ESSAY STRUCTURE
As with the Issue essay, there is no single “correct” way to organize an Argument essay.
As with the Issue essay, there is no single “correct” way to organize an Argument essay.
Try to accomplish three goals in your introductory paragraph:
The following is a sample template for the first paragraph that accomplishes these goals:
The author concludes that____________, because ________. The author’s line of reasoning is that ______________. This argument is unconvincing for several reasons; it is____________ and it uses _____________.
In the first body paragraph, your goal is to critique one of the following:
The following is a sample template for this paragraph that accomplishes this goal:
First of all, ____________________________ is based upon the questionable assumption ________________________________. That _______________, however, _________________. Moreover, ________________________.
The purpose of the second paragraph is to address one of the following:
The following is a sample template for this paragraph that accomplishes this goal:
Secondly, the author assumes that_________________________.
However, __________________________. It seems equally reasonable to assume that____________________.
In this paragraph, your goal is to critique one of the following:
The following is a sample template for this paragraph that accomplishes this goal:
Finally, _______________________________________. The author fails to consider__________________________________. For example, __________________. Because the author’s argument _________________.
In the final paragraph, your goals are to:
The final paragraph is not the place to introduce new arguments or issues. Sample template:
In sum, I agree that______________________. However, ____________________; on balance, _____________________.
The numbers of sentences indicated for each paragraph are guidelines, not hard-and-fast rules.
Do not be a Parrot
The transitional phrases used here are purposely simplistic; do not simply “parrot” them word-for-word in your essay or adopt a fill-in the blank approach. If you do, your essay might appear stilted or contrived.
Next LSAT: January 16/17