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Argumentative Essay Guide
Argumentative Essay Outline
Argumentative Essay Outline | Structure Your Essay In 5 Steps
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The Ultimate Guide to Argumentative Essay Writing
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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!
- 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:
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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.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the 5 main parts of an argumentative essay.
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.
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Argumentative Writing - Basic, Intermediate & Advanced Outlines
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.
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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.
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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 ...
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 ...
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.
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 ...
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...
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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 ...