• College Essay
  • Argumentative Essay
  • Expository Essay
  • Narrative Essay
  • Descriptive Essay
  • Scholarship Essay
  • Admission Essay
  • Reflective Essay
  • Nursing Essay
  • Economics Essay

Assignments

  • Term Papers
  • Research Papers
  • Case Studies
  • Dissertation
  • Presentation
  • Editing Help
  • Cheap Essay Writing
  • How to Order

User Icon

Argumentative Essay Guide

Argumentative Essay Outline

Nova A.

Argumentative Essay Outline | Structure Your Essay In 5 Steps

argumentative essay outline

People also read

The Ultimate Guide to Argumentative Essay Writing

Good Argumentative Essay Topics For Beginners - 270+ Ideas

Argumentative Essay Examples - Samples & Tips

Learn Different Types of Arguments and Argument Claims

Preparing to write an argumentative essay but don’t know where to start?

Outlining is an important step in prewriting. Having a defined structure makes the essay writing process much simpler. It helps you logically present your ideas and saves you from getting stuck with writer’s block. 

In this blog, we are going to discuss how to write an outline for your essay. You’ll also get examples and templates to help you out.

So continue reading!

Arrow Down

  • 1. Argumentative Essay Outline - Classic Pattern
  • 2. Steps to Write an Argumentative Essay Outline 
  • 3. Argumentative Essay Outline Examples 

Argumentative Essay Outline - Classic Pattern

A basic argumentative essay outline follows the same structure as any other type of essay . The difference lies in the content of the body paragraphs.

Unlike a persuasive essay , where the focus is on convincing the reader through emotional appeals, the argumentative essay presents the argument. 

Some paragraphs introduce your own argument, while others state the opposing arguments and their refutations. 

Here is a sample outline template you could follow for writing your essay:

Order essay

Paper Due? Why Suffer? That's our Job

Steps to Write an Argumentative Essay Outline 

Writing an argumentative essay outline involves organizing your ideas logically to present your argument effectively.

Here are the steps to create a complete outline, along with examples:

Step 1: Choose a Topic and Develop a Thesis Statement 

The first step in writing an outline is selecting a clear, debatable topic that interests you and is relevant to your audience. Check out our argumentative essay topics blog for a wealth of ideas. 

Once you have your topic, you need to develop a thesis statement . The thesis statement should clearly express your position on the topic and outline the main points you will use to support your argument.

Note to Remember: Consider the type of argument you are presenting—whether it's Classical, Rogerian, or Toulmin—when structuring your essay. Each type of argument has a specific structure and approach that can influence how you organize your essay.

Step 2: Structure Your Introduction 

Outline these points for your essay introduction:

  • Hook : Open with an engaging statement or question to capture the reader’s interest.
  • Background Information: Give context to the topic.
  • Thesis Statement: State your main argument.

Step 3: Extract Key Points for Body Paragraphs

Each body paragraph should focus on one main idea that supports your thesis. Follow these instructions to create effective body paragraphs:

  • Topic Sentence: Begin with a clear topic sentence that states the main idea of the paragraph. This sentence should directly relate to one of the points mentioned in your thesis statement.
  • Evidence: Provide evidence to support your topic sentence. This can include statistics, research findings, expert opinions, or real-life examples.
  • Explanation: Explain how the evidence supports your topic sentence and ties back to your thesis. Clarify the significance of the evidence and how it strengthens your argument.
  • Transition: Use transition words in between paragraphs. This helps maintain the flow of your essay and prepares the reader for the next point.

Step 4: Gather Counterarguments and Rebuttals 

  • Identify Counterarguments: Recognize potential objections to your thesis to understand the opposing viewpoint.
  • Research Counterarguments: Gather evidence and information that supports the opposing stance or critiques your argument.
  • Rebuttal Strategy: Develop responses that logically refute counterarguments using additional evidence or alternative perspectives.

Step 5: Outline Conclusion

  • Restate Thesis: Summarize your main argument.
  • Summarize Key Points: Briefly recap the main points discussed in the body paragraphs.
  • Call to Action or Final Thought: Encourage the reader to take action or ponder the implications of your argument.

Argumentative Essay Outline Examples 

Argumentative Essay Outline Template

Argumentative Essay Outline Worksheet

Argumentative Essay Outline Fill In The Blank

Argumentative Essay Outline College

Argumentative Essay Outline High School

Argumentative Essay Outline Middle School

Argumentative Essay Outline Graphic Organizer

Need some sample essays to get a better idea? Give our blog on argumentative essay examples a read to find inspiration!

The Bottom Line! We've covered all the essential elements of structuring your argumentative essay. With this guide, you're now well-prepared to craft a compelling essay that effectively presents your viewpoint and supports your argument with evidence. 

Remember the key components: the introduction that hooks your reader, a clear thesis statement, well-organized body paragraphs, counterarguments, and a strong conclusion. Don't forget to cite your sources properly to give credibility to your work. 

If you are unable to craft a perfect outline, you can always seek the help of an expert and professional essay writer at MyPerfectWords.com.

Our affordable argumentative essay writing service can help you write a top-notch argumentative paper. Our skilled writers conduct research to find facts and evidence to support your claim and write an original essay according to your needs.

So place your ' do my essays ' request today and recieve expert assistance! 

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the 5 main parts of an argumentative essay.

FAQ Icon

An argumentative essay typically consists of five main parts:

  • Introduction.
  • Body Paragraphs.
  • Counterargument and Rebuttal.
  • Conclusion.
  • References 

What is the structure of the argumentative essay?

The structure of an argumentative essay typically follows this pattern:

  • Hook + Background information or context + Thesis statement 
  • Body Paragraphs:
  • Topic sentence + Evidence + Explanation + Transition 
  • Counterargument and Rebuttal
  • Conclusion:
  • Restates the thesis statement + Summarizes the main point

What is the 5 paragraph format for an argumentative essay?

The 5-paragraph format for an argumentative essay consists of an introduction with a thesis statement, three body paragraphs each presenting a separate argument or piece of evidence, and a conclusion summarizing the main points and restating the thesis. It follows a structured approach to present a clear argument with supporting evidence within five paragraphs.

AI Essay Bot

Write Essay Within 60 Seconds!

Nova A.

Nova Allison is a Digital Content Strategist with over eight years of experience. Nova has also worked as a technical and scientific writer. She is majorly involved in developing and reviewing online content plans that engage and resonate with audiences. Nova has a passion for writing that engages and informs her readers.

Struggling With Your Paper?

Get a custom paper written at

With a FREE Turnitin report, and a 100% money-back guarantee

LIMITED TIME ONLY!

Keep reading

argumentative essay guide

OFFER EXPIRES SOON!

Argumentative Writing - Basic, Intermediate & Advanced Outlines

TeacherVision Staff

All three can be used in the same class--with either you assigning different organizers to different students per their needs, or students choosing an outline for themselves. Use these as a checkpoint in writing, or as an assessment for student understanding of each argumentative element.

Basic Outline: Use this essay outline template for students who either do not need much support in writing a comprehensive argumentative essay and need only to jot down ideas, or students who should just focus on Claim-Reason-Evidence for this round as a scaffolded step. The claim should be an opinion or something that other people could reasonably disagree with. Reasons should each be different ideas that supports their claim, and evidence should be facts -- either found through research or commonly known.

Intermediate Outline: This outline is similar to the Basic outline, but pushes students to explain what their evidence proves or suggests (reasoning). It also pushes them one step further to preview their points in their claim. Use this outline for students who need to organize their thinking and improve flow in their argument, or for students to brainstorm and outline their essay. It can also be used for ELL students, as the sentence stems can be very helpful in constructing their sentences. This outline is also especially useful for students who are struggling to add reasoning to their writing.

Advanced Outline: This is an outline for more advanced students who could benefit from the push to add more evidence for each reason and more thoroughly explain how their evidence supports their claim. It also includes a paragraph for the counterargument, which you could have students teach themselves from this outline or include as part of your counterargument lesson.

Featured Middle School Resources

Test Prep Strategies and Practice for Students

Test Prep Strategies, Tools, and Practice Questions

Help set your students up for academic success with this packet of test-taking tips, test preparation strategies, and pr...

History of Earth Day Reading Passage and Quiz

Earth Day Activities: History of Earth Day Reading Passage and Quiz

Help your students work on their reading comprehension skills while learning all about Earth Day with this reading compr...

Elements of Poetry Workbook

Elements of Poetry Workbook

Use this poetry toolbox workbook to support your students to learn different poetic terms and devices, and then practice...

Related Resources

Writing a character sketch.

FutureFit Extension Activities Create: Building Character Have students complete their character sketches as their pre...

Be a Journalist! Research and Writing Activity

LESSON PLANS

Be a Journalist! Research and Writing Activity

Extra! Extra! Help your students get the scoop on journalism This printable will teach your students how to be budding ...

GRAPHIC ORGANIZERS

Writing Activity Outline–Part A and B

Keep thoughts and ideas for writing assignments organized on this printable outline.

Ten Tips for Writing An Essay

Ten Tips for Writing An EssayStart early. Starting early buys you the luxury of revising and rewriting the essay.

How to Write an Essay

How to Write an Essay Establish Your Topic Your teacher may assign you a topic or ask you to choose from among a few to...

Fourteen Points Writing Exercise

Print out and give pupils this writing activity to teach them more about World War I, U.S.

About the author

TeacherVision Staff

TeacherVision Staff

Teachervision editorial staff.

The TeacherVision editorial team is comprised of teachers, experts, and content professionals dedicated to bringing you the most accurate and relevant information in the teaching space.

IMAGES

  1. Argumentative Essay Structure

    argumentative essay outline template 6th grade

  2. Paragraph Writing Planning Template FREEBIE

    argumentative essay outline template 6th grade

  3. Argumentative Essay Outline Format [12 Best Examples]

    argumentative essay outline template 6th grade

  4. 🏷️ Persuasive essay examples 6th grade. Persuasive essay topics for 6th graders: A List Of Great

    argumentative essay outline template 6th grade

  5. Teacher Resources

    argumentative essay outline template 6th grade

  6. Argumentative Essay Outline

    argumentative essay outline template 6th grade

VIDEO

  1. IELTS writing task 2 template. Argumentative type. #ielts #ieltspreparation #ieltswriting

  2. Easy way to understand argumentative essay outline

  3. Argumentative Essay

  4. Argumentative Essay Brainstorm and Outline—3/19/2020

  5. How to Write a CSS Essay Outline

  6. Argumentative Essay Outline Tutorial

COMMENTS

  1. 6th Grade Writing Samples

    Sixth Grade Literary Writing Sample 4. Sixth Grade Argumentative Essay Prompt. Sixth Grade Argumentative Writing Sample 1. Sixth Grade Argumentative Writing Sample 2. Sixth Grade Argumentative Writing Sample 3. Sixth Grade Argumentative Writing Sample 4. Sixth Grade Informative Essay Sample 1.

  2. PDF Argumentative Essay Writing A Step-by-Step Guide

    Body paragraph #4: Writing the opposing argument. 1) The opposing argument, called the counterclaim or counterargument, proves that you fully understand the topic and that you have considered the opposition. 2) The turn-back is a return to the original argument. It gives you an opportunity to prove why the opposing argument is invalid.

  3. PDF 1) Introduction/Claim (One paragraph) Start with a hook or attention

    Argumentative Essay Outline (Claim) Directions: Use this outline as a "road map" to write your essay. If you need more examples or sentence starters, use page 2 to help you! 1) Introduction/Claim (One paragraph) • Start with a hook or attention getting sentence.

  4. Argumentative Essay Outline

    The 5-paragraph format for an argumentative essay consists of an introduction with a thesis statement, three body paragraphs each presenting a separate argument or piece of evidence, and a conclusion summarizing the main points and restating the thesis. It follows a structured approach to present a clear argument with supporting evidence within ...

  5. Essay Outline Templates

    Whether you're looking for a persuasive essay outline, graphic organizer, or support for creative writing, we have a host of options that can be used or adapted to best suit your learners' needs. ... Persuasive Essay Outline Template for 6th - 8th Grade. Students complete an outline, writing the hook, claim, topic sentence, evidence, topic ...

  6. PDF Argumentative Essay Writing

    Brainstorming will help you get started with your argumentative essay. In this section, you will choose a topic for your essay, write your thesis statement, think about several supporting ideas for your opinion, and think about the counterargument. Planning your Essay Follow the steps below to develop ideas for an argument essay. 1.

  7. Argumentative Writing

    6th Grade. 7th Grade. 8th Grade. 9th Grade. 10th Grade. 11th Grade. 12th Grade. ... Basic Outline: Use this essay outline template for students who either do not need much support in writing a comprehensive argumentative essay and need only to jot down ideas, or students who should just focus on Claim-Reason-Evidence for this round as a ...

  8. PDF (Essay Written as a Spring Benchmark Sample)

    GRADE Opinion / Argument 6 Writing. Grade 6, Standard 1 W.6.1.a IIntroduce claim(s) and organize the reasons and evidence clearly in paragraphs and sections. A1 Examples: 1 . 2 The writer exceeds grade level standards by acknowledging counter claims (Although, I will admit that technology has helped our world in so many different ways...

  9. PDF Writing Guide Argumentative Essay Writing Guide (Grade 6)

    Argumentative Essay Writing Guide (Grade 6) Purpose, Focus, and Organization Evidence and Elaboration Conventions The response is fully sustained and consistently focused within the has a clear claim and effective coherence and completeness. The response includes most of the following:

  10. Argumentative Essay Outline by Super Typist

    This template is designed to help students create a six-paragraph argumentative essay, but it can be tweaked and changed to fit any essay assignment! This outline is meant to be as versatile as you'd like it to be. This worksheet is a supplemental that accompanies the argumentative writing Prezi available in my TPT store. Check it out here ...