ESSAY WRITING

GENERAL STRUCTURE OF
AN ARGUMENTATIVE
ESSAY
 Essay I. Introduction
General Statements
Thesis Statement

II. Body

A. Topic Sentence
Paragraph 1. Support
2. Support
Topic Sentence 3. Support

A. Support/Evidence B. Topic Sentence

B. Support/Evidence 1. Support
C. Support/Evidence 2. Support
3. Support

C. Counter Argument
Support
Support
Refutation
Support

III. Conclusion
Restatement or summary of the
main points; final comment
 I. Introduction
 The first sentence in an introductory
paragraph should be a very general comment
about the subject.

 It should start with several sentences that

attract the reader’s interest and give
background information on the topic.
Common methods of introduction

 Begin with a broad, general statement of

your topic and narrow it down to your thesis
statement.

 Explain the importance of your topic to the

reader.
Common methods of introduction
 Ask one or more questions.

 Use a quotation.

 Use statistics.

 Use an incident or brief story.

 Use any method or combination of methods to

introduce your subject in an interesting way to the
reader.
 Thesis Statement
You should then advance to the central idea or
thesis that will be developed in the essay.

 The thesis statement is the most

important sentence in the introduction.

 It states the specific topic and lists the major

subtopics that will be discussed in the body
of the essay.
How to create a Thesis Statement
 A Thesis Statement should be at the end of the introductory
paragraph, because it is easy to grasp their attention in the
beginning than in the later part of the research/thesis.

 A Thesis statement should show the clear point(s) of

argument/content so to avoid any confusion at the end for
the readers.

 Write in one sentence.

 Example Thesis Statement
 Topic: Should uniforms be mandatory in public
schools?
 Weak Thesis Examples:
х Too broad: It is outrageous for students to be forced to
wear school uniforms.
х Too narrow: Students who are forced to wear school
uniforms will not be creative.
х Off topic: When kids grow up, they will have bad
memories of school.
 Strong Thesis:
 Although having school uniforms can lessen peer
pressure at school, it should not be mandatory in
public schools because it would stifle students’
creativity, take away students’ rights, and cause
students to lose interest in school.
 Example Thesis Statement
 Topic: Should students work part-time?
 Weak Thesis Examples:
х Too broad: Working part-time is beneficial.
х Too narrow: Students can earn extra pocket money.
х Off topic: Parents should work part-time too.
 Strong Thesis:
 Some people believe that students who work
part-time will experience extra stress, working
while studying can allow students to learn extra
skills, build a network for their future and earn
extra pocket money.
 II. Body paragraph
 The body of an essay consists of main ideas that
are developed over separate paragraphs.

 Each of the paragraphs should begin with a

topic sentence that states the main point to be
detailed in that paragraph.

 Just as the thesis provides a focus for the entire

essay, the topic sentences provide a focus for each
body paragraph.
 Topic Sentence

A topic sentence must have:

 A topic (states the topic)

 A controlling idea (controls or limits the topic to a
specific area)

Students who work part time (topic) can learn extra

skills not taught in college. (controlling idea)
Expanding a Thesis Statement into
Topic Sentences
Although having school uniforms can lessen peer pressure at
school, it should not be mandatory in public schools because it
would stifle students’ creativity, take away students’ rights, and
cause students to lose interest in school.

1. Topic Sentence 1: Wearing school uniforms can stifle students’

creativity.

2. Topic Sentence 2: Wearing school uniforms takes away students’

right.

3. Counter Argument: Having school uniforms can lessen peer

pressure.

4. Refutation: Having to wear school uniforms causes students to

lose interest in school.
Expand the following Thesis Statement:

Some people believe that students who work part-time

will experience extra stress, working while studying can
allow students to learn extra skills, build a network for
their future and earn extra pocket money.

1. Topic Sentence 1:

2. Topic Sentence 2:

3. Counter Argument:

4. Refutation:
 Body paragraph (cont.)
 Having stated the topic sentence for the
paragraph, the supporting points should be
further developed with specific details.

 The specific details can be given by providing

facts, examples and reasons.

 Details serve to explain the writer’s points. They

give the evidence needed for us to see and
understand general ideas.
Writing Supporting Sentences

 Topic Sentence 1: Working while studying can allow

students to learn extra skills.

 Supporting Sentence 1:
Students can sharpen their communication skills, one of the
most important skills for the workplace.
 Supporting Sentence 2:
Students will have opportunities to use theories learnt in class in
the real world.
 Supporting Sentence 3:
Students can learn from the experiences of more senior workers.
 III. Conclusion
 Any one of the methods below or a
combination of methods may be used to
round off your paper:

- End with a summary.

- Include a thought provoking question/a series
of questions.
- End with a prediction or recommendation.
 For an argumentative essay:

 Restate the thesis

 Use one or two general statements which
accurately summarise your arguments which
supports the thesis
 Provide a general warning of the consequence
of not following the thesis
 Provide an advice of how the community will
benefit from following the thesis