All you need to know to write an

argumentative response

How to write an argumentative

essay

I. Understand the Prompt: It is crucial (important) that you have a clear understanding of what you are being asked to do. Failure to do so could cause you to write off topic and not get a score at all. In essence, you will have failed before you even write anything.

10-TELL-ALL

In ten words or less, explain what you are being asked to do in each of the following prompts.

1. Your parents are going to buy a new car, but can’t decide between an SUV and a two-door sports car. Choose which car you would rather have. Then, write your parents a letter persuading them to purchase the car you like.

2. You are going to your summer vacation with your parents and are debating where to go. They have suggested a trip to Wildwood and Disney World, but can’t decide. Decide where you would rather go. Then, write an e-mail to your parents persuading them to select your vacation destination.

3. Your parents have won $2,000 in a raffle. They can’t decide between a family vacation or spending the money to pay bills. They have asked for your opinion in the form of a letter. You write a letter to your parents expressing your opinion about how to spend the money.

BRAINSTORM

WRITING TASK Write a letter to Mr. Alper arguing whether or not he should attend the benefit concert the students are holding for Jeffrey.

II. Brainstorm Develop ideas to help PICK A SIDE and structure your paper.

A. Make a pro and con list. List reasons for and against the argument.

Pro Con

B. Pick the side with the BEST argument. This is NOT necessarily the side you agree with.

Now organize the thoughts and ideas that support the argument you will make.

C. Use an organizer like the one on the following slide.

Let’s practice brainstorming.

Structuring your paper

III. Work to develop an interesting introduction.

IntroductionIntroduction: This is the most important paragraph

in your paper.

A. Set up your introduction this way:1. Hook (discussed in detail below)2. Transition sentence.3. Background on topic.4. Thesis statement5. Preview of subtopics (reasons)

IntroductionA. Hook: This has to be structured to put the

reader in your shoes.

1. Rhetorical questions – Questions designed to make the reader think.

2. Paint a picture of the situation. Use imagery.

Introduction–HOOK – Rhetorical Question: Make this

emotional if possible. Tug at the heartstrings.

“How would you feel if your daughter took her fascination with her favorite skinny-mini celebrity to the extreme? What if she desired to look like Paris Hilton so much that she developed an eating disorder?”

Introduction–HOOK – Paint a picture of the situation or

topic. Use imagery.Imagine waking up to get your

child ready for school like you do every morning. However, you walk into your daughter’s room and find her passed out. You later find out your daughter suffers from anorexia because of the pressure to look like a supermodel.

Introduction

B. Transition Sentence: Write a sentence connecting your hook to your topic. (Summarize the question)–Example: This is the situation that

many parents face when raising teenagers these days.

Introduction

C. Background on topic: A sentence or two describing the topic and why it is important.

–Example: “Today, many teenage girls are not eating properly. This can have devastating effects on their health.”

Introduction

D. Thesis Statement:

–Example: “To help teenagers avoid living unhealthy lives, the government must fully fund programs designed to decrease the number of children who suffer from eating disorders.”

Introduction

E. List reasons (subtopics):

–Example: “We must do this to ensure teenagers have the proper information to make smart decisions about how they treat their body and decrease the number of kids who suffer from eating disorders.

How would you feel if your daughter took her fascination with her favorite skinny-mini celebrity to the extreme? What if she desired to look like Paris Hilton so much that developed an eating disorder? This is the situation that many parents face when raising teenagers these days. Today, due to the pressure to look like an All-American, many teenage girls are not eating properly. To help teenagers avoid living unhealthy lives, the government must fully fund educational programs designed to decrease the number of children who suffer from anorexia or bulimia. We must do this to ensure teenagers have the proper information to make smart decisions about how they treat their body and decrease the number of kids who suffer from eating disorders.

Imagine waking up to get your child ready for school like you do every morning. You walk into your daughter’s room and find her passed out. You later find out your daughter suffers from anorexia because of the pressure to look like a supermodel. This is the situation that many parents face when raising teenagers these days. Today, due to the pressure to look like an All-American, many teenage girls are not eating properly. To help teenagers avoid living unhealthy lives, the government must fully fund educational programs designed to decrease the number of children who suffer from anorexia or bulimia. We must do this to ensure teenagers have the proper information to make smart decisions about how they treat their body and decrease the number of kids who suffer from eating disorders.

Structuring your paper

IV. Body of essay:A. The second paragraph should be a rebuttal paragraph. This is the counterargument.

B. Make sure each subtopic (reason) is discussed on its own and not overlapping. Each subtopic should be discussed in 1 paragraph.

C. Make sure you have specific details to support your argument.

Structuring your paper

D. Statistics should be used somewhere in the paper. You can use statistics to prove any argument.

Structuring your paper

Body of essay

E. Use transitions as a way to build in repetition of your thesis statement.

“One reason why ..(thesis)…”“In addition to (reason 1), (thesis) …

because (reason 2).

Structuring your essay

V. ConclusionThis is the second most important

paragraph in your paper.

a. Restate thesis.b. Summarize your argument.c. End with call to action

Structuring your essay

Call to action: This is what you want people to do or believe.

1. Example, “Due to the negative impact steroids have on a person’s health, please vote against allowing steroids in sports.”

What is the call to action?

Structuring your essay

Call to action

Example 2: Due to the negative impact steroids have on a person’s health, please write your Congressman urging him to ban steroids in sports.

Structuring your essay

Call to action

Example 3: Due to the negative impact steroids have on a person’s health, please join in speaking out against the use of steroids in sports.