Argument Essays: Welcome!
Welcome to the freshly painted Argument and Opinion Essay Writing site. Here you will find tips on how to write short argument and opinion compositions.
This site is aimed mainly at learners of English who have to write 250-400 word essays for IELTS (Cambridge’s International English Language Testing System) or TWE, the Test of Written English for TOEFL. But everyone else is welcome too!
In these exams, you often have to write 250 words or so in 30 or 40 minutes. It’s not very difficult, as long as you (1) don’t panic and (2) have a plan.
How to Write an Argument Essay
There are five main steps in writing argument essays.
Step 1: Read the question
Read the question. Decide what kind of essay it is – opinion, compare/contrast, problem and solution, cause and effect, or a mixture. The type of question will decide the layout and your ideas, but if you are not sure about which type of essay it is, don’t worry too much about the type.
Step 2: Underline key words
Underline key vocabulary in the question and write words with the same or related meaning. This will really save you a lot of time later on It will also help you to avoid repeating words and show that you understand the question.
Step 3: Get Ideas
Decide if you are for or against the idea. Usually it is best to give both sides (for and against – one paragraph each) and then to give your opinion in the conclusion. However there are other ways of laying out your essay.
Step 4: Decide Layout
You should decide on a layout. The easiest is 3773. That means four paragraphs: introduction (3 sentences) one side (7 sentences), the other side (7 sentences) and the conclusion (3 sentences). This will give you 20 sentences. An average of about 12 words each, that is 240 words. Perfect!
Step 5: Write!
After you have written your plan, write your essay. Follow the steps in this website for writing the introduction, body, and conclusion. Check for fragments, run-ons and comma splices.
Vocabulary
1: Read and Underline Key Words
Should governments spend money on space exploration, or should they spend the money on problems here first?
2: Write Down Other Words with the Same Meaning
- Governments = nations, countries, authorities, politicians
- Spend = allocate, give, allot, provide, budget, make available, waste, award
- Space exploration = space program, trips to the moon, the international space station, planets, planetary voyages
- Money = budgets, taxes, resources,
- Problems = concerns, issues, worries, disasters, threats, threatening, war, famine, poverty, education, homelessness, drugs, global warming
- Here = on earth, in our own countries, closer to home, in developing countries, foreign aid
3: Use Your New Words in the Introduction
With many global concerns such as war, poverty, hunger and pollution, many people do not think that nations should waste money on exploring space. (One side) However, others are convinced that expenditure on space programs is justified. (Other side)
4: Add a Thesis
With many global concerns such as war, poverty, hunger and pollution, many people question whether nations should waste money on exploring space. However, others are convinced that expenditure on space programs is justified. This essay will examine some arguments for and against space exploration. (Thesis)
Getting Ideas
Many students worry about ideas. “I don’t know what to say!” “I don’t know anything about this topic!”However, you don’t need too many ideas for an essay in an English exam. The magic number is THREE.
Three ideas means:
- three ideas for and three ideas against (3773 layout),
| Mainly against | Mainly for | 100% for | 100% against |
| 3773 layout | 3773 layout | 35553 layout | 35553 layout |
| Introduction | Introduction | Introduction | Introduction |
| 3 ideas for | 3 ideas against | Idea for | Idea against |
| 3 ideas against | 3 ideas for | Idea for | Idea against |
| Conclusion | Conclusion | Idea for | Idea against |
| Conclusion | Conclusion |
The best way to get ideas is to underline the main words in the question, and then to write down any words with the same meaning or which are related. Pretend it is a vocabulary exercise.
Make sure you write down the words. Don’t try to keep them in your head.
The more words you write down, the more ideas you will get. Spend five or six minutes just writing down words based on the question.
Some people also use brainstorming, mind maps or other techniques.
3773 Layout
The 3773 layout means three sentences in the introduction, seven in the second paragraph, seven in the third paragraph and three in the conclusion.That’s a total of 20 sentences. At an average of 12 words per sentence, that’s 240 words. Perfect for IELTS Task 2!
Either
| Or
|
| Introduction: Three sentences |
|
| Paragraph 2: Seven Sentences |
|
| Paragraph 3: Seven Sentences |
|
| Conclusion: Three Sentences |
|
Arguments: Two Sides
You should try to balance your essay by giving the other side of the argument.Give the other side’s opinion, and then give YOUR opinion.
Give the other side
- Some people think that… (+ sentence)
- Many people feel that… (+ sentence)
- It is claimed that… (+ sentence)
- Some people feel that… (+ sentence)
Some people think that it is better to marry when you are young.
Many people feel that humans are the main cause of global warming.
It is claimed that newspapers are on the way out, and will be replaced by the Internet.
One sentence (While, although)
- While it is true that… (+ sentence), I believe… (+ sentence)
- Despite the fact that millions of people die every year from lung cancer, many people think it is cool to smoke.
- Although many people think that… (+ sentence), I feel that (+ sentence)
- Even though it is often said that… (+ sentence), in fact the opposite is true.
While it is true that humans are the main cause of global warming, I believe natural events such as volcanoes and fires contribute as well.
Although many people think that religion is not needed today, I feel strongly that we need to believe in something other than iPhones, celebrities and shiny new cars.
Even though it is often said that newspapers are on the way out, in fact the opposite is true. More newspapers are being sold today than ever before in history.
Two sentences
- It is undoubtedly true that…(+ sentence). However, (+ sentence)
- It is often argued that… (+ sentence). However, it is clear that (+ sentence)
- Some people say that… (+ sentence). They claim… (+ sentence). However, I feel (+ sentence).
- Supporters of this viewpoint say that… (+ sentence). However, more educated people know that (+ sentence).
It is undoubtedly true that humans are the main cause of global warming. However, natural events such as volcanoes and fires contribute as well.
It is often argued that religion is not needed today. However, it is clear that humans need more than material possessions in order to be happy.
Some people say that democracy is only suited to western countries. However, I feel that this is patronizing, and that all people can enjoy the freedom and responsibility that democracy brings.
Supporters of this viewpoint say that violence on screen or in computer games leads to violent behavior. However, less simplistic people realize that violence on screen is just fantasy and does not translate into real life for most viewers.
