Description
Argument Essay
Your argument research essay will be driven by the questions you explored in your discussion groups and your critical thinking assignments based on one of the following themes:
- Closing the gap between military service and civilian career
Argumentative Paper Format and Outline Template
Introduction
? 1 to 4 paragraphs (max)
? Purpose: To lay the foundation for proving an issue or argument and making your
thesis/claim. This can include noting:
? Summary of the problem
? Definition of key terms
? Explanation of theories
? Provide a brief explanation of the theory or issue
? Note your claim at the end of your introductory paragraph
Supporting Evidence Paragraph 1
? Purpose of this paragraph: To develop your argument. This is normally one
paragraph, but it can be longer depending on the evidence presented. For the
purposes of this class, keep this to 1 to 2 paragraphs.
? Topic sentence: The topic sentence provides details for examples to help your
reader understand why you are inserting the evidence that supports your claim.
Your topic sentence is closely aligned with your thesis and works to introduce
evidence to support your assertions.
? Explain your topic sentence: Provide clarification of your topic sentence here if
you see a need.
? Evidence introduction: Insert your evidence with a brief introduction (As Dr.
Smith stated, ???)_ or in a full sentence (To better understand the issue this data
will help to illuminate?)
? State the evidence: What supporting evidence will you include to support or
explain your topic sentence? You can paraphrase or quote your sources directly.
This can include reasons, examples, facts, statistics, quotations, or paraphrases.
? Explain evidence: How should your readers interpret the evidence you just gave
them? Don?t leave the information hanging without noting why you inserted the
evidence. You will want to be as direct as possible with your readers regarding
the meaning of the evidence inserted as tied to your claim. This statement can be
an opinion and is typically about one to three sentences in length. End this
paragraph with a concluding sentence that reasserts the point of the topic sentence
and helps your readers to see the overall claim you are making in the paper.
Supporting Evidence Paragraph #2, 3, 4, etc.
? (have at least 4 supporting evidence paragraphs)
? Repeat above instruction for paragraph 1
Counter Argument Paragraph
? Purpose of this paragraph: To acknowledge and anticipate opposition to your
claim or thesis while making yourself seem objective and knowledgeable about
the topic.
? Length: 1 to 3 paragraphs
? Commentary: Note what possible objections your reader might counter your
argument with. Be sure to provide common ground and note some aspects of their
reasoning to show you understand the issues. Insert two to three arguments here
and counter them with evidence.
? Conclusion: End your counter argument with a concluding sentence that reasserts
your argument as a whole.
Conclusion ? Part 1 ? Summary Paragraph
? Purpose of this paragraph: Circle back and gently remind your readers of your
argument and the points made in your body paragraphs. This resembles the
conclusion you might have used in a previous English class while writing a
persuasive paper. You will restate your thesis here coupled with supporting
evidence.
? Conclusion ? Part 2 ? Looking to the future paragraph to note the ?so what? of
your premise
? Purpose of this paragraph: To show you have thought deeply about your topic
and are not simply restating your thesis and introduction paragraph. This
paragraph should tell your readers what is at stake and why we should care about
your thesis and supporting evidence. You are informing your readers of what they
should take away from your work and remember for future use. Your conclusion
works to show your reader a more complex means of looking at your argument
and the issue you wrote about.
? Remember to incorporate vivid language and use rhetorical strategies of
development to leave a strong impression on your reader. Be careful about
introducing completely new information into your paper; instead, draw inferences
in your conclusion that develop from your argument.
Outline Template
Introduction: (Note your working thesis here)
Body Paragraphs:
Supporting Evidence Body Paragraph #1
(Note topic sentence and evidence)
Supporting Evidence Body Paragraph #2
(Note topic sentence and evidence)
Supporting Evidence Body Paragraph #3
(Note topic sentence and evidence)
Supporting Evidence Body Paragraph #4
(Note topic sentence and evidence)
Counter Argument Body Paragraph #5
(Note topic sentence and evidence)
Conclusion
(Sum up conclusion)
(?So What? Conclusion ? Optional for this assignment, but you can attempt to
add this if you are ready.)
(Insert APA formatted references on the next page)
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