ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY

What is an argumentative essay?

An argumentative essay is a piece of writing that persuades the reader to agree with the
writer’s viewpoint. Opinions and arguments are presented on a debatable topic where can be
two differing points of view (agree or disagree).

The Introduction paragraph usually reviews the topic in a general way before presenting the
thesis statement in a clear, concise, and defined manner.

The Body paragraphs will consist of arguments and counterarguments to show a good
analysis of the topic. Both sides of the arguments must also be validated by facts or examples
in a well-written argumentative essay.

The Conclusion is where the stand is made by the students by showing how all the arguments
and evidence fit together.

General Terms

Terms Definition
Topic sentence • Main point of a paragraph (main idea)
• Usually at the beginning of a paragraph
Thesis statement • The main point of a whole essay
• Stated at the end of an introduction
Major supporting details • Details used to support the topic sentence (main idea)
(Major S.D.) • Written after the topic sentence

Minor supporting details • Details to support the Major S.D.

(Minor S.D.) • Also known as ‘examples’
Concluding sentence • ‘Summary’ of a body paragraph
• Stated at the end of a body paragraph
• No new info/sentence after concluding sentence
Elements in Argumentative Essay

Elements Definition
Claim An statement/declaration in response to a topic or problem.

Data Evidence to support a claim. It can take various forms such as

facts, logical explanations, suppositions, statistics, anecdotes,
research studies, expert opinions, definitions and analogies.
Provide citation/reference whenever possible.
Counterargument claim The possible opposing views that can challenge the validity of a
writer's claim

Rebuttal claim Statements in which the writer responds to a counter argument

Rebuttal data Evidence to support a rebuttal claim which include the
identification of possible weaknesses in the counterargument
claim, data or assumptions, such as logical fallacies, insufficient
support, invalid assumptions and immoral values.

Drafting the Essay

Sample topic:
The key reason for receiving an education is to land a good job, agree or disagree?

Introduction

• Background/info on the topic

• Present your claim/stand
• Provide thesis statement (recommended) or a general statement (optional)

The mindset that education is a means to an end is the result of social conditioning. Ironically,
such a mindset is a threat to employment prospects as the path to career success is no longer a
straightforward one. To snag that job, one must be able to bring something different to the table.
While the lack of education leads to the closure of many windows of opportunities, getting a
good job is not the key objective of education, given the numerous important attributes of an
education.
Body Paragraph One

• State the first supporting point/topic sentence (claim 1) – Education trains our mind to
deal with challenges
• Provide Major S.D. to support the claim (use WH-questions – why? what? how?)
o Education involves solving problems in exams
o Problem-solving skills harness powers of intelligence
• Provide data to support your claim – in-text citation (make sure to cite the resources)
• Conclude (restate your claim/topic sentence)

Firstly, a large part of education involves learning how to solve problems in examinations.
Such problem-solving skills enable one to develop critical thinking skills to make informed
decisions when the opportunities arise; in other words, to make hay while the sun shines.
According to the data published by Jobstreet.com (2020), 87 per cent of the jobs require critical
thinking and problem-solving skill as a requirement for recruitment. Therefore, education also
aims to train and develop the faculties of our mind to deal with challenges.

Body Paragraph Two

• State the next supporting point (claim 2) – Refines an individual’s intellect and morals
• Provide Major S.D.
o The lack of good character can destroy one’s career
• Provide Minor S.D.
• Provide data to support your claim (make sure to cite the resources)
• Conclude (restate your claim/topic sentence)

Education also plays a significant role in refining an individual intellectually and morally.
Without the development of good character, one will veer off course, eventually destroying one’s
career. This can be seen particularly in errant professionals with axes to grind, such as lawyers
who run away with clients’ money or doctors who abuse their profession by getting involved in
criminal activities. Besides, improving one’s morale and intellect could improve one’s
performance, which indirectly affects their chances of being recognised and appreciated during
one’s working life (Nassazi, 2013). These clearly show that education is more than just about
getting a good job.
Body Paragraph Three

• State the final supporting point (claim 3) – Education is a lifelong endeavour

• Provide Major S.D.
o Education facilitates independent learning
o The industry becomes the teacher where the product of education makes up
the industry
o Education ensures the quality of the industry
• Provide data to support your claim (make sure to cite the resources)
• Conclude (restate your claim/topic sentence)

Besides, education is a lifelong endeavour. After completing formal education, we begin

to step into the industry as the new kid on the block. Independent learning takes place henceforth
and our education facilitates this learning. The industry becomes our teacher, and the people who
make up the industry are the education product. Globalisation and the rapid growth of industry
force humans to quickly adapt to the current era or lose out since competition is everywhere (Laal,
2011). Hence, education also aims to develop the quality of this industry.

Body Paragraph Four*

• State the opposing point – why OTHER PEOPLE AGREE to the topic
(counterargument claim) – Does not make economic sense without getting a good
job
• Provide Major S.D. FOR the counterargument claim
o Education can easily cost a few hundred thousand dollars
• Provide rebuttal claim – where YOU REFUTE or DISAGREE with OTHER
PEOPLE’s POV - Getting a good job is only one of the objectives
• Elaborate ON the rebuttal claim (major S.D.)
- Besides getting a good job, education also helps one to sustain the job because
of good character developed from education

It is not uncommon to hear of people investing large sums of money to pursue a good
education. Some people spent half of their lives saving up for their children’s education, just so
that they can send their children to a better learning institution, which could cost up to hundreds
of thousands of ringgits. Hence, people might argue that it does not make economic sense to go
through the rigours of education without the purpose of landing a good job. Indeed, getting a
good job is crucial but it is not the main objective of education. Instead, education ensures one
gets a good job and sustains that job with good character developed from his or her education.
Moral values, positive attitude, and character development are the core of education that will help
someone to be a better person in the long run. Thus, it is safe to say that there are many purposes
of an education, and not only to find a good job prospect.
Conclusion

• Present your final thoughts

o We should not see getting a good job as its sole purpose
o Such narrow-minded thinking can only harness limited benefits from
education
• DO NOT add new idea/topic sentence/new info
• Remember to restate your stand on the topic – agree or disagree.

In conclusion, education is multi-faceted with multiple objectives. However, many people

are often too myopic and regard the only purpose of education is to get a good job. With such
narrow-minded thinking, one can only harness limited benefits from education.
The key reason for receiving an education is to land a good job, true or false?

The mindset that education is a means to an end is the result Introduction:

of social conditioning. Ironically, such a mindset is a threat to • Attention grabber
employment prospects as the path to career success is no • Stand
longer a straightforward one. To snag that job, one must be able • Thesis
to bring something different to the table. While the lack of statement/general
education leads to the closure of many windows of statement
opportunities, getting a good job is not the key objective of
education, given the numerous essential attributes of an
education.

Firstly, a large part of education involves learning how to Body Paragraph 1:

solve problems in examinations. Such problem-solving skills • Presents
enable one to develop critical thinking skills to make informed argument/ claim 1
decisions when the opportunities arise; in other words, to make • Major S.D.
hay while the sun shines. According to the data published by • Evidence (data)
Jobstreet.com (2020), 87 per cent of the jobs require critical • Concluding
thinking and problem-solving skills as a requirement for sentence
recruitment. Therefore, education also aims to train and develop
the faculties of our minds to deal with challenges.

Education also plays a significant role in refining an individual Body Paragraph 2:

intellectually and morally. Without the development of good
• Presents
character, one will veer off course, eventually destroying one’s
argument/ claim 1
career. This can be seen particularly in errant professionals with
• Major S.D.
axes to grind, such as lawyers who run away with clients’ money
or doctors who abuse their profession by getting involved in • Minor S.D.
criminal activities. Besides, improving one’s morale and intellect • Evidence (data)
could improve one’s performance, indirectly affecting their • Concluding
chances of being recognised and appreciated during one’s sentence
working life (Nassazi, 2013). These clearly show that education
is more than just about getting a good job.

In addition, education is a lifelong endeavour. After Body Paragraph 3:

completing formal education, we begin to step into the industry • Presents
as the new kid on the block. Independent learning takes place argument/ claim 1
henceforth, and our education facilitates this learning. The • Major S.D.
industry becomes our teacher, and the people who make up the • Evidence (data)
industry are the education product. Globalisation and the rapid • Concluding
growth of industry force humans to quickly adapt to the current sentence
era or lose out since competition is everywhere (Laal, 2011).
Hence, education also aims to develop the quality of this
industry.

It is not uncommon to hear of people investing large

sums of money to pursue a good education. Some people Body Paragraph 4:
spend half of their lives saving up for their children’s education, • Counter Opposing
just so that they can send their children to a better learning View
institution, which could cost up to hundreds of thousands of (counterargument)
ringgits. Hence, people might argue that it does not make • Evidence (if any)
economic sense to go through the rigours of education without • Rebuttal
the purpose of landing a good job. Indeed, getting a good job is
crucial but it is not the main objective of education. Instead,
education ensures one gets a good job and sustains that job
with good character developed from his or her education. Moral
values, positive attitude, and character development are the
core of education that will help someone to be a better person
in the long run. Thus, it is safe to say that there are many
purposes of an education, and not only to find a good job
prospect.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, education is multi-faceted with multiple • Restates the final
objectives. However, many people are often too myopic and thoughts and your
regard the only purpose of education to get a good job. With POV
such narrow-minded thinking, one can only harness limited
benefits from education.
Citation 101

Citation/References Style:
1. American Psychological Association (APA) style
2. Modern Language Association (MLA) style
3. American Sociological Association (ASA) style
4. Chicago citation style

Malaysia uses the American Psychological Association (APA) Style for references and
citations (Withorn, 2021).

In-text citations

• When using data/claims/info from other sources (e.g., websites, journals, books), you
should always ‘quote’ who is the original author/source.
• Failure to do so in an academic writing will result in ‘plagiarism’, and plagiarised work
is heavily frowned upon & you will be punished.

Example 1 (Journal Article):

E-cigarettes have been shown to damage brain cells, which is especially harmful if your
brain is still developing (Zahedi & Chaili, 2019).

The year which the authors publish

The names of the authors who said
or mention the said effects. Can be
the effects of e-cigarettes. Can be
found at the front page of the
found at the front page of the
journal article.
journal article.

You should do this if you are taking

info from journal articles.
Example 2 (Website):
There have been 18 deaths and many more lung injuries associated with vaping products,
and 21% of affected patients are 18 to 20 years old (Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, 2019).

Mention the whole website name

first (should not be in short form).

The year that the website publishes

or mention the data. If there’s no
date, just write n.d.

e.g., (Centers for Disease Control

and Prevention, n.d.).

For more info about citation & referencing, please visit the following websites:

• https://libguides.csudh.edu/citation/apa-7#s-lg-box-22358979
• https://libraryguides.vu.edu.au/apa-
referencing/7GettingStarted#:~:text=APA%207th%20is%20an%20'author,authors%2
0and%20year%20of%20publication.
• https://libguides.jcu.edu.au/apa/authors
• https://libguides.singaporetech.edu.sg/citation/author --> How to cite non-Westerners’
names.