How to write an ARGUMENTATIVE or ANALYTICAL ESSAY
Writing an argumentative or analytical essay for Uni is much different from writing an
essay in school. At Uni, you will write argumentative or analytical essays.
In school you wrote comparative or descriptive essays. Back in school…
 You had a question.
 You started answering the question.
 While answering the question, you started to think about it.
 You brainstormed pros and cons.
 You wrote one paragraph on pros and one on cons.
 You wrote a summary where you compared the pros and cons and decided one
was better than the other.
 You wrote a conclusion why you showed why you decided for pro or con.
 You got a good grade because you showed how deeply you comprehended the
problem.
If, at Uni…
 You get the same question.
 You do everything just like you did at school.
 YOU FAIL!
At the Uni, you must write an ARGUMENTATIVE or ANALYTICAL ESSAY, which
means you:
1. think about all sides and aspects of the question
2. brainstorm your own ideas and bring in ideas from research and texts
3. choose one, focussed idea to support
4. write a thesis statement supporting one, focused idea
5. write an essay which supports your thesis
This document is a template for how to write an ARGUMENTATIVE or
ANALYTICAL ESSAY
Part 1: The essay task ......................................................................................................... 2
Part 2: What is an argumentative essay? ........................................................................... 2
Part 3: What is an analytical essay? ................................................................................... 3
Part 4: The writing process .................................................................................................. 5
Part 5: The thesis ................................................................................................................. 7
Part 6: The essay structure ................................................................................................. 8
Part 7: MLA style ............................................................................................................... 10
Part 8: Style guide, dictionaries, and formatting ............................................................... 10
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Part 1: The essay task
We will…
1. give you a short reading about something which is currently an issue in
education, language learning and teaching, or language
2. ask you a related essay question for which you write a short essay - you must use
the reading to support your ideas
3. allow you to use any monolingual (English only) book dictionary (not electronic)
when writing your essay
A good essay will…
1. effectively address the writing task by setting out an argumentative or analytical
thesis and supporting it (using the materials we give you, plus your own ideas and
knowledge)
2. be generally well organized and well developed
3. display consistent control in the use of language, including ability to construct a
variety of sentence types correctly and choose and use words well
Part 2: What is an argumentative essay?
An argumentative essay is a type of writing that requires the student to investigate a
topic, research and evaluate evidence, and establish a position on the topic in a concise
manner. The student writes an essay based on their understanding and synthesis of
what they know on the topic. Argumentative essay assignments generally call for
research and close reading of previously published material.
The structure of the argumentative essay is held together by the following 5 elements:
1. A clear, concise, and defined thesis statement that occurs in the first paragraph of the
essay.
In the first paragraph of an argument essay, students should set the context by
reviewing the topic in a general way. Next the author should explain why the topic is
important. Lastly, students should present the thesis statement. It is essential that this
thesis statement be appropriately narrowed to follow the guidelines set forth in the
assignment. If the student does not master this portion of the essay, it will be quite
difficult to compose an effective or persuasive essay.
2. Clear and logical transitions between the introduction, body, and conclusion.
Transitions are the mortar that holds the foundation of the essay together. Without
logical progression of thought, the reader is unable to follow the essay’s argument, and
the structure will collapse. Transitions should wrap up the idea from the previous section
and introduce the idea that is to follow in the next section.
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3. Body paragraphs that include evidential support.
Each paragraph should be limited to the discussion of one general idea. This will allow
for clarity and direction throughout the essay; conciseness creates an ease of readability
for one’s audience. It is important to note that each paragraph in the body of the essay
must have some logical connection to the thesis statement in the opening paragraph.
Some paragraphs will directly support the thesis statement with evidence collected
during research. It is also important to explain how and why the evidence supports the
thesis (warrant).
However, argumentative essays could (and sometimes should) should also consider and
explain differing points of view regarding the topic. Depending on the length of the
assignment, students could dedicate one or two paragraphs of an argumentative essay
to discussing conflicting opinions on the topic, and how other’s opinions might not be
well informed or how they might be out of date (this is called addressing a
counterargument).
4. Evidential support (whether factual, logical, statistical, or anecdotal).
The argumentative essay requires well-researched, accurate, detailed, and current
information to support the thesis statement and consider other points of view. Some
factual, logical, statistical, or anecdotal evidence should support the thesis. However,
students must consider multiple points of view when collecting evidence. As noted in the
paragraph above, a successful and well-rounded argumentative essay will also discuss
opinions not aligning with the thesis. It is unethical to exclude evidence that may not
support the thesis. It is not the student’s job to point out how other positions are wrong
outright, but rather to explain how other positions may not be well informed or up to date
on the topic.
5. A conclusion that does not simply restate the thesis, but readdresses it in light of the
evidence provided.
This is the portion of the essay that will leave the most immediate impression on the
mind of the reader. Therefore, it must be effective and logical. Do not introduce any new
information into the conclusion; rather, synthesize the information presented in the body
of the essay. Restate why the topic is important, review the main points, and review your
thesis.
Adapted from: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/685/05/
Part 3: What is an analytical essay?
An analytical essay is a type of writing that requires the student to closely read a text or
examine an object and then be critical - the aim is to critique the original text or object.
The process of analyzing involves breaking an object into its parts and examining those
parts.
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Analyzing a piece of writing – the writing process
Whether your assignment is to analyze a non-fiction essay or a fictional short story or
novel, reading carefully and critically is the first step.
1. First examine your response to the elements of the work.
2. Brainstorm your ideas about the work you are analyzing.
3. Create a working thesis (statement of purpose) about the piece you are
analyzing.
4. Create an outline which sets out your thesis and how you will support your thesis.
Analyzing a Work of Fiction
Works of fiction are often complicated and open to interpretation; it is the writer’s job to
search for and then analyze hidden meaning and messages.
 If you are analyzing a short story or novel, look for the author’s use of symbolism.
For example, colors often stand for broad ideas. Green can convey envy, money,
or fertility.
 Also, look for allusions to historic or cultural events. Understanding and explaining
such indirect references will help you get at the deeper meaning of the story.
 In the process of analysis, consider the basic plot (your summary), the characters
(protagonist, antagonist, and all others), and the setting of the story (time and
location).
 Consider the point of view from which the story is related (first person, third
person omniscient, or third person objective).
 Focus on an interesting or complex character or problem in the plot.
Analyzing a Work of Nonfiction
 Newspaper articles, essays, and other types of nonfiction are often biased or
poorly argued.
 In the process of analyzing a work of fiction or nonfiction, it is the writer’s job to
find unsubstantiated claims or to search for hidden meaning and messages.
 Analyze the claim the author is making. What is the author’s main point? How
does the author support that point? Is the support sufficient? Is that support valid?
 Analyze the logic of the author. Do their ideas flow? Do they follow? Or do you
see examples of logical fallacies?
 Base your thesis NOT on whether you agree with the author’s point – but on
whether they have argued well.
Constructing Your Essay
Like any type of essay, an analytical essay consists of an introductory paragraph ending
with a thesis statement, supporting body paragraphs, and a strong concluding
paragraph. Make sure that all the supporting evidence in your body paragraphs directly
support your thesis. Evidence in this type of essay will be examples from the text, with
your explanation and analysis.
adapted from: users.bloomfield.edu/.../Writing%20the%20Analytical%20Essay.ppt
Good further reading:
http://essayinfo.com/essays/critical_essay.php
http://acme.highpoint.edu/~msetzler/generalissues/thesisstate.htm
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Part 4: The writing process
Writing is a process. There are steps to it. If you simply read the essay question and
start writing, you will not organize your thoughts well. However, if you follow the
process, your writing will be better.
The writing process:
1. Read the question carefully.
2. Brainstorm what you know about the topic and how you could approach it.
3. Read text(s) critically, cull them for support for your thesis.
4. Form your thesis on the topic.
5. Make a plan/outline, find support for your ideas, defend your thesis.
6. Write your essay. Cite your support – in MLA style.
Let’s take an example essay question and text and follow the writing process.
Example essay question: Should German university students have to pay tuition fees?
Text given for reading: “Across Europe, an Outcry Over Paying for College”
In Britain, which introduced tuition fees in 1998, the government has an unpopular
proposal to allow Britain's universities to triple their annual tuition fees, to €5,000. The
government argues that the move is essential if the country's universities are to remain
internationally competitive. Enrollment in British Unis has doubled in the last ten years, while
Uni budgets have remained the same. Unis have no choice but to raise tuition fees on their
students, who will benefit from their education by later getting higher salaries – otherwise, the
Unis will remain over-crowded and under-funded, with educational standards going down each
year.
This contradicts the deeply held belief in Europe that higher education is a citizen's right,
as much as, say, health care. ''There's a long welfare-state tradition in this country in which it's
assumed that taxation will fund all public services, including education and higher education,''
said Prof. Ivor Crewe, president of Universities U.K., an organization made up of the vice
chancellors of 122 British universities, which supports the government's proposals. That may
have been reasonable when only 10% of Britons, aspired to go to college, he said, but ''it's quite
different when 40% expect to go.'' Additionally, the government also argues that it has added
protection for students, such as a rule that students do not have to pay their tuition fees until they
are earning over €30,000 per year. If they do not, they do not have to pay.
''Obviously there is a university funding crisis, but we think the government should go
back to the drawing board and figure out how to get the money through more progressive
taxation of the general population. Students shouldn't contribute in any way. If you get a wellpaid job after you graduate, you'll pay more through your taxes and pay your part then,'' said Ms.
Emma Telford, a recent graduate of the University of Strathclyde in Scotland.
Chris Piper, a student at the University of London and the president of its student union,
said that as the first person in his family to attend a university, he might have been deterred from
higher education if it had meant taking on loans or drawing on his parents' savings. ''In Britain,
we take the European perspective that things basic for life should be provided by the state,'' he
said. ''It's not that students expect unlimited free handouts; it's that poor students would be put off
from getting the degrees they need.''
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Zoepf, Katherine. “Across Europe, an Outcry Over Paying for College.” nytimes.com. 3
February, 2004. New York Times Company. Accessed 1 July, 2009.
The first steps:
1. Read the question carefully
Be sure you understand the question.
The question: Should German university students have to pay tuition fees?


Look up any words you do not understand (tuition?)
Check to make sure you understand the limits on the question (for example, in
this essay you should only talk about Uni tuition, in Germany)
2. Brainstorm what you know about the topic and how you could approach it
You think, ―What do I know about this?‖ and ―What do I think?‖ and start jotting down
notes.
 You had a discussion about this in school and you know that the
Grundgesetzt says that education should be free and open to all.
 You know that social mobility in Germany is a real problem, and
you heard about PISA and EU studies saying that kids in
Germany have very little chance of getting more education than
their parents had because of the three-school system.
 You know that tuition fees are a problem for some kids and
families – even your own family is having to make some sacrifices
to send you to Tübingen. Some kids might decide not to study at
all.
3. Read the text(s) critically, cull it/them for support for your thesis.
Critical reading means you think about the topic before you start reading and skim the
introduction, topic sentences, and conclusion.
You look at the reading and think about the title. The article is about tuition fees in
Europe. You see that both sides are discussed and both have decent points, and
although it’s about Britain, it is quite similar to Germany, except for some details. You
start to make an outline or take notes on what you are reading. You think you see
some support for your thesis.
4. Form your thesis and find support for it.
Think critically about both sides and add what you’ve learned from the reading.
Here is your thesis:
Thesis: German students should not have to pay tuition because education is a
human right which should be available to all.
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5. Make a plan/outline, find support for your ideas, defend your thesis.
Now you need to make a little plan or outline and collect your ideas. These are the
―bones‖ of your essay. Think about the order of your points and how you can build a
logical structure. Put the most important points first. Build up your argument.
Thesis: German students should not have to pay tuition because education is a
human right which should be available to all.
Point one: Grundgesetzt – this is a longstanding precedent in Germany and part
of the social contract the state is based on.
Point two: anecdotal evidence says that some students will not be able to go to
Uni if they have to pay tuition (esp. as organized here in Germany, where you
have to pay immediately).
Chris Piper, a student at the University of London and the president of its student
union, said it perfectly: “poor students would be put off from getting the degrees
they need.''
Point three: Germany is already the developed country which has the least social
mobility (PISA and EU studies) – this is just one more thing standing in the way of
kids from poor families.
6. Write your essay. Cite your support – in MLA style.
Part 5: The thesis
You will be given an essay question and you will write an argumentative or
analytical essay, so from the beginning you need to:
1. read the essay question carefully
2. think about all sides of the question
3. choose one side to support
4. write a thesis statement and support it
You will be given a question, and you will have to answer that question in your thesis
statement.
A thesis statement is a sentence which:
1. answers the question
2. briefly previews the support you will give in your essay
3. is specific — it should cover only what you will discuss in your paper and should
be supported with specific evidence
4. does NOT include personal pronouns (I think, In my opinion, I believe)
5. usually appears at the end of the first paragraph of an essay or paper.
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An example thesis:
Essay question: Should German university students have to pay tuition fees?
Thesis: German students should not have to pay tuition fees because education
is a human right.
Can you identify a good thesis?
In your literature courses, for example, you might get the following essay question:
Question: Discuss the use of symbols in Hamlet.
(If you look closely, you see this is an argumentative essay. It is asking you to make an
argument about the function of symbols in Hamlet.)
Which is a better thesis?
―There are lots of symbols used in Hamlet.‖
or
―I think the symbols used in Hamlet were really interesting.‖
or
―The symbols and symbolism employed in Hamlet are used to support and
illustrate the motifs – incest, misogyny, and death.‖
The best thesis here would be: ―The symbols and symbolism employed in Hamlet are
used to support and illustrate the motifs – incest, misogyny, and death.‖
Why? Because it:
1. answers the question
2. briefly previews the support you will give in your essay
3. is specific — covers only what you will discuss in your paper and will be
supported with specific evidence
4. does NOT include personal pronouns (I think, In my opinion, I believe)
(You can see another great example of finding a thesis at
http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/thesis.html#5)
Part 6: The essay structure
Your essay will have three parts:
1. An introduction
2. Body paragraphs
3. Conclusion
Let’s break down these three parts using the example essay question:
Should smoking be banned?
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The introduction
What does the introduction paragraph do?
 Introduces the topic
 Narrows and defines the topic, gives any background the reader will need
 States the thesis of the essay
 Previews the support that you will give in the body paragraphs
So, let’s say you had gotten through your writing process and you are ready to start
writing your essay, here is your introduction:
In the last years, smoking has become more and more uncool, as
more and more people realize that it is really dangerous. However, not
everyone is so smart, and many people still continue to smoke in public
spaces and places, putting all of us in danger. Smoking should be banned
because of the many serious health risks associated with it (this is the
thesis). It can lead to serious health problems (this will be the topic of the
first body paragraph) or even death (second body paragraph), and enforcing
a ban on smoking will encourage smokers to quit (third body paragraph).
Now that you have your introduction, you are ready to write the body paragraphs.
Body Paragraphs
 each body paragraph has only ONE idea.
 in the body paragraph, you provide supporting information and arguments for
your topic in that paragraph, and thus the thesis
Normally body paragraphs have an inductive structure, or a topic sentence followed by a
step-by-step explanation of why. This might be what your first body paragraph would
look like:
Firstly, smoking should be banned because it can lead to serious health
problems for both new and old smokers. According to the article “How
Smoking Affects Your Health”, from kidshealth.org, some first-time
smokers experience vomiting and sickness (cf. “How Smoking Affects”).
Continued use, however, can lead to more severe “health problems like
cancer, emphysema …, organ damage, and heart disease” (“How Smoking
Affects”). The direct link between smoking and these serious health risks
should be reason enough to justify a ban on smoking.
Notice how the writer has integrated quotes from the text and cited them in MLA style?
Conclusion Paragraph
 Re-emphasizes the thesis statement
 Summarizes the ideas in your body paragraphs!)
 Provides closure
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Smoking should be recognized for what it is; dangerous and bad for
your health. However, many people still continue to smoke in public spaces
and places. Enforcing a ban on smoking will encourage smokers to quit and
keep all of us safer and healthier. A ban on smoking is no different from the
rules we have on traffic rules or speeding limits. We would not allow a driver
to plow through a busy intersection whenever he likes, because he would
harm pedestrians. In the same way, we cannot allow smokers to put us all
at risk.
Part 7: MLA style
Whenever you use information from a text, a movie, a song, or anything anyone else
has created, whether it is a direct quote, summary, or paraphrase, you must give credit
to the author or creator.
If you do not do this, you are PLAGIARIZING, or using someone else’s ideas or words
without giving them credit.
What happens if I plagiarize at Uni?
Your paper will be returned to you, you will fail the class.
How can I avoid plagiarizing?
Use an accepted citation style (in the English department it’s MLA style) to give the
source their credit. Every time. No matter what.
Go to the online writing lab at Purdue Uni for a complete MLA style guide to
parenthetical citation: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/02/
You must use MLA Style in your essay when you quote, paraphrase or summarize ideas
for the texts we give you (and you must use the texts we give you!) We will give you text
work cited entry so all you need to do is parenthetical citation within your text.
Part 8: Style guide, dictionaries, and formatting
Style Guide: Spoken language vs. written language
When you are writing, you should use written language.
An example of spoken language:
―Well, I think that George W. Bush is an idiot; he led the U.S. into the greatest foreign
policy catastrophe we’ve ever had and won’t admit it.‖
An example of written language:
George W. Bush was definitely one of the worst presidents the U.S. has had, as he led
the country into foreign policy disaster after disaster and refused to admit it.
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Rules for written language
 use full sentences
 de-personalize it – use few personal pronouns!
 don’t use contractions (like don’t)
 signal transitions and connections and be explicit about how things are related
Why avoid personal pronouns like ―I‖, ―me‖, or ―we‖? It makes your argument stronger.
What do you think when you hear these two sentences?
―I think that die Ärzte is the best band ever.‖
vs.
―Based on record sales, concert sales, and fan fanaticism, die Ärzte is the best band
ever.‖
If you begin with ―I think…‖ it’s really easy for your reader not to take you seriously. Why
should they? It’s just your personal opinion. But if you base your thesis on independent
facts and observations, they will read your ideas with respect and consider them.
Dictionaries
You may use a monolingual dictionary when you write the essay. Bring your own;
dictionaries will not be provided for you. You can use any monolingual dictionary.
The following dictionaries are highly recommended (and allowed in the Staatsexam, if
you are a candidate)
a)
Collin’s English Dictionary
b)
Collin’s Cobuild Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary
c)
American Heritage Dictionary
d)
Macmillan English Dictionary for Advanced Learners of American English
Formatting
In English, we have a different system of creating paragraphs than in German. Pay
attention!
We have no such thing as major and minor paragraphs in English.
DO NOT CREATE MAJOR AND MINOR PARAGRAPHS!
Even though the demand for such stimulants is high and the investment would be
profitable for the drug producing companies, stimulants should not be legalized.
Because of the unknown risks like societal inequalities, dependency or health
problems, brain-boosting drugs should not be available for healthy people. Students
should better stick to the ―eating right or getting a good night’s sleep‖-way of receiving
better grades.
CREATE ONE PARAGRAPH!
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Even though the demand for such stimulants is high and the investment would be
profitable for the drug producing companies, stimulants should not be legalized. Because
of the unknown risks like societal inequalities, dependency or health problems, brainboosting drugs should not be available for healthy people. Students should better stick to
the ―eating right or getting a good night’s sleep‖-way of receiving better grades.
At the beginning of every paragraph, indent (go in 5 spaces from the left margin).
DO NOT LEFT-JUSTIFY – and do not create new lines of text, or major and minor
paragraphs!
The article tries to get to the bottom of the question if healthy people should have the
right to boost their brains with prescription drugs.
There are several reasons mentioned which show an insecurity whether it should be
legal or not. The text discusses this issue from many different points of view. There are
some statements and arguments for and against this deliberation of legalizing
prescription drugs for healthy people.
DO INDENT! Do CREATE ONE PARAGRAPH!
The article tries to get to the bottom of the question if healthy people
should have the right to boost their brains with prescription drugs. There are several
reasons mentioned which show an insecurity whether it should be legal or not. The text
discusses this issue from many different points of view. There are some statements and
arguments for and against this deliberation of legalizing prescription drugs for healthy
people.
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