Argumentative Essays

An argumentative composition is a piece of formal writing.

There are various types of argumentative compositions such as: outlining the advantages and
disadvantages of a certain question, giving your opinion on a subject, providing solutions to problems and
discursive essays.
You should start a new paragraph for each new point you make. Each paragraph should start with a key
sentence (a key sentence is a sentence which summarises the paragraph). You should provide examples
and reasons to justify your points of view.
Using quotations, whether writing the exact words spoken or paraphrasing, is a way of making your
argumentative composition more interesting.
e.g. There is enough in the world for everyone S need, but not enough for everyone S greed. Frank
Buchman
Before writing your composition, you should first make a plan. Plans for argumentative essays are given
below.

Paragraph Plans for Argumentative Essays

Introduction Main Body Conclusion

Advantages/ Paragraph 1 - state topic Paragraph 2 advantages/ Final Paragraph - Give a

Disadvantages arguments for
balanced consideration or
Paragraph 3-
disadvantages/ arguments your opinion without using
against personal words or
expressions

Expressing opinions Paragraph 1 - state Paragraph 2 - argument 1 Final Paragraph - restate

& reason opinion using different
opinion
Paragraph 3- argument 2 words
& reason
Providing solutions Paragraph 1 - state the Paragraph 2 - suggestion 1 Final Paragraph -
problem & reason
summarise opinion or
Paragraph 3 - suggestion 2
& reason give best suggestion and
reason

Discursive essays Paragraph 1 - state topic Paragraph 2 - one point of Final Paragraph - give
view (e.g. political) your own opinion based on
Paragraph 3 - another the points already
point of view (e.g. mentioned
economic)

When writing an argumentative essay expressing opinion, you may include the opposite point of view (other peoples
opinion) in a separate paragraph before the conclusion.

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 Useful Tips for Argumentative Essays
o use formal style do not include colloquial English

o do not use short forms

o write well-developed paragraphs
o avoid strong feelings (dont say: everybody hates..., or it is absurd to believe...)
o use generalizations (e.g. children assume/regard), but do not use overgeneralizations (e.g. all children
assume that)...)
o do not use strong personal expressions (e.g. I know) use milder language (e.g. In my view, it seems

to me that, in my opinion, I tend to believe, etc.)

o use linking words (e.g. even though, on the other hand, yet, etc.)
o use sequencing (e.g. first, then, finally, etc.)
o make reference to other sources (e.g. Police officials believe that ...)
o give examples not personal thoughts (e.g. excessive intake of alcohol can damage the liver)

o do not refer blindly to statistics unless you are certain of a source (dont say: According to statistics,
my statement about students is precise. Which statistics?)
o avoid clichd introductions write something more original (dont write: Since the old days.

When? Too vague)

o use quotations or paraphrasing of quotations

First and Last Paragraph Techniques

In order to grab the readers attention and make them want to continue reading, the first paragraph
may:
o state an opinion, e.g. I believe that by the year 2000, every home will have a computer
o make reference to a strange scene or situation, e.g. A watch-style monitor will soon allow everyone to
keep in touch with
o address the reader directly, e.g. Has it ever occurred to you that computers will one day organise your
life?
o start with a quotation or rhetorical question (question to which no answer is expected), e.g. Do you feel
threatened by computers?
ostart with a problem that needs a solution, e.g. As time passes, our lives will be controlled by
computers
The last paragraph may:
o state a personal opinion, e.g. In my view I believe
o give the reader something to consider, e.g. Life would be more convenient if everyone had access to
the Internet
o summarise the composition, e.g. To sum up
o end with a quotation or a rhetorical question, e.g. Progress is a comfortable disease. or What does the
future hold for us?

Giving Advantages and Disadvantages

When giving arguments for and against a topic you should present both sides in a fair way by discussing
them objectively in equal detail. Start your composition by making a general statement about the topic, then
give the advantages and disadvantages in two separate paragraphs. Remember to start a new paragraph for
each new topic and to make a plan before writing your composition. Finally, end your composition with a
well-balanced consideration of the points discussed. It is possible to state an opinion without using strong,
emotional or personal expressions. (Do not use words such as: I know, I believe, etc. Use words such as: It
seems that..., It can be seen that etc.) If you believe that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages, write
...,

them just before the final paragraph so that it will be easier for you to lead the reader to the conclusion.

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 Useful Phrases for Writing Advantages and Disadvantages Essays
To list points: however,
one major advantage/disadvantage of, in spite of,
a further advantage, while,
one point of view in favour of/against, nevertheless,
in the first place, despite
first of all, to start with, even though,
secondly, although,
thirdly, it can be argued that,
finally, one can argue that, etc.
last but not least, etc. To conclude:
To add more points to the same topic: to sum up,
what is more, all in all,
furthermore, all things considered,
also, in conclusion,
in addition to, on the whole,
besides, taking everything into account,
apart from this/that, above all,
not to mention the fact that, etc. as was previously stated, etc.
To make contrasting points:
on the other hand,

Expressing Opinions
This type of argumentative composition uses personal expessions, unlike the for and against composition,
which does not include them. Your personal opinion should be expressed in the introduction and again in the
conclusion, using phrases such as In my opinion, I believe, I think, I strongly believe, and In my
view. You should support your opinion by including examples and reasons for what you have said. When
expressing the other side of the argument, you may include it in a separate paragraph. End your composition
by restating your opinion.
Paragraph Plan for Expressing Opinions
Introduction Paragraph 1 Paragraphs 2 3 4- - Paragraph 5 Conclusion
State topic and your Give the first, second, third Give the other side of the Final Paragraph
opinion clearly without argument, etc. and argument and reasons Re-state your opinion,
using too many personal examples or reasons to using different words
opinion words support your opinion
Useful Phrases for Writing Opinion Essays
To list points: not to mention the fact that, etc.
In the first place, To introduce conflicting viewpoints:
first of all, It is argued that,
to start with people argue that,
in the first opponents of this view say,
To add more points: there are people who oppose, etc.
what is more, To express opinion:
another major reason, I believe,
also, In my opinion,
furthermore, I think,
moreover, In my view,
in addition to, I strongly believe,
besides,
apart from this,

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 Providing Solutions to Problems
First, state the problem and the reason why it has arisen. You should mention that there are several possible solutions and
then go through each suggestion in turn, including any expected results or consequences. The concluding paragraph
should summarise the writers opinion or give the best suggestion and explain why this is the case.

Discursive Essays
A discursive essay should discuss a subject as broadly as possible without losing direction or flow. You should state
various viewpoints arid discuss them, including opposite opinions. Each viewpoint should start a new paragraph. Each
paragraph should include a topic sentence, personal opinion and an opposite opinion. The paragraphs and the opposite
view- points within the paragraphs should be linked together with appropriate linking words. Some of the following
aspects should be included: psychological, religious, scientific, artistic, economic, educational, social, political, moral,
historical, geographical, personal.

Paragraph Plan for Discursive Essays

Introduction Main Body Conclusion

Make a general statement about the Write various points of view in End by giving your own opinion on
topic explaining the past/ current separate paragraphs.In each paragraph the subject
situation you should include the opposite point
of view.

EXAMPLES
1. Expressing opinion
Paragraph Plan
Introduction: state topic and your opinion clearly without using too many personal opinion words (young people lack
knowledge; the elderly lack the physical ability to take advantage of their wisdom)
Paragraph 2: give the first argument and examples or reason to support your opinion (difficult for old people to take care of
themselves living with the young makes their life easier)
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Paragraph 3: give the second argument and examples or reasons to support your opinion (living with the young provides
companionship; the young can benefit eg experience, advice)
Paragraph 4: give the other side of the argument and reason (invasion of privacy; the young are inexperienced in dealing with
the old; the old need peace and quiet; the young need to have an active life)
Conclusion: restate opinion (old and young should live together under the same roof)

(Suggested answer)
A French saying from the Middle Ages goes If youth knew; if age could, which accurately sums up the main difference
between young and old people. In other words, young people lack knowledge, while the elderly lack the physical ability to take
advantage of the wisdom that they have acquired over the years.
A good idea is to have young people live together with old people while they grow up. As many oldpeople are not very mobile,
they often have difficulty taking care of themselves and are challenged bysimple, everyday tasks like shopping and cleaning the
house. Living with younger members of their family would mean that they wouldnt have to worry about these things.
No less important is the companionship which living with others would provide, particularly as this is something that the
elderly often lack. Similarly, young people can benefit from living with the aged: oldpeople have a lifetime of experience, and their
advice will undoubtedly be of help to younger members of thefamily.
However, some people argue that apart from the obvious invasion of privacy which both sides would experience, the young are
inexperienced in dealing with old peoples ailments. Also, old people need peace and quiet, while the young prefer to live an active
life.
Although it is true that young and old people do not see eye-to-eye on many issues, I feel that the idea of young and old family
members living together in the same house can only be good. In my view, it is an effective way of promoting greater
understanding between older and younger generations, enabling them to share an experience that will undoubtedly bring them
closer together.

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2. Expressing opinions
Paragraph Plan
Introduction: state opinion (life in the future will be better)
Paragraph 2: argument 1 and reason (life will continue to be easy due to rapid technological advancement)
Paragraph 3: argument 2 and reason (humans are becoming aware of the damagecaused to the environment already dealing with
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problems)
Conclusion: restate opinion (life in future can become better, but our actions will affect future generations)

(Suggested answer)
As we advance towards the 21st century, I tend to believe that life in the future will undoubtedly become better for a number of
reasons.
The main reason why I believe this, is the fact that rapid technological advancements over the past few decades have made life
a lot easier, and there is no reason to believe that they will not continue to do so. For example, gadgets and appliances such as
washing machines, remote controls, microwaves and mobile phones have made our lives a lot more convenient, so there is no
reason to doubt the fact that life will become increasingly easy as time goes on and more labour-saving devices are invented.
Another factor that will lead to life being better in the future, is the fact that humans are becoming increasingly aware of the
damage they have caused to the environment. In fact they are already dealing with problems such as pollution, damage to the
ozone layer and endangered species. If this attitude continues, it is very likely that in the future the world will be a much cleaner,
more environmentally-friendly place to live in.
All things considered, despite the many negative aspects of life in todays world, I feel that life in the
future can only get better, as long as we remember that what we do today, will not only affect us, but future generations as well.

3. Advantages and disadvantages

Introduction: state topic (the consumption of fast food has risen dramatically)
Paragraph 2: arguments for (convenient; fast; leaves people plenty of time;quick and efficient service in fast food restaurants)
Paragraph 3: arguments against (not healthy; expensive compared to homecooking; discourages people from eating with family
and friends)
Conclusion: Give a balanced consideration or your opinion without using personal words or expressions (convenient, short-term
solution should notreplace traditional ways of eating)
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(Suggested answer)
The pace of life in todays fast-moving world is such that many people no longer have time to do basic household chores, let
alone cook. For this reason, the consumption of fast food has risen dramatically but is this a good thing or not?
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The main argument in favour of fast food is the fact that it is convenient, leaving people with more time to concentrate on more
important things. Service in fast food restaurants is quick and efficient, and one is able to eat ones meal with a minimum of fuss.
On the other hand, fast food is not particularly healthy, especially when eaten regularly, and can also be rather expensive
compared to cooking at home. Also, many people are of the opinion that fast food has contributed to a breakdown in society
because of the fact that it discourages people from sitting down to eat a home-cooked meal with family and friends, andfrom
enjoying the conversation that goes with it.
To sum up, although fast food is a convenient.short-term solution to the problems of a high-pressure lifestyle, it should not be
allowed to replace healthier, more traditional ways of eating.

4. Discursive essay
Paragraph Plan
Introduction: set the topic (society recently began to condemn the killing of animals)
Paragraph 2: one point of view (trade) (pharmaceuticals, ivory)
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Paragraph 3: another point of view (food) (pro-vegetarians and connoisseurs view)

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Conclusion: give your own opinion (killing of animals justifiable as long as wholeanimal is used and killed in a humane way)

(Suggested answer)
To what extent is it morally acceptable to kill animals for the purposes of trade and food? Some animal lovers insist that it is
never acceptable, while many connoisseurs cant imagine life without steak.
Advances in the pharmaceuticals trade require the experimentation on, and the death of, countless monkeys and rats. Since new
drugs help maintain human health, this seems justifiable. But a cosmetics company killing a rabbit after smearing mascara on its
eyes is clearly indefensible, as is killing an elephant, an endangered species, to use its tusks for ivory jewellery.
The use of animals for food is ethically permissible, provided that the animal is well taken care of while alive, is killed
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 painlessly and is not an endangered species. The whole animal should also be used e.g. cow hides made into leather clothes, bags
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and shoes. Still, a pro-vegetarian ecological argument can be made against killing animals for meat altogether: for an animal to
produce one pound of meat, it must eat many pounds of grain. Despite this, some people still believe that life without barbecued
sausages is not worth living.
In conclusion, there is a fine line between acceptable and objectionable uses of animals. Although animal rights enthusiasts will
always be against the use of animals for trade and food, in my opinion the use of non-endangered species of animals is acceptable
as long as the whole animal is used and that it is killed in a humane way.

5. Providing solutions to a problem

Paragraph Plan
Introduction: state the problem (forest fires spread quickly)
Paragraph 2: suggestion 1 and reason (separate forests into small sections prevent fire from spreading)
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Paragraph 3: suggestion 2 and reason (ensure there is quick and easy access to forest areas easily put out the fire)
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Paragraph 4: suggestion 3 and reason (harsher punishment would prevent potential arsonists)
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Conclusion: summarise opinion/final suggestion and reason (the problem can be solved if all the suggestions mentioned are put
into effect)

(Suggested answer)
The problem of forest fires is one that many countries have to deal with in the summer months, and every year thousands of
acres of woodland and forest are lost to it. The nature of forest fires is such that they spread incredibly quickly, often leaving fire-
fighters with little or no chance of bringing them under control.
One solution to this problem is to separate forests into small sections divided by earth ditches which will prevent fire from
spreading should it break out in a section of a forest.
Another important measure that should be taken is to ensure that fire-fighters have quick and easy access to all areas of a forest,
because if a fire is detected in its early stages, it is often possible to put it out before it has the chance to cause too much damage.
Finally, the fact that many fires are deliberately started cannot be overlooked, and for this reason the crime of arson should be
more severely punished in order to discourage potential arsonists.
To sum up, there are a number of ways to prevent forest fires, but only if they are all put into effect will the problem be
effectively dealt with.

6. Advantages/disadvantages

Paragraph Plan
Introduction: state topic (there are advantages and disadvantages to camping holidays)
Paragraph 2: advantages (cheap holidays; can stay wherever you like; escape from stress; exciting experience)
Paragraph 3: disadvantages (lack of amenities; involves extra work, get tired)
Conclusion: give a balanced consideration or your opinion without using personal words or expressions (enjoyable experience as
long as you are preparedto go and suits your personality)

(Suggested answer)
Camping is, by and large, a pastime that people either love or hate, depending on their personality. Those who are in favour of
it, are quick to point out its many advantages, while those to whom it does not appeal to, often fail to see anything positive about it
at all.
The advantages of camping holidays are mainly financial, since they are considerably cheaper than staying in a hotel. They also
provide a lot more freedom of choice in terms of where you stay, since a tent can be pitched almost anywhere. For many people,
though. the main reason for going on a camping holiday is the escape it offers from the stress of everyday life; after all, the chance
to sleep in the open air, under the stars is not one that we often get.
However, there are also disadvantages associated with camping holidays, the main one being a lack of amenities such as
running water, which can make life very inconvenient. Another disadvantage is the fact that this lack of amenities, which we
usually take forgranted, can make a camping holiday very tiring because of the extra work involved, meaning that it is possible to
return from a camping holiday more tired than when you left.
Taking everything into account, camping can be an enjoyable experience as long as one is prepared to go without a few
luxuries for a short period of time. Probably the main requirement for an enjoyable camping holiday, however, is that it suits your
personality.

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7. Advantages/disadvantages

Paragraph Plan

Introduction:state topic (computers play an important role in our lives; we use them even for entertainment)
Paragraph 2: arguments for (help the child sharpen his/her responses;combine education and entertainment)
Paragraph 3: arguments against (unhealthy to stare at a screen for hours; children have become less active; computers are
expensive; parents have financial problems and fee/pressured to buy a computer)
Conclusion: give a balanced consideration or your opinion without using personal words or expressions (computers should not
play such an important rolein peoples lives)

(Suggested answer)
Computers today play a more important role in our lives than ever before. We use them not only at work, but at home as a way
of relaxing, and many children now need nothing more than a computer game in front of them to keep them entertained for hours.
But is this necessarily a good thing?
A point in favour of computer games for children is the fact that they can often help the child to sharpen his or her responses,
since they require players to act and respond quickly. Furthermore, there are many computer games available that combine both
education and entertainment. For example, computer word games enable a child to expand his knowledge, often without realising
that he is doing so.
On the other hand, staring at a computer screen for hours on end seems to be unhealthy for a child, and computer games have
certainly played a part in children today becoming less active. Added to this, is the fact that computers are expensive this can lead
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to financial problems for parents who feel pressured to buy one even though they cannot afford it.
In conclusion, although computers and computer games can have a beneficial effect on children, it seems that they should not
be allowed to play such an important role in their lives to the exclusion of everything else.

8. Providing solutions to a problem

Paragraph Plan
Introduction: state the problem (rising crime rates cities become unsafe places)
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Paragraph 2: suggestion 1 and reason (increase police patrols in notorious places deters offenders, cost effective method)
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Paragraph 3: suggestion 2 and reason (employ people no need to steal)

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Conclusion: summarise opinion or give best suggestion and reason (deal with unemployment the best way to deal with the
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problem because unemployment causes it)

(Suggested answer)
Rising crime rates in towns and cities have led to many of them becoming extremely unsafe places to live in, and it is obvious
that something must be done to tackle this problem.
One possible solution is to increase police patrols in areas notorious for petty crime. The presence of a police officer is
undoubtedly a deterrent to anyone considering snatching a purse or stealing something from a shop and is probably one of the most
cost-effective methods of reducing petty crime.
Another way of tackling the problem of petty crime is to focus on some of the reasons why it occurs. If more jobs were
available then a number of petty criminals would not need to steal in order to make ends meet.
To sum up, even though short-term solutions to the problem of petty crime can be effective, the only way to completely rid
society of it, is to deal with the underlying causes. For example, unemployment could lead to petty crime. If the unemployment
problem is solved, the problem of petty crime will be solved as well.