Cathy A.
Cathy A.

Argumentative Essay Outline – A Complete Writing Process

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Published on: Mar 31, 2020

Last updated on: Apr 15, 2023

Argumentative Essay Outline

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You might have been assigned to draft an impressive argumentative essay outline in your academic life.

No matter how much you avoid arguments, you will still be asked to write an argumentative essay.

Such types of essays make up a huge portion of your overall grades. Therefore, in order to improve academic performance, you need to follow the correct essay outline format.

Read this blog to get a well-organized format of an argumentative essay outline that will help you to get started.

What Is An Argumentative Essay?

Argumentative essays present the arguments from both sides of an issue. It could be that both sides are equally balanced or that the counter-argument is presented more forcefully than the other. It completely depends on the author about which side he is going to support.

An argumentative essay is a type of persuasive essay that calls for extensive research of the existing literature. Moreover, they also require empirical research where a writer has to gather the information by using the following methods.

  • Surveys
  • Interviews
  • Experiments
  • Observations

They usually establish a clear thesis and follow sound reasoning.

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How to Write an Argumentative Essay Outline

If you are writing an argumentative essay, the stance you take will not make sense if you don’t structure your essay properly. It is important to understand the elements of an argumentative essay, in order to get a good grade.

“How do you write an outline for an argumentative essay?”

An argumentative essay outline follows the same structure as any other essay. However, it may add some new information to the main body by stating the opposing argument.

There are three basic sections for argumentative essay writing that are as follows. Let us discuss each section individually to get a better understanding of the writing process.

1. Introduction

After selecting your argumentative essay topic you need to begin writing the essay. The first paragraph of the essay is the introduction. The introductory paragraph introduces the main topic along with the central idea. It is considered the first impression of your essay where you lay your foundation.

It comprises some essential components.

  • Hook Statement – It is a statement of about one to two sentences to grab the reader’s attention. This is said to be the opening line of your essay that motivates the reader to find out what you have written about the topic. Nevertheless, a writer should have an idea about the type of audience and should use the attention-grabbing approaches accordingly.
  • Historical Background – The next essential element is to provide the background information of your argumentative essay topics. It will lead the audience to understand what your essay is about. However, do not add everything in this section as it only aims to give a hint.
  • Thesis Statement – This part comes at the end of the essay’s introduction. A thesis statement can also be a rhetorical question that makes the reader curious to find out the answer to your question. It should highlight your main point of view or stance. Similarly, it should tell the reason behind your claim as well.

Apart from this, there are some other tips to keep in mind while writing your introductions.

  • Never start any argument in the introductory section.
  • Set up your stance.
  • Avoid adding any supporting details or a strong piece of evidence to support your argument in the introduction.
  • Try to keep it precise and to the point.
  • Do not discuss findings and results.
  • Lastly, never rush to prove your thesis statement in the introduction.

2. Main Body Paragraphs

The main body paragraphs of the essay present personal knowledge about the topic. The foremost objective is to explain your central argument and provide strong evidence to support your claim. However, make sure to choose the evidence from a reliable source.

Moreover, each paragraph discusses a separate single idea. The following aspects will be covered in these paragraphs.

  • Topic Sentence – Every paragraph should start with a topic sentence that transitions the focus from one paragraph to another. It should introduce the central argument.
  • Counter Arguments – This part will contain the opinions from the opposing side. This is also called the opposing view. Later, you will defend your side of the argument by pointing out the limitations in the counter-arguments.

In an argumentative essay, you not only have to prove your stance as correct but also have to highlight the other one as incorrect.

Have a look at the below example for understanding the concept.

  • Argument: Fast food chains should be closed in the United States to control obesity among kids.
  • Evidence: According to a recent study, the percentage of obesity among kids has increased 11 times since 1975.

3. Conclusion

It is the last section of your essay that summarizes the entire text by restating the thesis statement. It has the same significance as the introduction because you remind the reader about the importance of the topic.

Just give an overview of the information discussed in the body paragraphs. However, avoid introducing something new that may result in an open-ended question.

An impressive conclusion always leaves a strong impact on the reader's mind. It is going to be a part that your reader will remember after finishing reading the essay. Therefore, make it worth remembering.

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Argumentative Essay Outline Template

Now you have an idea about how to write an argumentative essay outline. However, we have mentioned some argumentative essay outline examples below for your guidance.

This blog helps you with your argumentative essay outline. Following these guidelines will make the writing process even simpler.

However, if you are unsure how to write one, you can always rely on professional services.

EssayWritingService.college is one of the best writing services that help students with their writing assignments. Our experienced team of writers guarantees authentic and plagiarism-free essays at affordable rates.

Don't worry. Contact our support team to place your order today.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the 7 parts of an argumentative essay?

The 7 parts of an argumentative essay are:

  1. Hook
  2. Background Information
  3. Thesis
  4. Evidence
  5. Concessions
  6. Refutations
  7. Call to Action

What are the 5 steps of writing an argumentative essay?

The 5 steps of an argumentative essay are:

  1. Select a topic of your interest.
  2. Clearly state the difference between the claims and opinions in your essay.
  3. Brainstorm ideas and evidence.
  4. Present the counter arguments in your essay.
  5. Start writing after you have assembled the content.

What are the 4 parts of an Argumentative Essay?

Some people argue that an argumentative essay has 4 parts. Those 4 parts of an argumentative essay are:

  1. Claims
  2. Counterclaims
  3. Reasons
  4. Evidence
Cathy A.

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Cathy A., Literature, Marketing

Cathy has been been working as an author on our platform for over five years now. She has a Masters degree in mass communication and is well-versed in the art of writing. Cathy is a professional who takes her work seriously and is widely appreciated by clients for her excellent writing skills.

Cathy has been been working as an author on our platform for over five years now. She has a Masters degree in mass communication and is well-versed in the art of writing. Cathy is a professional who takes her work seriously and is widely appreciated by clients for her excellent writing skills.

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