation is a real thing, but there are ways to overcome it! Being able to write a strong argumentative essay confidently will take you a long way once you reach college and beyond, so remember to take it step-by-step and find a topic you’re passionate about.
Something else I like about this introduction is that it acknowledges and then refutes a common counterargument—the idea that the death penalty is a crime deterrent. Notice also the flow of the first two sentences. The first flags the essay’s topic. But it also makes a claim—that the issue of capital punishment is politically divisive. The following sentence backs this claim up. Essentially half of the country allows the practice; the other half has banned it. This is a feature not just of solid introductions but of good argumentative essays in general—all the essay’s claims will be backed up with evidence.
Using the tips above, you can effectively structure and pen a compelling argumentative essay that will wow your instructor and classmates. Remember to craft a thesis statement that offers readers a roadmap through your essay, draw on your sources wisely to back up any claims, and read through your paper several times before it’s due to catch any last-minute proofreading errors. With time, diligence, and patience, your essay will be the most outstanding assignment you’ve ever turned in…until the next one rolls around.
Argumentative Essay Example for University (PDF)
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How it could be improved: Okay, I know I just got through singing the praises of the first pair of sentences, but if I were really nitpicking, I might take issue with them. Why? The first sentence is a bit of a placeholder. It’s a platitude, a way for the author to get a foothold in the piece. The essay isn’t about how divisive the death penalty is; it’s about why it ought to be abolished. When it comes to writing an argumentative essay, I always like to err on the side of blunt. There’s nothing wrong with starting an argumentative essay with the main idea: Capital punishment is an immoral and ineffective form of punishment, and the practice should be abolished.
When it comes to thinking of argumentative essay topics, there are so many different ones available at your disposal! Given the nature of argumentative writing, there is bound to be a topic that feels right for you and addresses your overarching theme and beliefs.
Much of the critical discussion around technology today revolves around social media. Critics argue that social media has cut us off from our fellow citizens, trapping us in “information silos” and contributing to political polarization. Social media also promotes unrealistic and unhealthy beauty standards, which can lead to anxiety and depression. What’s more, the social media apps themselves are designed to addict their users. These are all legitimate critiques of social media, and they ought to be taken seriously. But the problem of technology today goes deeper than social media. The internet itself is the problem. Whether it’s on our phones or our laptops, on a social media app, or doing a Google search, the internet promotes distracted thinking and superficial learning. The internet is, quite literally, rewiring our brains.
College Argumentative Essay Sample (PDF)
Additionally (this goes for both prompt and no-prompt groups), make sure you have multiple topics to choose from! This will go a long way during the brainstorming and writing process – sometimes, it’s easy to start writing, thinking you’ll have a lot to write about but face a block along the way without having another topic to fall back on. Keeping more than one topic at hand, with a basic outline of what you could discuss, will help ensure you’ll move forward quickly and not get burnt out during the process as quickly!
Argumentative Essay Example for Middle School(PDF)
The majority of the essays written at university are some sort of . Unless otherwise specified, you can assume that the goal of any essay you’re asked to write is argumentative: To convince the reader of your position using evidence and reasoning.
Middle School Argumentative Essay Sample (PDF)
To make matters worse, the structure of argumentative essays is a little more involved than those of other essay types because you also have to address other points of view.
Argumentative Essay Example for High School (PDF)
How it could be improved: I like how direct this introduction is, but it might be improved by being a little more specific. Without getting too technical, the introduction might tell the reader what it means to “promote distracted thinking and superficial learning.” It might also hint as to why these are good arguments. For example, are there neurological or psychological studies that back this claim up? A simple fix might be: Whether it’s on our phones or our laptops, on a social media app, or doing a Google search, countless studies have shown that the internet promotes distracted thinking and superficial learning. The body paragraphs would then elaborate on those points. And the last sentence, while catchy, is a bit vague.
High School Argumentative Essay Sample (PDF)
The argumentative essay is a genre of writing that requires the student to investigate a topic; collect, generate, and evaluate evidence; and establish a position on the topic in a concise manner.