An argumentative essay is a short piece of writing that tackles a specific subject. Often it requires an opinion based on objective facts on the chosen subject. An argumentative essay, is not merely pouring out one’s thoughts on a topic, nor is it a retelling of researched facts. It involves an equal amount of research and a methodical analysis and reflection on the subject matter; and although creativity is encouraged, writers still need to adhere to the essay structure.
Essays have a fixed structure to help the writer stay on track to his/her topic as well as to help the reader understand the essay easier. The basic structure of an essay is composed of an introduction, the body, and the conclusion.
The introduction is where the tone of the rest of the essay is set. It gives a general overview of the topic and the points or arguments in the essay. The argument is usually revealed through the thesis statement. Longer essays may also explain the method of argument used or the main essay structure.
The introduction should show what the essay has to contribute to the topic. It is the first thing that the reader will see, thus it is what will decide whether the reader will go on reading the essay or not. Therefore, the introduction should be brief and concise but interesting.
The body is the main meat of the essay. It is where the main argument or the thesis statement is dissected, explained, and supported with data from research. The writer may also include his/her own thoughts and opinions in this part. The body should have its own structure apart from the basic structure of an essay.
The final part of an essay is the conclusion. It is what closes the essay by reviewing the points or arguments and the writer’s opinion again and tying them all up. Unlike the introduction which contains the thesis statement and the method used in analyzing the materials, the conclusion has the thesis statement and the data and the opinion of the writer. The conclusion should also be kept short as the main points should have already been expounded on the body; the conclusion is just a recap.
A good essay structure sample is one that has three paragraphs (but still, the number shouldn't be limited to three) one for each part, and although it is possible to have more depending on the needs of the topic. Ultimately, the decision will be in the hands of the writer.
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