Argumentative Paper Secrets: 21 Reasons You’re Probably Doing It Wrong

Argumentative Paper Secrets: 21 Reasons You’re Probably Doing It Wrong
If you’re like most students, you’ve probably written an argumentative paper or two in your academic life—and chances are, you’ve struggled with them. Maybe your professor gave vague feedback. Maybe your ideas were solid, but your structure fell apart. Or perhaps you had no clue how to deal with counterarguments. Well, buckle up. You’re about to uncover 21 of the most common reasons students fall short with argumentative writing, and—more importantly—how to fix them.

By the end of this guide, you’ll not only know how to write a killer argumentative paper, but you’ll actually enjoy doing it. Are you planning to scare it with an A+ or simply enjoy stopping to fear the upcoming assignment? In any case, this article has readership.
What say we do it in bits?

Overview to Argumentative Paper

Definition of an argumentative paper An argumentative  paper refers to a document that contains an argument.
An argumentative paper is a research piece of writing in which you express a position on a particular problem and argue your point with logical arguments, credible sources and convincing style. It is the opposite of narrative/descriptive writing (in which you are more personal/creative/didactic), and it is point-making, lawyer-like defense of that point.

The main aim? Persuade your reader into seeing it your way. The catch here is you can not just shout what you mean. You have to create it responsibly, adorn it with facts, pre-empt the arguments of critics, and cut short those arguments by logic as well as style.
This format is not an exercise in school. The skills that argumentative paper help you develop can be applied in real life: it is all about critical thinking, clear communicating skills, and ability not to act as a jerk in order to win the debate.

Consider it as the preparation to a future boardroom, meeting, or even social debate where facts are king but emotions are no more than heavy ground support. That is why instructors enjoy assigning them and you should also enjoy writing them- after you have mastered how to do it.

What is the Significance of Argumentative Paper to students?

Why this ado about an argumentative paper you may ask. Is it not easy to grade students in another way?
Sure, however, none of them are as good at testing a student thinking, arguing, and persuading skills. This is the charm of this kind of assignment. It makes you get out of your comfort zone and think about not only what you believe, but indeed, why you believe it, and how you can make it sound in such a manner that it has a persuasive impact on the other people.

When applied in the academics environment, it entails how to write a good thesis, create pertinent paragraphs, and argue against divergent ideas. When application is made in the real world sense, it implies the ability to defend what you believe in, but appropriately with a sense of respect.
And the next time, you are given an argumentative paper assignment, do not groan, smile. It is your opportunity to exercise your mind and use those thinking skills. Also, with such resource as http://studycreek.com, the process may become as smooth as possible.

Designing a Flawless Argumentative paper

There are topics that cannot be ignored, they are strong, and here is a list of such topics:
This is where most students make the mistake at start. The worst thing that can be done to an otherwise great writing skill is a weak topic.
The secret? Choose one that is controversial. Some thing with two distinct sides. It is best to not make them too general or specific such as technology is good or the impacts of AI on dental practices especially in 2023. You like the zone of sweetness: general enough to make available arguments, but narrow enough to see deep.

Some winning examples?
Should college education be free?
Is social media damaging to mental health?
Should schools ban junk food?
These give you room to dive into research, anticipate counterarguments, and actually have something meaningful to say.
And this is a pro tip- find a topic that you feel about. An interest of yours will show in your writing, turning your argumentative paper not only more convincing but making it a lot more enjoyable to write.

Knowing Your Customer

Make your reader your jury. You cannot afford to come up with fancy words and hope that it works. You have to understand who they are, what they believe as well as how to reach them.
When you have a panel of professors as an audience, do not forget to bring with you peer-reviewed sources and scholarly diction. In case it is a general reader, it must be down to earth, heavy and unequivocal.

Knowledge of your audience is also a way of getting your counterarguments. You know what they may object to and can show them off with rationality and statistics.
In one word: put yourself in the position of your audience and write as though you were talking to someone. It is a great argumentative paper.

Organization of an Argumentative Paper

The Standard Format, Introductory Section, Body, Conclusion
Structure, structure, structure. There are three main parts of a winning argumentative paper:
1. Introduction- Placement of the stage, hooking the reader, and making your thesis.
2. Body Paragraphs- There should be 3-5 paragraphs, each covering one key point in support of your thesis.
3. Concluding- strengthen your case and finish it with a bang.
Although it may sound simple, majority of students fail this by not adhering to this structure. They wander. They ramble. They overlook making a point.

Make every section neat and meaningful. Your introduction must be a tease of a main argument. Evidence and examples should be represented in different body paragraphs. The end of your presentation, should not be fade-out but a mic-drop.
This flow is not only convenient to read, it attracts your reader to be focused and convinced throughout the flow.

The Way to Build an Effective Thesis Statement

The thesis, the essence of your whole argumentative paper. In case of poor thesis, all is lost. Creating a house on a sandy soil is similar.
What then makes a good thesis?
It is forceful. Nothing in-between.
It is the response to a certain question. It is not enough to say that climate change is bad. Just say that climate change is the first urgent global problem, which should be addressed in terms of international collaboration.

It gives a preface of your main points. Prepare the reader on what to expect.
A strong thesis gives the reader this information: “This is my opinion and here is why you should be interested.” Get it right and the rest of your paper nearly writes itself.

How to Write an Attractive Introduction

Hoooking the Reader
A first impression is everything-at least in an argumentative paper. The introduction is your initial opportunity to attract the reader to be interested in what you are saying, and in case you fail, you will lose them before offering your argument. What then is the way to hook these?
Present a decisive statistic, some outrageous fact, or even controversial question. For example:

Did you know that writing argumentative paper is a problem that plagues more than 70 percent of the college students?
That first line grabs the reader and gets him/her to listen. It is courageous, it is to the point and it immediately establishes what your essay is all about.
It is not enough to start with some boring definition or a general statement.

Consider a commercial to a blockbuster film the introduction to your story- you must make them have the urge to read the rest. Put some flair. Throw in emotion. Make the subject live.
and most of all–make it topical. Talking about climate change, education reform, or AI in the healthcare industry, demonstrate to the reader why this topic is important at the moment.

Presenting the Argument Clearly

Once you’ve hooked your reader, it’s time to bring in your thesis. This is your big moment. The point you’ll defend throughout the entire argumentative paper.
The best thesis statements are:
• Specific: No broad generalizations.
• Assertive: Take a side and stick to it.
• Preview-based: Give a taste of your main arguments.
So here is an example:

Uniforms erase the freedom of expression by students but they are required to instill discipline, lower bullying cases and establish student concentration on learning.
Boom. In one sentence, the reader receives all the information he/she needs to know and this prepares us to the rest of the paper.
When you have set your thesis, mention briefly about your supporting points. Not yet;–not yet–into them: that will be the body. It can be a matter of setting the agenda of a meeting; get a preview of what is to be done then do it bit by bit.

Building the Argument in the Body

Using Evidence to Back Up Claims
Let’s be real—opinions are everywhere. What makes your argument stand out in an argumentative paper is evidence.
That means:
Citing peer-reviewed journals
Quoting subject matter experts
Using recent data and statistics
Referencing historical examples
Don’t just say something is true—prove it. Use credible sources and be clear about where your information comes from.
But don’t go overboard with data either. A wall of numbers won’t persuade anyone unless you connect it to your argument. Use evidence to reinforce your points, not drown them.

Here’s a pro tip: Use the TEEL structure for body paragraphs:

Topic sentence
Evidence
Explanation
Link to thesis
It’s a simple but powerful format that keeps your writing sharp and focused.
And when researching, don’t forget to explore academic platforms like http://dissertationhive.com. They offer in-depth guides, research material, and examples of well-structured argumentative paper. It’s a goldmine for students aiming for top-tier writing.
Counterarguments and Refutations

This is where many students drop the ball. They build a solid argument—but ignore opposing views. Big mistake.
If your argumentative paper doesn’t address counterarguments, it looks one-sided and weak. Readers will assume you didn’t think it through—or worse, that your position can’t handle criticism.
So what should you do?

Introduce the opposing view respectfully.
Acknowledge its strengths (briefly).
Refute it with stronger evidence or logic.
Let us see an instance:

Their reasoning might go along the line that school uniforms discourage individuality. Although this is a valid issue it has been revealed that in fact students perform even better when there are less distractions in the classroom-such as uniform dress code.”
It does not imply attacking by refuting. It means showing why your view still holds more weight. That’s how you win arguments in style.

Crafting a Powerful Conclusion

Reinforcing Your Thesis
You’ve laid out your arguments. Presented your evidence. Handled counterpoints. Now it’s time to land the plane—and your conclusion is the runway.
Start by restating your thesis—but don’t copy it word for word. Paraphrase it. In conclude, state your main points. And tell the reader why it all is important.
And the last thing that should not be done is:
Never bring new arguments.
Do not go off-topic.
Don not repeat everything mechanically.

Rather, settle for transparency, pathos, and effect. What you want to do is make the impression in the mind of the reader that what you are arguing about is one that has to be preserved in the reader mind and convinced why he has to believe in that argument.
Attempt to do something like:
In today environment where schools are ridden with bullying, peer-related pressure and distraction, uniforms provide a practically effective answer. They are not ideal, but they have a lot to recommend them. Now is the time to readdress personal interpretation of the freedom of expression in the educational settings.”

This way you can have your reader nodding and smiling, in agreement–and years later still thinking about your paper.
Impression That is Out of this world
Want to deal with a deal? Conclude your argumentative paper with a call to action, a prediction or something thought-provoking.
Something like:

Do schools really care about academic excellence? Then schools will put the outfit behind them and concern themselves with the result.
It is not only a way to make your paper informative but also effective. It changes it to the real persuasive document instead of a student essay.
And don t forget the conclusion, which is just not the end, it is the peak of your discussion. Put force in it.

SAMPLE QUESTION

2 .this assignment is an annotated outline to help you organize your final paper. Your outline must be in outline form (this is not an essay paper), and it must also be substantive and scholarly

Each topic or step of the outline will include only two or three sentences regarding what will be discussed in that section. The first sentence of each short response will be the intended topic sentence for the paragraph for the final paper, focusing on the particular factors that need to be covered in your final paper; o The facts of George Floyd’s arrest and death; what was he arrested for; how many police officers were on scene, facts of his passing, etc.

(CLO1) o Professional history about the lead officer, Derek Chauvin. (CLO 4) o Details of the social unrest that occurred after Floyd’s death. [Note: Your analysis must be supported with scholarly or credible sources] (CLO 4) o The 5th Amendment to the US Constitution on double jeopardy and why it did not apply to Derek Chauvin in this case despite the fact he was convicted of three homicide counts in a case with only one victim. (CLO3) o

Details of three major provisions of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021. (CLO2) o Evaluate the civil settlement received by the Floyd family from the City of Minneapolis as a result of the actions of police officer Chauvin. Was this a matter of state or federal law, and why? (CLO2) • Your outline must include references to five credible, scholarly that you will use in your final paper. One of those five, required sources can be the course’s textbook. You may also use additional sources such as news articles, but these do not count toward your five required scholarly sources. • Be sure to use specific examples from your sources that support your research, analysis, and opinion.

The Final Comprehensive Case Report Topic and Outline paper • Must be three to four double-spaced pages in length (not including title and references pages) and formatted according to APA

Format your paper according to your assignment instructions: APA, MLA, Chicago Style The following sample includes APA-style citations and references. Page numbers are not required when citing paraphrased information. However, you may include them if doing so would better direct readers to the information cited.

 

Outline: Argumentative Paper on Obesity and Government Intervention I. Introduction a. Thesis: The obesity epidemic needs a government intervention because the medical costs associated with obesity cost taxpayers money, unhealthy foods need tighter regulations, and schools need to provide healthier options.

II. Short Response 1: The medical cost associated with weight-related issues has significantly contributed to individual taxes. a. Supporting evidence: “…the costs of obesity arising from individuals’ poor nutritional choices are borne by society as a whole through taxes, lost productivity, and an overburdened healthcare system. In 2008, the medical costs associated with obesity and obesity-related illnesses totaled US $147 billion in the United States” (Franck et al., 2013, p. 1951).

i. Explanation: This quote demonstrates not only the connection between obesity, medical costs, and increased taxes, but also shows the exact costs from a fairly recent year. ii. So what?: This quote supports the claim that weight-related medical issues contribute to increased taxes for all taxpayers by explaining the connection and demonstrating the high dollar costs to show that this is a current problem affecting a government process (taxation) and therefore could appropriately be addressed by government intervention.

III. Short Response 2: Another reason that weight should be considered a governmental issue is that the market for unhealthy food in America has overtaken the general food market and the government needs to actively curb the incentives to frequent these establishments. a. Supporting Evidence: “[M]eals are increasingly being consumed outside the home, and these meals tend to be higher in fat. A literal fat tax… theoretically would encourage individuals to opt for low-fat or nonfat alternatives” (Franck et al., 2013, p. 1951).

i. Explanation: This quote alludes to many of the main problems with fast food consumption and explains what a fat tax would attempt to do to curb the consumption of junk food. ii. So what?: Showing that a fat tax would be able to curb overconsumption of obesity-causing fast food demonstrates the need for the government to impose such a thing. IV. Short

Response 3: Finally, the government is responsible for ensuring that children have access to healthy food and exercise while in school. a. Supporting Evidence: A connection between Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move!” campaign and a reduction in overall childhood obesity across America has been demonstrated (Tucker, 2013, p. 5). i. Explanation: This information shows the effectiveness of government- backed programs, with “Let’s Move!” as the specific example.

Step 1: Review the Criminal Justice Impacts on Society: The George Floyd Case final paper assignment instructions and rubric in Week 6.

Step 2: Create an outline.

Your outline should contain the follow topics that reflect sections of the final paper, and each topic or step of the outline will include only two sentences regarding what will be discussed in that section, focusing on the particular factors that need to be covered in your final paper.

Your outline must include references to five scholarly or credible sources (including your textbook) that you will use in your final paper

Derek Chauvin was charged with, and convicted of, three separate homicide counts for George Floyd’s death.

In your outline,

· Explain the facts of George Floyd’s arrest and death (e.g., briefly, what was he arrested for; how many police officers were on scene, facts of his passing, etc.).

· Summarize a brief, professional history about the lead officer, Derek Chauvin.

· Analyze the social unrest that occurred after Floyd’s death.

· Support the analysis with scholarly or credible sources that explain the scale of the protests, specifically identifying cities and the impacts to areas that experienced civil unrest.

· Analyze in detail how this case did not violate the Amendment V’s prohibition against double jeopardy.

· Summarize three major provisions of your choosing found in the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021.

· Evaluate the civil settlement received by the Floyd family from the City of Minneapolis as a result of the actions of police officer Chauvin.

· Identify whether this was a matter of state or federal law and why.

· Identify your opinion about the outcome of the Chauvin trial and the Floyd family settlement.

· Support your opinion with scholarly, credible evidence.

The Annotated Outline assignment,

· Must be three to four double-spaced pages in length (not including title and references pages)

· Must utilize academic voice. See the  Academic Voice Links to an external site.  resource for additional guidance.

· Must use at least five scholarly, peer-reviewed, scholarly or credible sources in addition to the course text

Cited Source: Hill, E., Tiefenthäler, A., Triebert, C., Jordan, D., Willis, H., & Stein, R. (2020). How George Floyd was killed in police custody. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/31/us/george-floyd-investigation.html

Cited Source: BBC News. (2020). Derek Chauvin: What we know about the officer charged over George Floyd’s death. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-52854025

Cited Source: Buchanan, L., Bui, Q., & Patel, J. K. (2020). Black Lives Matter may be the largest movement in U.S. history. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/07/03/us/george-floyd-protests-crowd-size.html

Cited Source: Cornell Law School. (n.d.). Double jeopardy. Legal Information Institute. https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/double_jeopardy

Cited Source: U.S. Congress. (2021). George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021. https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/1280/text

Cited Source: BBC News. (2021). George Floyd: US city to pay $27m to family of man whose death sparked protests. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-56372580

Cited Source: Peak, K. J., & Madensen-Herold, T. D. (2021). Introduction to criminal justice: Practice and process (4th ed.). Sage Publications.

ANSWER

Criminal Justice Impacts on Society: The George Floyd Case
Student Name:
Course:
Date:

I. Introduction
THESIS STATEMENT: The recent instance of George Floyd who was killed by a police officer Derek Chauvin in Minneapolis is a milestone in American criminal justice history as it revealed the depths of police brutality and caused the burst of civil unrest in the country as well as broad redefinitions of law and public policy in the form of federal bills and establishing significant civil settlements. The case illustrates how single incidents of police malpractices may spark societal campaigns both on justice and accountability and present complicated legal issues of the constitution and the interface between state law and federal law.

II. The Arrest and Death of George Floyd- What the facts are.
George Floyd died on Memorial Day 2020, after trying to use a counterfeit bill in a cup food store in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where four Minneapolis police officers in an ensuing confrontation, put him on the ground and killed him. The case referred to Derek Chauvin who knelt down on the neck of Floyd and kept him on the ground up to about 9 minutes 29 seconds, officers Thomas Lane, J. Alexander Kueng, and Tou Thao were involved in holding Floyd down or they did not take any action when he repeatedly said that he could not breathe (Hill et al., 2020).

Support Evidence: Despite the fact the video was shot by one of the participants who said that the guy called Mr. Floyd was handcuffed, and was then pushed to the ground and Officer Chauvin kneeled on his neck more than nine minutes, even though Mr. Floyd kept saying that he could not breathe (Hill et al., 2020).

Analysis: This evidence proves the durability of the restraint that resulted in the death of Floyd and proved the existence of the fact on the basis of which a series of criminal prosecutions of the officers who committed the crime were initiated

III. Career Life of Derek Chauvin
Being a police officer in Minneapolis, Derek Chauvin had a history of complaints and prior use-of-force in the 19-year period prior to the George Floyd incident, which presented a suggestion of his unqualification to police work. He had several complaints brought against him, which were mostly shut with no disciplinary measure, in his professional record, and had been part of several high-profile cases including the killing of Wayne Reyes in 2006, which he did not survive (BBC News, 2020).

Supportive Evidence: According to BBC News (2020), Chauvin was accused of 18 complaints in his entire career, of which only two had disciplinary results: the letter of reprimand.
Analysis: This fact means the trend of bad behavior that was not effectively addressed by the Minneapolis Police Department and signifies the systemic problems within the field of police accountability and control.

IV. Social Unrest As The Aftermath Of Floyd Death
The death of George Floyd spurred the biggest civil rights protest in the history of the USA, the peaceful carnival took place in more than 2,000 cities and towns in all 50 states with the figure comprising of approximately 15 to 26 million people between May and August 2020. These demonstrations translated to massive damage to property, as cities such as Minneapolis, Portland, Seattle, and New York fell in civil unrest, which is why curfews were established, National Guard was deployed, and millions of dollars worth of property were damaged (Buchanan et al., 2020).

Supporting Evidence: According to Buchanan et al. (2020), “Black Lives Matter has turn out to be one of the largest movements in U.S history as demonstrations took place in more than 2,000 cities and towns with 15 million to 26 million people participating in the protest.”
Analysis: This data proves that the response to the death of Floyd was by far the largest in the history of society reacting to a single case of police violence and shows that any isolated example of a police misconduct can become the trigger of a nationwide social movement to change the system.

V. Fifth Amendment Double Jeopardy Analysis

The Double Jeopardy Clause in the Fifth Amendment would not underpin the conviction of Derek Chauvin on three related counts of homicide as these amounts did not qualify as many prosecutions of the same criminal offense; instead, they were different punishments based on the different elements of evidence of a single crime that was the same. According to the Minnesota law and the precedent set by the law, a defendant may be found guilty of multiple homicide degrees of a single killing in instances where the charges are composed of varying aspects so that the jury may consider multiple degrees of culpability (Cornell Law School, n.d.).

Evidence: According to Cornell Law School (n.d.), the protection of an individual against the unfairness of multiple prosecutions in the same offense, referred to as double jeopardy, does not cover the possibility of multiple charges of the same conduct when the multiple charges have varied elements.
Analysis: The reason why this legal tenet is important is that the constitutional entitlement to protection against double jeopardy is narrowly structured to thwart any possible abuse and still permit proper charging choices to accommodate the richness in criminal activity.

VI.George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021
There are three large provisions of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021 which might be meant to restore police misconduct as a systemic practice: a ban on qualified immunity claims by using law enforcement employees in civil rights actions; a national registry of complaints previously highlighting police misconduct, and a mandate that recipients of federal funding be forced to outlaw choke holds and no-knock warrants.
Such measures are detailed federal laws that seek to help police become more accountable and avoid further police brutality occurrences in the future (U.S. Congress, 2021).

Legal Supporting Evidence: The title of the U.S. Congress (2021) proposes a limit to the application of qualified immunity by law enforcement officers in a civil action against a law enforcement officer following the trial on the one hand and a registry of police misconduct on the other.
Analysis: The provisions are an example of a federal legislative response to the systemic problems that the death of Floyd revealed and how the case can inspire the whole country to conduct national policy changes.

VII. Civil Settlement Analysis
The settlement of $27 million awarded to the Floyd family by the City of Minneapolis is one of the largest police misconduct pre-trial settlements in U.S. history and proof to the fact that municipalities can be held financially liable to the incredible sums when an officer misconducts. This settlement was guided by state law with the help of Section 1983 civil rights claims even though the case concerns the violation of federal law and the Constitution, which demonstrates the simultaneously complicated relationship between state and federal laws in police misconduct cases (BBC News, 2021).

Supportive Evidence: BBC News (2021) have published the information that Minneapolis is ready to pay 27M dollars to undo the civil lawsuit filed by the family of George Floyd and it allegedly constitutes one of the largest pre-trial payments in a police misconduct case.
Analysis: This sizeable award indicates that the city credibly recognized that it was liable and that the repercussions on the municipal governments as a result of police-misconduct are stupendous.

VIII. Individual response and commentary
The verdict in the Chauvin trial can be considered a unique achievement in terms of police accountability and give some justice to the family of George Floyd and society in general; what is more, the civil settlement considers the errors on the part of the system that allowed his death. Still, the actual long-lasting changes in the proposed policy lays in long-term adherence to the policy changes described in the federal legislative texts and maintenance of awareness that individual successful prosecutions cannot be accepted as an alternative to the overall systemic reform (Peak & Madensen-Herold, 2021).

Supporting Evidence: According to the study by Peak and Madensen-Herold (2021), police accountability demands both individual responsibility and systemic reformition in order to consider the institutional factors, which are involved to cause misconduct.
Analysis: The point of view acknowledges the importance of personal responsibility and also the necessity of institutional change to avoid similar incidents in the future and repair the relations with law enforcement in the eyes of the masses.

References

BBC News. (2020). Derek Chauvin: What we know about the officer charged over George Floyd’s death. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-52854025

BBC News. (2021). George Floyd: US city to pay $27m to family of man whose death sparked protests. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-56372580

Buchanan, L., Bui, Q., & Patel, J. K. (2020). Black Lives Matter may be the largest movement in U.S. history. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/07/03/us/george-floyd-protests-crowd-size.html

Cornell Law School. (n.d.). Double jeopardy. Legal Information Institute. https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/double_jeopardy

Hill, E., Tiefenthäler, A., Triebert, C., Jordan, D., Willis, H., & Stein, R. (2020). How George Floyd was killed in police custody. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/31/us/george-floyd-investigation.html

Peak, K. J., & Madensen-Herold, T. D. (2021). Introduction to criminal justice: Practice and process (4th ed.). Sage Publications.

U.S. Congress. (2021). George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021. https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/1280/text