Argumentative Paragraphs

Angie Sisquiarco Acevedo

An argument paragraph presents a point of view and provides evidence for the point of view taken.

• An argument is an opinion supported by facts. Writers refer to opinions as claims and facts as evidence. The claim clearly states a stance on a topic or issue.

• Evidence to prove this claim can include reasons, personal experience, statistics, confirmed facts, and expert research.

Structure

Topic Sentence Identifies what is being argued for or against.

Support Sentences

Include facts, examples, appeals to authority or counter-argument to back

up your point of view.

Concluding Sentence Restates what is being argued for or against and why.

Useful transitional words and phrases

For giving reasonsfirst, second, third, another, next, last, finally, because, since, for.For counter-argumentbut, however, of course, nevertheless, although, despite.For concluding• therefore, as a result, in conclusion, thus.

ExampleThere are many reasons why I don’t smoke. First, smoking is unhealthy. It can cause lung cancer, and it can lead to an early death. Furthermore, smoking is expensive. A pack of cigarettes costs five dollars. If I bought one pack of cigarettes every day, I would spend over $1500 each year. Lastly, cigarettes smell bad. When people smoke, you can smell the cigarettes on their clothes all day. To sum up, I don’t smoke because it is unhealthy, expensive, and unattractive.

References• All the information was retrieved fromhttps://www.une.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/10540/paragraph-argument.pdf

• http://annas-eslmaterials.com/index.php/writing/argumentative-paragraphs-and-essays/157-example-argument-paragraph-and-activity