Key Points and Links
Key Points
- A written argument is a reasoned opinion, supported and explained by evidence and presented in a positive, persuasive way.
- An argumentative thesis statement presents the writer’s claim and some basic reasoning to support that claim without using first-person pronouns.
- The main points of an argument must be supported by strong evidence, which is often acquired from scholarly sources like academic journals, scholarly books, and government organizations.
- An outline of an argument essay usually includes an introductory paragraph, a background paragraph (optional), as many body paragraphs as main points, a counterargument paragraph, a summary paragraph (optional), and a conclusion paragraph.
- The purpose of your argument determines your essay’s thesis, structure, and types of evidence.
- Logical fallacies are flaws in reasoning or the structure of an argument. They weaken an argument, making it invalid and stopping the back-and-forth nature of true formal argument.
