How to Write an argumentative Essay

An essay is an opinion writing with which we analyse a topic, a situation or an issue from different points of view, providing different arguments and expressing our opinion about it. For this reason, an essay must have the following features:

• Purpose: What we usually do with an essay is to analyse and assess a topic, situation or issue which, in some way, is interesting or controversial. It is normally set as a writing task after a class debate. In the exam, you have to imagine the debate, obviously.
• Tone and style: Given that you’re writing about a serious or controversial issue, an essay is written in a formal style, so we must stick to an objective tone and style. Our language must be formal, thus avoiding words that are simply too common or generic (E.g.: things, stuff, get, etc.) and contractions (E.g.: can’t, don’t, won’t, etc.).
• Structure: Like every piece of writing, an essay must present a defined structure. For starters, we can choose either to give it a title or not. Personally, I would say that it is more appropriate to have an essay with title. Then, the body must be divided into introduction, idea 1, idea 2, idea 3 and conclusion. This means that, in general, essays must have 5 paragraphs, although it is not entirely necessary.
• Opinion: There are countless ways of expressing your opinion in an essay, so you must choose the one that suits you best. However, it is advisable to remain impartial throughout your writing and give your opinion only in the last paragraph, as a conclusion. But, as I say, it is optional. The most important thing is that you justify everything you say in your essay.
• Coherence: Coherence is essential in every type of writing, but especially in an essay. As it tends to be an argumentative text, you must avoid writing incoherent paragraphs that have nothing to do with one another. Your ideas must follow a logical order and be well connected with appropriate linkers.

The essay must have a title and 5 paragraphs (introduction + idea 1 + idea 2 + idea 3 + conclusion). And if we stop to read the essay more carefully, we’ll notice the following things:

• The paragraphs must be visual and well defined, which is very important.
• Each paragraph must have a clear purpose:
• Introduction: it introduces the topic in a general way and it leads to the second paragraph (first idea).
• Paragraph 2: it deals with idea 1.
• Paragraph 3: it deals with idea 2.
• Paragraph 4: it deals with idea 3.
• Conclusion: we express our opinion to conclude and summarise the essay.
• It uses connectors to define the development of the essay: firstly, second, finally, etc.
• It doesn’t use many contractions.
• Among the useful expressions, we can highlight the following:
• One of the things that
• In the last few decades,
• For this reason,
• First, / Second, / Third,
• Finally,
• By doing so,
• For example,
• In conclusion,

ARGUMENTATIVE WRITING - Connectors

Addition: Also, as well as, furthermore, in addition, likewise, moreover, similarly.

Consequence: Accordingly, as a result, for this reason, therefore, consequently.

Exemplifying: including, in particular, such as.

Illustration: for instance, for example,

Emphasis: Above all, with attention to, as regards.

Similarity: comparatively, likewise, moreover.

Restatement: in other words, that is to say, in short, in brief, in a nutshell, to put it differently.

Contrast and comparison: conversely, instead, on the one hand... on the other hand, on the contrary, however, nevertheless, despite, although, in spite of

Sequence: at first, first of all, to begin with, in the first place, later on, next, then, soon, later.

Summarizing: after all, all in all, all things considered, in any case, on the whole, in short, on balance, to sum up, finally-