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How to Write and Edit an Argumentative Essay Like a Pro?

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Students write a tremendous variety of academic papers. Most of them are essays of all types. Each type has a different purpose, and so you always have to consider all the peculiarities. One of the common and pretty challenging essays types is an argumentative essay. It requires a lot of time, strength, and knowledge to be completed properly. Sometimes, students cannot choose even a good topic for this essay type.

Of course, the best argumentative essay topics can be generated thanks to good examples. You can easily find the lists of popular topic ideas for an argumentative essay. Thus, you will solve one of the typical hardships. Yet, there are a lot more. That is why we have prepared this useful guide. It offers the top tips, which show how to write and edit an argumentative essay like a pro.

Clarify the Guidelines

The first thing you should do is to figure out the purpose and other demands of your assignment. An argumentative essay makes the author take a certain position concerning a certain issue. You should choose a strong argument that will convince your readers that your standpoint is correct. The task is surely complex, and you ought to take it seriously.

Select a Good Topic and Research It

Your second step is focused on the selection of a good topic. It is not that easy to always choose the right topics for this essay type, as well as for a case study, lab report, research paper, speech, and other pieces of writing. If you really want to define a great topic to cover, make sure it:

  • Is relevant;
  • Focuses on a vital issue;
  • Is helpful;
  • Can solve the issue’
  • Is interesting for the target audience.

Brainstorm all the possible concepts related to the anticipated topic. Study the current trends in the industry, create a list of options, and focus on a pretty narrow question. No matter how good the anticipated titles may be, you should not believe that everything is done once you select one concept. Perhaps you will not find enough materials and proof to disclose the topic. Many students faced this issue and were forced to remake the topic or even change it entirely.

Make an Outline

A good outline is the best organizer of the writing process. It unites all the facts you intend to mention in your paper, sets deadlines, and explains what must be done in every section. Here is an approximate sample of a good outline:

  •  Introduction. The implementation of general facts and a thesis statement. Starting with an anecdote or quotation. 15 minutes.
  • Main body. The development of the thesis statement, adding examples, and explanations. One sub-thesis per paragraph. 50 minutes.
  • Conclusion. Summing up the main points, restating the thesis statement, and interpreting the outcomes. 15 minutes.
  • Editing. Checking the flow, lexicon, voice, tone, and style. Reviewing it 2 times. 30 minutes.

Of course, the details and deadlines differ from one case to another. Everything depends on your writing and learning styles. You are free to adjust this outline sample according to your needs and talents to use it effectively.

Start to Write

Once you have passed the preliminary stage, begin to write. We highly recommend writing about 2-3 drafts. The more you write, the better chances you will have to notice and correct all the drawbacks.

The first draft may be quite messy. Just write down all the ideas and facts about the topic that you have managed to find. The second draft ought to unite all those concepts into a logical sequence of events. The story must be whole and consistent. The third draft can be written if you are still not sure whether everything fits well together.

Editing Tips

Now, we have come to the edition stage. It focuses on the logical structure and sequence of events in your paper. Let’s check what should be reviewed.

The Flow

It is vital to make the story logical. It must be persuasive, but never discursive. Do not confuse your readers with unnecessary facts or too many repetitions. You are expected to present a logical story with a clear structure. Here are a few tips to consider:

  •  Don’t cram it. Many students try to cram several vital points into a single paragraph. It is a great mistake and editing helps to avoid it. Make sure one paragraph covers only one sub-thesis. Otherwise, your paper will be a real mess.
  • Don’t over-explain. Explain each phenomenon or term only once per text. Don’t waste the space in the text!
  • Make smooth transitions. You should never make abrupt transitions from one issue to another. Make them slight and logical.

Word Choice

Be sure you have chosen the right lexicon. There are certain parts of the language that shouldn’t be used or should be minimized. These are:

  • Technical terms;
  • Adverbs;
  • Slang;
  • Jargon;
  • Acronyms, etc.

As we have mentioned the word choice, you should also take into account the number of words. You may be assigned a 500-word, 750-word, 1000-word essay, and so on. Make sure you know the permitted size.

The Grammatical Voice

Pay attention to the grammatical voice of the argumentative essay. It is always better to use the active voice for every essay type. It needs fewer words and uses dynamic words. Just compare two opposite voices:

  • Active voice: I did the job.
  • Passive voice: The job was done by me.
  • The first example is livelier.

The Length

Finally, give heed to the length of every part of your essay. It is vital to write short sentences and make short paragraphs. This length is more readable and comprehensive. If you write too long sentences and paragraphs, your readers may find your paper boring and hard to understand.

Conclusion

It’s not that hard to write an argumentative essay if you’re armed with the right
information. Use the writing and editing tips, which were given in this article. They are universal to suit any topic you disclose.

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