Some school lessons give students a sneaking suspicion that they’re being forced to learn something they won’t need in real life – long division, memorizing the periodic table, writing in cursive, etc. Learning how to write an argumentative essay, however, will pay dividends down the road.
Strictly speaking, an argumentative essay is “a piece of writing that uses logical evidence and empirical data to convince readers of a particular position on a topic.” What that boils down to is showing why what we believe is right. And who doesnโt like to be right?
Writing an argumentative essay develops helpful day-to-day skills – knowing how to analyze all sides of a situation, communicate our views, and deftly handle objections. These are essential skills in business, social situations, and human interaction. What’s more, these constructs form the basis of many common careers โ journalism, marketing, law, politics, advertising, etc.
If you’re interested in one of these careers (or you just want to win more arguments), read on for information on how to write an argumentative essay, plus 10 topic ideas.
Argumentative Essay Structure
Like any good line of reasoning, the structure itself is not overly complex or confusing. In fact, it follows the basic structure most of us learned in school โ Intro, Body, Conclusion โ though it does include one refinement (Section III) that helps strengthen the argument. Note that the number of paragraphs depends on the topic and complexity, and by no means must be three pieces of evidence in favor and rebuttals to two counterarguments.
I. Intro
- Hook โ Start with something to grab the reader’s attention. A shocking statistic or quote, a vivid and emotionally captivating example, or a thought-provoking question.
- Background on the topic โ Gradually present the issue being discussed in general terms. Start very broad, then narrow your topic down.
- Thesis Statement โ Clearly and explicitly define your exact position on the issue.
II. Support Body Paragraphs
Paragraph 1
- Reason 1 your thesis statement is correct
- Support and evidence for reason 1
Paragraph 2
- Reason 2 your thesis statement is correct
- Support and evidence for reason 2
Paragraph 3
- Reason 3 your thesis statement is correct
- Support and evidence for reason 3
III. Counterargument Body Paragraphs
Paragraph 1
- Counterargument 1
- Rebuttal to Counterargument 1
Paragraph 2
- Counterargument 2
- Rebuttal to Counterargument 2
IV. Conclusion
- Restate thesis
- Summarize evidence presented
- Solidify position and close like a courtroom lawyer.
Argumentative Essay Style
So now you know how to write an argumentative essay, but how do you write a good one? Well, the keys are a strong position, a rock-solid thesis statement, and thorough and relevant research. This is an academic essay, so the tone should be professional, and although you are presenting your own analysis of the information, it is generally best not to use first person.
Where Argumentative Essays Fail
A poor argumentative essay generally results from a half-hearted and hesitant opinion on the topic itself. This is an unfortunate consequence of being forced to write on an assigned topic, but if you have any kind of liberty at all in choosing the subject matter, select something that you feel you can argue with at least some enthusiasm. Poor organization is another common pitfall, so make your claim forcefully through your thesis statement, then remember that all of your supporting evidence ties back into that. Outlining this sort of essay can be tremendously helpful. And of course one of the biggest ways to fail, figuratively and literally, is to plagiarize or steal someone else’s ideas. JSTOR and Google Scholar are your friends here. Source them properly.
Argumentative Essay Topics
If you are looking for engaging linguistics and translation essay topics, the list below can help give you ideas and inspiration for your argumentative essay.
- The impact of bilingual education on academic performance and cultural integration
- The role of language preservation in maintaining cultural identity
- The role of technology in addressing language barriers
- The impact of translation on historical knowledge
- The impact of social media on language preservation and evolution
- The influence of cultural stereotypes on code-switching
- The impact of cultural appropriation on marginalized cultures
- The effects of language barriers on politics and international diplomacy
- The effects of virtual learning on language acquisition for younger students
- The effects of language in the media on determining public opinion
