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10 Great Essay Writing Tips
Knowing how to write a college essay is a useful skill for anyone who plans to go to college. Most colleges and universities ask you to submit a writing sample with your application. As a student, you’ll also write essays in your courses. Impress your professors with your knowledge and skill by using these great essay writing tips.
Prepare to Answer the Question
Most college essays ask you to answer a question or synthesize information you learned in class. Review notes you have from lectures, read the recommended texts and make sure you understand the topic. You should refer to these sources in your essay.
Plan Your Essay
Many students see planning as a waste of time, but it actually saves you time. Take a few minutes to think about the topic and what you want to say about it. You can write an outline, draw a chart or use a graphic organizer to arrange your ideas. This gives you a chance to spot problems in your ideas before you spend time writing out the paragraphs.
Choose a Writing Method That Feels Comfortable
You might have to type your essay before turning it in, but that doesn’t mean you have to write it that way. Some people find it easy to write out their ideas by hand. Others prefer typing in a word processor where they can erase and rewrite as needed. Find the one that works best for you and stick with it.
View It as a Conversation
Writing is a form of communication, so think of your essay as a conversation between you and the reader. Think about your response to the source material and the topic. Decide what you want to tell the reader about the topic. Then, stay focused on your response as you write.
Provide the Context in the Introduction
If you look at an example of an essay introduction, you’ll see that the best essays give the reader a context. Think of how you introduce two people to each other. You share the details you think they will find most interesting. Do this in your essay by stating what it’s about and then telling readers what the issue is.
Explain What Needs to be Explained
Sometimes you have to explain concepts or define words to help the reader understand your viewpoint. You also have to explain the reasoning behind your ideas. For example, it’s not enough to write that your greatest achievement is running an ultra marathon. You might need to define ultra marathon and explain why finishing the race is such an accomplishment.
Answer All the Questions
After you finish writing the first draft of your essay, make sure you’ve answered all the questions you were supposed to answer. For example, essays in compare and contrast format should show the similarities and differences between ideas, objects or events. If you’re writing about a significant achievement, describe what you did and how it affected you.
Stay Focused as You Write
Writing requires concentration. Find a place where you have few distractions and give yourself time to write without interruptions. Don’t wait until the night before the essay is due to start working on it.
Read the Essay Aloud to Proofread
When you finish writing your essay, read it aloud. You can do this by yourself or ask someone to listen to you read it. You’ll notice places where the ideas don’t make sense, and your listener can give you feedback about your ideas.
Avoid Filling the Page with Words
A great essay does more than follow an essay layout. It has something to say. Sometimes students panic and write everything they know about a topic or summarize everything in the source material. Your job as a writer is to show why this information is important.
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Writing an Argument Analysis Essay (outline, examples,
Definition : An argument analysis essay is a type of academic essay that provides a detailed overview of the structure and content of an argument. This type of essay is especially common in fields such as philosophy, rhetoric, and communication studies.
An argument analysis essay functions as a supporting text for another work by analyzing and describing an argument contained within the primary text (typically referred to as the primary text). In most cases, this results in an analysis of what has been stated in certain parts of the primary text or arguments that have been made in favor or against other statements made in the primary text.
The purpose of such essays is to analyze and critically review information contained within another source. Often times they will identify bias or logical fallacies present within a given argument. These types of essays are commonly used to examine and criticize arguments made within a film, novel, or any other sort of text.
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How to write argument analysis essay effectively
Before you can start writing an argument analysis essay, it is wise to familiarize yourself with a variety of analytical strategies that can be used alongside this type of assignment.
By doing this, you will have more options available for identifying flaws and errors present within an argument.
Here is some sample list of various ways in which you can analyze arguments:
- Deconstruction – involves removing protective layers, so that the claim can be plainly seen for what it is.
- Evaluation – involves determining the strengths and weaknesses of a claim based on evidence presented by your analysis.
Explaining an argument in terms of its component parts, which will involve identifying key terms and any assumptions that have been made with respect to at least one premise or conclusion made within the argument. This may also involve presenting details regarding how a particular theory might apply to supporting or refuting the conclusions drawn from an argument.
- Reconstruction – involves placing individual pieces back together again into something more coherent and whole [this should help you put all of your ideas back together]
- Synthesis – involves combining information from separate sources in order to make sense of them.
Even though this type of assignment is most common in the fields mentioned above, it can be used for analyzing and describing arguments presented via many different types of works.
Learn about: how to write an argumentative essay .
Good argument analysis essay structure – outline, format
Here are some example outline formats to get you started writing your own argument analysis essay.
The structure of an argument analysis essay includes: Introduction, body paragraphs, conclusion, and a citation page. Each part has been explained below with examples.
- Introduction
This part of the essay should include an outline of what will be discussed throughout the rest of the essay. Typically there will only be one paragraph included in this section as a way to present a snapshot overview of how the body paragraphs will flow from one into another.
A good introduction for an argument analysis essay can set up the tone and general direction of what follows.
A well-written introduction will also give enough background information about the subject at hand so that readers are not confused when they see any vocabulary or references to historical names that might otherwise be unfamiliar to them.
After the introduction comes this part where all aspects of the primary text that pertain to its argument are examined in detail. This typically will include a description of the argument, its key terms, and any statements that have been made in favor or against certain claims. Then, the essay will usually proceed to providing an analysis of these claims so as to determine whether they are accurate or not.
The conclusion section is used to summarize all the points presented within the body paragraphs. This way it will be easier for readers to grasp exactly what was stated in each body paragraph. It should also be used at this time to provide any closing thoughts that may pertain to other interpretations of arguments presented by this primary text or if there are any criticisms that still need to be addressed. Keep in mind that this part should only focus on additional material and critical commentary pertaining to the topic at hand.
The conclusion ties together all points made in its body paragraphs through restating important ideas or facts from this section or summarizing whatever major points may have been left unclear in other parts of the paper.
- Citation / reference page:
Be sure to use citations throughout your analysis essay so as to demonstrate where you got your information from, especially when using outside sources
Basic argument analysis essay outline example
The argument analysis essay should be organized into an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. In the introduction, the basic premises of the text’s arguments should be laid out with the aim of giving readers some general idea of what to expect in the body. The main claim or premise is then broken down into parts for more detailed examination. The body presents each argument or claim made within each paragraph. The conclusion summarizes all points made in the body and continuing arguments found within it.
Here is a basic argument analysis essay outline that you can use to write a perfect essay.
- Introductory paragraph
- Body paragraphs – Deconstruction, Evaluation, Explanation of argument’s components, Reconstruction.
- Concluding paragraph
- Citation page
Use this example argument analysis essay outline to create a better outline based on the topic you are writing about. You can also review our main section on how to write an essay outline .
What are the 5 Steps to Analyzing an argument?
- Understanding the argument that is being made. This includes knowing what the argument contends, which can be summarized as a conclusion that is defended by premises.
- Identifying assumptions and implicit information contained within the argument. For example , an argument might contain unstated or vague claims and conclusions. This might include assuming facts not in evidence, or drawing unsupported conclusions from the premises stated in the argument.
- Identifying counterexamples to specific statements or arguments made in the passage, using these to point out flaws in the arguments.
- Pointing out any logical fallacies that have been committed with respect to how the argument has been constructed or composed.
- Including your own thoughts on possible solutions and beliefs so as to provide a clearer understanding of what is being discussed within the argument.
- Including citations so as to help readers locate where in the original material that your information came from and using quotes or paraphrasing the passages so as to make it easier for people reading your essay to see exactly what you are referring to rather than having to read through an entire passage themselves trying to figure out if they should agree with what you are saying or not.
Video on how to write an argument analysis essay with examples
Here is a video explaining how to write with argument analysis essay examples
What should an argument analysis include?
An argument analysis should include an introduction, a body, and a conclusion.
The introduction should include the basic premises of the text that is being analyzed and should give readers a general summary of what will be covered in the body. Then, the body should break down these premises into segments where each segment is representative of a specific argument or claim made within the text. The conclusion should summarize everything discussed in the body and point out any arguments that still need to be addressed.
Include citations so as to demonstrate where you got your information from. Use quotes or paraphrases when presenting information so as to make it easier for people reading your essay to see exactly what you are referring to.
How do I evaluate an argument?
You can evaluate an argument by determining its strengths and weaknesses. Consider important details such as key words, assumption made, component parts, and possible theory application. Identify any errors in the logical progression of the argument and identify any fallacies committed within its construction.
General tips for writing a good argument analysis essay
Here are tips to write a good argument analysis essay that we find great for students in college and high school level:
- Make sure that you are not relying 100% on secondary sources when making your own argument analysis essay.
- Use the internet to search for other people’s opinions about a topic first and then present them in a well-developed manner within your retelling of their arguments.
- The introduction or thesis is very important, so make sure that it properly frames what exactly you want to talk about in your essay by clearly stating the topic at hand.
- Do not to write an overly broad thesis because this will likely result in having a paper that does not really flow well between supporting paragraphs and section headings.
- Use transitions between each paragraph. Make these transitions relevant, but don’t be afraid to repeat yourself when appropriate either.
- Each transition should serve as a proper segue into the next paragraph, while still carrying on from where the previous paragraph left off.
Brainstorming tips for writing an argument analysis essay that will earn good grades:
- Establish your own opinion on what you want to argue about before you read others’ arguments. Then, you should come up with your own counter-arguments or rebuttals of the arguments made by others.
- When reading an essay, pay attention to what is being said and how it is being said to better understand what any argument or claim may be in a given passage.
- You could use a spider diagram to organize arguments that are found within the text if you can not fit all the information in only 2 paragraphs.
- A spider diagram essentially shows how ideas flow from one premise into another as well as different possible branches off these main ideas. It will also help you decide which arguments are more important than others when writing a thesis statement for your paper, thus helping shape your overall understanding of the subject matter at hand. Always use the spider diagram to organize ideas before taking notes.
- Try to be as critical in your reading as possible, and don’t limit yourself to only picking out things that you agree with within a passage or text. You should always try to address not only what is right but also what could be wrong with any argument so you can actively disprove someone’s claim if necessary.
- It is important that when writing an argument analysis essay, you read between the lines sometimes rather than just going off of facts stated by others. This means understanding the literal meaning of statements and how they may have been intended for deeper interpretation. Look at word choice, tone, style of writing, organization from beginning to end etc., to see if this tells you anything more about the author’s intent.
- You should try to reference as much primary source material as possible when writing an argument analysis essay because it is usually more credible than secondary sources. However, you should still use secondary sources appropriately if they help you develop your own thesis and arguments within each paragraph in a way that would not be possible with solely using primary sources for all of the information.
Need help writing an argument analysis essay? Contact us for essay help and see how great you can do on assignments using our online homework writing service .
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How to Write an Argument Analysis Essay
As a college assignment, the argument analysis teaches critical reading and thinking skills. In professional applications, the argument analysis serves as a check and balance that may help an organization's leadership to make better decisions, effect change and make progress toward goals. The writer of an argument analysis will look closely at the rhetorical techniques and sources of support that another writer employs, and then construct an argument of her own that answers the first one.
Locate the thesis of the argument you are analyzing. The author or presenter will often state it in one succinct sentence close to the beginning of the article, essay or presentation.
List each argument and piece of evidence in support of the thesis and leave space for notations.
Analyze the logic, facts and any data that the argument presents. Look out for emotional arguments, hasty generalizations, and red herrings, which a sound argument must omit. Also look for erroneous facts, omissions of facts that you know should be there, and data that is dated or taken out of context. Make notes as you work.
Look at studies that the author quotes if they seem suspect. Sometimes researchers do only short studies or studies that do not include a large enough sample. Sometimes they don't ask the right questions or the methodology is weak. Also, the references should come from credible sources; credible sources are those written by research scholars in the field or practicing experts. Make notes as you work.
Open your analysis with a paragraph that ends with your own thesis, either agreeing or disagreeing with the other person's thesis.
Address the argument point by point. Do so in the same order in which the author or speaker presented his points. Alternatively, you can group related points together. Concede valid points, but point out flaws in others. Save your strongest, most important point for last.
Weave in concrete support for your analysis. Cite reliable, current references.
Conclude the analysis with the discussion of your strongest point or with a short discussion of the subject matter as it pertains to your thesis.
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Cat Reynolds has written professionally since 1990. She has worked in academe (teaching and administration), real estate and has owned a private tutoring business. She is also a poet and recipient of the Discover/The Nation Award. Her work can be found in literary publications and on various blogs. Reynolds holds a Master of Arts in writing and literature from Purdue University.
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10: Writing Argument Analysis
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.jpg?revision=2 "Anna Mills")
- City College of San Francisco via ASCCC Open Educational Resources Initiative
Learning Outcomes
- Write an analysis of an argument's appeal to emotion
- Write an analysis of an argument's appeal to trust
- Connect an assessment of an argument's logical structure to an assessment of the effectiveness of its rhetorical appeals
- Give constructive feedback on an argument analysis essay
- Describe how the visual features of an image can reinforce the message of a visual argument.
- 10.1: How Argument Analysis Essays are Structured An argument analysis should summarize the argument and discuss how well any appeals to trust and emotion are likely to work with readers.
- 10.2: Analyzing an Argument's Situation (Kairos, or the Rhetorical Situation) Examining the author, audience, context, purpose, constraints, and genre of the argument can help us understand what shapes it.
- 10.3: Generating Ideas for an Argument Analysis Paper We can generate material by asking ourselves questions about an argument's logical structure, its appeals to emotion, and its appeals to trust.
- 10.4: Reviewing an Argument Analysis Essay We can ask ourselves certain questions as we read and give feedback on an argument analysis essay.
- 10.5.1: Annotated Brief Sample Argument Analysis
- 10.6.1: Annotated Longer Sample Argument Analysis
- 10.8.1: Annotated Sample Visual Argument Analysis
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Argument Analysis
Therefore, even though this section on argument analysis is one of the last lessons in this area, your professor may have you start here before you draft a single word of your own essay.
In the pages that follow, you will learn about analyzing arguments for both content and rhetorical strategies. The content analysis may come a little easier for you, but the rhetorical analysis is extremely important. To become a good writer, we must develop the language of writing and learn how to use that language to talk about the “moves” other writers make.
When we understand the decisions other writers make and why, it helps us make more informed decisions as writers. We can move from being the “accidental” writer, where we might do well but are not sure why, to being a “purposeful” writer, where we have an awareness of the impact our writing has on our audience at all levels.
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How to Analyze an Argument in an Essay | 4 Easy Steps & Examples
If you’re a high school or college student or you’re studying for your GRE , you’ll probably be expected at some point to understand, restate, comment on, or discuss an author’s position assertion (strongly stated position).
In this guide, I will go over analyzing an argument example and give you step-by-step directions for successfully completing this task.
How Do We Analyze an Argument?
Learning these straightforward points and steps will help you understand how to analyze an argument in no time.
An argument is a reason(s) for a conclusion.
- He is dense (reason); therefore, I won’t talk with him (conclusion).
- I won’t talk with him (conclusion) because he is dense (reason).
When asked to analyze an argument , you need to explain how and why something works or does not work.
- My car will not start. I realize that I left the interior lights on overnight (“you stupid idiot”)—no analysis necessary.
- My car will not start. The battery is fairly new, and the engine started right up yesterday. So, I open the hood. As soon as I begin probing to search for the reason, I am analyzing (whether or not I find the answer).
How to Analyze an Argument in 4 Steps
To analyze an author’s argument, take it one step at a time:
- Briefly note the main assertion (what does the writer want me to believe or do?)
- Make a note of the first reason the author makes to support his/her conclusion
- Write down every other reason
- Underline the most important reason
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Let’s take a look at an analyze argument essay example with an analysis of the argument:
Reasonable Risk-taking Part of my philosophy is that a life worth living involves taking reasonable risks, whatever that may mean to a person. Without that openness, responsiveness, a person sees very little possibility for change and can sink into a rut of routines. I have known many who define themselves by their routines–and little else. These are the people an American educator spoke of when he said, “Many people should have written on their tombstones: ‘Died at 30, buried at 60.'” How sad! I think that one of the most horrible feelings a person must have is to be on the deathbed, regretting the many things never tried, and many things done that cannot be undone. I live my life to minimize possibilities of regrets, as I hope you do. Did you ever see the Sandra Bullock movie 28 Days? She plays an alcoholic in a destructive relationship with a guy who wants only to have fun. A staff person at the clinic where she is sentenced to spend 28 days for rehab explained: “Insanity is repeating the same behavior over and over and expecting different results.” Maybe more people should watch that movie. The world may not go out of its way to help you–the world does not owe us fairness–but the world is there with more possibilities than most of us imagine. If we are responsible to ourselves–and response-able, we can continue growing in directions that are good for us. We do not need to understand the future, which, after all, does not exist, has not yet been created.
Main assertion: Worthwhile life = taking reasonable risks
- Being open to possibilities vs rut of routines
- Dying with regrets for actions and inactions is horrible
- Repeating same behaviors will prevent change
- Ability to respond to new possibilities, including risks, results in growth
Want to improve your reading comprehension? Learn some strategies that really work .
Final Thoughts on Analyzing an Argument
You can now summarize the author’s position and, if required, agree or disagree in part or in whole, offering examples from your own experiences.
Complicated, huh? Yes, it is, until you practice and get used to developing such a reaction paper. A writing tutor can be very helpful in guiding you through this process of how to analyze an argument , step by step, until you feel confident working with this important college skill.
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Sat / act prep online guides and tips, 3 strong argumentative essay examples, analyzed.
General Education
Need to defend your opinion on an issue? Argumentative essays are one of the most popular types of essays you’ll write in school. They combine persuasive arguments with fact-based research, and, when done well, can be powerful tools for making someone agree with your point of view. If you’re struggling to write an argumentative essay or just want to learn more about them, seeing examples can be a big help.
After giving an overview of this type of essay, we provide three argumentative essay examples. After each essay, we explain in-depth how the essay was structured, what worked, and where the essay could be improved. We end with tips for making your own argumentative essay as strong as possible.
What Is an Argumentative Essay?
An argumentative essay is an essay that uses evidence and facts to support the claim it’s making. Its purpose is to persuade the reader to agree with the argument being made.
A good argumentative essay will use facts and evidence to support the argument, rather than just the author’s thoughts and opinions. For example, say you wanted to write an argumentative essay stating that Charleston, SC is a great destination for families. You couldn’t just say that it’s a great place because you took your family there and enjoyed it. For it to be an argumentative essay, you need to have facts and data to support your argument, such as the number of child-friendly attractions in Charleston, special deals you can get with kids, and surveys of people who visited Charleston as a family and enjoyed it. The first argument is based entirely on feelings, whereas the second is based on evidence that can be proven.
The standard five paragraph format is common, but not required, for argumentative essays. These essays typically follow one of two formats: the Toulmin model or the Rogerian model.
- The Toulmin model is the most common. It begins with an introduction, follows with a thesis/claim, and gives data and evidence to support that claim. This style of essay also includes rebuttals of counterarguments.
- The Rogerian model analyzes two sides of an argument and reaches a conclusion after weighing the strengths and weaknesses of each.
3 Good Argumentative Essay Examples + Analysis
Below are three examples of argumentative essays, written by yours truly in my school days, as well as analysis of what each did well and where it could be improved.
Argumentative Essay Example 1
Proponents of this idea state that it will save local cities and towns money because libraries are expensive to maintain. They also believe it will encourage more people to read because they won’t have to travel to a library to get a book; they can simply click on what they want to read and read it from wherever they are. They could also access more materials because libraries won’t have to buy physical copies of books; they can simply rent out as many digital copies as they need.
However, it would be a serious mistake to replace libraries with tablets. First, digital books and resources are associated with less learning and more problems than print resources. A study done on tablet vs book reading found that people read 20-30% slower on tablets, retain 20% less information, and understand 10% less of what they read compared to people who read the same information in print. Additionally, staring too long at a screen has been shown to cause numerous health problems, including blurred vision, dizziness, dry eyes, headaches, and eye strain, at much higher instances than reading print does. People who use tablets and mobile devices excessively also have a higher incidence of more serious health issues such as fibromyalgia, shoulder and back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, and muscle strain. I know that whenever I read from my e-reader for too long, my eyes begin to feel tired and my neck hurts. We should not add to these problems by giving people, especially young people, more reasons to look at screens.
Second, it is incredibly narrow-minded to assume that the only service libraries offer is book lending. Libraries have a multitude of benefits, and many are only available if the library has a physical location. Some of these benefits include acting as a quiet study space, giving people a way to converse with their neighbors, holding classes on a variety of topics, providing jobs, answering patron questions, and keeping the community connected. One neighborhood found that, after a local library instituted community events such as play times for toddlers and parents, job fairs for teenagers, and meeting spaces for senior citizens, over a third of residents reported feeling more connected to their community. Similarly, a Pew survey conducted in 2015 found that nearly two-thirds of American adults feel that closing their local library would have a major impact on their community. People see libraries as a way to connect with others and get their questions answered, benefits tablets can’t offer nearly as well or as easily.
While replacing libraries with tablets may seem like a simple solution, it would encourage people to spend even more time looking at digital screens, despite the myriad issues surrounding them. It would also end access to many of the benefits of libraries that people have come to rely on. In many areas, libraries are such an important part of the community network that they could never be replaced by a simple object.
The author begins by giving an overview of the counter-argument, then the thesis appears as the first sentence in the third paragraph. The essay then spends the rest of the paper dismantling the counter argument and showing why readers should believe the other side.
What this essay does well:
- Although it’s a bit unusual to have the thesis appear fairly far into the essay, it works because, once the thesis is stated, the rest of the essay focuses on supporting it since the counter-argument has already been discussed earlier in the paper.
- This essay includes numerous facts and cites studies to support its case. By having specific data to rely on, the author’s argument is stronger and readers will be more inclined to agree with it.
- For every argument the other side makes, the author makes sure to refute it and follow up with why her opinion is the stronger one. In order to make a strong argument, it’s important to dismantle the other side, which this essay does this by making the author's view appear stronger.
- This is a shorter paper, and if it needed to be expanded to meet length requirements, it could include more examples and go more into depth with them, such as by explaining specific cases where people benefited from local libraries.
- Additionally, while the paper uses lots of data, the author also mentions their own experience with using tablets. This should be removed since argumentative essays focus on facts and data to support an argument, not the author’s own opinion or experiences. Replacing that with more data on health issues associated with screen time would strengthen the essay.
- Some of the points made aren't completely accurate , particularly the one about digital books being cheaper. It actually often costs a library more money to rent out numerous digital copies of a book compared to buying a single physical copy. Make sure in your own essay you thoroughly research each of the points and rebuttals you make, otherwise you'll look like you don't know the issue that well.
Argumentative Essay Example 2
There are multiple drugs available to treat malaria, and many of them work well and save lives, but malaria eradication programs that focus too much on them and not enough on prevention haven’t seen long-term success in Sub-Saharan Africa. A major program to combat malaria was WHO’s Global Malaria Eradication Programme. Started in 1955, it had a goal of eliminating malaria in Africa within the next ten years. Based upon previously successful programs in Brazil and the United States, the program focused mainly on vector control. This included widely distributing chloroquine and spraying large amounts of DDT. More than one billion dollars was spent trying to abolish malaria. However, the program suffered from many problems and in 1969, WHO was forced to admit that the program had not succeeded in eradicating malaria. The number of people in Sub-Saharan Africa who contracted malaria as well as the number of malaria deaths had actually increased over 10% during the time the program was active.
One of the major reasons for the failure of the project was that it set uniform strategies and policies. By failing to consider variations between governments, geography, and infrastructure, the program was not nearly as successful as it could have been. Sub-Saharan Africa has neither the money nor the infrastructure to support such an elaborate program, and it couldn’t be run the way it was meant to. Most African countries don't have the resources to send all their people to doctors and get shots, nor can they afford to clear wetlands or other malaria prone areas. The continent’s spending per person for eradicating malaria was just a quarter of what Brazil spent. Sub-Saharan Africa simply can’t rely on a plan that requires more money, infrastructure, and expertise than they have to spare.
Additionally, the widespread use of chloroquine has created drug resistant parasites which are now plaguing Sub-Saharan Africa. Because chloroquine was used widely but inconsistently, mosquitoes developed resistance, and chloroquine is now nearly completely ineffective in Sub-Saharan Africa, with over 95% of mosquitoes resistant to it. As a result, newer, more expensive drugs need to be used to prevent and treat malaria, which further drives up the cost of malaria treatment for a region that can ill afford it.
Instead of developing plans to treat malaria after the infection has incurred, programs should focus on preventing infection from occurring in the first place. Not only is this plan cheaper and more effective, reducing the number of people who contract malaria also reduces loss of work/school days which can further bring down the productivity of the region.
One of the cheapest and most effective ways of preventing malaria is to implement insecticide-treated bed nets (ITNs). These nets provide a protective barrier around the person or people using them. While untreated bed nets are still helpful, those treated with insecticides are much more useful because they stop mosquitoes from biting people through the nets, and they help reduce mosquito populations in a community, thus helping people who don’t even own bed nets. Bed nets are also very effective because most mosquito bites occur while the person is sleeping, so bed nets would be able to drastically reduce the number of transmissions during the night. In fact, transmission of malaria can be reduced by as much as 90% in areas where the use of ITNs is widespread. Because money is so scarce in Sub-Saharan Africa, the low cost is a great benefit and a major reason why the program is so successful. Bed nets cost roughly 2 USD to make, last several years, and can protect two adults. Studies have shown that, for every 100-1000 more nets are being used, one less child dies of malaria. With an estimated 300 million people in Africa not being protected by mosquito nets, there’s the potential to save three million lives by spending just a few dollars per person.
Reducing the number of people who contract malaria would also reduce poverty levels in Africa significantly, thus improving other aspects of society like education levels and the economy. Vector control is more effective than treatment strategies because it means fewer people are getting sick. When fewer people get sick, the working population is stronger as a whole because people are not put out of work from malaria, nor are they caring for sick relatives. Malaria-afflicted families can typically only harvest 40% of the crops that healthy families can harvest. Additionally, a family with members who have malaria spends roughly a quarter of its income treatment, not including the loss of work they also must deal with due to the illness. It’s estimated that malaria costs Africa 12 billion USD in lost income every year. A strong working population creates a stronger economy, which Sub-Saharan Africa is in desperate need of.
This essay begins with an introduction, which ends with the thesis (that malaria eradication plans in Sub-Saharan Africa should focus on prevention rather than treatment). The first part of the essay lays out why the counter argument (treatment rather than prevention) is not as effective, and the second part of the essay focuses on why prevention of malaria is the better path to take.
- The thesis appears early, is stated clearly, and is supported throughout the rest of the essay. This makes the argument clear for readers to understand and follow throughout the essay.
- There’s lots of solid research in this essay, including specific programs that were conducted and how successful they were, as well as specific data mentioned throughout. This evidence helps strengthen the author’s argument.
- The author makes a case for using expanding bed net use over waiting until malaria occurs and beginning treatment, but not much of a plan is given for how the bed nets would be distributed or how to ensure they’re being used properly. By going more into detail of what she believes should be done, the author would be making a stronger argument.
- The introduction of the essay does a good job of laying out the seriousness of the problem, but the conclusion is short and abrupt. Expanding it into its own paragraph would give the author a final way to convince readers of her side of the argument.
Argumentative Essay Example 3
There are many ways payments could work. They could be in the form of a free-market approach, where athletes are able to earn whatever the market is willing to pay them, it could be a set amount of money per athlete, or student athletes could earn income from endorsements, autographs, and control of their likeness, similar to the way top Olympians earn money.
Proponents of the idea believe that, because college athletes are the ones who are training, participating in games, and bringing in audiences, they should receive some sort of compensation for their work. If there were no college athletes, the NCAA wouldn’t exist, college coaches wouldn’t receive there (sometimes very high) salaries, and brands like Nike couldn’t profit from college sports. In fact, the NCAA brings in roughly $1 billion in revenue a year, but college athletes don’t receive any of that money in the form of a paycheck. Additionally, people who believe college athletes should be paid state that paying college athletes will actually encourage them to remain in college longer and not turn pro as quickly, either by giving them a way to begin earning money in college or requiring them to sign a contract stating they’ll stay at the university for a certain number of years while making an agreed-upon salary.
Supporters of this idea point to Zion Williamson, the Duke basketball superstar, who, during his freshman year, sustained a serious knee injury. Many argued that, even if he enjoyed playing for Duke, it wasn’t worth risking another injury and ending his professional career before it even began for a program that wasn’t paying him. Williamson seems to have agreed with them and declared his eligibility for the NCAA draft later that year. If he was being paid, he may have stayed at Duke longer. In fact, roughly a third of student athletes surveyed stated that receiving a salary while in college would make them “strongly consider” remaining collegiate athletes longer before turning pro.
Paying athletes could also stop the recruitment scandals that have plagued the NCAA. In 2018, the NCAA stripped the University of Louisville's men's basketball team of its 2013 national championship title because it was discovered coaches were using sex workers to entice recruits to join the team. There have been dozens of other recruitment scandals where college athletes and recruits have been bribed with anything from having their grades changed, to getting free cars, to being straight out bribed. By paying college athletes and putting their salaries out in the open, the NCAA could end the illegal and underhanded ways some schools and coaches try to entice athletes to join.
People who argue against the idea of paying college athletes believe the practice could be disastrous for college sports. By paying athletes, they argue, they’d turn college sports into a bidding war, where only the richest schools could afford top athletes, and the majority of schools would be shut out from developing a talented team (though some argue this already happens because the best players often go to the most established college sports programs, who typically pay their coaches millions of dollars per year). It could also ruin the tight camaraderie of many college teams if players become jealous that certain teammates are making more money than they are.
They also argue that paying college athletes actually means only a small fraction would make significant money. Out of the 350 Division I athletic departments, fewer than a dozen earn any money. Nearly all the money the NCAA makes comes from men’s football and basketball, so paying college athletes would make a small group of men--who likely will be signed to pro teams and begin making millions immediately out of college--rich at the expense of other players.
Those against paying college athletes also believe that the athletes are receiving enough benefits already. The top athletes already receive scholarships that are worth tens of thousands per year, they receive free food/housing/textbooks, have access to top medical care if they are injured, receive top coaching, get travel perks and free gear, and can use their time in college as a way to capture the attention of professional recruiters. No other college students receive anywhere near as much from their schools.
People on this side also point out that, while the NCAA brings in a massive amount of money each year, it is still a non-profit organization. How? Because over 95% of those profits are redistributed to its members’ institutions in the form of scholarships, grants, conferences, support for Division II and Division III teams, and educational programs. Taking away a significant part of that revenue would hurt smaller programs that rely on that money to keep running.
While both sides have good points, it’s clear that the negatives of paying college athletes far outweigh the positives. College athletes spend a significant amount of time and energy playing for their school, but they are compensated for it by the scholarships and perks they receive. Adding a salary to that would result in a college athletic system where only a small handful of athletes (those likely to become millionaires in the professional leagues) are paid by a handful of schools who enter bidding wars to recruit them, while the majority of student athletics and college athletic programs suffer or even shut down for lack of money. Continuing to offer the current level of benefits to student athletes makes it possible for as many people to benefit from and enjoy college sports as possible.
This argumentative essay follows the Rogerian model. It discusses each side, first laying out multiple reasons people believe student athletes should be paid, then discussing reasons why the athletes shouldn’t be paid. It ends by stating that college athletes shouldn’t be paid by arguing that paying them would destroy college athletics programs and cause them to have many of the issues professional sports leagues have.
- Both sides of the argument are well developed, with multiple reasons why people agree with each side. It allows readers to get a full view of the argument and its nuances.
- Certain statements on both sides are directly rebuffed in order to show where the strengths and weaknesses of each side lie and give a more complete and sophisticated look at the argument.
- Using the Rogerian model can be tricky because oftentimes you don’t explicitly state your argument until the end of the paper. Here, the thesis doesn’t appear until the first sentence of the final paragraph. That doesn’t give readers a lot of time to be convinced that your argument is the right one, compared to a paper where the thesis is stated in the beginning and then supported throughout the paper. This paper could be strengthened if the final paragraph was expanded to more fully explain why the author supports the view, or if the paper had made it clearer that paying athletes was the weaker argument throughout.
3 Tips for Writing a Good Argumentative Essay
Now that you’ve seen examples of what good argumentative essay samples look like, follow these three tips when crafting your own essay.
#1: Make Your Thesis Crystal Clear
The thesis is the key to your argumentative essay; if it isn’t clear or readers can’t find it easily, your entire essay will be weak as a result. Always make sure that your thesis statement is easy to find. The typical spot for it is the final sentence of the introduction paragraph, but if it doesn’t fit in that spot for your essay, try to at least put it as the first or last sentence of a different paragraph so it stands out more.
Also make sure that your thesis makes clear what side of the argument you’re on. After you’ve written it, it’s a great idea to show your thesis to a couple different people--classmates are great for this. Just by reading your thesis they should be able to understand what point you’ll be trying to make with the rest of your essay.
#2: Show Why the Other Side Is Weak
When writing your essay, you may be tempted to ignore the other side of the argument and just focus on your side, but don’t do this. The best argumentative essays really tear apart the other side to show why readers shouldn’t believe it. Before you begin writing your essay, research what the other side believes, and what their strongest points are. Then, in your essay, be sure to mention each of these and use evidence to explain why they’re incorrect/weak arguments. That’ll make your essay much more effective than if you only focused on your side of the argument.
#3: Use Evidence to Support Your Side
Remember, an essay can’t be an argumentative essay if it doesn’t support its argument with evidence. For every point you make, make sure you have facts to back it up. Some examples are previous studies done on the topic, surveys of large groups of people, data points, etc. There should be lots of numbers in your argumentative essay that support your side of the argument. This will make your essay much stronger compared to only relying on your own opinions to support your argument.
Summary: Argumentative Essay Sample
Argumentative essays are persuasive essays that use facts and evidence to support their side of the argument. Most argumentative essays follow either the Toulmin model or the Rogerian model. By reading good argumentative essay examples, you can learn how to develop your essay and provide enough support to make readers agree with your opinion. When writing your essay, remember to always make your thesis clear, show where the other side is weak, and back up your opinion with data and evidence.
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Christine graduated from Michigan State University with degrees in Environmental Biology and Geography and received her Master's from Duke University. In high school she scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT and was named a National Merit Finalist. She has taught English and biology in several countries.
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Argument Analysis Assignment
- What is an argument analysis?
- What tasks do I perform that will help me begin an argument analysis?
- What is the place of evaluation in an argument analysis?
- What type of writing is used for argument analysis?
- What should I include in a critique of an argument?
1. What is an argument analysis?
An argument analysis looks at what makes an argument ‘work’. What makes an argument valid and sound and acceptable to its audience? The answer to this question is that a number of aspects contribute to making an argument work.
One aspect—suggested by the phrase “acceptable to its audience”—is to consider the ways in which the argument is tailored for particular listeners or readers, for a particular purpose, and within a particular context. Another aspect—suggested by the phrase “valid and sound”—is to consider the extent to which the argument follows the laws of logic and avoids fallacies in its reasoning.
Your instructor may refer to the first aspect—with its focus on audience, purpose, and context—as rhetorical and the second aspect—with its focus on reasoning—as logical . However, logos has long been considered an element of rhetoric, so do not be surprised if the logical and the rhetorical overlap.
2. What tasks do I perform that will help me begin an argument analysis?
At the outset of an argument analysis, it is important to recognize that the speaker or writer is trying to persuade an audience of something. One task, then, is to identify the conclusion —the overall position that the speaker or writer is supporting. The word conclusion here is not being used to refer to the ending or final paragraph of the essay or speech. Instead, it is being used to refer to the outcome of a chain of reasoning.
Another task is to pinpoint the argument’s premises —the statements that the speaker or writer brings forward to create the chain of reasoning that supports the conclusion. By performing these tasks, you bring into focus the logical structure of the argument.
One specific technique for describing an argument’s logical structure is to create a ‘map’ or diagram. Another useful move is to determine whether the argument is deductive or inductive (or a mix of both).
3. What is the place of evaluation in an argument analysis?
A complete analysis of an argument requires more than charting its logical structure and determining the role of deduction and induction within that structure. The point of identifying the main parts of an argument—its premises and its conclusion—is to enable you to evaluate it.
In evaluating arguments ask questions such as these:
- Should I accept the argument?
- If not, what prevents the argument from being compelling?
- Are the supporting claims true or reasonable?
- Is any of the reasoning fallacious, illogical, or otherwise questionable?
4. What type of writing is used for argument analysis?
We often look for ways to respond to what we have read or heard, and one way to do so is to write a critique . In a critique, we systematically examine and evaluate a piece of writing or a speech. We may want to analyze a writer’s or speaker’s logic. We may want to identify and assess his persuasive or rhetorical strategies. A critique can allow us to do either or both. One way to approach the Argument Analysis, then, is to think of it as a critique. Your Argument Analysis essay will systematically examine and evaluate the rhetoric and logic of a speech or a piece of writing.
5. What should I include in a critique of an argument?
In a critique , you want to carefully consider whether an author has achieved her goal and what part language and other choices play in the success or failure of the argument. Ask yourself questions like the following:
- Has the text been organized effectively?
- Are the examples or arguments relevant or familiar to the audience? Are they suitable for the context?
- Is the vocabulary relevant or familiar to the audience? Is it suitable for the context?
- Are the dialect, tone, usage, and style appropriate for audience and context?
- If the argument is delivered as a speech, is the delivery effective? Has the delivery been tailored to its audience?
- Has the writer or speaker made choices that would encourage trust in her ethos?
- Has she made choices that create effective appeals to pathos?
- Has she made choices that create effective appeals to logos?
In the critique, be certain to keep the focus on the text being examined and evaluated rather than on your own personal response to the argument. To avoid inserting your personal response into the critique, avoid phrases such as “I think,” “I feel” or “I believe,” as well as related phrases such as “It seems to me” or “It appears to me.”
Also be careful not to be sidetracked into summarizing the argument instead of analyzing it. You may need to include some brief summary in a critique, but only in order to bring up points that you then evaluate for their success in advancing the author’s position.
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Rhetorical Argument
Introduction.
- Stasis Theory
- Rhetorical Appeals (Ethos, Pathos, Logos)
- Logical Fallacies
- Critique & Evaluation
- Argument Analysis
- Visual Argument
- Toulmin Argument
- Rogerian Argument
An analysis paper is an examination of the elements of a paper; in an argument analysis paper, the writer examines the argument of the author, the evidence, and the conclusions in an article. The purpose of the paper is not to agree or disagree with the position the author takes in their argument, but rather to evaluate the argument made. When writing an argument analysis paper, consider the following:
- Who is the author’s target audience?
- What is their argument?
- What supporting evidence does the author provide? Is it quantifiable or emotional?
- What is the quality of the sources which they use as evidence?
- Is the author making assumptions?
- Does their evidence support their conclusions?
When analyzing an argument, you are scrutinizing the logic and structure the author uses to present their argument. You can suggest improvements to their argument and point out counterarguments, but ultimately your point in the analysis is to evaluate the logic and quality of the support they provide for their claim.
Being able to identify core components of an argument and analyze the effectiveness of an argument helps you to understand the components of an argument, judge arguments critically, and to write your own effective arguments.
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To write an argumentative essay, write an opening paragraph that introduces the topic, craft a thesis statement that details the position or side of the argument defended in the body, and provide supporting arguments throughout the body of ...
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