How to Make an Argumentative Essay Outline
Outlining is useful to ensure that your essay has the logical flow and consistency that every argument should possess. Follow the steps below for an effective argument essay outline.
- Begin with your thesis statement.
- Brainstorm ideas that you may use in support of your main argument.
- Think about the arguments of the other side.
- Choose the order in which you will present your arguments.
- Draft your outline.
Look at your essay topic. Identify the side you will take – “for” or “against.” Think of the main point you will make. For example, if your topic is “are hedgehogs good or bad,” you may argue that they are good because they can make good pets.
Why are hedgehogs good pets? Perhaps because they are cute and quiet, they only come out at night, and they eat garden pests. Besides, keeping any animal as a pet is proven to be stress-relieving, and special gloves are available for petting a hedgehog. List any arguments you can think up, then select the three strongest ones – for example, being quiet, eating garden pests, and stress relieving.
Why would people argue that hedgehogs are bad? Most likely, because they block traffic for a long time when crossing a road, especially in a crowd; they can block door entrances by standing there; and their sharp needles can hurt people. List the arguments of your opponents and select the three strongest ones to argue against them in your essay.
A general rule is that your strongest arguments should go in to beginning and the end, while the weaker one should be “hidden” in the middle. Meanwhile, there are three ways to present arguments both “for” and “against.” The first is to give all the arguments of your opponents in the beginning, and then shatter them with yours. The second is to list your arguments first, and then briefly discuss the position of the other side. The third is to weigh the arguments in pairs – the first “pro” and the first “contra,” the second “pro” and the second “contra,” and so on. In this example concerning hedgehogs, the first way seems to be the most fitting. First, your readers will hear the view of your opponents, which is consistent with the widespread belief that hedgehog infestation is bad, and then you will amaze them with your fresh arguments “for.”
Write your thesis statement first, then your main arguments in the order you will present them. End with a brief conclusion: “although hedgehogs may slow us down, the benefits of keeping them as pets definitely overweigh all the negative effects.”