Salmane Alfarissi High School Academic year: 2020/2021
Preparatory classes English Language Course
Instructor: A. ERRECHYDY
Argumentative Essay :
An argumentative essay is an essay in which you agree or disagree with an issue, using reasons
to support your opinion. Your purpose is to convince your reader that your opinion is right. In
this kind of essay, we don’t not only give information but also present an argument with the
PROS (supporting ideas) and CONS (opposing ideas) of an argumentative issue.
What is unique about argumentative essay is that you don’t just give reasons to support your
point of view. You must also discuss the other side’s reasons and then rebut them. (rebut
means to point out problems with the other side’s reasons to prove that they are not good
reasons.
Elements of argumentation
1. Argument/ claim
An argument states a claim and supports it with evidence and reasons from other
sources.
2. Counterargument/ counterclaim
The counterargument/ counterclaim is an argument that stands in opposition to your
claim or argument.
The counterargument/ counterclaim is your opponent’s (the other side’s) argument
that tries to explain why you are wrong.
3. Language
When pointing out opposing arguments (CONs)
Opponents of this idea claim/ maintain that…..
Those who disagree/ are against this idea may say/ assert that…….
Some people may disagree with idea……
When stating specifically why they think like that
They put forward this idea because
They tend to think like this because…….
They claim that…….since…….
Contrasting/ showing difference
However,
On the other hand,
Yet,….
Salmane Alfarissi High School Academic year: 2020/2021
Preparatory classes English Language Course
Instructor: A. ERRECHYDY
Structure of Argumentative Essays
There are several ways to organize an argumentative essay. You can use a block pattern
or a point-by-point pattern. The outlines in the following chart show these two
possible patterns.
Organization of Argumentative Essays
Block Pattern Point-by-Point Pattern
I. Introduction I. Introduction
. Hook . Hook
. Background . Background
. Thesis statement . Thesis statement
II. Body II. Body
Block 1
A. Summary of other side's arguments A. Statement of the other side's first
B. Rebuttal to the first argument argument and rebuttal with your
C. Rebuttal to the second argument own counterargument
D. Rebuttal to the third argument B. Statement of the other side's second
argument and rebuttal with your own
Block 2 counterargument
E. Your first argument C. Statement of the other side's third
F. Your second argument argument and rebuttal with your own
G. Your third argument counterargument
III. Conclusion III. Conclusion
Summary of your point of view Summary of your point of view
Further comment Further comment
Call for action Call for action
Source
Oshima, Alice, Hogue, Ann. Writing Academic English. Fourth Edition. The longman
Academic Writing Series. 2006.
