Writing A University-Level Argumentative Essay In 5 Simple Steps

Crafting an argument for a university-level essay can be done in five simple steps. It might seem like a university-level essay should be more complicated than writing a high-school-level essay, but the components are exactly the same. The only differences between the high-school-level paper and the college-level paper is the length and the quality of the content. Here are the steps to get the paper done well:

  1. Prepare an outline. Organizing the argument will make it easier to write the paper. You do not need to use a formal outline with Roman numerals; any type of organizational format will do. Just be sure it has a spot for you to plan the introduction, the body, and the conclusion.
  2. Conduct necessary research. To properly argue an essay topic, good writers use facts to back up their opinions. At the college level, those writers will search for the best facts before they write. You cannot argue an essay with just opinions, so good content is needed prior to writing.
  3. Craft an interesting introduction. The hook is the first glimpse that your reader (your instructor) gets at your idea and writing style. With a weak hook, your reader will immediately be turned off from your essay. On the flip side, a powerful hook, necessary background information, and a clear thesis will work together to draw your reader in and make him want to continue reading your paper.
  4. Write powerful paragraphs. After you get the attention of your reader with a strong introduction, you need to support it with paragraphs that are full of details and explanations. Your reader will need to see that you have formulated a good argument with facts and information from quality sources. Without facts to back up the argument, your reader will not have enough information to agree or disagree with you. Body paragraphs need to follow the same format that they did when you were in elementary school; begin with a topic sentence and then back up the topic sentence with alternating examples and explanations. The only difference is that you have several more sentences written in with more specific language.
  5. Edit and revise. Before you submit your argumentative essay to your instructor, it is worth your time to edit the paper and make necessary revisions. Reading the paper aloud in a quiet voice will help you find the problem spots or you can find a friend to help you get the edits done, too.