Argumentative writing makes use of various types of factual and persuasive evidence to back up hypotheses on a subject matter. When writing a persuasive piece, it’s not just enough to have an opinion. The writers need more to make their voices heard. Even the strongest stance won’t be convincing if it’s not structured correctly and strengthened with rock-solid reasoning and evidence.

Since college and high school students are often given assignments that need them to write argumentative essays, they should know how to take a stance on an issue and persuade readers to understand and support their writing. Typically, argumentative essay topics are related to politics, technology, science, and healthcare.

The structure of argumentative writing is held together by the following four points:

1.  A concise, clear, and defined thesis statement: This should appear in the first paragraph. The opening paragraph should set the context, talks about the topic’s importance and why readers should care about it, and present the thesis statement.

2.  Reasonable and clear transitions between the parts of the write-up: An argumentative write-up should have logical and clear transitions between the introduction, body, and conclusion. Without them, its structure will collapse. Unless there’s a logical progression of thought, the readers won’t be able to follow the arguments presented in the write-up.

3.  Body paragraphs should include evidential support: A typical argumentative write-up consists of three or more paragraphs. In these, the students should explain why they support the thesis. Each body paragraph should focus on a different piece of evidence or idea and include a topic sentence that explains quickly and clearly why the readers should agree with the students’ position. 

By using statistical and/or factual research, examples, text citations, and studies, students can back their claims in the body paragraphs. It’s a good plan to set aside one or two paragraphs to address conflicting or opposing opinions on the topic and either disprove them or explain why they disagree with such views. By considering a topic from every angle and presenting facts, students can add credibility to their argumentative write-ups, which will help them gain their readers’ trust.

4.  Conclusion: In a single paragraph, students should restate their thesis and summarize all the arguments they have made in the previous body paragraphs. Instead of introducing additional arguments or new facts, a good conclusion that readdresses the thesis in light of the evidence provided will appeal more to the readers’ emotions. Writers may even use a personal anecdote to explain how the topic affects them personally.