Guidelines for Writing Argumentative Essays:

An argumentative essay is built around a specific statement known as the thesis or conclusion that is debatable. The focus of an argumentative essay is a statement with which your readers may disagree. Your essay will need to support that statement in a manner that convinces your readers of its truth. 

What makes a statement debatable or non-debatable? These points should help explain the difference between debatable and non-debatable statements. 

Debatable statements:  Statements with which other people might or might not agree. These are sometimes called “arguments,” “assertions,” “propositions,” “claims,” or “conclusions.” 

Non-debatable statements: Statements with which no one would normally disagree or argue. These are sometimes called “facts.” If you are writing a paper about a non-debatable statement, then perhaps you are just writing a report. 

The introduction to an argumentative essay generally has four parts. 

Introduces the topic

States why the topic is important

States that there is a difference of opinion about this topic 

Describes how the assignment will be structured and clearly states the writer’s main conclusion

1. The concluding paragraph or closing of an argumentative essay is as important as the introduction. The concluding paragraph closes the essay and tries to close the issue. The aim is to convince the reader that your essay has covered all the most important arguments about the issue and that your main conclusion is the best position on the issue. 
2. 1. Restates the main conclusion that you proposed earlier.
   2. Presents one or two general sentences which accurately summarize your arguments.
   3. Provides a general warning of the consequences of not following the conclusion that you put forward and/or a general statement of how the reader or the wider community would benefit from following your conclusion.
3. Check the body of your essay for the following things: 
4. 1. Do any of your paragraphs present arguments that oppose your main conclusion?
   2. Do any of your paragraphs present arguments that support your main conclusion as non-debatable or as facts?
   3. Have you clearly marked any places where you shift from the opposing arguments to the supporting arguments with a contrasting connective (such as “however”)?
   4. Have you used connectives, pronouns and referencing words (such as “this” or “these” to make your paragraph cohesive?

The following persuasive topics are ones you can choose from:  Decide which topic you want to discuss and which side you are on:

1) Should politicians have term limits?

Many students say what if I don’t like these topics. Can I write about something else?  My answer would be you can as long as it is under the same broad heading as these topics?. For example, teaching is or is not an appealing profession