Argumentative Essay Outline Examples for Students

Writing an argumentative essay is never easy for students. Argumentative essays have become a compulsory part of our writing. Students often look for guides and examples to write an argumentative essay.

The problem never gets solved because students are unaware of how to outline their essays before writing. So here we have presented a complete guide for you to help with your problem.

What Is An Argumentative Essay?  

An argumentative essay is a type of essay that presents both sides of an argument or issue. The purpose of this type of essay is to convince the reader to accept your point of view. To do this, you will need to present evidence and support for your claim. 

Argumentative essays can be tricky to write, but if you follow some basic rules, you can write a convincing and well-reasoned essay. 

Starting With An Argumentative Essay

 An argumentative essay is a type of essay that presents both sides of an issue. It is common for students to get assigned an argumentative essay in high school or college classes. To write a good argumentative essay, you need to have a good understanding of the topic at hand and be able to express your thoughts clearly.

 Here are a few points that you must consider before writing a good argumentative essay;

Topic Selection

Argumentative essays are usually assigned to controversial topics. This means that there are two sides to the issue – one side is for the topic, and the other side is against the topic.

 When choosing an argumentative essay topic, make sure that you pick something that you care about, or that you are interested in writing about it. This way, it will be easier for you to stay motivated and interested in the project.

Research Work

Once you have chosen a topic, it is time to research. This step is important because it will help you better understand the issue at hand and also help you form your own opinion on the matter. 

 Furthermore, you have to collect the data before the writing process. The data collected will help to create a good argument in the essay. Look for material from credible sources such as scholarly articles, books, and websites. 

Start Creating An Outline

An outline is essential for any type of essay writing because it will help you organize your thoughts and ideas before writing the essay. Creating an outline is also a great way to keep track of your sources so that you can easily cite them when writing your paper.

 It creates a logical flow in your writing and makes it easy and interesting. Now the question arises of how to create an outline, so read further to understand;

Common Ways To Write Argumentative Essay Outline

 Follow these steps to understand the basic structure of an argumentative essay clearly. These steps will help you to outline your essay easily and start writing with a flow. 

Introduction

While writing an introduction, you must drag your reader’s attention toward you and engage them from the first sentence, so start strong. An interesting statistic, quote, or anecdote will do the trick. Just make sure whatever you choose is relevant to your thesis statement.

An argumentative essay introduction is divided into two parts; background information and thesis statement. 

Background Information

Starting with background information is key to writing a compelling essay. By providing your reader with some context, you can more easily engage them in your argument and ensure they understand your point of view.

 Furthermore, by establishing a baseline of knowledge, you can more effectively make your case and convince your reader to see things your way. 

However, it’s important to strike the right balance when including the background information. Too much information can be overwhelming, while too little can leave your reader lost and confused. 

Consider the following tips for incorporating background information into your writing;

• Start with the basics.
• Use active language 
• Be concise
• Stay relevant 

 Thesis Statement

A thesis statement is a sentence or two that clearly states the argument you are making in your paper. A good thesis statement will make your paper more focused and easier to write. It can also help to keep your argument from getting too broad.

 However, crafting a good thesis statement is not always easy. You will have to mention a clear, concise thesis statement that outlines the main point of your essay and gives the reader a road map for where your argument is going.

Follow these tips to write a good thesis statement;

• A thesis statement should take a stand on an issue, so choose a side and make a case for why you believe it is the right side.
• A good thesis statement should be specific and target a specific issue. Avoid vague statements or making broad generalizations.
• Make sure your thesis statement is arguable. A good thesis statement should be debatable, meaning someone could reasonably disagree. Writing a persuasive paper around it won’t be easy if your statement is not arguable.

Body Paragraphs

A body paragraph in an essay discusses the particular organization of information into sentences. These sentences provide support for the thesis or main idea. Each main point that is being made in the thesis should have its own body paragraph.

When you start to write argumentative essay body paragraphs, you have to keep some points in mind;

• Each paragraph should focus on one main point that supports your thesis statement. Start with a topic sentence that states the case for your point, and then back it up with evidence from research or personal experience. Be sure to refute any counterarguments your opponent might make in each paragraph. 
• Don’t try to overlap all the arguments in one paragraph. One paragraph should include one main argument, its opposing sides, and a rebuttal.
• Paragraphs are important because they help to organize information and support the thesis; without them, an essay would likely be incomprehensible.

Reasons That Support Your Thesis Statement

In each paragraph, you will have to mention the reasons that support your arguments. Mention some supporting evidence to prove the opposing arguments wrong. 

This will also help you to support your thesis statement. By doing this, you are providing convincing evidence that will help persuade your reader to agree with you. So make sure to back up your claim with strong arguments!

Counter Arguments and Rebuttals

A counterargument is a reply to an objection raised by your opponent. It allows you to anticipate their objections and address them head-on. The most effective counterarguments are direct and to the point. 

Counterarguments can also be supported by facts and evidence. In addition, it is often helpful to include a rebuttal in your counterargument.

 A rebuttal is a response to an objection that has already been raised. It allows you to address the objection directly and refute it with evidence or logic. 

 Thus, by including both a counterargument and a rebuttal in your argument, you can be sure that you have considered all possible objections and responded effectively to them.

Conclusion

The final paragraph of an argumentative essay should be a strong conclusion. An argumentative essay conclusion paragraph must begin with a restatement of the thesis or main idea and end with a strong conclusive statement or final thought.

 This summarizes the essay’s main points and drives home the thesis statement. This statement can also be called to action. 

 You must end with a strong conclusion; this will leave the reader with a positive impression of the argument, and he is more likely to be persuaded by the position presented.

Learn With Examples

Here are a few argumentative essay outline examples; So follow this to understand the concept of an argumentative essay clearly;

Argumentative Essay Topics Examples

 Here are a few topic examples of an argumentative essay. Select the one that seems interesting to you, and you can argue about it in a better way.

• Should felons have the right to vote?
• Are gun control laws effective?
• Is technology too isolating?
• Is there too much focus on diets in society
• Should Government take steps to solve the income inequality problem in the country?
• Workers – more productive at home or office?
•  Should abortion be legalized?
•  Are zoos cruel to animals? 
• Should women be allowed to play professionally in men’s teams?

This article has comprehensively mentioned an argumentative essay outline with examples. We hope this helps in understanding the outline of an argumentative essay. Before you begin writing an essay, follow the steps to make it persuasive essay that grabs readers’ attention.

 Frequently Asked Questions

 How To Structure An Argument?

To structure your argument, follow these steps;

• Introduce your problem
• Present your claims 
• Support your claims 
•  Know the opposing claims 
• Restate your claims with evidence
• Summarize your problem and its support 

What Is A Good Argument?

 A good argument logically connects the assumptions and the conclusion. It should be logical, well-reasoned, and supported by facts. Moreover, it should be mentioned clearly and concisely, addressing the opposing argument fairly and thoughtfully. Also, good arguments have evidence and proof to mention whether the argument is fact-based

What Are The Five Parts Of an Argumentative Essay?

The five parts of an argumentative essay are 

• Claim
• Reasons
• Evidence 
• Counterclaims 
• Rebuttals

These five are the most important elements of an argumentative essay. A good essay must consist of all five to make it persuasive.