ACADEMIC WRITING

“The Argumentative Essay”

Skeleton and Example

Written by
Walid Sharara
Language Unit Supervisor
ESLSCA Business School in Egypt
(2018)
 Argumentative Essay
Skeleton and Example

Introduction

The argumentative essay is an essay in which you either accept or challenge an opinion
/perspective on an issue, using reasons and evidence to support your opinion. Your ultimate
purpose is to convince the reader that your opinion/perspective is correct and worthy of
consideration. Learners are encouraged to use the argumentative essay because it helps them
think clearly and objectively. It also helps them form a strong argument by selecting evidence
important to their argument and discrediting/refuting opposing arguments

Please keep the following definitions in mind while practicing the argumentative essay.

 Your position on a topic is termed “your argument.” Your argument clearly states your
position /perspective on an issue.
 The reasons and examples you use to support your argument are called “evidence.”
 The opposing argument you aim to discredit is termed “counterargument.”
 The process of gathering evidence to discredit counterarguments is called “refutation.”

Therefore, you attempt to formulate a strong argument by identifying your position on the issue at
hand and utilizing evidence to the nest interest of your argument. To make your argument
stronger, you list important counterarguments and refute them by identifying reasons/evidence
why they are untrue, inaccurate, or irrelevant. You always defend your position and attacked those
opinions that disagree with yours.

Example

Consider the essay topic below.

“The act of the United Kingdome of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (the UK) leaving the
European Union (EU) has generated a great deal of controversy within the UK and EU countries.
Supporters of Brexit believe in a stronger UK that has more power over its own politics and
borders. Anti-Brexiteers believe in a stronger UK with access to the EU’ single market and
collaboration with European countries.” Argue for your point of view and include any relevant
examples from your own knowledge or experience. Write at least 250 words.

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This is an example of an argumentative essay question. It presents to you a controversial topic
and asks you to take a position on it, gather enough evidence in its support, defend it against
opposing points of view and discredit those opposing points of view by proving them to be
incorrect, inaccurate, or irrelevant. Consider the analysis below.

If you support Brexit, the following should be your train of thought.

Topic: Brexit, the act of the UK leaving the EU

Your Position: you support the UK in its decision to leave the EU

Your Evidence: you mention at this stage all the examples, reasons, and data that validates the
UK’s move out of the EU

Counterargument Refutation: you mention at this stage the key opposing argument that attack the
UK’s move out of the EU; you mention at this stage the examples, reasons, and data that
disqualifies those who are against the UK’s move out of the EU and prove them incorrect,
inaccurate, or irrelevant; each counterargument must be immediately followed by its
refutation.

If you do not support Brexit, the following should be your train of thought.

Topic: Brexit, the act of the UK leaving the EU

Your Position: You do not support the UK in its decision to leave the EU

Your Evidence: you mention at this stage all the examples, reasons, and data that prove that the
UK will have a greater advantage if it stays in the UK and why leaving is dangerous

Counterargument Refutation: you mention at this stage the key opposing arguments that
encourage the UK to leave the EU; you mention at this stage the examples, reasons, and data that
discredit those who encourage the UK to leave the EU; ; each counterargument must be
immediately followed by its refutation.

Having this thought pattern clear in your head, let’s now see how you can render this on paper
clearly and effective. In other words, what the “Organization” of your essay should look like.

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Organization

There are several organization patterns for your argumentative essay. The most important
element that should be clear in your organization is how you engage with the counterarguments
and refute them effectively. The following organization pattern needs to be followed as it helps
your readers trace your argument, evidence, counterarguments, and refutation.

Introduction (One/two paragraphs)

 Attention Graber/Hook
 Background to the topic
 Definition (if necessary)
 Thesis statement
 Essay Map (in argumentation)

Body Paragraphs

Your argument (position and evidence) – one paragraph or more

You mention your argument supported by evidence. This may take one paragraph or more
depending on how many reasons you have that validate your argument and position. Your
evidence proves why your position and argument are correct, accurate, and relevant. Your
evidence may include statistics, opinions and testimonies of experts, and/or examples from
similar cases in the past/present.

Counterargument refutation – One paragraph or more

You mention those important counterarguments that challenge your arguments. You list them
one by one using proper transitional phrases. Every time you mention a counterargument, you
refute it using evidence. Thus, each counterargument is immediately refuted with proper
evidence. Your intent is to discredit these coutner arguments and prove them incorrect,
inaccurate, and/or irrelevant; ; each counterargument must be immediately followed by its
refutation.

Conclusion (One paragraph)

Your conclusion presents the reader with a summary of the controversial topic at hand, your
argument, and why your argument outweighs the counterarguments that you have refuted. The
conclusion could rephrase the thesis statement. It is general and do not deal with the
particularities of either your argument or refutation.

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Example

The Brexit

“To be or not to be?” The greatest question asked by one of Shakespeare’s tragic heroes still
echoes today in modern-day Britain. It has undergone a slight change though: “to leave”
affirming the United Kingdom’s move out of the European Union (EU), or “not to leave”
confirming the UK’s stay in the EU. The act of leaving the EU is termed “Brexit” by both its
advocates and detractors. On June 23rd, 2016, the UK settled this question, deciding by a narrow
vote to leave the European Union. Although leaving the EU would cause discomfort for many
individuals and corporation, it is bound, in the long term, to bear fruits for the UK’s economy,
legal system, and society.

Preceded only by Germany and followed by France, the UK’s economy is one of the strongest
three economies in the Continent. Its strength stems from its ability to provide high quality
products and services not only to the UK and its commonwealth countries, but also to the various
countries of the European Union and the world. Brexit would, in fact, ensure a greater profit
margin and more authority over the UK’s economic activities beyond the restrictions of EU’s
trade agreements and restrictions that have been written outside of the UK and mostly against its
interests. Brexit guarantees that the UK would regain control over its trade deals and have more
markets in the EU and overseas open to products and services offered by the UK.

In addition to the economic dimension, the Brexit offers a unique opportunity for the UK to
break free from the laws that are drawn up in Brussels and incorporated forcefully in the UK’s
domestic law. For example, the current laws that are subsumed into the UK law in accordance
with EU Legislative Court gives advantages to non-UK companies to come to the UK and
provide cheaper products and services, thus competing unfairly with UK companies that have
already lost a great deal of its customers. Repealing laws derived from EU legislation would
definitely give a better chance for UK businesses to regain the customers that they have lost and
gradually make for the losses they have suffered since the UK became part of the EU.

The benefits of Brexit do not stop at the UK’s economy and legal system. They actually
encompass the British society as well. Since its joining of the EU, the British society has suffered
from overwhelming numbers of immigrants from the poorer countries of the European Union. As
one of EU’s guiding principles is “freedom of movement of people,” many UK citizens have
found themselves jobless because immigrants from the EU poorer countries accepted jobs at or
below the minimum daily wage. Furthermore, crimes and drugs have found a way into the UK,
disturbing the peace of a once-conservative society. Leaving the EU would tighten up the
governments grip on who enters British lands, therefore protecting the UK from many social ills.

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It is true that there would be some temporary drawbacks that might confuse businesses and
individuals in the UK and outside. For example, there will be a temporary gap in the job market
especially in the domain of technical specialists (plumbers, electricians ..etc.). However, this
poses no threat to the UK economy for two reasons: first, there are many technical and
vocational centers all over the UK that can provide adequate training for the British youth; the
other is that technicians from the other EU countries who are currently living and working in the
UK would be permitted to stay and work as far as they comply with the new tax regulations. The
UK is a thriving market for them, and it is very unlikely that they would leave. Some people are
worried that the value of the British pound would depreciate as the exchange rate with the Euro
changes. Yet, this is on short-term basis. The value of the British pounds would, in fact, increase
as new markets are open. The prospect of the UK trading on its own terms with EU and non-EU
countries is worth fighting for.

In a nutshell, despite the challenges that the UK will face after Brexit, it is quite relieving to be
sure that these challenges will be short-lived. The benefits of leaving the EU far outweigh the
cries of the naysayers. It is now the time that the UK reclaims what rightfully belongs to its
people: sovereignty, safety, and economic prosperity.

Analysis

Now discuss with your group the questions below.

Introduction (Analysis Questions)

 Underline the attention grabber. What type of statement is it? Do you think it is
interesting to the reader? Why?
 What information is included in the background part of the introduction? Is it
satisfactory? Why?
 What is the definition mentioned? What does it introduce to the reader? Could it have
been delayed in the body of the essay or removed altogether?
 What is the thesis statement? What is the topic? What are the elements in the essay that
will be further detailed in the body paragraphs? How is it argumentative?

Body (Analysis Questions)

 How many body paragraphs are there in the essay?

 What is the topic discussed in each body paragraph?
 What kind of details mentioned in support of the main idea of each paragraph?

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  What are the transitions used?
 Underline the cohesive ties in the paragraphs? (e..g pronoun references)
 What are the counterarguments mentioned? Are they sufficiently refuted?

Conclusion (Analysis Questions)

 Does the conclusion reflect the argumentative tone of the article?

 What transitions are used for introducing the summary of the argument?
 What is the level of detail mentioned in the conclusion?
 Does the conclusion decide the argument in favor of the author’s point of view?

General (Analysis Questions)

 Is the article argumentative in tone?

 Have enough evidence been used in the argumentation part?
 Could you follow the line of thought of the author easily?
 If there is one thing you could change in the argumentation or refutation part, what would
that be? Please write your version of it below.

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