how do you structure a good argument

9 Ways to Construct a Compelling Argument

• 1. Keep it simple Keep your argument concise. ...
• 2. Be fair on your opponent Don’t use underhand tactics. ...
• 3. Avoid other common fallacies Beware of clutching at your argument. ...
• 4. Make your assumptions clear ...
• 5. Rest your argument on solid foundations ...
• 6. Use evidence your readers will believe ...
• 7. Avoid platitudes and generalisations, and be specific ...
• 8. Understand the opposing point of view ...

Full Answer

How to formulate a good argument?

These steps will help you get your point across clearly and concisely:

• Turn the topic into a question and answer it. Set up a big question in the title of your essay or within the first few sentences. ...
• State an argument—and then refute it. Introduce an idea that contrasts with your belief, and immediately explain why you disagree with it. ...
• Briefly outline your main points. ...

How to start an argument?

An argument will usually start with a clearly stated main point. For example if you were arguing against animal testing, you could start: For example if you were arguing against animal testing ...

How can a good argument be constructed?

The 5 Principles of Good Argument

1. Structure. A good argument must meet the fundamental structural requirements of a well-formed argument. ...
2. Relevance. The reasons that a communicator provides as part of his or her argument must be relevant for the truth or merit of the conclusion.
3. Acceptability. ...
4. Sufficiency. ...
5. Rebuttal. ...

What are the three types of argument structure?

Toulmin Method

• Data (Grounds): You should use evidence to support the claim. ...
• Warrant (Bridge): In this section, you explain why or how your data supports the claim. ...
• Backing (Foundation): Here, you provide any additional logic or reasoning that may be necessary to support the warrant.

More items...

What are the 5 parts of a strong argument?

Information is used, but it is organized based on these major components of an argument: claim, reason, evidence, counter-claim, and rebuttal.

What are the 4 elements of a good argument?

Arguments can be divided into four general components: claim, reason, support, and warrant. Claims are statements about what is true or good or about what should be done or believed. Claims are potentially arguable.

How do you start a good argument?

These steps will help you get your point across clearly and concisely:Turn the topic into a question and answer it. Set up a big question in the title of your essay or within the first few sentences. ... State an argument—and then refute it. ... Briefly outline your main points.

What are the three steps in structuring an argument?

There are three stages to creating a logical argument: Premise, inference, and conclusion.

What makes a successful argument?

A good argument is one where there is a logical connection between the assumptions presented and the final conclusion. If you've taken a geometry class, it's a bit like writing a geometric proof: Given that this is true, therefore, that must be true.

What makes a strong and valid argument?

Definition: A strong argument is a non-deductive argument that succeeds in providing probable, but not conclusive, logical support for its conclusion. A weak argument is a non-deductive argument that fails to provide probable support for its conclusion.

What makes a good argument essay?

The argumentative essay requires well-researched, accurate, detailed, and current information to support the thesis statement and consider other points of view. Some factual, logical, statistical, or anecdotal evidence should support the thesis.

How do you write a strong argumentative essay?

Advanced argumentative essay structure1 Introduce the problem.2 Explain your perspective.3 Explain your opponent's perspective. Refute their points one-by-one as you go.4 Present your evidence.5 Conclude your argument.1 Introduce the problem.2 Explain your opponent's perspective first. ... 3 Explain your perspective.More items...•

How do you write an argument?

How to write an argumentDecide what you're arguing. ... Outline your ideas. ... Write an introductory paragraph. ... Construct your body paragraphs. ... Include additional information to support your argument. ... Produce a thoughtful conclusion. ... Cite your sources. ... Analyze the effectiveness of your argument's structure.More items...

What is basic structure of argument?

An argument can be broken down into three basic parts: the conclusion, the premises, and the assumptions. • THE CONCLUSION The conclusion (or theses) is the point of the main idea of the argument--what the author is trying to prove.

What is argument structure example?

The argument structure for a word can be seen as the simplest specification of its semantics, indicating the number and type of parameters associated with the lexical item as a predicate. For example, the verb 'build' can be represented as a predicate taking two arguments, while the verb 'give' takes three arguments.

What do all good arguments have?

A good argument is an argument that is either valid or strong, and with plausible premises that are true, do not beg the question, and are relevant to the conclusion.

What are elements of an argument?

A typical argument contains three primary elements: a claim or thesis. statement(s) of reason(s) evidence / support / proofs / counterarguments.

What do all good arguments have?

A good argument is an argument that is either valid or strong, and with plausible premises that are true, do not beg the question, and are relevant to the conclusion.

What are three ways to make a strong argument?

9 Ways to Construct a Compelling ArgumentKeep it simple. ... Be fair on your opponent. ... Avoid other common fallacies. ... Make your assumptions clear. ... Rest your argument on solid foundations. ... Use evidence your readers will believe. ... Avoid platitudes and generalisations, and be specific. ... Understand the opposing point of view.More items...

What makes an argument good or bad?

A good argument is one where the premises sufficiently support the belief the conclusion is true. Diametrically, a bad argument is one where the premises do not provide good reasons to support the conclusion.

How to organize ideas in an argumentative essay?

This is very helpful not just for you, but for the person grading your work. Do not jumble your words together as this would do more harm than good . Be sure to maintain a constant argumentative essay paragraph structure.

How to write an argumentative essay outline?

In general, here are a few other tips you can remember that will aid you in keeping to the argumentative essay outline you created: 1 Grammar checks: this is quite important. For the perfect write-up, your grammar needs to be precise and on point to clearly communicate your ideas. 2 Punctuation and spelling: There are times when meaning can be misconstrued due to wrong spelling of closely similar words. You should make sure your spelling and punctuation is in order. You could choose to use an online spelling checker to ensure your spelling is accurate. 3 Be sure to use appropriate references. If you are citing something said by a prominent personality that is instrumental in supporting your argument, get your sources in case your teacher would need to verify what was said.

What is an argumentative essay?

By default definition, an argumentative essay is a written text where opinions are expressed in support or against a central theme, and explanations back up the stance taken. It’s quite popular among students and teachers alike and is usually given for learners to develop good oratory and written skills when defending a particular point.

What should the conclusion of a long essay be?

It should tally with what was discussed in the main part and should end with what was used to support your stand on the topic. It should also be in compliance with the given structure of an argumentative essay.

What is the best way to write a perfect write up?

For the perfect write-up, your grammar needs to be precise and on point to clearly communicate your ideas. Punctuation and spelling: There are times when meaning can be misconstrued due to wrong spelling of closely similar words. You should make sure your spelling and punctuation is in order.

How to ensure spelling is accurate?

You could choose to use an online spelling checker to ensure your spelling is accurate. Be sure to use appropriate references. If you are citing something said by a prominent personality that is instrumental in supporting your argument, get your sources in case your teacher would need to verify what was said.

How to present your ideas and their backup evidence?

When you are presenting your ideas and their backup evidence, the following should be noted: Do not speculate. Be as precise and accurate with your information as possible. Have concrete evidence. Keep in mind that your work is likely to get checked, and your evidence as well.

How to conclude an argument?

In your conclusion, reiterate your thesis and restate the most important aspects of your argument. Make one last call to action where you urge readers to take your side or get excited about a cause. If your argument concerns policy or procedural changes, list steps you would take to solve the issue and tell others how they can get involved.

Why is it important to write an argument?

One major benefit to writing your argument is your ability to organize your ideas. You can select the evidence you want to use, points you want to make and ideas you want to present at your own pace and in your own way. By writing your argument, you can ensure you're including thoughtful and relevant evidence and communicating your ideas effectively.

What is an argument in writing?

An argument in writing is a claim, called a thesis, supported by points, evidence and rebuttals to counterclaims. There are several ways you can present your argument in a written piece of work.

What is the body paragraph?

Your body paragraphs contain your supporting ideas and evidence. Consider structuring your argumentative paragraphs using the point, evidence and analysis (PEA) format. This can help you keep your writing focused and clear and help readers better understand your argument.

How does reading an argument help?

Often, reading an argument allows more time for your audience to process your ideas. This way, they can hear your opinions in a relaxed space and keep an open mind.

How to write a thesis statement?

From here, you can draft a thesis statement that clearly articulates what you're arguing. The thesis can be one of the most important parts of your written argument. Even though they're usually only one sentence long, an effective thesis statement can engage readers, communicate your key ideas clearly and introduce the rest of your paper.

How to improve writing style?

Prioritize clarity: Large words, business jargon and complicated sentence structures can confuse your writing. Try to prioritize clarity over other style choices like advanced word choice. Papers that are simple and accessible can be more effective at communicating a message to your audience.

What are the three methods of argumentation?

Three argumentative methods —the Toulmin Method, Classical Method, and Rogerian Method— give guidance for how to organize the points in an argument.

How to conclude a statement of benefits?

Statement of Benefits: You should conclude by explaining to the opposing side why they would benefit from accepting your position. By explaining the advantages of your argument, you close on a positive note without completely dismissing the other side’s perspective.

What is counterclaim in argument?

Counterclaim: You should anticipate a counterclaim that negates the main points in your argument. Don't avoid arguments that oppose your own. Instead, become familiar with the opposing perspective. If you respond to counterclaims, you appear unbiased (and, therefore, you earn the respect of your readers).

Why is it important to include a warrant in an essay?

It is essential to include a thorough warrant or bridge to strengthen your essay’s argument. If you present data to your audience without explaining how it supports your thesis, your readers may not make a connection between the two , or they may draw different conclusions.

What is the Toulmin method?

The Toulmin Method is a formula that allows writers to build a sturdy logical foundation for their arguments. First proposed by author Stephen Toulmin in The Uses of Argument (1958), the Toulmin Method emphasizes building a thorough support structure for each of an argument's key claims.

Who wrote the structure of argument?

Structure of Argument. Authored by: Karla Lyles and Jeanine Rauch. Provided by: University of Mississippi. Project: WRIT 250 Committee OER Project. License: CC BY-SA: Attribution-ShareAlike

Why is it important to recognize the authors' likely purpose?

Recognizing the authors’ likely purpose is an important part of reading effectively and appropriately representing source material in your own writing. In addition, as you prepare your own argument-based writing, you need to carefully consider how to present your claim, reasons, and evidence to make your argument as successful as it can be.

How to avoid generalizations?

Use evidence to avoid generalizations. If you assert that all women have been oppressed, what evidence can you use to support this? Using evidence works to check over-general statements.

How to make a credible article?

Use evidence that your reader will believe is credible. This means sifting and sorting your sources, looking for the clearest and fairest. Be sure to identify the biases and shortcomings of each piece of evidence for your reader.

What are the characteristics of thesis statements?

These formulas share two characteristics all thesis statements should have: they state an argument and they reveal how you will make that argument. They are not specific enough, however, and require more work.

How does a thesis help you?

A Thesis Helps You and Your Reader. Your blueprint for writing: Helps you determine your focus and clarify your ideas. Provides a "hook" on which you can "hang" your topic sentences. Can (and should) be revised as you further refine your evidence and arguments. New evidence often requires you to change your thesis.

What to do when your paper asks you to answer a specific question?

Idea 1. If your paper assignment asks you to answer a specific question, turn the question into an assertion and give reasons for your opinion.

What is thesis statement?

What is a Thesis? A thesis statement is a sentence in which you state an argument about a topic and then describe, briefly, how you will prove your argument. This is an argument, but not yet a thesis: "The movie ‘JFK’ inaccurately portrays President Kennedy.".