When thinking about writing an essay, many students think about finding the perfect hook.
If you have the perfect hook, then your readers will continue reading your essay.
But even though the hook statement is very important as it is the first essay element that catches the attention of the readers, it is not enough to describe your point of view.
Writing an argumentative essay might seem like a really big challenge.
You have some ideas going through your head but do not know exactly where to start.
A lot of other questions might appear, such as how to present your arguments using persuasive language and a balanced presentation.
An argumentative essay should not impose your readers your point of view and opinion, but rather adopt an approach that helps them understand your opinion while you back it up with strong evidence.
Arguing your point of view in an essay is not something that might come easy and naturally.
So, here is more information on this topic that will surely help you craft the best argumentative essay.
To get a better idea of what is the point of view, watch the video tutorial from Chungdahm Learning, as they explain the point of view.
Read on for more information.
But firstly, let’s clarify what an argumentative essay is.
Argumentative Essays
Argumentative essays are common homework for students and high schoolers and the topics are usually on technology, medicine, mental health, science, or politics.
Writing one is not easy and it requires extensive research, but it is not impossible.
Through an essay where you properly argue your point of view, you express your opinion on a given topic.
You take a stance on a specific issue and support it with evidence and research.
An essay where you argue your point of view should not be written as your arguments are the best, but in a way that can persuade the ones who will read it.
Even though persuasion will not happen in all cases, giving others food for thought is also a good start.
To make your essay as persuasive as possible, you need to follow a structure and a few tips that will give balance to your essay.
At the same time, these tips will help you argue your point of view properly by making the right choices.
Find Your Topic
Contradictory discussions are present and can be heard anywhere.
If you listen to a bus conversation, a coffee one, or just watch the news and read some headlines, you will discover a lot of topics.
Having a good topic is an important step in building an argumentative essay, as the topic is that detail that might spark controversies.
If you get to choose your own topic you should argue on, it must be something that really drives your interest and that you are passionate about.
This will make the entire process a lot easier, as you will find pleasure and enjoyment in it.
Finding and choosing a topic is not the only thing you should do.
You should also define your point of view on the subject. Do you agree with it? Do you think it is false or true?
Research
After you have chosen your topic and defined your point of view, you need to find evidence that supports your arguments.
Everything you are going to share your opinion needs to be backed up by proof.
The evidence and knowledge you will gather by research will help you properly argue your point of view in an essay.
This might be one of the most important and essential steps because you need to pay attention to your biases.
When arguing for one side of the story, many people forget to take into account the other one.
They think that their opinion and point of view are the best so all the evidence they search for and find confirms their beliefs.
This is called confirmation bias: searching and taking into account only evidence that supports your points of view.
While this research will help you back up your arguments with evidence, it might also lead you on the wrong path.
This is why it is important to research extensively and find arguments that support the opposite point of view too. If the topic is debatable, so are the opinions of the people.
Looking into the evidence that supports all points of view on a topic helps you understand its complexity better.
At the same time, it also helps you find out what others are saying and find arguments to shoot their opinions and evidence down.
This research can include reading studies published in prestigious scientific journals, magazines, books, and even conduct interviews with domain specialists.
The more research you do, the more prepared you will be to argue your point of view.
Start Writing
After you have finished your extensive preparation for arguing your point of view, you could start writing.
You might find it challenging at the beginning, but things will come naturally.
You could begin by writing an outline you can build your essay on.
This outline will help you not lose track of the most important topics you want to present and will give your essay a structure.
It is thus important to not forget about the three parts an essay should have: introduction, the body, and conclusion.
Paying attention to how you build every part of the essay is important, as small details can make the difference and can change mindsets.
Introduction and Thesis Statement
Part of the introduction is the thesis statement.
You should take the time to craft a really good one, as it is one of the first things people will read.
Your thesis statement presents the topic and your stance on it shortly and concisely.
This sentence that pretty much says what the essay is about will introduce the readers to the topic and help them decide if it is of interest to them.
The thesis statements can be written in the form of a question (which you answer in the next sentence), a refuting statement, or a roadmap of the topic.
Road-mapping is about presenting a few main points you will discuss and argue on the essay body.
While refuting statements are about presenting a common conception and adding a statement that refutes it, thus sharing the main claims and points that support your point of view.
The Body
The body of the essay is the part where you present your points of view and back them up with arguments and evidence.
The way you build and write the essay is very important, as you need to send your ideas and present them clearly and concisely so that it will be easier to understand them.
To organize your arguments clearly, it is advisable to discuss one argument per paragraph.
You can include all the evidence that supports your argument.
You can include citations, studies, and statistics that support your claim.
A wise move would be to discuss the arguments that are opposed to your point of view and bring evidence and research that support your disagreement.
To properly argue your point of view in an essay, you need to consider all the parts of the story or topic.
You cannot only present your point of view and back it up with evidence.
You also need to include and discuss the arguments that are opposed to your opinion and present facts and evidence.
Persuasion considers all parts of the story and helps you prepare ahead for the contrary arguments.
Writing and presenting a topic from all angles will also make you more credible.
The Conclusion
The conclusion is very important for your argumentative essay, as it is your final piece. Many students feel that the conclusion allows them to come up with new arguments and evidence, but this is not recommended.
The conclusion should be short, concise, and it should appeal to the reader’s emotions.
You should present a summary of your arguments and include a personal statement or anecdote that underlines the importance of the subject for yourself.
The conclusion could also be about the next implications of your ideas.
You could describe and paint the picture of what would happen if your ideas would be put into practice.
Your conclusion should point to the hypothetical benefits someone would get if they apply your ideas.
A call to action can also be included, to inspire readers to find out more about this subject.
Appealing to the logic, behavior, feelings, and emotions of the readers helps you make your arguments stronger.
Other Tips?
Now that we have shed more light on how to properly argue your point of view in an essay, we need to take a look at a few tips that will enhance your arguments and make you more credible
- Avoid emotional language and instead, use rational and logical language
- Use trustworthy sources where you draw your evidence from
- Do not forget to always cite the sources you base your arguments on
- Draw a logical conclusion while also presenting the emotional perspective; know the difference between these two and be careful when you choose to use them
Author Bio: Jennifer Holland is a professional writer with 3 years of experience who currently works at the website College Paper. She has been writing about education and student life for several years. She helps students get their dream job by offering them her excellent writing skills and knowledge. Feel free to connect with her on Facebook or Twitter.
As a dedicated student advocate, my blog posts focus on addressing common student concerns and providing practical solutions. I strive to offer valuable insights and resources that support students in their educational journey.
