- An introductory paragraph introducing the reader to the problem.
- Main body paragraphs that provide arguments to support your opinion.
- Several sections used to show the weaknesses of the opposing claims.
- A conclusion that summarizes the main points and calls to take measures.
Just save these points and read on to see what each one of them should consist of to have the desired impact on the target audience.
AN INTRODUCTION TO AN OUTLINE FOR AN ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAYThis is where readers start their journey with you. From the very first sentence, they get to understand whether they want to continue reading your piece, or they want to drop the whole idea altogether.
To prevent them from leaving, we recommend you sticking to our plan. Use these three components to make your writing interesting and consistent, and see how they can do wonder to the impact of your piece.
- Start with a hook.
A hook, as you can understand from its title, is a piece of content that aims to grab the audience’s attention. It should not be long. Just one sentence is enough. However, it has to be catchy.
Scholars state that several things can be used as hooks in your introduction: funny stories, controversial statements, intriguing questions, or statistical data. You have to begin your essay with either one of these things. - Develop your thoughts.
Later, you need to develop your hook. Explain to your audience your choice of the subject, why it is important, and how you talking about it can make a difference. This part should not be longer than a couple of sentences. - Create a thesis statement.
Finally, you have to state a loud and clear thesis statement which you will support with solid arguments in the text. It should depict your position and explain why you find this topic essential.
Presenting the argument: Main body paragraphs
Bear in mind several schemes for your main body paragraphs:
- You can separate paragraphs presenting your arguments supporting the thesis statement and sections refuting the opponents’ claims. This way you will need to work both ways, backing up your position with several pieces of evidence and showing the weakness of opponents’ beliefs.
- Alternatively, you can go from the opposite and use one paragraph to refute one popular claim. Thus, you can make a clear statement and bring your opponents on the heels in just a few sections.
A conclusion of an argumentative essay outline
The main point of a conclusion is to remind the readers of the reasons why you chose to talk about a topic in question, restate your arguments that support the position you stick to, and call them to action.
More often than not, readers remember only this part of your essay no matter how much thought and effort you invested into your piece. So, it is better to make it outstanding and nothing short of perfect so that the audience agrees with you in the long run.
By now you are probably willing to see an excellent argumentative essay outline template. And as we promised in the beginning, here it is. You can save it to use when writing an argumentative essay outline the next time.