An argumentative essay is a thesis-driven essay that attempts to persuade the reader of the author’s point of view by using carefully presented and logically utilized information. One cannot write an argumentative essay without an element of the debate, thus your thesis cannot be “to discuss the history of hamburgers.” There is nothing to debate there. This is not an “informative” research paper where you list a system of facts, like a report.
The best way to find a great topic and develop a thesis is to form your opinions by doing research on your topic (let your topic take you where it needs to go). Ask “Why?” or “So what?” If you have trouble with your topic or research on that topic, please come talk to me (I will not, however, pick a topic for you or do your research for you—that’s your job). These papers should be interesting and thought-provoking for both of us. Teach your audience something and convince them that your point of view is valid and meaningful.
Stay away from strong personal opinions, rhetoric, dogma, and the like in your persuasions. Those types of arguments tend to be redundant and superficial. When you’re emotionally tied to or uninformed about your topic, it is easy to get stuck in a circular logic that is both ineffective and uninformative.
AUDIENCE: A reasoning, informed, college-level, academic audience (like your instructor and peers).
MESSAGE: To add your informed claim/position to an already ongoing conversation about your subject.
RESEARCH: A minimum of 7 sources including:
1 book-length study from credible, academic sources (eBooks through the library and individual chapters within are fine).
3 peer-reviewed journal articles.
Websites are valid, based on their credibility. One Search and the library’s databases are NOT considered websites: databases store journals electronically.
