Argumentative Essay Outline
An argumentative essay outline acts as the ‘blueprint’ that will guide you on the points to discuss in the paper. An outline shows what will be covered in the entire essay from the introduction, body paragraphs and conclusion. Therefore, knowing how to write a good argumentative essay outline can be an ideal way of crafting an outstanding argumentative paper.
Developing an outline is task that many students often assume when writing academic papers in general. However, it should be noted that outlines play an important role in essay writing. A well-crafted outline for an argumentative essay will enable you to easily remember the points to address in the paper, in proper format while writing. In this way, you will not waste time trying to remember what to discuss in the paper.
A good argumentative essay outline will also help you in determining the best format or structure to pursue in writing the paper.
Since an outline highlights the issues to be addressed in all the parts of an essay, you can use it to make further analysis on the best angle to take in writing each section so as to deliver a unique and high quality argumentative essay.
A good essay outline should be comprehensive enough to cover all the areas that you intend to discuss in the paper. However, this should not be taken to mean that an outline is like a typical essay. It should instead, only show the key points and statements that will be discussed into detail in the paper.
Well written outline for an argumentative essay will enable you to properly organize your thoughts and get an overview of the order and logic that an effective argument should take.
Tips to help you write an argumentative essay outline
An argumentative essay is an essay whereby you are required to investigate a subject, collect and evaluate evidence and establish a stand in a concise manner. This means that a good outline must show that you took all these into consideration.
The following tips will guide you on how to create an impeccable argumentative essay outline.
Develop a thesis
At the point of writing an outline, you have already done research on the topic and decided on the points to address. However, it is important that you clearly state the main claim of your essay before proceeding to other parts.
The thesis is the foundation or basis of the essay and should be indicated in prior to give direction on the points to be listed in the outline. An effective thesis should try to illicit a strong response from readers.
Considering that the thesis is the main argument of the paper, you can always re-phrase or change it as you wish to depict the particular stand that you will be taking in the essay. As you come up with new ideas and generate new links, the scope of your essay will likely be altered and this should be reflected on the thesis too.
Take time to brainstorm
After choosing the ideal thesis for the paper, you should embark on collecting and analyzing evidences that can be used to support it. These can include information from both primary and secondary sources.
In brainstorming, list the points or ideas that you think are related to your main argument. These will be later on refined to determine the best supporting ideas for the essay.
Take a critical look at those ideas and start to organize them into various categories. Bear in mind that a good argumentative essay should consist of a hierarchy of ideas that assume a logical progression.
Group all the related ideas together and try to establish how every group relates to another. From those points, you should be able to choose the outstanding ones that can be used in creating topic sentences.
For every key idea that you have identified to use in supporting the thesis, you must also find examples or evidence for tabling a compelling discussion.
There are other additional factors that you should also consider when writing an outline for an argumentative essay. For instance, a good outline should always be clear in every detail so that you are not inconvenienced during writing. The outline should be written in simple language and without complications.
Avoid vague statements in the outline, instead, only list the necessary points or ideas that can enable you to effectively discuss the subject of the essay.
Steps on how to write an argumentative essay outline
In order to make your work much easier, it is advisable that you use bullets or numbers to categorize your points based on the particular sections of the essay that they will appear. This will help you in differentiating the points for every paragraph of the essay.
Follow the steps outlined below to find out how to easily create an argumentative essay outline.
The thesis
After the topic of your essay, it is advisable that you clearly put down the main claim that will be discussed in the paper. However, you can also write yours just immediately after listing the introductory points.
Wherever you choose to put your thesis, it should be noted that it usually appears towards the introduction of the essay paper.
Introduction
Under the introduction, you should list the main points that will be used to give readers an overview of the subject of argument. On this part, you can list some unique information about the topic, a question or even anecdote that will open the discussion.
Body paragraphs
In the outline, you should also clearly indicate the main points to support your claim and give further examples to help readers in understanding the context of argument. If you are instructed to include only a particular number of paragraphs, you should ensure that the main points meet the required threshold.
For instance, if the body of your argumentative essay should have three paragraphs, you should clearly write three topic sentences in the outline. Each topic sentence represents the main point to be highlighted in a paragraph.
Under every topic sentence, write down the examples or evidence to substantiate the argument. In order to deliver a proper argument, it is advisable that you list down two or three examples. However, you may also decide to include more or less depending on your argument.
Conclusion
The outline should also show how you plan to end the discussion in the essay. Since this is an argumentative paper, the conclusion may also point out to further exploration or discussion of the topic.
Write down how you intend to restate the thesis and close your argument in a logical manner that will enable readers to understand its context and importance.
Examples of argumentative essay outline
Reading argumentative essay outline samples is also another easier way of finding out how to effectively create essay outlines.
Example 1
Sample Argumentative Analysis Paper Outline
Thesis statement: People are still tired of vampires. Faced with tremendous backlash from anti-Twilight (and spinoff) crowds, the genres as a whole is taking a huge reputation hit among a certain demographic…for better or worse.
Main supporting analysis: A three-month look at message boards, blogs, and news sites before and following the release of a Twilight film.
- The Vampire’s bad rap
- Precursors
- Anne Rice
Though more socially acceptable, Rice’s looks established the vampire as more geek fodder than horror.
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Twilight
- Teenage girls, another subset most people react badly against, picked up books.
- Other examples include Backsteet Boys, Bieber among others.
- Methodology
- Message boards
- Blogs/ news opinion sites…
Read the entire sample here.
Example 2
Basic 5- Paragraph Argument Essay Outline
Introductory Points and thesis statement………………………………………………………….
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Refutation Points (if required)…………………………………………………………………….
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The major points I wish to make in this essay are:
- ………………………………………………………………………………………………
- …………………………………………….. (Detail or example)
- ……………………………………………. (Detail or example)
- …………………………………………….. (Detail or example)
- ………………………………………………………………………………………………
- ……………………………………………… (Detail or example)
- ………………………………………………. (Detail or example)
- ……………………………………………….. (Detail or example)
- ………………………………………………………………………………………………
- ………………………………………………. (Detail or example)
- ……………………………………………….. (Detail or example)
- ………………………………………………… (Detail or example)
Conclusion points ………………………………………………………………………………….
…………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Find the above outline sample on this link
Example 3
Classic Model for an Argument
- Introductory paragraph
- Sets the stage or the context for the position you are arguing for
- Introduction should end with a thesis statement that gives your claim…
Sample Thesis statement
- The production, sale, and possession of assault weapons for private citizens should be banned in the United States.
- Body of your Argument
- Background Information
-This section gives the reader the basic information he or she needs to understand your position…
- Reasons or Evidence to support your Claim…
Get the whole sample at valenciacollege.edu.
In case you may need help on how to write an argumentative essay outline, simply talk to us. Alternatively, you can also refer to our homepage to find out more on how to get professionally written sample outlines for argumentative essays.
References
http://www.wikihow.com/Create-an-Outline-for-an-Argumentative-Paper
https://depts.washington.edu/owrc/Handouts/Argumentative%20Paper%20Format.pdf
https://www.kibin.com/essay-writing-blog/argumentative-essay-outline/
https://valenciacollege.edu/wp/cssc/documents/SampleArgumentOutline.pdf