ENG 1061/Mitchell-Love

Review: the Organization of an Argumentation Essay

Note: the information below is written with a five-paragraph essay situation in mind. These same parts apply to the longer Major Paper #4; you would just devote multiple paragraphs to each of the argumentative-essay parts.

The five pages of the body of an argumentation essay should contain the following parts of an argument:

(1) your opening paragraph is usually your general introduction to the topic. If you can do it without bias, it could also be where you clearly express your viewpoint on the topic. Your thesis is probably at or near the end of this paragraph .

(2) you give one side of the issue; generally, it’s good to have three major points to discuss.

(3) you give the other side of the issue.

If you really don’t have a strong opinion one way or the other on the issue: you can give three reasons for one side and three reasons for the other side.

If you do have a strong opinion, you still want to give three reasons for the side you believe in. However, you do not have to give three reasons for the other side. You can give one or two reasons instead, but you cannot ignore major reasons why the opposition believes the way it does. These should be included.

(4) you refute the opposition; refutation can be to point out fallacies in the other side’s reasoning, identify its wrong facts or statistics, or simply to state that emotionally/intellectually you cannot agree with this side (ex. the issue of abortion is an excellent example of an issue that is decided frequently with the gut, not facts).

(5) you may propose a solution if you have one (this may also be your closing).

(6) you close (if you did not when proposing a solution).

(7) Whether you end with #5 (proposing a solution) or #6 (just a closing or summary), make sure you state your opinion. If you stated your opinion at the beginning of the essay, this is a re-statement. If you haven’t made your opinion clear until this point in the essay, this will be the surprise the rest of the essay has led up to.

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