Argumentative Essay

The function of an argumentative essay is to show that your assertion (opinion, theory, hypothesis) about some phenomenon or phenomena is correct or more truthful than others'. The art of argumentation is not an easy skill to acquire. Many people might think that if one simply has an opinion, one can argue it successfully, and these folks are always surprised when others don't agree with them because their logic seems so correct. Argumentative writing is the act of forming reasons, making inductions, drawing conclusions, and applying them to the case in discussion; the operation of inferring propositions, not known or admitted as true, from facts or principles known, admitted, or proved to be true. It clearly explains the process of your reasoning from the known or assumed to the unknown. Without doing this you do not have an argument, you have only an assertion, an essay that is just your unsubstantiated opinion.
Notice that you do not have to completely prove your point; you only have to convince reasonable readers that your argument or position has merit; i.e., that it is somehow more accurate and complete than competing arguments.
Argumentative essays are often organized in the following manner:
1. They begin with a statement of your assertion, its timeliness, significance, and relevance in relation to some phenomenon.
2. They review critically the literature about that phenomenon.
3. They illustrate how your assertion is "better" (simpler or more explanatory) than others, including improved (i.e., more reliable or valid) methods that you used to accumulate the data (case) to be explained.
Finally revise and edit, and be sure to apply the critical process to your argument to be certain you have not committed any errors in reasoning or integrated any fallacies for which you would criticize some other writer.
Additionally, you will want to find out how your readers will object to your argument. Will they say that you have used imprecise concepts? Have you erred in collecting data? Your argument is only as strong as the objections to it. If you cannot refute or discount an objection, then you need to rethink and revise your position.
Popular argumentative essay topics could be:
• Animal testing
• Capital punishment
• Security cameras and privacy
• Homeschooling
• Retirement age
• The use of animals in scientific research
• Government and family planning
All these essay topics give you a chance to develop an argument in your future essay. The best idea is to choose essay topics that really matter to you. You have to have the strong personal opinion on the topic you are planning to discuss in your argumentative essay.

How to Write a Pros & Cons Essay
A pros and cons essay is an essay written informally that introduces a topic and describes the pros and cons of the subject of that topic. The topic or subject could be anything from owning a pet running your own business. Pros and cons essays are ideal for giving readers insight into both sides of a subject and allow the writer to voice his or her opinion on the topic as a way to persuade readers to see the subject in the same way. Learn how you can write an effective pros and cons essay on any topic you choose.
Difficulty:
Moderate
Instructions
1
Make a list of all the pros and cons you can think of regarding your topic. You will want to choose pros and cons on which you can elaborate. Seek an equal number to support both sides of the argument.
2
Think of a title for your pros and cons essay. The title can include the words pros and cons, as in, "The Pros and Cons of Owning a Home," or can be titled something like, "Gun Control; Yes or NO?" The title should clearly identify the topic of your paper and indicate that the essay will take a pros and cons approach.
3
Write an opening that introduces the topic of your pros and cons essay. The introduction should give a brief overview of the subject and present a thesis statement that tells your audience your goal, or what you intend to prove or disprove, by the end of the essay. A thesis statement could be as simple as, "While owning your own home provides a sense of security, the cost of maintaining your home can overshadow that security." Give readers some idea about your stance in the introduction.
4
The body of the essay should present the pros and cons. You should write at least a small paragraph of elaboration for each pro and con that you present. Some writers present pros and cons in alternating paragraphs, which is acceptable, but this method tends to produce the opposite effect of what the writer intends. Rather than create a smooth flow, presenting a pro and then shooting it down immediately with a con tends to create a mine-is-better-than-yours tone that leaves the readers feeling stilted. Try presenting the argument for pros first, then follow with the argument for the cons. If your paper is complex, with a lot of pros and cons, follow this pattern more than once, writing several paragraphs for each side before moving to the next. This gives your readers time to digest and consider the information you present.
5
Conclude your essay by weighing both sides, interjecting your subjective thoughts and then making a determination based on the material presented in the