Argumentative Essay Examples

The definition of an argumentative essay is a research paper that takes a position on a controversial issue and
tries to present evidence in favor of that position. The world is full of argumentative essay topics. You can
select a high-profile subject like abortion or go for a smaller fish like organic eating.
The best advice anyone can give is to select a topic you’re passionate about. This will make the research and
writing - dare we say - fun. Below, you’ll find two examples of an argumentative essay as well as several
links to other resources that’ll help you start crafting a winning argument today.
Sample Essay Outlines
The first sample essay below follows the sample outline presented in Argumentative Essay Outlines. The
basic formula is this:
Introductory Paragraph - containing a hook and thesis statementBody Paragraphs - containing at least
three striking arguments and one rebuttal to the opposing sideConclusion - summarizing the main points
and leaving a lasting mark on readers’ minds
Sample Argumentative Essay #1 This essay is something a high schooler might consider as they prepare
for the four most exciting years of their lives - college.
Students Who Study Abroad Achieve Greater Success

Much of our learning takes place outside the classroom. We learn how to maintain budgets, forge
friendships, develop business relationships, and more. Imagine extending those skills on a global level. We
would immediately cease to believe the world only contains the people and things we can see but, rather, a
wide variety of opinions, customs, beliefs, and ethics. This is why every college-level student must study
abroad during their undergraduate years. They will learn more in that semester abroad than in any other
academic year.

According to IES Abroad, a company that encourages students to become international leaders, students
who study abroad are more likely to be accepted into the graduate degree program of their choice. In fact,
90% of students who studied abroad with IES are admitted to their first or second choice for graduate
school.

Imagine walking into an interview and being able to discuss preparing the most popular dish in India or
organizing the best route to take from Sydney, Australia to Perth. Not only does this strike up a memorable
conversation, but it also demonstrates a student’s fierce independence and determination. All this makes
someone who has studied abroad a more desirable candidate for their dream job. As if IES Abroad’s statistic
above was not astounding enough, it has been proven that 97% of students who study abroad find
employment within 12 months of graduation (Smith, 2019, p. 17).

Beyond college, students who study abroad will be better equipped to succeed in the workplace. Their
broadened worldview will help them relate to their co-workers, especially in a worldwide organization. This
increased scope of knowledge allows 25% of students who study abroad to receive higher starting salaries.
That is clear evidence that their experiences and views are valued by employers.

In spite of all these benefits, some parents simply will not allow their children to study abroad. A portion
will argue that it is not safe. Others will argue that studying abroad costs too much money. In these cases, it
is important to take a look at one semester’s financial aid statement. How much does it cost to be a student at
a local university? When tuition, housing, textbooks, transportation, and meal plans are considered, it
becomes difficult to argue that there’s a stark difference in the cost of a semester at home versus a semester
abroad.

Studying abroad will have long-lasting, positive implications on a student’s future as an academic and a
professional. New windows of opportunity will be flung open the moment an undergraduate boards a plane.
Why not make an appointment with the study abroad center at your university? You have nothing to lose by
starting a conversation today.
Sample Argumentative Essay #2
So, what is an argumentative essay? It’s a persuasive argument that leaves no room for interpretation. By the
time someone’s finished reading one of these essays, they should feel as though there’s no question about
the writer’s opinion. Here’s a sample essay that someone in middle or high school could write.
Without Alcohol, The World Would Be a Better Place

It was 8:54 p.m. on a warm Sunday evening in mid-July. Westlake Middle Schooler Abigail Parnas was
walking home from her Nana’s house alongside her mother. Engrossed in her new iPad, they didn’t hear the
speeding car. Both she and her mother were mowed down by a 2018 Mercedes-Benz G-Class SUV. They
died instantly.

A 32-year-old woman who was upset over an argument she had with her husband proceeded to drink two
bottles of wine and then get behind the wheel to buy a third. She took their lives in less time than it takes to
say, “Cheers.” If alcohol was banned, there would be a reduction in violent crimes and a diminished number
of vehicular manslaughter cases. More to the point, the ever-popular Abigail would still be alive.

Every day, nearly 30 people die, thanks to drunk-driving crashes (Wilson, 2019, p. 45). That equals one
person every 48 minutes. In less time than it takes someone to watch the latest episode of Game of Thrones,
someone will be killed due to drunk driving.

If a high school student begins drinking alcohol during these formative years, they become five times more
likely to drop out of school (Perry, 2018, p. 13). Worse, since alcohol lowers one’s inhibitions, it is likely to
lead to even greater disasters, including drug abuse and unsafe sexual encounters.

People all over the world drink to celebrate happy occasions. They also drink with friends after a difficult
day. Social drinkers ingest wine or beer while preparing dinner, watching a movie, sitting out on the back
patio, enjoying a picnic, dining downtown, and more. Why is alcohol so pervasive if it is a choice? Why do
so many people choose to drink it? Are more people dependent than they realize?

Over 17 million Americans have alcohol use disorders (Legg, 2019, p. 78). Not every heavy drinker will
become a full-fledged alcoholic, but alcoholism is a progressive disease. So, the more people rely on it “in
good times and in bad,” the more likely they are to develop a dependency.

It’s easy to argue that the entire population does not have to be restricted from alcohol simply because
certain people cannot control their intake. However, what if the gateway to bad decisions was removed?
After all, alcohol is an addictive substance. Why should it be placed in anyone’s hands as a tempting
invitation to death’s door? Even if someone is a moderate drinker, alcohol serves no health purposes. With
every sip, partakers are ingesting ethanol, the same thing that is pumped into the gas tanks of cars.

That 32-year old woman went from a life of luxury to life in prison with only one hour of sunlight. She eats
slosh for breakfast, unidentifiable meat for lunch, and soggy potatoes for dinner. No one comes to visit her.
She hasn’t laid eyes on her husband or children in over a decade. Prison psychologists can’t break her of her
self-imposed silence.

Her father died of cirrhosis of the liver. Her father’s father fell off the back of a pickup truck in a drunken
stupor, cracked open his skull, and died before his legs hit the ground. Every day, she lies in bed wondering
when she’ll die, too. In a world without alcohol, she still would have made plenty of bad decisions, but she
never would have landed in a prison cell because she took the lives of sweet Abigail and her loving mother.