Argumentative Essay

Definition
The argumentative essay is a genre of writing that requires the student to
investigate a topic; collect, generate, and evaluate evidence; and establish a
position on the topic in a concise manner.
Please note: Some confusion may occur between the argumentative essay and
the expository essay. These two genres are similar, but the argumentative
essay differs from the expository essay in the amount of pre-writing
(invention) and research involved. The argumentative essay is commonly
assigned as a capstone or final project in first year writing or advanced
composition courses and involves lengthy, detailed research. Argumentative
essay assignments generally call for extensive research of literature or
previously published material. Argumentative assignments may also require
empirical research where the student collects data through interviews, surveys,
observations, or experiments. Detailed research allows the student to learn
about the topic and to understand different points of view regarding the topic
so that she/he may choose a position and support it with the evidence collected
during research. Regardless of the amount or type of research involved,
argumentative essays must establish a clear thesis and follow sound reasoning.
An Argumentative essay is a genre of writing that takes a strong stance on any
given issue. A good argumentative essay uses evidence and facts to support
the claim it’s making apart from the writer’s thoughts and opinions to make
strong reasoning. For example, you wanted to write an argumentative essay
testifying that New York is a great destination to with your group of friends
for a trip.
You couldn’t just simply state that it’s a great destination because you and
your friends enjoyed it. When presenting your case in an argumentative essay,
you need facts and data to support your argument, such as the number of tourist
attractions in and around New York City, great places to wine and dine for a
group of youngsters, a survey of people who have stayed in New York and
why they enjoy the city.
Here you can see that the first argument is based on your personal feelings,
whereas the second argument is based on facts and evidence that can be
proven, which is our ultimate goal to convince everyone of the argument we
are presenting before them.
Therefore, the main goal of an argumentative essay is to persuade the reader
to agree with the argument being made which is backed by providing evidence,
facts, and statistics. Keeping this in mind, you should present your central idea

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or thesis statement. Because from this moment forward it will be the point of
focus of everything else that follows from there.
The structure of the argumentative essay is held together by the following.
• A clear, concise, and defined thesis statement that occurs in the
first paragraph of the essay.
In the first paragraph of an argument essay, students should set the context by
reviewing the topic in a general way. Next the author should explain why the
topic is important (exigence) or why readers should care about the issue.
Lastly, students should present the thesis statement. It is essential that this
thesis statement be appropriately narrowed to follow the guidelines set forth
in the assignment. If the student does not master this portion of the essay, it
will be quite difficult to compose an effective or persuasive essay.
• Clear and logical transitions between the introduction, body, and
conclusion.
Transitions are the mortar that holds the foundation of the essay together.
Without logical progression of thought, the reader is unable to follow the
essay’s argument, and the structure will collapse. Transitions should wrap up
the idea from the previous section and introduce the idea that is to follow in
the next section.
• Body paragraphs that include evidential support.
Each paragraph should be limited to the discussion of one general idea. This
will allow for clarity and direction throughout the essay. In addition, such
conciseness creates an ease of readability for one’s audience. It is important to
note that each paragraph in the body of the essay must have some logical
connection to the thesis statement in the opening paragraph. Some paragraphs
will directly support the thesis statement with evidence collected during
research. It is also important to explain how and why the evidence supports
the thesis (warrant).
However, argumentative essays should also consider and explain differing
points of view regarding the topic. Depending on the length of the assignment,
students should dedicate one or two paragraphs of an argumentative essay to
discussing conflicting opinions on the topic. Rather than explaining how these
differing opinions are wrong outright, students should note how opinions that
do not align with their thesis might not be well informed or how they might
be out of date.
• Evidential support (whether factual, logical, statistical, or
anecdotal).
The argumentative essay requires well-researched, accurate, detailed, and
current information to support the thesis statement and consider other points

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of view. Some factual, logical, statistical, or anecdotal evidence should
support the thesis. However, students must consider multiple points of view
when collecting evidence. As noted in the paragraph above, a successful and
well-rounded argumentative essay will also discuss opinions not aligning with
the thesis. It is unethical to exclude evidence that may not support the thesis.
It is not the student’s job to point out how other positions are wrong outright,
but rather to explain how other positions may not be well informed or up to
date on the topic.
• A conclusion that does not simply restate the thesis, but
readdresses it in light of the evidence provided.
It is at this point of the essay that students may begin to struggle. This is the
portion of the essay that will leave the most immediate impression on the mind
of the reader. Therefore, it must be effective and logical. Do not introduce any
new information into the conclusion; rather, synthesize the information
presented in the body of the essay. Restate why the topic is important, review
the main points, and review your thesis. You may also want to include a short
discussion of more research that should be completed in light of your work.

3 Good Free Argumentative Essay Examples to Guide you

Sample Argumentative Essay 1:
Essay on Effects of Smoking
More and more countries and cities around the world are banning
smoking, in public places. According to numerous medical studies, smoking
not only causes innumerable health problems for a person but also for every
single non-smoker close by too. Even though people carry on debating the pros
and cons of smoking, the reality is that a ban is the most fitting and logical
decision in the case of smoking in public areas.
Even though there are some arguments on both sides, here are the solid
reasons why the smoking ban is essential. First of all, smoking, even outside,
can cause many health problems, such as bronchial infections and asthmatic
attacks even in non-smokers.
This point is predominantly crucial for nearly one million people in the
US who suffer from chronic sinusitis, asthma, bronchial infections, and
additional conditions that have something to do with breathing. Smoking
harms our environment. That’s a fact. In addition to the point that smoking is
harmful to you and your family members, it damages our ecosystem with all
of its populaces.
All the plastic filters, cigarette butts, and other elements of smoked
cigarettes are most likely to pollute waterways, soil, and beaches. The most

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recent lab studies demonstrate that such toxic compounds of cigarettes as
pesticide residues and nicotine are harmful to fish and other microorganisms.
In addition to some outward damage being done by smoking, it
is imperative to mention the cost of this dubious pleasure. The fact is that
smoking is like a fiscal trap for every individual addicted to nicotine.
As reported by the CDC, the financial burden that smoking places on
individuals keep on rising, with approximately $193 billion spent yearly in the
US. One of the vital things that many young women are anxious about is aging.
And this is the case where smoking and its side effects should be mentioned
as well. The reality is that one of the most substantial causes of premature
aging is nicotine & smoking.
People who smoke regularly are more probable to face early skin
vagaries. As stated by the scientists of the American Academy of
Dermatology, regular smoking causes a variety of biochemical changes that
push the course of aging. For example, if you’re a regular smoker, you
contribute to depriving the living skin tissue of valuable oxygen.
As a consequence, blood can’t reach your organs quickly and easily.
In conclusion, it is clear from the whole shebang discussed above that smoking
should be branded illegal in all public places all over the globe. As an effect,
this would advance the state of the environment & the health of each person,
and that is more than enough.

Sample Argumentative Essay 2:

The Legalization of Gambling
According to Korn & Shaffer, Gambling means jeopardizing
something that is of value on an outcome of an event when the likelihood of
winning is less than assured. There is proof that it existed during Ancient
times; although under the rule of Caesar, the Romans took part in it; in our day
and age, we are encircled by it. Gambling has become a familiar truth in our
society.
Playing the weekly lottery, betting on horses at the track, and daubing
one’s bingo card at the community hall are just a few of the many practices of
gambling. Although it is considered to be a harmless hobby to some people, it
is an addiction to others.
Despite the studies that specify that gambling can have negative effects on the
family, health, the law, and enforcement system, it is the attractive income that
gambling provides to governments, the inflow of tourism it can bring to a city,
or the concept of the state taking control away from the underworld that helps
to divulge that the benefits of the legalization of gambling are much greater
than the costs.
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 The most evident argument as to why the legalization of gambling has
been so widespread is the enormous revenue it generates for governments.
With an enterprise that sums up over fifty billion a year, many governments
view gambling as a smart way of bringing in money. In a study by Vaillancourt
and Roy, the authors stated that the ban on gambling would result in a tax
increase between ten and fifteen percent to replace gambling revenues.
Given the statistic that 82% of households took part in some form of
gambling, taking this activity away followed by increasing taxes would not
reverberate well with the public. Such a high proportion of people gambling
illustrates how the attractiveness of legalized gambling can entice people to
cities, therefore giving a boost to the city’s tourism industry, one more sector
that welcomes this source of revenue.
Cities, where gambling is permitted, are considered to be great tourist
attractions. When a casino opens, an influx of money enters the economy
because of the increased number of tourists. Las Vegas is a testimony to how
tourists’ dollars are capable of transforming a barren desert into a highly
desired and preferred destination.
This increase in the number of tourists results in an upsurge in
spending in the community, thus providing opportunities for employment and
a boost to the hospitality sector. One of the motives why many people have
become keen to try to gamble is because the majority of people no longer see
the act as a sinful and dirty vice conjured up by the corrupt underworld.
The legalization of gambling has permitted the state to take control
away from the criminal underworld. This has weakened the influence of
swindlers, forgers, and thieves, all of whom use gambling as an arena for their
work. Although placing bets illegally through bookkeepers continues to exist,
it is essential to realize that earlier to its legalization, those in control of
gambling entirely controlled the underworld.
While it gives the impression that the legalization of gambling has
delivered society with positive results, one must also identify the negative
effects that it has had on the family, health sector, and law and enforcement.
When scrutinizing the cost-benefit effects of the legalization of gambling, one
should also study the family.
One problematic issue is that gambling has provided everyone with an
opportunity to take part in an act that can destroy people’s lives and the lives
of those closest to them. There is proof that gambling can have negative effects
on one’s life, all of which can take a toll on the family and community life.
An analysis of the Florida lottery revealed that a greater portion of the
revenue made through the lottery came from low-income families who bought

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lottery tickets in place of utilities. The increasing attraction between children
and gambling has resulted in several studies.
Researchers have discovered that adolescents who get involved in
gambling have a higher rate of school failure, family struggle, sexual activity,
psychiatric disorders, and felonies. Given the problems in this area, parents
and schools should take on greater responsibility for enlightening children
about the potential dangers of gambling. It is important to recognize the
association between gambling and numerous negative behaviors.
Studies have confirmed that alcoholism and depression are related, and
it has also been discovered that approximately forty-four percent of
pathological gamblers are problem drinkers as well. Some studies similarly
put forward the theory that spouses of compulsive gamblers also have a high
rate of mental diseases like depression and psychosomatic ailments.
In a country such as Canada, where there is universal healthcare, researchers
argue that all of these negative effects of gambling place stress on the health
sector. Just as it has been the government’s choice to legalize gambling, it has
become the government’s obligation to develop and fund treatment programs
for illnesses caused by gambling.
Acknowledging that pathological gamblers do need support from the
health system, it is important to identify that only a minority of gamblers have
problems. Therefore, the argument of those opposing the legalization of
gambling on the justification that it takes its toll on our health care system does
not carry much weight, because it has been seen that the strain on the health
sector is nominal.
The law and enforcement system is another area of apprehension for
adversaries of the legalization of gambling. This is since many people who
have become in debt due to gambling route to committing crimes to rectify
their financial situation. This in turn brings the police into the balance,
followed by a judicial system where there would be a trial. Once again, this
argument is not a robust one, as the ratio of people who gamble to the point
where they are forced to commit crimes is very small.
Legalized gambling has provided governments with a great source of
revenue, it has also facilitated offering a tourist attraction to many cities, and
it has delivered a safer environment for people who relish gambling. However
we cannot dismiss the impending dangers of gambling; nevertheless, one must
always accept the responsibility for their actions.
Family members, school systems, and any business profiting from the
gambling industry should do their share in helping to safeguard that gambling
is regarded as a stimulating social outing, a delightful activity, or in the case
of the purchaser of a weekly one-dollar lottery ticket, an enjoyable hobby.

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Sample Argumentative Essay 3:
Is Human cloning ethical and should it be allowed?
Discovery and invention have been the nearest confidantes of man in
the journey of civilization and making history. This journey took a divisive
turn when it was discovered that clones of an individual can be created in a
lab. All of this started when Dolly the sheep was created as an experiment.
On the one hand, it opened a doorway for cutting-edge discoveries and
inventions, but at the same time, it also distressed many religious communities
across the world. Even today, it is a burning topic of discussion whether it is
ethical to allow making clones of different organisms or not.
In the United States of America, the movement to ban human cloning
is intensely endorsed by the leader of the research team that cloned the sheep
“Dolly.” However, he alleged that his technique of creating human embryos
for research purposes that aren’t implanted could not be represented ethically.
This method can be very helpful for infertile couples to have children
of their own, by removing birth defects, extending life, organ transplant, and
many medical conditions. Although cloning of organisms can help us in
various ways that we know and do not of. If soon, human cloning is acceptable,
it can open a new chapter of sweeping chaos which may threaten human
civilization.
Many curious minds and people with illegitimate intentions may take
this wonderful invention of science to a level where unethical, inhumane, and
morally unforgivable crimes can be committed incontestably.
It can be explicitly stated this way that a human clone, when fully
grown, will be identified as the rest of us humans. The dilemma comes in here
because it will feel and respond just like any other human, and will hold all
the rights available to another human which do not permit a person to be a
subject of experimentation deprived of their choice.
Things may work out comparatively well if research organizations are
allowed to use the technique of cloning on a restricted and supervised level.
However, permitting such experiments requires extensive care and
monitoring, which is a complicated yet delicate task. Moreover, even if it is
allowed, it has serious drawbacks as well. Even a little blunder in this field can
lead to atrocious consequences of gigantic proportions.
For instance, on the occasion of an organ transplant, the body may
reject the cloned tissues or worse it may not even respond to the new treatment.
Human nature is the collection of immeasurable positive and negative
energies, and there is always a continuous battle between both.

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 Negative energies are always prepared to consume the positive ones to
take charge of the personality and entice an individual to do dissolute acts.
Because of this precise reason, humans created laws and rules to establish a
controlled and organized environment. This is the reason why mankind
became more and more civilized over time.
Now, virtually the entire population of Earth holds on to some moral,
ethical, traditional, and religious values. So, the government, scientists, and
the public are left with no choice but to veto the cloning of humans because
there is a high chance that a group of people may take advantage and do
inexcusable dissolute acts. Human cloning has boundless advantages as well
as disadvantages. If we are to be certain whether human cloning should be
allowed or not, both sides have solid and valid reasons.
Observably, it cannot be endorsed to immorally use this technique, and
on the other hand, it has immeasurable phenomenal advantages in the field of
medicine which cannot be ignored. Together the scientists, the government,
and the community need to come up with a solution, which can allow this
technique of cloning to be used in a way that is ethically appropriate and
medically supportive.
Now that you’ve seen examples of what good argumentative essay
examples entail, you can additionally keep the following tips in mind when
curating your essay.
• Make Your Thesis Crystal Clear by ensuring that your thesis statement
is easy to find and readers can understand it easily by making precise
arguments and taking a clear stand.
• Show why the other side’s argument is weak by making strong valid
points backed by facts and evidence. This is a crucial point not to be
ignored.
• Make facts, statistics, and data the backbone of your argument. This
will not only give your argumentative essay strong support but will
also help you convince your readers easily.
Suggestions for Developing Argumentative Essays
Select an arguable topic, preferably one which interests, puzzles, or appeals to
you.
1. Make sure your topic is neither too broad--something which warrants a
dissertation--nor too limited. Decide what your goals are for the paper.
What is your purpose? What opinion, view, or idea do you want to prove?
Try to articulate your purpose clearly before you begin writing. If you
cannot state your purpose clearly, try to freewrite about your topic.

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2. Take a position on your topic, and form a thesis statement. Your thesis must
be arguable; it must assert or deny something about your topic. To be
arguable, a thesis must have some probability of being true. It should not,
however, be generally accepted as true; it must be a statement with which
people may disagree. Keep in mind that a thesis contains both an
observation and an opinion:

observation + opinion (the "why") = thesis

A good way to test the strength of your thesis is to see if it yields a strong
antithesis.
Common thesis pitfalls:
• A thesis expressed as a fragment.
• A thesis which is too broad.
• A thesis worded as a question. (Usually the answer to the question
yields the thesis)
• A thesis which includes extraneous information.
• A thesis which begins with I think or in my opinion.
• A thesis which deals with a stale or trite issue.
• A thesis which contains words which lead to faulty generalizations (all,
none, always, only, everyone, etc.)
Thesis writing tips:
• A thesis evolves as you work with your topic. Brainstorm, research,
talk, and think about your topic before settling on a thesis. If you are
having trouble formulating a thesis, begin freewriting about your topic.
Your freewrite may suggest a workable thesis.
• During the writing process, consider your thesis a working thesis and
be willing to modify and re-focus it as you draft and revise your paper.
• Copy your working thesis on an index card and keep it in front of you
as you research and write. Having your thesis in plain view may help
focus your writing.
3. Consider your audience.
Plan your paper with a specific audience in mind. Who are your readers? Are
they a definable group--disinterested observers, opponents of your point of
view, etc.? Perhaps you are writing to your classmates. Ask your professor or
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GSI who you should consider your target audience. If you are not certain of
your audience, direct your argument to a general audience.
4. Present clear and convincing evidence.
Strong essays consist of reasons supported by evidence. Reasons can be
thought of as the main points supporting your claim or thesis. Often they are
the answers to the question, "Why do you make that claim?" An easy way to
think of reasons is to see them as "because phrases." In order to validate your
reasons and make your argument successful, support your reasons with ample
evidence.
The St. Martin's Guide to Writing (Axelrod & Cooper, 2nd ed., New York: St.
Martin's Press, 1988) lists the following forms of evidence:
• facts
• statistics
• authorities
• anecdotes
• scenarios
• cases
• textual evidence
For most college papers, you will include evidence you have gathered from
various sources and texts. Make sure you document your evidence properly.
When using evidence, make sure you (1) introduce it properly, and (2) explain
its significance. Do not assume that your evidence will speak for itself--that
your readers will glean from your evidence that which you want them to glean.
Explain the importance of each piece of evidence--how it elucidates or
supports your point, why it is significant. Build evidence into your text, and
use it strategically to prove your points.
In addition to using evidence, thoughtful writers anticipate their
readers' counterarguments Counterarguments include objections, alternatives,
challenges, or questions to your argument. Imagine readers responding to your
argument as it unfolds. How might they react? A savvy writer will anticipate
and address counterarguments. A writer can address counterarguments
by acknowledging, accommodating, and/or refuting them.
5. Draft your essay.
As is the case with any piece of writing, you should take your argumentative
essay through multiple drafts. When writing and revising your drafts, make
sure you:
• provide ample evidence, presented logically and fairly

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 • deal with the opposing point of view
• pay particular attention to the organization of your essay. Make sure
its structure suits your topic and audience
• address and correct any fallacies of logic
• include proper transitions to allow your reader to follow your
argument
6. Edit your draft.
After you have written a developed draft, take off your writer's hat and put on
your reader's hat. Evaluate your essay carefully and critically. Exchange a
draft of your essay with classmates to get their feedback. Carefully revise your
draft based on your assessment of it and suggestions from your peers. For self-
assessment and peer response to your draft, you may want to use a peer editing
sheet. A peer editing sheet will guide you and your peers by asking specific
questions about your text (i.e., What is the thesis of this essay? Is it arguable?
Does the writer include ample evidence? Is the structure suitable for the topic
and the audience?).
In conclusion, we can say that argumentative essays are convincing essays
that take the aid of facts and evidence to sustain their side of the argument.
Most argumentative essay examples follow either the Classical model,
Toulmin model, or the Rogerian model.
Therefore, by understanding and analyzing good argumentative essay
examples, you too can acquire skills on how to improve your essay and
provide enough support to make readers agree with your own opinion. Just
remember, when writing your essay, summon up ways to make your thesis
clear, demonstrate where the other side is weak and lacking in argument, and
most importantly back up your opinion with data and evidence.
Task 9

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Expository Essay

Definition
The expository essay is a genre of essay that requires the student to investigate
an idea, evaluate evidence, expound on the idea, and set forth an argument
concerning that idea in a clear and concise manner. This can be accomplished
through comparison and contrast, definition, example, the analysis of cause
and effect, etc.
An expository essay is an essay that communicates factual information.
Broadly, this type of writing is known as expository writing. Expository
essays rely on different structures to communicate their positions, like
compare and contrast, process essays, and analyzing cause and effect.
Expository writing is one of the four main types of writing. The others are
persuasive, narrative, and descriptive writing.
Knowing how to write an expository essay, along with knowing how to write
other types of essays, is an essential skill for any student to master. Expository
writing isn’t the place to be cute, clever, or edgy; it’s the kind of writing where
you position facts and observations to let them speak for themselves in the
most effective way possible. It’s the kind of writing you do when you’re
analyzing information you’ve been assigned to study, thinking critically about
concepts covered in class, and explaining the processes and reasons behind the
conclusions you’ve reached.
The purpose of expository writing
Expository writing has a clear purpose: to educate the reader. While it may
also entertain or persuade the reader, these are secondary benefits and not the
author’s goal. Well-crafted expository writing demonstrates the author’s
expertise on the subject and in many cases demonstrates how they learned
about their subject.
For example, you might be assigned to write an essay about the mock trial
your class held. In this essay, you would introduce the assignment and the case
your class worked on through the trial. Then in the following body paragraphs,
you would describe each stage in the mock trial process (discovery, opening
statements, cross-examination, closing statements, jury deliberation, and
verdict) and how your class completed each of these stages. In the final
paragraph, you would state the verdict your class reached and the judge’s
ruling.
Your essay about the mock trial doesn’t argue that the ruling was right or
wrong. It merely explains the process your class used to work through the trial
process and learn how real court cases move through the court system. In other

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words, your essay would present facts and process rather than opinion and
commentary.

Please note: This genre is commonly assigned as a tool for classroom

evaluation and is often found in various exam formats.
The structure of the expository essay is held together by the following.
• A clear, concise, and defined thesis statement that occurs in the
first paragraph of the essay.
It is essential that this thesis statement be appropriately narrowed to follow the
guidelines set forth in the assignment. If the student does not master this
portion of the essay, it will be quite difficult to compose an effective or
persuasive essay.
• Clear and logical transitions between the introduction, body, and
conclusion.
Transitions are the mortar that holds the foundation of the essay together.
Without logical progression of thought, the reader is unable to follow the
essay’s argument, and the structure will collapse.
• Body paragraphs that include evidential support.
Each paragraph should be limited to the exposition of one general idea. This
will allow for clarity and direction throughout the essay. What is more, such
conciseness creates an ease of readability for one’s audience. It is important to
note that each paragraph in the body of the essay must have some logical
connection to the thesis statement in the opening paragraph.
• Evidential support (whether factual, logical, statistical, or
anecdotal).
Often times, students are required to write expository essays with little or no
preparation; therefore, such essays do not typically allow for a great deal of
statistical or factual evidence.
• A bit of creativity!
Though creativity and artfulness are not always associated with essay writing,
it is an art form nonetheless. Try not to get stuck on the formulaic nature of
expository writing at the expense of writing something interesting. Remember,
though you may not be crafting the next great novel, you are attempting to
leave a lasting impression on the people evaluating your essay.

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 • A conclusion that does not simply restate the thesis, but
readdresses it in light of the evidence provided.
It is at this point of the essay that students will inevitably begin to struggle.
This is the portion of the essay that will leave the most immediate impression
on the mind of the reader. Therefore, it must be effective and logical. Do not
introduce any new information into the conclusion; rather, synthesize and
come to a conclusion concerning the information presented in the body of the
essay.
5 types of expository essays
As we mentioned above, expository essays come in many forms. These
include the following:
a) Classification essays
In a classification essay, you write about various subjects within one category,
discussing each subject’s unique characteristics alongside the characteristics
that connect it with others in its category. For example, you might write a
classification essay about different kinds of herding dogs. Your essay would
start with a thesis statement about how herding breeds are different from other
categories of dogs, then in each paragraph, discuss specific herding breeds
(corgi, collie, heeler, etc.).
b) Definition essays
A definition essay defines its subject by presenting clear facts about it. Your
definition essay might challenge commonly repeated myths about a historical
event by presenting firsthand accounts of the event from primary sources and
discussing relevant social, political, and economic trends that impacted the
event and influenced perceptions of it.
c) Process essays
A process essay walks the reader through the steps involved in completing a
task. A recipe has a lot in common with a process essay. A process essay’s
opening paragraph explains the process that will be covered and the end result
of following the directions. Each body paragraph is a step in the process, then
the conclusion explains what the reader should have achieved by completing
each step.
d) Compare-and-contrast essays
In a compare-and-contrast essay, you support your thesis statement by
examining the differences and similarities between the sources cited. For
example, you might write an essay comparing and contrasting the dress code
at your school with the dress codes at two neighboring schools. Your body
paragraphs might examine the differences in which articles of clothing are and

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aren’t allowed as well as the overall preciseness of each dress code’s language
and the amount of “gray area” present in each policy.
e) Cause-and-effect essays
As the name implies, a cause-and-effect essay gets into how specific events
and/or actions caused others to occur. They sometimes trace chains of events
to explore why we find ourselves facing certain circumstances today. An
example of a cause-and-effect essay might be one tracking how shifting
market trends over the past few decades impacted the industries in your region,
creating the current local economy.
How do you write an expository essay?
Before you write your next expository essay, familiarize yourself with
the conventions and rules for essay writing. These general guidelines will help
you structure your essay and determine the most effective way to present your
information. But because you’re writing an expository essay, it’s also
important that you understand and incorporate all the characteristics that
separate expository essays from other kinds of writing. Keep the following
rules for expository writing in mind:
✓ Your thesis statement needs to be well thought out and presented clearly in
your opening paragraph. Your thesis statement is the decisive statement
around which you’ve built your entire essay. A good thesis statement is a
sentence that communicates your essay’s position, the context for this
position, and the scope of your essay’s supporting paragraphs. This might
sound like a lot for one sentence—generally, thesis statements are fairly
long sentences with multiple clauses. Here are two examples of good thesis
statements:
o Despite the taboo, insects make an excellent food source and could
stem humanity’s looming food shortage, based on both their protein
output and the sustainability of farming them.
o The backlash to rock ’n’ roll music in the ’50s by religious groups and
traditionalists actually boosted the genre’s popularity instead of
diminishing it as intended.
✓ Your tone should be objective and academic. While narrative and
descriptive essays can take on artistic, impassioned, and familiar tones,
expository essays stick to conventional language and a neutral tone.
✓ Stick to the facts. An expository essay is not the place to express your
opinion—or even present the facts in a way meant to change or shape the
reader’s opinion.

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✓ Always be completely sure of the facts you’re presenting. That means
thoroughly vetting your sources, cross-checking them with other reputable
sources, and properly citing every fact you put forth as the truth.
Start writing your expository essay the same way you would start the writing
process for any other project: by brainstorming. If you weren’t assigned a
topic, you’ll need to determine an appropriate topic on your own—
brainstorming is where you’ll determine that topic. It’s also where you’ll
determine your thesis statement, the most important component of your
expository essay. Don’t move forward with outlining your essay until you
have a thesis statement.
Once you have a clear thesis statement, it’s time to outline your essay. With
an expository essay, it’s especially important that you present accurate facts
in a logical way. It can be very helpful to note your sources for each paragraph
in your outline.
With a completed outline, it’s time to start writing. Follow the standard writing
process through this first draft, editing, and your revision. Once you’re
finished, make sure you proofread your essay carefully—not only for grammar
and spelling mistakes, but to double-check that you’ve properly cited every
source and formatted your essay according to your assigned style guide.

Expository Essay Outline

Template.
I. Introduction Paragraph
a. Attention Getter (Write the sentence(s) you will use to capture your
reader’s attention)
b. Detail – something to add to or support your attention getter
c. Complete Thesis Statement.
II. Body Paragraph 1 Topic Sentence (Write out the entire sentence)
a. Supporting detail Give an explanation that supports your topic
sentence
b. Supporting Detail – Give an example that supports your topic sentence
and explanation
c. Give a statement that analytically summarizes your topic sentence and
details.
III. Body Paragraph 2 Topic Sentence (Write out the sentence)
a. Through

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 b. repeat the same process as above
IV. Body Paragraph 3 Topic Sentence (Write out the sentence)
a. Through
b. repeat the same as above
V. Conclusion
a. Restate the thesis ideas without repeating the thesis word for word
b. Summarize and connect the main points of your essay with a universal
idea/theme
*Remember, the idea is not to explain EVERYTHING in your thesis
statement – that is what you’re body paragraphs are for. The entire essay,
as well as each paragraph, should follow a pattern: start out broad, relate
specifically to the novel, give specific evidence and examples, restate
specifically, summarize, and connect to a universal idea (going back to
broad).
*Make your paragraphs connect with transitions. *Use appropriate
language, spelling, and grammar.
*Do not be repetitive – this is the death of any essay!!! *Do not use the
same detail/example twice.

“Handout: Expository Essay Outline Directions”

Follow the outline below while drafting the essay. You may want to reorganize
the content of individual paragraphs after the first revision session.
Courage Expository Essay
I. Introductory Paragraph
A. Develop an engaging lead.
1) A strong lead consists of a sentence or two that grabs the readers
attention while introducing the topic.
B. In your own words, define courage.
C. Identify the courageous person you have chosen to research.
D. D. Use a simile or a metaphor to illuminate some of the characteristics
of the courageous individual.
E. E. Craft a thesis statement.
1) A thesis statement clearly presents the overall purpose of the
writing to follow.

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 II. First Example of the Person's Courage
A. Identify an example of a courageous act.
B. B. Describe the particulars of the incident (who, what, where, when,
why, how).
C. C. Transition to the next paragraph.
III. Second Example of the Person's Courage
A. Identify an example of a courageous act.
B. Describe the particulars of the incident (who, what, where, when,
why, how).
C. Transition to the next paragraph.
IV. Third Example of the Person's Courage
A. Identify an example of a courageous act.
B. Describe the particulars of the incident (who, what, where, when, why,
how).
C. Transition to the next paragraph.
V. Concluding Paragraph
A. Clearly restate the thesis.
B. Relate why you selected this person to exemplify courage.
C. Offer a reflection on insights or inspirations you. experienced while
working on this project. Specifically, how does this person's courage
inspire you?

Expository Essay Introduction Example

First Paragraph for Global Warming No one knows for sure why the dinosaur
disappeared, but it is commonly believed that a change in environment may
have played a significant role. What do dinosaurs have in common with global
warming? Our climate is also changing, and if we don’t listen to the warning
of scientists, we to, could become extinct. According to a new report released
by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in Paris, scientists
have agreed that global warming is very likely caused by human activity,
particularly the burning of fossil fuel. Global warming occurs when the gasses
from the burning of fossil fuels causes the gasses that are released to become
trapped causing the greenhouse effect. If the greenhouse effect becomes
stronger, it could make the Earth warmer than usual.” Even a little extra
warming may cause problems for humans, sea life and the animal kingdom.

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Short Expository Essay Example

A Career to Make Life Worth Living

Many teenagers spend a lot of time contemplating what they want to
do when they graduate from high school. I am fortunate in that I already know;
I decided to become a veterinarian when I was two or three years old. Just like
humans, animals need people to treat them with the respect and dignity they
deserve, and I want to be one of those people. Because of this, I am doing all
I can at Reavis to lay the groundwork for my success in college. Then, once I
am in college, I will study and learn about all species of animals. Finally, I
will find happiness in my career as a veterinarian because when animals need
my assistance, I know that I will be able to help them.
First, as a freshman at Reavis High School, I keep in mind my lifelong
dream of becoming a veterinarian. I have been taking my education here very
seriously, because I know that a person needs to be not only knowledgeable,
but also extremely disciplined in order to become a veterinarian. Because of
this, I work hard to earn good grades, I take pride in my work, and I have
learned to manage my time properly. These skills will be particularly valuable
when I enter college.
After leaving Reavis, I must attend college because it is definitely a
requirement for becoming a veterinarian. In fact, a bachelor’s degree is
necessary in order to even enter a veterinarian program. One must also possess
excellent communication, leadership, public speaking, and organizational
skills. I have put a lot of thought and consideration into college, and I have
decided that I would like to go to the University of Illinois. It is a wonderful
school, and they even have a graduate program designed for students who want
to become veterinarians. Once I have completed a veterinarian program, I will
be able to pursue my dream career. This career provides numerous benefits,
the first of which is salary. The average veterinarian salary is $60,000 a year,
a salary that would definitely allow me to live a comfortable life. Secondly, it
is a rewarding job. This job would provide me with the satisfaction of knowing
that I am helping or saving an animal’s life. Finally, becoming a veterinarian
would assure me a lifetime of happiness. I know I would love going to my job
every day, because I would be working with what I love most: animals.
In summary, when I graduate from Reavis, I plan to go to college to
become a veterinarian. I love animals and I want to do anything that I can to
help them. I know I am only a freshman, but I also know that I am growing up
quickly. As Ferris Bueller quotes, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop
and look around once in a while, you could miss it!”

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Expository Essay Example
My Covid-19 Experience
Hello, I would like to start this essay by introducing myself. My name
is Kevin Aleman, I’m a senior at the University of California Los Angeles.
My purpose for writing this essay during this global pandemic is to provide a
personal perspective of my experience throughout this historical event. I
would like to begin by stating, this has been by far the most significant event
of my life so far, as a 24 years old individual. I was too young to truly grasp
the impact of the 2001 terrorist attacks in New York City, although I consider
myself lucky to have witnessed the election of the first African-American
President in our country, I do not believe those events compare with the global
consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is one of those events where
there would a before and after on the practices we share as a society.
To begin, the first time I heard about the COVID-19 virus was towards
the end of January 2020. I didn’t care that much about it because I thought it
was going to be a similar situation like the H1N1 and Ebola virus, where you
had government officials making statements about the threat of this virus but
nothing drastically changed asides from the learning of a new technique of
how to properly sneeze into our elbows instead of our hands. Most of the news
coverage was focused on the impact the virus had in the city of Wuhan, China.
I must admit at the time I was going through some tough personal feelings
with the passing of my Grandfather in January at the start of the Winter quarter
at UCLA. It wasn’t until late February when I became more worrisome about
the severity of the Corona Virus. News about the quickness of the spread of
the virus in Northern Italy began to circulate on American news shows. And
then March came, and it completely changed the way things used to be, to say
the least. During the second week of March, UCLA announced the transition
from in-person classes to online classes, this transition took place during week
10 of the UCLA academic calendar year. However, at the time I guess there
was this sentiment that thing would go back to normal in a short manner by
the things that were being said at the time. March 10 was the date UCLA made
the official announcement. However, the sequence of events that took place in
the following days after this announcement completely changed the landscape
of the world around me as I once knew it.
Next, sports are one of my favorite passions, I cannot imagine a world
without them. But on the night of March 11, a nightmare scenario where sports
were not part of my life became a reality. A Utah Jazz player by the name of
Rudy Gobert tested positive for COVID-19, which caused the postponement
of the NBA season. Soon after, all the other professional sports leagues
announced the same decision. I know this might sound ridiculous and out of
touch, but it wasn’t until this moment where it hit me about the severity of this
virus. On the same night, the actor Tom Hanks published a statement claiming
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he had contracted the coronavirus in Australia. From this moment on. the
following ten days were a rollercoaster of emotions for me personally as the
world around was changing so fast and there was nothing, I could do about it.
At the time, I was studying for my finals and getting ready to start my
last semester as an undergraduate student at UCLA. I guess the two words that
best described how I felt during this moment were uncertainty and anxiety.
Uncertainty because I didn’t know what to expect from this whole situation
and anxiety because I had no control over what was transpiring in a short
amount of time. I was working on an online final exam when I received an
email from the UCLA chancellor Gen Block announcing the cancellation of
the traditional graduation ceremony. In all honesty, I don’t care that much
about the ceremony itself, don’t get me wrong, I think it is great that one's
academic achievements are honored through this ceremony with friends and
colleagues. Yet for me, enjoying the process of obtaining my degree was more
valuable and rewarding. However, I was a little bummed out about the
cancellation of the graduation because I know how much it meant for my
parents and family members that supported me over my academic journey. I
actually think is incredible for me to be part of such a unique graduating class,
yet another part of me longs for a traditional ceremony with friends and family.
One of my seminary professors at UCLA recommended writing our
thoughts during the duration pandemic as a method to keep our minds
distracted and for the preservation of historical evidence for future historians
wanting to learn more about the 2020 global pandemic. On March 19 Mayor
Garcetti of Los Angeles and California governor Gavin Newsom announced
the implementation of the “Safer at Home” order. I have to be honest; I was
petrified to go outside for the next three weeks. I tried to learn more about the
virus, but it was difficult with the amount of misleading information on the
Internet. There is a problem with “fake news” in our current state of affairs, it
made me reflect on the power of information in society. In one of my History
classes, we analyzed the consequences of the printing press as a medium that
transformed the access of information to the echelons of intellectual society. I
think we have a similar situation in our modern society that is highly driven
by scientific facts and studies. This is not necessarily a bad quality to possess
as a collective, but I think sometimes it drives us away from our compassionate
human characteristics. When we start thinking about human life in terms of
numbers and statistics, I think it is a wake-up call to reconsider our societal
priorities.
I would be lying if I said I did not have any trouble going to sleep at
night during these tumultuous times. Particularly when you keep hearing on
the news that the elderly are more vulnerable to the exposure of the virus. Even
though scientific studies made it clear that the majority of the people dying
from COVID-19 were people above 80 years old with underlying health

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issues, the thought of losing any family member was terrifying. I came across
a study made by Stanford University that suggested a reason why California
did not suffer the same casualties similar to places where outbreaks took place
such New York, Italy and Spain, resulted in the notion that the California
population had already built-in herd immunity. I don’t know about the validity
of the research, however, it proclaimed that there was a chance people in
California had been exposed to the virus before the first confirmation of cases
in the state of California. I began to overthink the whole situation because I
remembered that in December, I visited my grandfather for the holidays and
came down with the flu. I did not develop the symptoms of shortness of breath
and dry coughing associated with COVID-19. However, I was very fatigued,
and it took me two weeks to recover. My grandfather also had the flu a short
time right after me. I had a joyous time celebrating the holiday festivities with
my family. Yet, by the early days of January, my grandfather developed
abdominal pain and was quickly hospitalized. My grandfather had been on
dialysis for more than 3 years when this happened, so we were very concerned
as a family. The doctor told us his catheter was infected with bacteria and
required a surgical procedure to abstract the infected catheter and install a new
one. He survived the procedure, but his health deteriorated in the following
days and was put in an ICU. He passed away on January 10, 2020. Although
I must admit there is no conclusive evidence that the cause of his death was
the virus. I would be lying if I said that there is not a single day that goes by
since I came across the Stanford study that I haven’t thought about the
possibility of me exposing him to the virus. I have not talked to anyone about
my remorseful feelings because it might be just a case of me overthinking this
whole situation, but I know that one day I’m going to have to. I think it is the
only way for me to move on from this grieving period.
By the middle of April, I had completely adapted to our new living
conditions. The word “social distance” has been ingrained in every member
of our society at this point. In all honesty, I think it would be okay with me if
we kept some of the social distancing rules. I understand that everyone wants
things to go back to normal, but I’m okay with sacrificing our liberties for the
benefit of our society. I must admit our family has been lucky that our finances
have not been impacted by the lockdown of our economy. Everyone in our
household is considered an essential worker or has been allowed to work from
home. A report came out stating that 30 million American workers have filed
for unemployment benefits, this is a very high figure surpassing those of the
great recession of 2008. As someone who is supposed to enter the workforce
this year, this is horrifying. However, we have seen progress and we should
be able to overcome this situation. I know for some people this whole
predicament is not going to end until we discover a vaccine. I don’t follow the
news closely, but I always make sure to look into the daily reports by the
California governor Gavin Newsom and Friday updates by Mayor Eric

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Garcetti and Dr. Barbara Ferrer. I tried to watch a briefing by President Trump,
but his approach to the state of affairs angers me and just makes me want to
turn off my TV. The only person I listen to from the federal health experts is
Dr. Faucci. I cannot express my disdain for the leadership demonstrated by the
leader of our country during this global pandemic. He began by downplaying
the threat of the virus, then completely ignored the science to combat the virus
and as of now clearly, his only interest is to politicize the situation for his
benefit during an election year.
As a historian, this has been a fascinating time from an analytical view
of our society. One of the most fascinating elements is the relationship of the
government with its citizens. It had bought up questions about the capabilities
of our government to control human behavior. By late April, protests against
the limitations imposed by the government began to transpire. I don’t know if
this situation is unique to the United States where there is a huge debate about
the infringement of civil liberties. Moral questions about prioritizing the
survival of our economy over the cost of losing human lives have become a
debate in our public discourse. I have begun to question my mortality in this
journey called life. I reflected on the role disease had in the destruction of great
societies such as the Aztecs. I think sometimes we forget the power of nature.
At this particular moment, it is extremely difficult to contextualize the
impact of COVID19. One thing guaranteed from this historical event is that
things would never be the same again as the once used to be. I would like to
also share some of the positive aspects of a global pandemic. First, I think
situations like the one we are living bring out the worst and the best of human
interactions. As someone who has lived in Los Angeles for the majority of my
life, I loved the less traffic the city experienced which caused less pollution in
the air quality. I believe nature has benefited from a decline in actions that hurt
our environment. This experience has also taught me to enjoy the little thing
in life that we take for granted. I learned that adapting is the best form of
survival, I cannot predict what the future but I’m certain whatever it would be,
I would do my best to enjoy every single minute of it. I am a strong believer
the human spirit is capable of creating positive change and I’m sure we will
overcome this situation.
Task 10

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Persuasive Essay

Definition
A persuasive essay is a type of essay that presents logical arguments with
emotional appeal in order to sway readers to a particular point of view.
Persuasive essays can be both a form of academic writing and personal
writing. They typically begin with a question that the writer spends the essay
arguing in favor of or in opposition to. A personal essay writer will make a
firm statement that is backed up with a combination of data, research, and
anecdotal experience. The writer will often explore opposing positions and
counterarguments as a means to discredit them.
3 Elements of a Persuasive Essay
A good persuasive essay should feature three essential components known as
modes of persuasion. These elements, coined by philosopher Aristotle himself,
work together to make a compelling and effective argument that attempts to
persuade others’ points of view.
1. Ethos: Ethos is an element of argument and persuasion through which a
speaker establishes their credibility and knowledge, as well as their good
moral character. Readers are more likely to trust someone with credible
knowledge, personal experience, or standing within a community.
Including ethos—or ethics—in your persuasive writing can help sell your
point of view.
Ethos (appealing to a writer’s character and credibility): use authoritative
resources to prove your arguments.
Example:
“I’m a Doctor of Dental Surgery, and I recommend this toothpaste to keep
your teeth white.”
2. Pathos: Pathos is an appeal made to an audience’s emotions in order to
evoke feelings. Triggering particular emotions in your audience can help
them connect with you as a narrator. This provides a layer of interest to
your readers as well, making your writing more compelling and stickier.
Pathos (appealing to emotions): focus on a reader’s morals, values, and
beliefs.
Example:
“You just can’t be cool in high school without a white smile! How to
communicate with peers if you worry about your teeth and freshness?
That’s where a good toothpaste will help.”

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3. Logos: Logos is a rhetorical or persuasive appeal to the audience’s logic
and rationality. Good persuasive writing outlines a series of logical reasons
that the reader should believe the writer’s argument.
Logos (appealing to reason): use logic and evidence to persuade others to
agree with you.
Example:
“Recent studies conclude that this toothpaste removes 40% more plague
and makes our teeth 20% whiter than all other types of toothpaste.”

A persuasive essay is one in which you use logic and arguments to convince
readers of your point of view. For that, you need to provide solid evidence for
arguments, such as research, stating facts, examples, quotes from experts, and
logical reasons.
Persuasive essays are also known as argumentative. However, there’s a
difference between these two essay types:
▪ In argumentative essays, you show both sides of the coin to readers. You
describe all arguments and counterarguments, even if you don’t agree with
some of them, and it’s up to readers to decide which works best.
▪ In persuasive essays, you choose a side and represent arguments only about
this aspect to convince readers of the truth of your words.

Persuasive Essay Structure

The structure of your persuasive essay is not that difficult to remember and
follow.
Given that you need to convince a reader of your arguments, you’ll first need
to state a thesis in your essay introduction, and then write a couple of
paragraphs to share the evidence that support your thesis. Don’t forget to
include counterarguments from your opponents but explain why you disagree
with them.
And finally, write a conclusion restating your thesis and providing a reader
with food for thought.

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✓ Introduction: hook, background, thesis.
In the introduction, describe the problem and state the point you’re trying
to make. Also, think of a strong hook for readers to understand why they
should care.
✓ Body: 1-2 paragraphs, each with an argument and supporting evidence.
✓ Body: 1 paragraph, with your opponent’s arguments and your
counterarguments on why you still disagree.
In body paragraphs, support your thesis with evidence from credible
resources. Leave one paragraph for counterargument: what your
opponents have to say on the issue and why you still disagree. Use logical
arguments and research to convince readers.
✓ Conclusion: sum up your points, restate your thesis, and leave readers
with food for thought.
In the conclusion, wrap up your persuasive essay by restating your thesis.
You may end it with a question for readers to think about.

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How to Use Arguments in Persuasive Essays
First and foremost, you need to understand the basic principles of persuasive
writing and know the five elements of persuasion.
Given that you need to get others to accept your point of view, your arguments
in the essay should be reasonable, verifiable, and credible enough. More than
that, you need to appeal to human logic and emotions. The right combination
of emotional and rational elements is what makes your essay persuasive.

How to Write a Persuasive Essay

Many writers approach the persuasive essay writing process differently, but
there are a few general guidelines to follow when persuading your audience
with your words. Here is how to write an effective personal essay.
1. Pick a topic you’re passionate about. You’ll do your best persuading
when you’re arguing for something you truly believe in. If you have the
option to pick a topic, choose one that appeals to your own sensibilities.
There will be research to do regardless, but already having a strong opinion
about your subject will make its defense a bit easier.
2. Know your audience. If you want to convince readers to believe and
agree with you, know who you’re talking to first. For example, if you’re
writing a persuasive letter about why standardized testing should be
removed from school systems, your audience will likely be parents: Keep
that in mind when writing to your targeted demographic.
3. Research both sides. In order to convince the reader to agree with you,
you also have to know what you’re trying to get them to disagree with.
Your audience may be completely stuck in their ways, so knowing both
sides of your argument—and how to effectively counter the opposition—
will assuage any follow-up questions a reader may have that can cast doubt
on your position.
4. Outline your argument. Outlining your entire essay before you get to
writing it can help you organize your thoughts, research, and lay out your
essay structure. Detail all your main points and pair them with all of the
relevant, supporting evidence from your sources cited.
5. Write your introduction. Every good persuasive essay begins with a
strong introduction, which is the first paragraph of a paper. Its main purpose
is to present the general premise of the paper, provide any necessary
background information, appeal to the reader’s sensibilities, and capture
their attention. You can do this with a personal anecdote from your own
life, or information from your research. Your introductory paragraph
should also present the thesis statement for your essay. A good thesis

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 statement functions as a road map for the piece of writing that lies ahead.
It articulates a paper's main point in one or two sentences, and the rest of
the paper serves to reinforce that point.
6. Include your body paragraphs. This is where the “meat” of your
persuasive essay will appear, using data and evidence to back up your thesis
and present your counterarguments. A good body paragraph contains three
main sections: a topic sentence (or key sentence), relevant supporting
sentences, and a closing (or transition) sentence. This structure keeps your
paragraph focused on the main idea, providing clear, concise information.
The body is where you will also discuss any opposing opinions and why
they should be discredited, so make sure any claims you make in your essay
can be supported with credible or relevant information.
7. Wrap it up with a strong conclusion. A conclusion is the final piece of
writing in a research paper, essay, or article that summarizes the entire
work. The conclusion paragraph should restate your thesis, summarize the
key supporting ideas you discussed throughout the work, and offer your
final impression on the central idea. It should also be where you include
your call-to-action, if you are trying to urgently persuade your readers to
quickly take action over a particular issue.
8. Proofread. Always proofread your writing a few times before submitting
or presenting. A few missed words, grammatical errors, or sentence
structure problems can impact your credibility in the reader’s eyes.
Persuasion essays are commonly assigned in college. You may be asked to
take and develop your own position on a social issue, political topic, piece of
literature, or the findings of a scientific research study. When you receive an
assignment like this, it is important that you write a thesis and develop your
supportive reasoning for that thesis before you begin research. Shaping a thesis
and the foundational arguments prior to writing your outline and essay will
help give purpose and direction to your research. You may find that your thesis
shifts, changes, or requires fine-tuning once you begin researching. That's
usually the case! Keep in mind, if you start by identifying your argument you
will be able to begin your research with a specific goal in mind. Having your
end-point in mind while you are researching will save you time and make your
argument stronger. In this lesson, you will learn how to develop a thesis and
an outline for a persuasion essay.

Developing a Thesis
1. Writing an effective persuasion essay requires you to take a strong
stance on the issue at hand. Your thesis statement needs to convey your
position, and your position must be debatable. A claim is debateable when

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 people might disagree with it. In other words, your viewpoint is one not
shared by all.
Here is an example of a debatable thesis statement: "People cannot claim
that they are serious about the environment unless they regularly use public
transportation and wear recyclable materials."
It is debatable because there are many individuals who likely consider
themselves "serious" about protecting or conserving our environment, but
for whom taking public transportation is inconvenient, impractical, or
impossible. Recyclable materials may be expensive or difficult to locate,
particularly in remote, rural locations. This stance on environmentalism is
one that could create a heated argument—a sign of a debatable claim.
2. Making your argument debatable may require you to narrow down your
argument. Focus on specific arguments and details. Consider
adding qualifiers. Qualifiers are terms such
as typically, generally, frequently, ordinarily, mostly, usually, or on
average. Using qualifiers helps focus your thesis statement while also
making your argument more nuanced. For example, rather than taking the
position that "All zoos should be shut down," you could argue, "Zoos that
do not follow the regulations of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums
generally need to be closed immediately." The addition of the
qualifier generally factors in that there may be exceptions to your position,
thereby helping you to anticipate and form counterarguments. Also,
specifying the terms of closure to those zoos that do not follow those certain
regulations gives you very targeted material with which to make your
argument.
3. Another means for narrowing your thesis and making it easier to defend is
to add exceptions to your thesis. If you consider your thesis to be the
general "rule" to follow, exceptions are those occasions in which a differing
point of view is acceptable. For example, instead of making your thesis
statement "Walking dogs off-leash should be outlawed," consider using
"Walking dogs off-leash should be illegal except in designated dog parks."
The exception of permitting off-leash dog walking in designated dog parks
takes into account reasonable counterarguments to a blanket ban—i.e., that
there are dogs that need more exercise than walking on a leash provides,
the fact that socialization with other dogs is very important to some dog
owners, and perhaps that it is just simply far-fetched to expect that owners
keep their dogs on a leash all the time.

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Developing an Outline of Persuasive Essay
A persuasion essay shares many of the characteristics of other essays
you will write in school. Outlining before you write the first draft of your
essay is a good way to refine and shape your arguments. Reviewing your
outline is also helpful for showing gaps in your essay where you need more or
less evidence to support your claims, or where you need more analysis to
convince your reader of your thesis.
The first section of your essay is made up of an introductory
paragraph in which you present your thesis statement. The next section
includes the paragraphs that make up the body of your essay. This is also very
much like writing other kinds of essays.
Once you get into the specifics of the arguments, persuasion essays
have a number of approaches to choose from. In this lesson, we will focus on
a simplified version of a persuasion essay that begins with a description of
anticipated counterarguments. The paragraph after the introduction should
provide an overview of those opposing viewpoints, including descriptions of
general claims. It is also possible to present counterarguments in the last
paragraph before the conclusion. Either way, the main body paragraphs will
present your main supporting ideas, evidence needed to support your ideas,
and analysis of why that particular evidence is essential to your argument.
Last, you will want to complete your essay with a concluding paragraph,
which reiterates your thesis statement and reviews the main points of your
essay.
If you choose to introduce opposing viewpoints at the beginning of
your essay, here is what your outline would look like.
Rough Outline: Opposing Viewpoints at Beginning
I. Introductory Paragraph
A. Thesis
II. Body Paragraphs
A. Summary of Opposing Viewpoints
i. General arguments opposing the thesis
B. Main Supporting Point 1
i. Evidence
ii. Analysis showing why evidence matters
C. Main Supporting Point 2
i. Evidence
ii. Analysis showing why evidence matters
D. Main Supporting Point 3
i. Evidence
ii. Analysis showing why evidence matters
III. Concluding Paragraph

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Conversely, if you choose to present counterarguments at the end of your
essay, here is what your outline would look like.
Rough Outline: Opposing Viewpoints at End
I. Introductory Paragraph
A. Thesis
II. Body Paragraphs
A. Main Supporting Point 1
i. Evidence
ii. Analysis showing why evidence matters
B. Main Supporting Point 2
i. Evidence
ii. Analysis showing why evidence matters
C. Main Supporting Point 3
i. Evidence
ii. Analysis showing why evidence matters
D. Summary of Opposing Viewpoints
i. General arguments opposing the thesis
III. Concluding Paragraph
Once you have completed the first draft of your essay, the notion
of revising and tackling a second draft may seem daunting. However, this is
one way in which revisiting your outline can be quite useful. Expanding on
your initial outline can help you more readily expand your ideas, edit out
extraneous, confusing material (that information which does not add to your
essay and may actually lessen its persuasive power), and identify gaps in your
argument.
Among the additions you will want to make to the rough outline are putting
in a hook and background section in the introductory paragraph. The hook is
what draws your reader in to your essay, often a compelling idea or expressive
thought. The background provides your reader with the necessary context to
understand and follow your thesis statement and essay.
Next, consider the flow of your essay. Pay special attention to transitions,
including adding or revising links connecting the body paragraphs and the
final transition to the concluding paragraph. Transitions and links work to
make your essay one continuous piece by providing the "glue" between
arguments and back to your thesis statement. Finally, the conclusion needs
to summarize and synthesize the most important details of your essay. It
reminds the reader of your thesis and reinforces your main points. In the case
of a persuasion essay, it is also the last opportunity to convince the reader of
your position on the issue.

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Formal Outline: Opposing Viewpoints at Beginning
I. Introductory Paragraph
A. Hook
B. Tone
C. Background
D. Thesis
II. Body Paragraphs
A. Summary of Opposing Viewpoints
i. General arguments opposing the thesis
ii. Transition to support for thesis
B. Main Supporting Point 1
i. Evidence
ii. Analysis
iii. Link
C. Main Supporting Point 2
i. Evidence
ii. Analysis
iii. Link
D. Main Supporting Point 3
i. Evidence
ii. Analysis
iii. Link
III. Concluding Paragraph
A. Synthesis
B. Final impression
Or,
Formal Outline: Opposing Viewpoints at End
I. Introductory Paragraph
A. Hook
B. Tone
C. Background
D. Thesis
II. Body Paragraphs
A. Main Supporting Point 1
i. Evidence
ii. Analysis
iii. Link
B. Main Supporting Point 2
i. Evidence
ii. Analysis
iii. Link
C. Main Supporting Point 3
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 i. Evidence
ii. Analysis
iii. Link
D. Summary of Opposing Viewpoints
i. General arguments opposing the thesis
ii. Transition to conclusion
III. Concluding Paragraph
A. Synthesis
B. Final impression

Example
Review this example thesis and formal outline for a multi-page persuasion
essay.
Thesis
Municipalities should not pass laws banning pit bulls because breed-specific
legislation generally causes more harm than good to both people and dogs.
Outline
I. Introductory Paragraph
A. Hook: Thousands of years ago, man and dog came out of the
wilderness together. Now, some cities want to cast one of our
best friends back into the darkness because dogs bite, and
sometimes they kill.
B. Tone: Purposeful and fair, but with conviction.
C. Background: In the last few decades, most of the outrage over
dog bites has been directed at pit bulls. In an effort to reduce
human fatalities due to dog bites, many cities have enacted
laws banning pit bulls.
D. Thesis: Municipalities should not pass laws banning pit bulls
because breed-specific legislation generally causes more harm
than good to both people and dogs.
II. Body Paragraphs
A. Counterarguments
i. Opposing viewpoint 1: Pit bulls are inherently
aggressive, unpredictable, and dangerous because they
are bred to fight.
ii. Opposing viewpoint 2: Statistics show that pit bulls
attack and kill more people than any other dogs.

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 iii. Opposing viewpoint 3: Pit bulls are used in illegal,
unwanted activities such as dog fighting and drug
dealing.
iv. Opposing viewpoint 4: People are justifiably frightened
of pit bulls, and the public should not be afraid to walk
the sidewalks or parks.
v. Transition to support for thesis: Most of these
arguments can be shown to be wrong or irrelevant. The
public does deserve to walk outside without fear of dog
attacks, but banning pit bulls will not make that happen.
B. Main Supporting Point 1: Pit bulls are not more dangerous than
other dogs.
i. Evidence: There is no such breed as a "pit bull."
ii. Analysis: The American Society for the Prevention of
Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) says a dozen or more
different breeds are often lumped under the label, even
though each has its own disposition and characteristics.
iii. Evidence: Historically, the kinds of dogs now called pit
bulls were praised as smart, brave, reliable family pets.
iv. Analysis: Although pit bulls have a reputation for
viciousness today, not long ago they were praised as
loyal and brave. They were popular in advertising, as
mascots, as family pets, and on TV. Despite their
current unsavory reputation, the animals are regularly
used as seeing eye, therapy, search and rescue, military,
and police dogs. Clearly these animals are not all wild
killers.
v. Evidence: Aggressiveness is more a matter of
socialization and training than genetics.
vi. Evidence: The statistics on attacks by “pit bull type”
dogs are flawed and unreliable.
vii. Analysis: The Center for Disease Control (CDC)
records show pit bulls are responsible for more than
thirty percent of fatal attacks on humans. But the same
study says these statistics are unreliable because people
tend to call any large dog with a big head and short coat
a pit bull, especially given their reputation.
viii. Link: Because there isn’t a true pit bull breed, the
statistics that ban advocates use cannot be trusted.
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C. Main Supporting Point 2: Pit bull bans will not reduce dog
attacks or increase public safety.
i. Evidence: Enforcement is very difficult.
ii. Analysis: Since there really is no “pit bull” breed,
there’s no way to consistently enforce a ban.
iii. Evidence: If pit bulls are banned, people who want
aggressive or scary looking dogs will just switch to
another large breed. Banning a breed can also make
them even more popular among criminals.
iv. Evidence: Bans drive pit bull owners underground.
Dogs remain in the community, but are much less likely
to be vaccinated, trained, licensed, or receive proper
veterinary care.
v. Analysis: Dogs that are socialized, trained, and well-
cared for are much more likely to behave appropriately.
vi. Analysis: Veterinarians can help owners identify
potentially dangerous traits and direct them to proper
training. Vaccinated dogs that do bite will at least not
spread disease. Licensed dogs are easier for animal
control to identify and keep track of.
vii. Analysis: Past attempts at breed-specific legislation
show that problems and fears do simply shift to another
breed. For example, from German Shepherds in the
seventies to Dobermans in the eighties to pit bulls now.
viii. Evidence: All types of dogs can and do bite.
Eliminating pit bulls will not prevent dog attacks.
ix. Analysis: CDC statistics do show that all dog breeds
have been known to bite, and that severe and fatal
attacks on humans have been caused by many non-pit
bull type dogs.
x. Link: A number of states have found pit bull bans so
problematic that they now forbid breed-specific laws
(Campbell).
D. Main Supporting Point 3: It is more effective to remove
individual problem dogs than to ban entire breeds.
i. Evidence: It’s a waste of time and limited resources to
find and remove dogs that are not causing problems.

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 ii. Evidence: By paying more attention to complaints
about uncontrolled or aggressive dogs and sanctioning
owners who do not correct problems, bad behavior may
be corrected before it escalates. Many attacks could be
prevented simply by vigorous enforcement of leash
laws.
iii. Analysis: Every community is different in terms of the
kinds of dogs present and the types of human/dog
interactions. Approaches to reduce biting that work in
urban areas may not be useful in rural settings.
iv. Analysis: Many dog bites are caused by unleashed or
free-roaming dogs. Stricter enforcement of leash laws
would make a huge difference.
v. Analysis: Animal control departments are generally
underfunded and understaffed. Complaints about
aggressive or loose dogs are hard to follow up on.
Better funding would make it easier for cities to
investigate and correct problem dogs and their owners.
vi. Link: Dog bites are a serious public health problem, one
that won’t be solved by knee-jerk, one-size-fits-all
legislation.
III. Concluding Paragraph
A. Synthesis: Banning pit bulls is an idea that goes against
research, experience, and common sense.
B. Final impression: The most effective way to reduce bites is not
to condemn an entire breed but to use community-based
approaches that concentrate on correcting or containing bad
behavior in individual dogs and irresponsible owners.

Task 11

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Contrast and Compare Essay

Definition
A compare-and-contrast essay is a style of essay that points out the
similarities and differences between two or more subjects. It’s ideal for
showing what separates and unites related things or concepts, particularly if
the subjects are often confused for each other or unjustly lumped together.
Compare-and-contrast essays have a lot in common with other essay
types, but differ in many ways, too—and that’s the heart of comparing and
contrasting! By seeing the differences and similarities, the reader better
understands each of the subjects by using the other subject as a frame of
reference.
Compare and contrast essays examine topics from multiple
viewpoints. This kind of essay, often assigned in middle school and high
school, teaches students about the analytical writing process and prepares
them for more advanced forms of academic writing. Compare and contrast
essays are relatively easy to write if you follow a simple step-by-step
approach.
So, A compare and contrast essay is a type of essay that provides points
of comparison between two subjects. True to its name, it shows how the
subjects are similar in certain respects and different in others. The essay
structure tends to feature body paragraphs that describe the two subjects,
before bringing it all together with a final analysis.

The Purpose of Compare/Contrast in Writing

Comparison in writing discusses elements that are similar, while contrast in
writing discusses elements that are different. A compare-and-contrast essay,
then, analyzes two subjects by comparing them, contrasting them, or both.
The key to a good compare-and-contrast essay is to choose two or more
subjects that connect in a meaningful way. The purpose of conducting the
comparison or contrast is not to state the obvious but rather to illuminate subtle
differences or unexpected similarities. For example, if you wanted to focus on
contrasting two subjects you would not pick apples and oranges; rather, you
might choose to compare and contrast two types of oranges or two types of
apples to highlight subtle differences. For example, Red Delicious apples are
sweet, while Granny Smiths are tart and acidic. Drawing distinctions between
elements in a similar category will increase the audience’s understanding of
that category, which is the purpose of the compare-and-contrast essay.

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Similarly, to focus on comparison, choose two subjects that seem at first to be
unrelated. For a comparison essay, you likely would not choose two apples or
two oranges because they share so many of the same properties already.
Rather, you might try to compare how apples and oranges are quite similar.
The more divergent the two subjects initially seem, the more interesting a
comparison essay will be.

The Structure of a Compare/Contrast Essay

The compare-and-contrast essay starts with a thesis that clearly states the two
subjects that are to be compared, contrasted, or both and the reason for doing
so. The thesis could lean more toward comparing, contrasting, or both.
Remember, the point of comparing and contrasting is to provide useful
knowledge to the reader. Take the following thesis as an example that leans
more toward contrasting:
Thesis Statement: Organic vegetables may cost more than those that
are conventionally grown, but when put to the test, they are definitely
worth every extra penny.
Here the thesis sets up the two subjects to be compared and contrasted (organic
versus conventional vegetables), and it makes a claim about the results that
might prove useful to the reader.
You may organize compare-and-contrast essays in one of the following two
ways:
1. According to the subjects themselves, discussing one then the other
2. According to individual points, discussing each subject in relation to each
point
The organizational structure you choose depends on the nature of the topic,
your purpose, and your audience.
Given that compare-and-contrast essays analyze the relationship between two
subjects, it is helpful to have some phrases on hand that will cue the reader to
such analysis.

How to structure a compare-and-contrast essay

The hardest part of structuring a compare-and-contrast essay is knowing when
to talk about which subject. Essentially, you have three options:
• block method (subject by subject): You discuss one subject in full
and then move on to the next subject.

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 • alternating method (point by point): You discuss one subject’s take
on a certain aspect and then another subject’s take immediately
afterward, followed by a new aspect.
• similarities and differences: You discuss all the similarities between
your subjects and then all the differences, or vice versa (differences
first and then similarities).
No matter which option you choose, you have to pay particular attention
to topic sentences. Paragraphs in compare-and-contrast essays can get
complicated, so it’s crucial to have a good topic or introduction sentence for
each paragraph to make the flow of ideas clear.
a. Block method (subject by subject)
The block method is usually divided into paragraphs: a paragraph about one
subject and then a new paragraph about another subject. Take the compare-
and-contrast essay example When Nothing Lies Beyond the Mask:
Comparing Moby Dick and The Raven. In the first paragraph after the
introduction, the author talks only about Ahab from Moby Dick, but in the next
paragraph talks only about the narrator from The Raven. Each subject gets its
own paragraph.
Using the block method, you can go back and forth like this for pages,
covering as many topics as you need. This approach is best for giving each
subject its own attention but tends to slightly weaken the connection between
the two.
b. Alternating method (point by point)
As another option, you can break paragraphs up by a specific topic and issue,
and in each paragraph discuss both or all subjects. Let’s look at another
compare-and-contrast essay example, The Reality of Science Fiction:
Comparing Clarke to Cruise. Here, both subjects are discussed in the same
paragraph, one right after another.
This approach works best when you want to emphasize the connection
between your subjects, or lack thereof. In our example above, the author
wishes to highlight just how different the aliens of Arthur Clarke are from
those of other authors, particularly H. G. Wells. To emphasize this, the essay
author juxtaposes the two points right next to each other in the same
paragraph.
c. Similarities and differences
The third option is quite similar to the alternating approach, with each subject
being discussed side by side in the same paragraph. However, the paragraphs
aren’t divided by different topics, but instead by what the subjects have in
common and what they don’t.

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Take a look at the compare-and-contrast essay example Government by the
People, for the People has Perished from the Earth, which compares the
dystopias of George Orwell’s 1984 and Yevgeny Zamyatin’s We. The first
paragraph after the introduction discusses what the governments in the two
books have in common, but the next paragraph explains how they differ.
This method works best if you want to focus on a particular similarity or
difference between your subjects, or if you want to build up to a powerful
conclusion or reveal at the end.

The writing process for compare-and-contrast essays

Want to know how to write a compare-and-contrast essay step by step? The
writing process is the same as all essay writing, although adapted specifically
for drawing comparisons:
1) Brainstorming — As mentioned above, brainstorming should involve
listing all the similarities and difficulties; creating a Venn diagram is a
useful method.
2) Preparation — Looking at your brainstorming lists, decide which
structuring method would best get your point across: block, alternating,
or similarities/differences.
3) Drafting — Here you write your rough draft; this is the longest and
toughest phase.
4) Revising — Does the structure you’ve chosen work? With the first draft
finished, you can more easily identify any areas that need to be fixed,
revised, or rewritten from scratch.
5) Proofreading — Finally, you want to make sure you corrected all the
spelling and grammatical mistakes in your draft. With a writing assistant
like Grammarly, this phase is a breeze.
If you want to learn more about this process, read our comprehensive guide
on essay writing, which better explains the details.

Tips for writing compare-and-contrast essays

Beyond knowing the full process for crafting a compare-and-contrast essay, it
helps to learn a few tips to ensure it shines.
✓ Choose topics that are related
In other words, choose topics that have plenty in common, otherwise, your
essay will be all contrasting and no comparing. Typically, subjects in

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compare-and-contrast essays share a strong connection, such as two people in
the same profession or two products in the same category.
Without this unifying thread, the reader is left wondering, “What’s the point
of comparing these two things?” Not only will it confound your audience, but
you’ll also struggle more to come up with points when writing. Solve these
problems before they start by smartly choosing your subjects at the beginning.
✓ Write for clarity
Essays with only one subject can be confusing enough—imagine how
complicated it gets with two or more subjects. One of the biggest obstacles
with compare-and-contrast essays is communicating clearly so your reader
knows which points relate to which subject, and what conclusion the entire
essay is building toward.
But when you’re in the heat of a writing session, it can be difficult—and
distracting—to stop and evaluate your work for clarity. Luckily, Grammarly
offers suggestions to rewrite entire sentences in order to improve the clarity of
your writing.
If the writing in your compare-and-contrast essay starts getting messy,
Grammarly’s writing suggestions recommend alternative phrasings to clear
things up. Just one click and your writing gets the professional editor
treatment. Try Grammarly now and see how your writing improves.

Phrases of Comparison and Contrast

Comparison Contrast
one similarity one difference
another similarity another difference
both conversely
like in contrast
likewise unlike
similarly while
in a similar fashion whereas

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Compare/Contrast Essay Example
Comparing and Contrasting London and Washington, DC
By Scott McLean in Writing for Success

Both Washington, DC, and London are capital cities of English-

speaking countries, and yet they offer vastly different experiences to their
residents and visitors. Comparing and contrasting the two cities based on their
history, their culture, and their residents show how different and similar the
two are.
Both cities are rich in world and national history, though they
developed on very different time lines. London, for example, has a history that
dates back over two thousand years. It was part of the Roman Empire and
known by the similar name, Londinium. It was not only one of the
northernmost points of the Roman Empire but also the epicenter of the British
Empire where it held significant global influence from the early sixteenth
century on through the early twentieth century. Washington, DC, on the other
hand, has only formally existed since the late eighteenth century. Though
Native Americans inhabited the land several thousand years earlier, and
settlers inhabited the land as early as the sixteenth century, the city did not
become the capital of the United States until the 1790s. From that point
onward to today, however, Washington, DC, has increasingly maintained
significant global influence. Even though both cities have different histories,
they have both held, and continue to hold, significant social influence in the
economic and cultural global spheres.
Both Washington, DC, and London offer a wide array of museums that
harbor many of the world’s most prized treasures. While Washington, DC, has
the National Gallery of Art and several other Smithsonian galleries, London’s
art scene and galleries have a definite edge in this category. From the Tate
Modern to the British National Gallery, London’s art ranks among the world’s
best. This difference and advantage has much to do with London and Britain’s
historical depth compared to that of the United States. London has a much
richer past than Washington, DC, and consequently has a lot more material to
pull from when arranging its collections. Both cities have thriving theater
districts, but again, London wins this comparison, too, both in quantity and
quality of theater choices. With regard to other cultural places like restaurants,
pubs, and bars, both cities are very comparable. Both have a wide selection of
expensive, elegant restaurants as well as a similar amount of global and
national chains. While London may be better known for its pubs and taste in
beer, DC offers a different bar-going experience. With clubs and pubs that
tend to stay open later than their British counterparts, the DC night life tend to
be less reserved overall.

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 Both cities also share and differ in cultural diversity and cost of living.
Both cities share a very expensive cost of living—both in terms of housing
and shopping. A downtown one-bedroom apartment in DC can easily cost
$1,800 per month, and a similar “flat” in London may double that amount.
These high costs create socioeconomic disparity among the residents.
Although both cities’ residents are predominantly wealthy, both have a
significantly large population of poor and homeless. Perhaps the most
significant difference between the resident demographics is the racial makeup.
Washington, DC, is a “minority majority” city, which means the majority of
its citizens are races other than white. In 2009, according to the US Census,
55 percent of DC residents were classified as “Black or African American”
and 35 percent of its residents were classified as “white.” London, by contrast,
has very few minorities—in 2006, 70 percent of its population was “white,”
while only 10 percent was “black.” The racial demographic differences
between the cities is drastic.
Even though Washington, DC, and London are major capital cities of
English-speaking countries in the Western world, they have many differences
along with their similarities. They have vastly different histories, art cultures,
and racial demographics, but they remain similar in their cost of living and
socioeconomic disparity.

Task 12

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Cause and Effect Essay
Critical Essay
Overview
References

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