How to Start an Argumentative Essay
There’s nothing wrong with starting an essay with a quote. However, we don’t recommend writing a quotation in the introduction of an argumentative essay unless it’s absolutely necessary. Quotes don’t reflect your own thoughts about a topic and can limit your writing and arguing prowess as far as the topic in question is concerned. Stick to a strong hook instead, making sure you present a killer opening statement that will make your reader(s) wanting to read more.
There’s nothing worse about an introductions than length. It’s easy to get bogged down to adding tons of words to fill up this section. However, chances are you’re more likely to sound boring and less interesting. When it comes to length, short and precise is better. In fact, short introductions are easy to read. Add to this the one or two sentences for the thesis statement, and what you have is a killer introduction that will get your audience reading.
An essay introduction that doesn’t feature a thesis statement to an argument is straight out flat and 100% irrelevant. Without it, it’s hard for a reader to understand the primary point that you’re trying to make. When it comes to writing the thesis for the essay, it’s best to take a position on a particular issue, one in which a reader can easily argue against. In other words, the thesis of an argumentative essay cannot be a fact. And you’ll use the rest of the essay to provide arguments and evidence that support the thesis statement.
How do you write a good hook for your argumentative essay?
Argumentative Essay:
Purpose: An argumentative essay aims to persuade the reader to accept or agree with a specific point of view or argument.
Structure: It follows a clear structure with an introduction, thesis statement, body paragraphs presenting arguments and evidence, counterarguments and refutations, and a conclusion.
Tone: The tone is formal and relies on logical reasoning, evidence, and critical analysis.
Narrative/Descriptive Essay:
Purpose: These aim to tell a story or describe an experience, while a descriptive essay focuses on creating a vivid picture of a person, place, or thing.
Structure: They may have a more flexible structure. They often include an engaging introduction, a well-developed body that builds the story or description, and a conclusion.
Tone: The tone is more personal and expressive to evoke emotions or provide sensory details.
You might write an argumentative essay when:
1. You want to convince others of the validity of your position.
2. There is a controversial or debatable issue that requires discussion.
3. You need to present evidence and logical reasoning to support your claims.
4. You want to explore and critically analyze different perspectives on a topic.
The introductions to many argumentative essays are seriously boring to read. Either they’re too general or they don’t go straight to the point, as a good intro should. To be clear, general and randomly written introductions won’t make your essay click with your reader. So you should avoid this. Remember that even if you’re not the most creative student when it comes to working on an argumentative essay in your class, you have to start the assignment with an impactful introduction for it to attract eyeballs. And if your opening sentence can grab the attention of your reader on the spot, they’ll definitely read the second, the third, and eventually all the way to the last sentence.
The length of an argumentative essay can vary, but it typically falls within the range of 1,000 to 2,500 words. However, the specific requirements may depend on the guidelines provided.
How to Write a Standout Argumentative Essay | Grammarly Blog
Writing a winning argumentative essay not only showcases your ability to critically analyze a topic but also demonstrates your skill in persuasively presenting your stance backed by evidence. Achieving this level of writing excellence can be time-consuming. This is where Paperpal, your AI academic writing assistant, steps in to revolutionize the way you approach argumentative essays. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to use Paperpal to write your essay:
How to Write a Standout Argumentative Essay · 1 Introduce the problem
If you think about it, professors often read an argument's title and its opening statement before they can look at your actual arguments. Depending on how you frame the introduction, they may read all the way to the bottom of the page or not bother to read the essay at all. So what’s the best way to start an argumentative essay to make it engaging for the reader? And what should you avoid?
How to Write a Good Argumentative Essay: Easy Step-by-Step Guide
If you’re wondering how to start an argumentative essay, here’s a step-by-step guide to help you with the argumentative essay format and writing process.
How to Write a Strong Introduction for an Argumentative Essay?
An argumentative essay presents a specific claim or argument and supports it with evidence and reasoning. Here’s an outline for an argumentative essay, along with examples for each section:3
How to Write an Argumentative Essay | Outline, Tips & Examples
Aristotelian, Rogerian, and Toulmin are three distinct approaches to argumentative essay structures, each with its principles and methods.2 The choice depends on the purpose and nature of the topic. Here’s an overview of each type of argumentative essay format.