argumentative essay writing prompts

argumentative essay writing prompts

Exploring Argumentative Essay Writing Prompts

1. Introduction to Argumentative Essay Writing Prompts

However, the best essay prompts generally have commonalities that make them engaging and insightful. The uniqueness of the prompts is a great attention grabber that can pique the interest of possible readers and make sure that educators find the argumentative essay writing task worth their while. They are typically also quite open-ended and not so restrictive that you are boxed into a corner when deciding how to approach the topic. It should be remembered by students who are given writing prompts that the piece of paper they are presented with is not a list of rules, but rather a guide to follow to ensure the required standards are met. Think of it more as suggested guidelines, and make sure you do it your way!

Argumentative essay writing prompts are given to students by their instructors at school or college. Sometimes the students are given a prompt to write their argumentative essay on, but mostly they will have to select their topic themselves. These essays pose issues that are the subject of public debate and discussion, usually sitting within one of high school, university or college curriculums. Some of the best argumentative essays get people talking for hours on end, and without a successful prompt there would be nothing to get people conversing and thinking for extended amounts of time. There is no one-size-fits-all answer to what makes a good argumentative essay writing prompt, because every teacher has different requirements.

2. The Importance of Choosing the Right Topic

In addition, while a general prompt may result in aimless or directionless writing, a good or great writing prompt will guide the student writer in particular and unique ways, hopefully leading him or her to something that matters. As a way of ideas, effective argumentation is brought about by the use of a system of granting and/or giving, also known as techniques of forensics. In order to master these questions, there is a strong chance of approaching well-reasoning lists and weighing the other side. Extensive contests with many teenagers are capable of invoking successful essays. Choose the right one, and you are encouraging effective argumentation.

Considering that argumentative essay prompts are the launching pad for writing, selecting the right topic is fundamental. It sets the basis of your essay, creating a solid foundation for the rest of your work. Thus, if you cannot come up with a personalized message of your own, you may struggle to write anything at all. It is necessary to choose age and college-relevant prompts in order to write an interesting and engaging essay. While irrelevant prompts likely will not strike any chords with teenagers, prompts that do not appeal to an older audience will also result in essays that lack depth and character. The best essays often come from when topics strike a chord with the writer, and 19 essay-writing samples suggest a diverse array of topics that are of interest to 17-year-olds around the country. Look for great prompts. You should have a large, easily accessible list from which to choose. In order to encourage composition of various topics, some of these 19 prompts could be divided into subcategories as well. Many of them are text-driven or reader-responsive, while others inspire pure creativity.

3. Effective Strategies for Developing a Strong Argument

– Provide historical background (or foundational information) for your topic. Delivery of the background information can be delivered in a sentence or two or in an entire paragraph or paragraph(s), contingent upon the nitty-gritty of the topic. Introduce a foundation of ideas against which the lens of your argument can solidify. From the gaze of your reader, this background information will appear to come from outside of scholarly or otherwise reputable sources of some kind. Outline those positions that are contrary to yours and then proceed to refute them. This strategy is beneficial in networking between your specific views (assertively stated in your thesis) with those who either don’t agree with or are uneducated about the range of positions, providing your audience with a forum for external interpretation. Provide support for your thesis which is previously underscored in the preceding paragraph. Recognize your reader as someone who shares your viewpoint, but provide a credible, valued summary or endorsement of the basis for said viewpoint.

As mentioned previously, it starts with the skillfully chosen topic. Once you have decided on your argumentative essay writing prompt, you simply look at it through an oppositional lens and ask, “What are some words and phrases that could start off my argument?” Followed by that, you must move forward and sit down to start writing. Attempt to write the introductory paragraph(s) after you have already set down the format for your essay, got your foot in the doorstep, and placed your thesis statement. There are three strategies frequently employed – how effective the given strategy will be is contingent upon one’s audience and objective:

Developing a strong argument: Effective strategies

4. Common Pitfalls to Avoid in Argumentative Essay Writing

This refers to an argument that starts off on the right foot but gradually devolves, or an introduction that engages the reader’s interest but does not guide the reader into a specific argument. By laying the groundwork for one’s central argument, a masterful introduction will likewise suggest the tone of the essay. Avoid paragraphs that begin with irrelevant substance; it is vital to remember that an introduction is a broad generalization.

“Pulling a Bait-and-Switch”

A personal experience or opinion might provide enticing or entertaining essay material, but argumentative essays should make reason, understanding, and the development of a sound argumentative arc the priority. To write a dynamic argument, points need to be considered outside of personal experience; it is best to develop thorough research alongside thoughtful analysis. Some use engaging personal experiences and anecdotes as fuel for argumentative analysis; however, these experiences do not serve as a replacement for a full analysis. A connection to the writer’s thought process, however, can offer insight.

Self-Absorption

When developing an argument, it is tempting to focus on numerous loosely connected points at once. These few ideas might be necessary or helpful, but they will not be particularly effective if they are not structured effectively. Streamline an argument with manageable points; rather than flood the reader with disparate points connected only by a general theme, focus on three or four key ideas instead. The essay will appear focused, and the writer will be able to develop each point coherently and effectively. Even in the case of a more intensive analysis, it is best to present relevant, focused ideas at a manageable pace.

Distracting Arguments

Even the most experienced writers occasionally fall into pitfalls when working on argumentative essays. Knowing what those pitfalls are is the first step to avoiding them.

5. Conclusion and Final Tips for Success

To write persuasively, it is essential to first acknowledge your task, develop responses and thoughts, and craft a strong argumentative thesis that you are able to prove. Whenever you receive a prompt, therefore, your first step should be to underline or rephrase the prompt and then use it to develop a natural, strong, and original thesis. The rest of the paper will rely heavily on the strength of your thesis and how well you are able to support it throughout the text, so make sure that you craft a strong and factual thesis before writing anything else. It is crucial to positively approach these tasks and take advantage of every opportunity to practice responding to new, challenging issues and viewpoints. You will only be more insightful, well-informed, and competent in handling various argumentatively challenging positions and perspectives in your own practice of these steps.

Argumentative essay writing prompts can be very beneficial for students in honing their writing and critical thinking skills. If you pay attention to the prompts you use and how you approach them, you can learn a lot about the expectations of essay writing graders, as well as be better prepared to identify and explore persuasive elements before being employed by someone else. Now that you are aware of the best methods for choosing and utilizing prompts for your argumentative essay writing, you may feel more prepared to effectively approach an essay and its prompt. Whether you have access to drafting a first draft or just lists of ideas and evidence, look back at them to see how you can best tailor your ideas and approach to the prompts in front of you.