by George Brosi

Argument is the essence of academic endeavor. All research papers, even theses and dissertations, are simply elaborate argument papers. The conventions of scholarly writing which are appropriate for a three-page (500 word) argument paper are consistent with the requirements of a long research paper, and they are the same as those required for any other college paper. All papers should be written in a way which is accessible for any reader of English regardless of background or country or origin.

Your argument paper should be typed in MLA style. Like your papers in high school classes, it should have an introductory paragraph, a conclusion paragraph and three to five paragraphs in between which constitute the "body" of the essay. The introductory paragraph focuses the reader's attention to your subject matter. It answers the questions, who, what, when, where. It entices the reader to read on. Ordinarily towards the end of the introductory paragraph is found the thesis statement which tells what the paper intends to argue. It is permissible to employ two introductory paragraphs in some cases and state the thesis in the second introductory paragraph, but the thesis needs to be stated before the beginning of the body of the essay because the purpose of the body is to support that thesis.

Each paragraph in the body needs to focus on one particular point that substantiates the thesis statement. Each of these paragraphs should include a concrete example or illustration so that the paper is cinematic and specific. The conclusion paragraph should summarize the points made in the body of the paper. Thus the writer needs to double check the body before beginning the conclusion. Does each paragraph support the thesis? Does each paragraph include at least one example or illustration? Does each paragraph make one and only one supportive point? Once the paragraphs in the body are shaped up and summarized in the conclusion paragraph, double check again to make sure that the introduction promises exactly what the body delivers and that the conclusion summarizes what the body does.

A strong argument paper is rigorous and exhaustive. The paragraphs in the body are not simply random, but have a pattern which clarifies that the paper covers the thesis totally. Thus if your thesis is that pacifiers are bad for babies, your supportive paragraphs might show how pacifiers are bad physically, psychologically or socially or they might show how they are bad for babies as babies, as youths and as adults or they might show how they are bad for the digestive system, the respiratory system and the circulatory system.