Argumentative Essay Outline
Disclaimer: There are a lot of different ways to format an
argumentative essay using sub-claims. The tricky part is figuring out
where the counter argument best fits (reveal), how to provide a
successful rebuttal, and whether or not a sub-claim/more evidence is
necessary to create that successful rebuttal. This is just one option
but you can shift the order around. It is up to you to determine how to
organize your best argument.
OPTION 1:
INTRO PARAGRAPH
Opening line/hook: This should be a general statement that eases the
reader in to the topic. Look at your umbrella terms to try to identify
the big idea and incorporate that idea into this sentence.
Context/Bridge: Write a sentence or two linking the big idea to the
topic. Be sure to use language from the prompt/conversation.
Position/Thesis: Use a claim starter 1,2 or 4 to make this ONE
sentence sophisticated. The first half of the sentence should address
the counter argument and the second half of the sentence should
address your position. Remember to use the key phrases from the
prompt and incorporate them into your thesis. Don’t forget to include
the “why” by using umbrella terms!
BODY PARAGRAPH 1
Reason 1: You will identify 1 reason in support of your main position
by using a claim starter here.
Counterargument (sub-claim 1): You will use a template (or
something similar) to address what others would say to contest your
point.
Context: Identify the author, title, and claim from the piece you will
be using as your evidence that supports the counter argument.
Evidence block: This evidence will prove that this in fact is the
author’s claim (it should NOT support your argument). DO NOT start
your sentence with a quote. Lead the quote with commentary or
context such as: Smith makes this clear when he writes “…” (Smith
212). Also be sure to punctuate dialogue or long quotes correctly.
Commentary: This should be 2-4 sentences. The first should
specifically address the quote or give some kind of explanation for it.
The next few sentences should refute this author’s claim by
identifying flaws in their argument. Make sure that your commentary
specifically addresses the message in the quote and not some other
random point you have no evidence for.
Rebuttal (Sub-Claim 2): Provide a claim here that will prove your
rebuttal for the counter argument. The template below may be helpful
to transition from the counter to your position.
While it is true that
, it does not
necessarily follow that
.
Context: Identify the author, title, and claim from the piece you will
be using as your evidence.
Evidence block: DO NOT start your sentence with a quote. Lead the
quote with commentary or context such as: Smith makes this clear
when he writes “…” (Smith 212). Also be sure to punctuate dialogue or
long quotes correctly.
Commentary: This should be 2-4 sentences. The first should
specifically address words in the quote or give some kind of
explanation for it. The next few sentences should explain how the
quote supports your sub-claim AND position.
BODY PARAGRAPH 2
Reason 2: You will identify another reason in support of your main
position by using a claim starter here.
Counterargument (sub-claim 1): You will use a template (or
something similar) to address what others would say to contest your
point.
Context: Identify the author, title, and claim from the piece you will
be using as your evidence that supports the counter argument.
Evidence block: This evidence will prove that this in fact is the
author’s claim (it should NOT support your argument). DO NOT start
your sentence with a quote. Lead the quote with commentary or
context such as: Smith makes this clear when he writes “…” (Smith
212). Also be sure to punctuate dialogue or long quotes correctly.
Commentary: This should be 2-4 sentences. The first should
specifically address the quote or give some kind of explanation for it.
The next few sentences should refute this author’s claim by
identifying flaws in their argument. Make sure that your commentary
specifically addresses the message in the quote and not some other
random point you have no evidence for.
Rebuttal (Sub-Claim 2): Provide a claim here that will prove your
rebuttal for the counter argument. Use a similar sentence to the
template below that may be helpful to transition from the counter to
your position.
While it is true that
, it does not
necessarily follow that
.
Context: Identify the author, title, and claim from the piece you will
be using as your evidence.
Evidence block: DO NOT start your sentence with a quote. Lead the
quote with commentary or context such as: Smith makes this clear
when he writes “…” (Smith 212). Also be sure to punctuate dialogue or
long quotes correctly.
Commentary: This should be 2-4 sentences. The first should
specifically address words in the quote or give some kind of
explanation for it. The next few sentences should explain how the
quote supports your sub-claim AND position.
BODY PARAGRAPH 3
Reason 3: You will identify another reason in support of your main
position by using a claim starter here.
Counterargument (sub-claim 1): You will use a template (or
something similar) to address what others would say to contest your
point.
Context: Identify the author, title, and claim from the piece you will
be using as your evidence that supports the counter argument.
Evidence block: This evidence will prove that this in fact is the
author’s claim (it should NOT support your argument). DO NOT start
your sentence with a quote. Lead the quote with commentary or
context such as: Smith makes this clear when he writes “…” (Smith
212). Also be sure to punctuate dialogue or long quotes correctly.
Commentary: This should be 2-4 sentences. The first should
specifically address the quote or give some kind of explanation for it.
The next few sentences should refute this author’s claim by
identifying flaws in their argument. Make sure that your commentary
specifically addresses the message in the quote and not some other
random point you have no evidence for.
Rebuttal (Sub-Claim 2): Provide a claim here that will prove your
rebuttal for the counter argument. Use a similar sentence to the
template below that may be helpful to transition from the counter to
your position.
While it is true that
, it does not
necessarily follow that
.
Context: Identify the author, title, and claim from the piece you will
be using as your evidence.
Evidence block: DO NOT start your sentence with a quote. Lead the
quote with commentary or context such as: Smith makes this clear
when he writes “…” (Smith 212). Also be sure to punctuate dialogue or
long quotes correctly.
Commentary: This should be 2-4 sentences. The first should
specifically address words in the quote or give some kind of
explanation for it. The next few sentences should explain how the
quote supports your sub-claim AND position.
BODY PARAGRAPH 4
Reason 4: You will identify another reason in support of your main
position by using a claim starter here.
Counterargument (sub-claim 1): You will use a template (or
something similar) to address what others would say to contest your
point.
Context: Identify the author, title, and claim from the piece you will
be using as your evidence that supports the counter argument.
Evidence block: This evidence will prove that this in fact is the
author’s claim (it should NOT support your argument). DO NOT start
your sentence with a quote. Lead the quote with commentary or
context such as: Smith makes this clear when he writes “…” (Smith
212). Also be sure to punctuate dialogue or long quotes correctly.
Commentary: This should be 2-4 sentences. The first should
specifically address the quote or give some kind of explanation for it.
The next few sentences should refute this author’s claim by
identifying flaws in their argument. Make sure that your commentary
specifically addresses the message in the quote and not some other
random point you have no evidence for.
Rebuttal (Sub-Claim 2): Provide a claim here that will prove your
rebuttal for the counter argument. Use a similar sentence to the
template below that may be helpful to transition from the counter to
your position.
While it is true that
, it does not
necessarily follow that
.
Context: Identify the author, title, and claim from the piece you will
be using as your evidence.
Evidence block: DO NOT start your sentence with a quote. Lead the
quote with commentary or context such as: Smith makes this clear
when he writes “…” (Smith 212). Also be sure to punctuate dialogue or
long quotes correctly.
Commentary: This should be 2-4 sentences. The first should
specifically address words in the quote or give some kind of
explanation for it. The next few sentences should explain how the
quote supports your sub-claim AND position.
Conclusion: This should be a backwards intro paragraph.
Re-phrase your thesis:
Bring it back to the book and in a sentence or two, recap how you
proved it in your essay:
Lasting/memorable thought: Give the reader some kind of closure on
the topic.
OPTION 2:
INTRO PARAGRAPH
Opening line/hook: This should be a general statement that eases the
reader in to the topic. Look at your umbrella terms to try to identify
the big idea and incorporate that idea into this sentence.
Context/Bridge: Write a sentence or two linking the big idea to the
topic. Be sure to use language from the prompt/conversation.
Position/Thesis: Use a claim starter 1,2 or 4 to make this ONE
sentence sophisticated. The first half of the sentence should address
the counter argument and the second half of the sentence should
address your position. Remember to use the key phrases from the
prompt and incorporate them into your thesis. Don’t forget to include
the “why” by using umbrella terms!
Body Paragraph 1
Counter Claim: Use this template to identify the author that provided
the counter claim, the claim of that piece, and flaws you identified in
that argument (rebuttal).
’s claim that
rests upon the
questionable assumption that
.
Context: Identify the author, title, and claim from the piece you will
be using as your evidence that supports the counter argument.
Evidence block: This evidence will prove that this in fact is the
author’s claim (it should NOT support your argument). DO NOT start
your sentence with a quote. Lead the quote with commentary or
context such as: Smith makes this clear when he writes “…” (Smith
212). Also be sure to punctuate dialogue or long quotes correctly.
Commentary: This should be 2-4 sentences. The first should
specifically address the quote or give some kind of explanation for it.
The next few sentences should refute this author’s claim by
identifying flaws in their argument. Make sure that your commentary
specifically addresses the message in the quote and not some other
random point you have no evidence for.
Rebuttal (Sub-Claim): Provide a claim here that will prove your
rebuttal for the counter argument. The template below may be helpful
to transition from the counter to your position.
While it is true that
, it does not
necessarily follow that
.
Context: Identify the author, title, and claim from the piece you will
be using as your evidence.
Evidence block: DO NOT start your sentence with a quote. Lead the
quote with commentary or context such as: Smith makes this clear
when he writes “…” (Smith 212). Also be sure to punctuate dialogue or
long quotes correctly.
Commentary: This should be 2-4 sentences. The first should
specifically address words in the quote or give some kind of
explanation for it. The next few sentences should explain how the
quote supports your sub-claim AND position.
BODY PARAGRAPH #2
Reason #1: This will be your MAIN claim for this paragraph and your
first reason to support your position/thesis. Identify one thing that
can be proved multiple ways or use different sources to prove. Use a
claim starter and identify one specific thing to support you thesis.
Use a normal claim starter and be sure to incorporate the golden
thread.
Sub-Claim #1: You do not need to use a claim starter for this. You will
be proving your main claim with one example here from one text.
Context: Identify the author, title, and claim from the piece you will
be using as your evidence.
Evidence block: DO NOT start your sentence with a quote. Lead the
quote with commentary or context such as: Smith makes this clear
when he writes “…” (Smith 212). Also be sure to punctuate dialogue or
long quotes correctly.
Commentary: This should be 2-4 sentences. The first should
specifically address words in the quote or give some kind of
explanation for it. The next few sentences should explain how the
quote supports your sub-claim AND position.
Sub-claim #2: You do not need to use a claim starter for this. You will
be proving your main claim with a different example from either the
same source or new source.
Context: Identify the author, title, and claim from the piece you will
be using as your evidence.
Evidence block: DO NOT start your sentence with a quote. Lead the
quote with commentary or context such as: Smith makes this clear
when he writes “…” (Smith 212). Also be sure to punctuate dialogue or
long quotes correctly.
Commentary: This should be 2-4 sentences. The first should
specifically address words in the quote or give some kind of
explanation for it. The next few sentences should explain how the
quote supports your sub-claim AND position.
Body Paragraph 3
Reason #2: This will be your MAIN claim for this paragraph and your
second reason to support your position/thesis. Use a claim starter to
identify one thing that can be proved multiple ways or use different
sources to prove. Remember, you will also need to start with a
transitional phrase that moves from you last point to the new focus
of this paragraph.
Sub-Claim #1: You do not need to use a claim starter for this. You will
be proving your main claim with one example here from one text.
Context: Identify the author, title, and claim from the piece you will
be using as your evidence.
Evidence block: DO NOT start your sentence with a quote. Lead the
quote with commentary or context such as: Smith makes this clear
when he writes “…” (Smith 212). Also be sure to punctuate dialogue or
long quotes correctly.
Commentary: This should be 2-4 sentences. The first should
specifically address words in the quote or give some kind of
explanation for it. The next few sentences should explain how the
quote supports your sub-claim AND position.
Sub-claim #2: You do not need to use a claim starter for this. You will
be proving your main claim with a different example from either the
same source or new source.
Context: Identify the author, title, and claim from the piece you will
be using as your evidence.
Evidence block: DO NOT start your sentence with a quote. Lead the
quote with commentary or context such as: Smith makes this clear
when he writes “…” (Smith 212). Also be sure to punctuate dialogue or
long quotes correctly.
Commentary: This should be 2-4 sentences. The first should
specifically address words in the quote or give some kind of
explanation for it. The next few sentences should explain how the
quote supports your sub-claim AND position.
Body Paragraph 4
Reason #3: This will be your MAIN claim for this paragraph and your
third reason to support your position/thesis. Use a claim starter to
identify one thing that can be proved multiple ways or use different
sources to prove. Remember, you will also need to start with a
transitional phrase that moves from you last point to the new focus
of this paragraph.
Sub-Claim #1: You do not need to use a claim starter for this. You will
be proving your main claim with one example here from one text.
Context: Identify the author, title, and claim from the piece you will
be using as your evidence.
Evidence block: DO NOT start your sentence with a quote. Lead the
quote with commentary or context such as: Smith makes this clear
when he writes “…” (Smith 212). Also be sure to punctuate dialogue or
long quotes correctly.
Commentary: This should be 2-4 sentences. The first should
specifically address words in the quote or give some kind of
explanation for it. The next few sentences should explain how the
quote supports your sub-claim AND position.
Sub-claim #2: You do not need to use a claim starter for this. You will
be proving your main claim with a different example from either the
same source or new source.
Context: Identify the author, title, and claim from the piece you will
be using as your evidence.
Evidence block: DO NOT start your sentence with a quote. Lead the
quote with commentary or context such as: Smith makes this clear
when he writes “…” (Smith 212). Also be sure to punctuate dialogue or
long quotes correctly.
Commentary: This should be 2-4 sentences. The first should
specifically address words in the quote or give some kind of
explanation for it. The next few sentences should explain how the
quote supports your sub-claim AND position.
Conclusion: This should be a backwards intro paragraph.
Re-phrase your thesis:
Bring it back to the book and in a sentence or two, recap how you
proved it in your essay:
Lasting/memorable thought: Give the reader some kind of closure on
the topic.
Editing Checklist:
 MLA formatting (docked 25% for errors)
 No 1st or 2nd person (docked 25% for errors)
 Academic integrity which included proper citations (docked at
least 25% for errors)
 Close proof-reading (docked 25% for errors)
 All quotes are embedded (docked 25% for errors)
 All of the above is included while considering audience and
articulating it all in a smooth, sophisticated, relevant, and
focused way.
 Successfully revealed and refuted the counter argument.