Argumentative Essay

How to respond to an argumentative essay prompt?

The prompt will ask you to choose, defend, explain, and document the reasoning behind your position or point of view. You will find keywords such as “debate”, “argue”, “claim,” and “asset” in the topic of the essay, which can be either open or two-sided. For example:

• Open argumentative essay title

Argue that Social Media Does More Harm Than Good to Mental Health.

• Two-sided argumentative essay title

Debate Whether Governments Should Prioritise Space Exploration Over Solving Earth’s Problems.

EXAMPLE
(Arguing for Distance Learning)

• Introduction: “In an era of digital transformation, education is no longer confined to traditional classrooms”.
• Background: Explain how online education is rising and how it’s being accepted worldwide.
• Proposition: “Distance learning provides greater accessibility, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness compared to traditional education”.
• Proof: “A 2023 study found that 75% of students reported higher satisfaction with online courses”.
• Refutation: “Critics argue that online learning lacks personal interaction. However, advanced virtual collaboration tools now facilitate meaningful student-teacher engagement”.
• Conclusion: “As technology evolves, distance learning will continue to bridge educational gaps, making quality education accessible to all”.

EXAMPLE
(Arguing for Remote Work)

• Claim: “Remote work increases productivity and employee satisfaction”.
• Grounds: “A 2023 Stanford study found a 13% productivity boost in remote workers”.
• Warrant: “Flexible work environments reduce commute stress, which leads to better focus and concentration”.
• Backing: “HR reports show that 78% of employees prefer hybrid schedules”.
• Qualifier: “Remote work is generally beneficial, but may not suit all industries”.
• Rebuttal: “While some argue remote work harms teamwork, digital collaboration tools mitigate this issue”.

EXAMPLE
(Debating School Uniform Policies)

• Introduction: “School uniform policies are a widely debated topic in education”.
• Opposing Views: “Opponents argue uniforms limit self-expression and creativity”.
• Your Position: “However, studies show that uniforms reduce bullying and socioeconomic disparities”.
• Middle Ground: “A balanced approach could allow casual dress days while maintaining uniform most days”.

What are the approaches to writing an argumentative essay?

The three approaches to writing an argumentative essay are:

1. Classic (Aristotelian) Argument Building
2. Toulmin Argument Building
3. Rogerian Argument Building

Argumentative Essay Introduction Example

For many people looking to change or advance their professional careers, choosing whether distance learning is the right choice is a question of critical importance. Distance education programmes rely on information technology and online teaching tools to provide education to students who are not present in the classroom setting due to their personal commitments and limitations. Over the last several years, distance learning has emerged as one of the most popular education trends. It has provided opportunities to many non-traditional students to receive a high-quality education.

Argumentative Essay Main Body Paragraph Example

Distance learning is one of the most economical and viable forms of education available to adult students who are juggling many responsibilities due to financial and time constraints in their lives. The burden of responsibilities prevents adult students from studying in a foreign country or another city. Distance learning enables them to overcome these challenges and complete their education. Learning in a distant mode can also mitigate the economic, social, psychological, and cultural difficulties. Distance learning students often achieve better results when compared with on-campus students because the pursuit of knowledge is undertaken for its own sake rather than as an obligation.

Argumentative Essay Conclusion Example

The distance learning programmes offered by various universities worldwide have had a very positive effect on the world of education. Occasional pitfalls aside, this teaching method has enabled underprivileged students and those with personal limitations to receive a high-quality education. Educators should take advantage of this. The limitations of distance education, such as lack of motivation for students, absence of physical interaction, and employers’ reluctance to embrace distance learning, have been documented extensively by opponents. Still, this new method of teaching is here to stay.

What is the outline of an argumentative essay?

Here is the outline of an argumentative essay: 

1. Introduction
2. Main Body
3. Conclusion