What Are Argumentative Essay Papers?

An argumentative essay paper persuades the reader of something

Not every essay can count as an argumentative essay paper, even when they all are, some way or another, trying to capture the reader’s attention. But when it comes to writing persuasive essays, the student should focus on applying a series of techniques. Argumentative essay papers (which you can also find listed under “persuasive essays” or “argument essays”) use reason and logical arguments to prove that a specific idea (the writer’s point of view on a certain topic) is more valid than another, typically opposite to the first. But you can’t only try to prove other people wrong listening to your heart and intuition. On the contrary, in order to write a good essay of this kind, you should consider supporting your argument with valid reasons, using facts, examples and experts quotation to prove you right.

How do they work?

By employing a series of rhetorical procedures and writing techniques, when you are working on argumentative essays you try to persuade the reader to embrace the same point of view you are expressing. Some argumentative essay papers even try to convince the reader to take a specific action based on the reading. For practical reasons one may consider that the purpose on these essays is almost the same as advertising, even when in the last one, the action is always one and only: buy, buy, buy!

Choosing a topic

When writing an argumentative essay paper, you should pick a topic which must be debatable: no one can write a persuasive essay about the colour of the sky, since there are no doubts about it. Controversial subjects can include political opinions, death penalty, euthanasia, in vitro fertilisation, immigration controls, globalization or any other topic in which you can write down a thesis statement as well as its opposite.
The topic, basically, should be an unsolved problem. You must choose your own position, taking into account real facts that support it. You may as well choose a position which is not truly yours, but which you feel it can be easily demonstrated.

Persuading readers

When working on argumentative papers, students should not appeal to the reader’s feelings or beliefs but, on the contrary, base their whole essay on logic and reason. For example, you can’t support abortion by saying “the poor pregnant girls don’t feel themselves prepared to motherhood”, but you can provide actual facts on how many women die every year caused on illegal abortion clinics.
That is why it is crucial, before actually starting to write, that the students do a research and be well informed about their topic. Of course, the paper should provide the reader with the opposing argument as well, even if it is only in order to refute it with evidence and examples that support the other statement. Remember that the best means of persuading are definitely facts. In order to find them, read newspapers and books. A visit to the library would be a great idea. Direct quotes from experts in the topic are other valuable source of information.

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