Criminal Justice Reform.

Description

ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY

• Create a clear, firm, and debatable thesis. An effective thesis statement is an important foundational element of any essay, but it is of even greater importance in an argument essay. The reader needs to know exactly what the argument is and why it is important; there can be no confusion. A thesis statement is often the last sentence in an introduction. If you’re arguing about a literary work, include the title and author in your introduction. When arguing a theory or an issue, incorporate background information and explain its relevance.
• Provide the necessary background information on the topic. While an argument essay isn’t the same as a research essay, a bit of background information is often needed early in the essay to understand the argument. For example, if the writer is arguing that a certain amendment to the state constitution should be passed, it is probably necessary to describe what changes the amendment would make and whether or not a similar amendment has been proposed at some point.
• Supporting Body Paragraphs. Develop a series of distinct, yet unified, body paragraphs to support the claims in your thesis. For example, if you’re arguing that standardized tests don’t accurately represent a student’s academic strengths or problem-solving capabilities, one body paragraph might discuss the shortcomings of ACT and SAT tests, another might explain why some academic skills and abilities aren’t represented by standardized tests and a third why some students struggle to perform well on timed tests, despite their knowledge and understanding of the material. Create a topic sentence that clearly explains the objective for each body paragraph. Use specific examples from reliable resources, such as academic journals, peer reviews and professional commentaries, to back your views. Address counterarguments in the body of your essay — always treating opposing viewpoints with courtesy and respect — and explain how those arguments don’t hold up.
• Focus on organization and transitions. While transitions are important in any type of essay, they are particularly important in an argument essay. This is because the argument essay involves multiple reasons and evidence to support the overall thesis, and counter arguments are often discussed and refuted as well.

Argument essays can be organized in a variety of ways. Regardless of the order in which it is organized, all argument essays should explain and support several reasons why the argument is valid, as well as explain and refute several opposing arguments offered by the other side. All writers will benefit from creating an outline to organize all of the information that will be presented, and this benefit becomes even greater with longer argument essays. For more on creating an outline.
• Perform effective and thorough research. Most argumentative essays require incorporating research into the essay. In the body of your argumentative paper, you will state a claim and then explain why you think it is correct of not, and how would you change and improve it. Here is the place where you can use all the literature that you have read related to the topic, cite some key ideas from famous experts on the subject and argue with their claims. Here you have to connect all the loose parts, and present a logical defense of an idea.

• Conclusion – where the argument ends
At this point you have presented all the main points of your research, defended the idea you believe is the only correct one. Here, you shouldn’t ask questions or be in any doubt. This is the point where you finish your work by stating once more all the relevant facts and the only conclusion one can draw from the facts presented.