Argumentative Paper Format

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Argumentative Paper Format

*Please note that this is only a sample format. There are multiple ways to organize an
argumentative paper
INTRODUCTION
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BACKGROUND PARAGRAPH
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1-2 paragraphs tops

PURPOSE: To set up and state ones claim
OPTIONAL ELEMENTS
Make your introductory paragraph interesting. How can you draw
your readers in?
What background information, if any, do we need to know in order
to understand your claim? If you dont follow this paragraph with a
background information paragraph, please insert that info here.
REQUIRED ELEMENTS
If youre arguing about a literary workstate author + title
If youre arguing about an issue or theory provide brief explanation
or your of issue/theory.
If youre arguing about a filmstate director, year + title
STATE your claim at the end of your introductory paragraph
1-2 paragraphs tops; Optional (can omit for some papers). Also, sometimes
this info is incorporated into the introduction paragraph (see above).
PURPOSE: Lays the foundation for proving your argument.
Will often include:
Summary of works being discussed
Definition of key terms
Explanation of key theories
SUPPORTING EVIDENCE PARAGRAPH #1

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PURPOSE: To prove your argument. Usually is one paragraph but it can be

longer.
Topic Sentence: What is one item, fact, detail, or example you can tell your
readers that will help them better understand your claim/paper topic? Your
answer should be the topic sentence for this paragraph.
Explain Topic Sentence: Do you need to explain your topic sentence? If so,
do so here.
Introduce Evidence: Introduce your evidence either in a few words (As Dr.
Brown states ) or in a full sentence (To understand this issue we first
need to look at statistics).
State Evidence: What supporting evidence (reasons, examples, facts,
statistics, and/or quotations) can you include to prove/support/explain your
topic sentence?
Explain Evidence: How should we read or interpret the evidence you are
providing us? How does this evidence prove the point you are trying to make
in this paragraph? Can be opinion based and is often at least 1-3 sentences.
Concluding Sentence: End your paragraph with a concluding sentence that
reasserts how the topic sentence of this paragraph helps up better
understand and/or prove your papers overall claim.
Courtesy the Odegaard Writing & Research Center

http://www.depts.washington.edu/owrc
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SUPPORTING EVIDENCE PARAGRAPH #2, 3, 4 etc.

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COUNTERARGUMENT PARAGRAPH
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PURPOSE: To anticipate your readers objections; make yourself sound more

objective and reasonable.
Optional; usually 1-2 paragraphs tops
What possible argument might your reader pose against your argument
and/or some aspect of your reasoning? Insert one or more of those
arguments here and refute them.
End paragraph with a concluding sentence that reasserts your papers claim
as a whole.
CONCLUSION PART 1: SUM UP PARAGRAPH

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Repeat above
PURPOSE: Remind readers of your argument and supporting evidence

Conclusion you were most likely taught to write in High School
Restates your papers overall claim and supporting evidence
CONCLUSION PART 2: YOUR SO WHAT PARAGRAPH

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PURPOSE: To illustrate to your instructor that you have thought critically

and analytically about this issue.
Your conclusion should not simply restate your intro paragraph. If your
conclusion says almost the exact same thing as your introduction, it may
indicate that you have not done enough critical thinking during the course of
your essay (since you ended up right where you started).
Your conclusion should tell us why we should care about your paper. What is
the significance of your claim? Why is it important to you as the writer or to
me as the reader? What information should you or I take away from this?
Your conclusion should create a sense of movement to a more complex

understanding of the subject of your paper. By the end of your essay, you
should have worked through your ideas enough so that your reader
understands what you have argued and is ready to hear the larger point (i.e.
the "so what") you want to make about your topic.
Your conclusion should serve as the climax of your paper. So, save your
strongest analytical points for the end of your essay, and use them to drive
your conclusion
Vivid, concrete language is as important in a conclusion as it is elsewhere-perhaps more essential, since the conclusion determines the reader's final
impression of your essay. Do not leave them with the impression that your
argument was vague or unsure.
WARNING: It's fine to introduce new information or quotations in your

conclusions, as long as the new points grow from your argument. New points
might be more general, answering the "so what" question; they might be
quite specific. Just avoid making new claims that need lots of additional
support.

Page 3 of 3
OUTLINE WORKSHOP
INTRODUCTION
BACKGROUND
SUPPORTING EVIDENCE #1
COUNTERARGUMENT
SUM UP CONCLUSION
Sum up claim + supporting evidence statements
SO WHAT CONCLUSION

Argumentative Paper Format

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Page 1 of 3

Argumentative Paper Format

1-2 paragraphs tops

SUPPORTING EVIDENCE PARAGRAPH #1

PURPOSE: To prove your argument. Usually is one paragraph but it can be

Courtesy the Odegaard Writing & Research Center

SUPPORTING EVIDENCE PARAGRAPH #2, 3, 4 etc.

PURPOSE: To anticipate your readers objections; make yourself sound more

CONCLUSION PART 1: SUM UP PARAGRAPH

PURPOSE: Remind readers of your argument and supporting evidence

CONCLUSION PART 2: YOUR SO WHAT PARAGRAPH

PURPOSE: To illustrate to your instructor that you have thought critically

Your conclusion should create a sense of movement to a more complex

WARNING: It's fine to introduce new information or quotations in your

Courtesy the Odegaard Writing & Research Center

Sum up claim + supporting evidence statements

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