Cathy A.
Cathy A.

Learn How to Write an Argumentative Essay Outline

10 min read

Published on: Mar 10, 2023

Last updated on: Jan 31, 2024

argumentative essay outline

It's the night before the essay is due, and you haven't even started. Your mind is blank, and you have no idea what words will persuade your teacher. 

The good news is that some tips and tricks can make the process of writing an argumentative essay much easier.

In this blog, we'll break down the components of an argumentative essay and provide helpful tips and examples along the way. By the end, you should have all the guidelines to create a winning essay that will persuade your readers.

Let's take a closer look at all these steps.

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How to Write an Argumentative Essay Outline?

An argumentative essay outline is a plan through which the writer works and organizes the raw data. An outline provides a track to follow for your papers and essays. 

The outline helps you stick to the critical things making sure that you did not miss important information in the content. 

Outlining might confuse you if you have never developed one before. However, once you know how to create one, it will be a lot easier to draft a perfect argumentative essay. 

An argumentative essay consists of several equally important parts. These sections individually state the topic, arguments, evidence and supporting statements, etc. 

The significant parts of an argumentative essay outline are:

  • Introduction 
  • Body Paragraphs
  • Conclusion 

Creating each section systematically is a fundamental requirement of an outline. Learn how to make each part of the outline professionally in the following area. 

Argumentative Essay Introduction

Just like any other academic writing, you need a foundation on which to build your essay. An introduction is the foundation of your essay. 

A proper and perfect essay introduction will make your paper flawless and vice-versa. 

An introduction of an argumentative essay includes a hook, background information, and a thesis statement. 

  • Hook 

A hook is an opening statement of the essay’s introduction. It serves the purpose of grabbing the reader’s attention toward the content. 

A hook can be a quotation, anecdote, question, funny/sarcastic statement, fact, statistic, etc.

For example, the major cause of obesity in the United States is fast food. 


  • Background Information

Here you present some background information about the topic. The background information should answer the following questions:

  • What is the issue you are going to talk about?
  • Who is your audience?
  • Where is the selected issue prevalent?
  • Why is the issue important to be discussed?


  • Thesis Statement 

It is the last sentence of your introduction that is the focal point of your essay. It introduces the readers to the topic’s main argument. Then, it states the writer’s position and stands in the essay. 

Support your thesis statement in the body paragraphs of an essay to persuade the audience. 


Argumentative Essay Body Paragraphs

After the introductory paragraphs are written, the next part is the body of the argumentative essay. 

This part of the essay is essential to be structured well as it contains all the claims and pieces of evidence. 

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  • Claim 

For essays like an argumentative essays, it is imperative to make your claim in writing. A claim, or the core argument, is the basis of your entire essay. If you want your essay to be right in quality, make sure that the claims made are strong. 

You can support your claim with strong evidence. 

The purpose of making a claim is to define the:

  • Goal
  • Scope
  • Direction
  • Support your request and the basic argument

In the main body, present your claim in the topic sentence. And let the audience know what the specific paragraph is about. However, also show your point of view.

  • Evidence 

Making a claim in an argumentative essay is not enough. Making people believe your stance is what the objective of the writer is. 

For this purpose, you need to support your argument with evidence and supporting facts. 

You have to clear your position as a writer by providing relevant stuff showing your claims’ validity and accuracy. 

The reality of your claim entirely depends on the credibility and reliability of the facts you provide. 

There are five types of evidence that are used to prove the preliminary thesis statement:

  • Real-life examples
  • Statistics
  • Authorities
  • Analogies 
  • Hypothetical situations 


  • Include an Opponent’s Argument 

While collecting information for your essay, students often ignore the opposing arguments. 

When writing an argumentative essay, a writer shouldn’t just talk about his claim and support it with evidence. 

After providing evidence for your claim, identify and include opposing views and counter-arguments and debunk them. 

There is always another side to the argument. Use evidence to disprove these opposing sides and arguments. 

Argumentative Essay Conclusion

The last part of the writing process of the outline is the conclusion. Now that you have adequately structured the introduction and the body paragraphs, it’s time to conclude your essay. 

The power of a conclusion is often underestimated. If the ending is vague, abrupt, and not good, your whole essay will be a waste. 

The following things conclude an argumentative essay:

  • Restating your thesis statement.
  • Summarizing basic arguments.
  • Recommending a course of action to the readers. 

Make sure that the length of the conclusion is the same as the introduction. Short and precise conclusions are effective. 

In conclusion, a writer should never introduce new ideas and extra information. 

A precise and direct conclusion will increase the quality of your essay to extremes. 

For essays like these, personal knowledge is not enough. You always have to research the essay topic and subject chosen to make healthy and valid points. Gather facts and accurate information to make your essay effective and credible. 

Types of Arguments

When it comes to constructing an argument for your essay, there are several types of arguments you can use. These include 

Rogerian Argument

The Rogerian argument is based on the assumption that two sides of an issue can both be right. 

This type of argument encourages the writer to look at both sides of the issue.

Rogerian Argumentative Essay Outline Template

I. Introduction 

A. Background Information – Provide the necessary background information to allow the reader to understand the topic being discussed.

B. Thesis Statement – Clearly state your opinion on the issue without being too biased or one-sided.

II. Body 

A. Presentation of Opposing Argument - Explain why someone might disagree with your opinion and present their side of the argument.

B. Refutation of Opposing Argument - Dismiss any potential counterargument to your opinion.

C. Presentation of Own Argument - Explain why you support your position and provide evidence to back it up. 

D. Reiteration of Thesis Statement – Summarize your opinion and reiterate your main points. 

III. Conclusion 

A. Summary of Argument – Quickly summarize the key points from your argument.

B. Call to Action – Encourage the reader to take some form of action related to the issue.

Toulmin Argument

The Toulmin argument is one of the most popular types of arguments used in essay writing.

This type of argument follows a specific structure. It begins with an introduction, then presents evidence and draws conclusions based on that evidence. 

Toulmin Argumentative Essay Outline Template

I. Introduction 

A. Hook – Provide an interesting or thought-provoking statement to draw in the reader.

B. Background Information – Give a brief overview of the issue being discussed and provide any necessary context.

C. Thesis Statement – Clearly state your opinion on the issue without being too biased or one-sided.

II. Body 

A. Data – Present any facts or evidence that support your argument.

B. Warrant – Explain the logic behind why this data supports your argument.

C. Rebuttal - Dismiss any potential counterarguments and explain why they are wrong.

D. Qualifier - Offer a final statement that presents your opinion on the issue in a more subtle way.

III. Conclusion 

A. Summary of Argument – Quickly summarize the key points from your argument.

B. Call to Action – Encourage the reader to take some form of action related to the issue.

Classical Argument

A classical argument is a traditional approach to constructing an argument. 

This structure involves setting up your opinion, presenting opposing arguments, and refuting those arguments. After that, you can reiterate your point of view in a conclusion.

Classical Argumentative Essay Outline Template

I. Introduction 

A. Hook – Provide an interesting or thought-provoking statement to draw in the reader.

B. Background Information – Give a brief overview of the issue being discussed and provide any necessary context.

C. Thesis Statement – Clearly state your opinion on the issue without being too biased or one-sided.

II. Body 

A. Pro Argument – Present any facts or evidence that support your argument.

B. Con Argument - Explain why someone might disagree with your opinion and present their side of the argument.

C. Refutation of Opposing Argument - Dismiss any potential counterarguments to your opinion and explain why they are wrong.

D. Reiteration of Thesis Statement – Summarize your opinion and reiterate your main points. 

III. Conclusion 

A. Summary of Argument – Quickly summarize the key points from your argument.

C. Final Thought - Leave the reader with a thought-provoking final statement. It should sum up your argument and encourages them to reflect on it further.

Check out this amazing informative video to learn more!

Argumentative Essay Outline Examples

The outline used to write an argumentative essay can also be used for persuasive essay writing. A few outline examples of an argumentative essay outline are given below: 

Summing it up, your whole argumentative essay depends on the outline you make for it. So the outline for your essay should be detailed and direct to make your essay persuasive and readable. 

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the 4 parts of an argumentative essay?

The four main parts of an argumentative essay are: 

  • Introduction 
  • Thesis statement 
  • Main body paragraphs 
  • Conclusion 

What are good topics to write an argumentative essay?

Here are some good argumentative essay topics. 

  • Should self-driving cars be legal? 
  • Should video games be a sport? 
  • All students must wear a uniform in high school. 
  • Is the cost of college too high? 
  • Is globalization a good thing? 
Cathy A.

WRITTEN BY

Cathy A. (Literature, Marketing)

For more than five years now, Cathy has been one of our most hardworking authors on the platform. With a Masters degree in mass communication, she knows the ins and outs of professional writing. Clients often leave her glowing reviews for being an amazing writer who takes her work very seriously.

For more than five years now, Cathy has been one of our most hardworking authors on the platform. With a Masters degree in mass communication, she knows the ins and outs of professional writing. Clients often leave her glowing reviews for being an amazing writer who takes her work very seriously.

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