Methods of Organization for Argumentative Essays.

There are three common methods of organizing an argumentative essay. No one method is better than another; each one provides a different way of organizing the details of your argument and countering the opposing viewpoint. What is important to know is that following any one of these methods of organization will provide order and logic to your essay. Review the chart below. Note that you may have more or fewer details and arguments in your essay than you see here.

Method 1	Method 2	Method 3
1. Introduction a. Explanation of the issue (Use an introductory technique, such as turning an argument on its head.) b. Statement of both sides of the issue. c. Argumentative thesis statement. 2. Argument 1 for your stance a. Detail 1 b. Detail 2 c. Etc. 3. Argument 2 for your stance a. Detail 1 b. Detail 2 c. Etc. 4. Argument 3 for your stance a. Detail 1 b. Detail 2 c. Etc. 5. Counter-argument a. Statement of the opposing view b. Refutation of opposing view 1 c. Refutation of opposing view 2 d. Etc. 6. Conclusion a. Detail 1 b. Detail 2 c. Etc.	1. Introduction a. Explanation of the issue (Use an introductory technique, such as turning an argument on its head.) b. Statement of both sides of the issue. c. Argumentative thesis statement. 2. Refute the opposing stance with Argument 1 a. Statement of the opposing stance b. Detail 1 c. Detail 2 d. Etc. 3. Refute the opposing stance with Argument 2 a. Detail 1 b. Detail 2 c. Etc. 4. Refute the opposing stance with Argument 3 a. Detail 1 b. Detail 2 c. Etc. 5. Conclusion a. Detail 1 b. Detail 2 c. Etc.	1. Introduction a. Explanation of the issue (Use an introductory technique, such as turning an argument on its head.) b. Statement of both sides of the issue. c. Argumentative thesis statement. 2. Counter-argument a. Statement of the opposing view b. Refutation of opposing view 1 c. Refutation of opposing view 2 d. Etc. 3. Argument 1 for your stance (weakest) a. Detail 1 b. Detail 2 c. Etc. 4. Argument 2 for your stance (stronger) a. Detail 1 b. Detail 2 c. Etc. 5. Argument 3 for your stance (strongest) a. Detail 1 b. Detail 2 c. Etc. 6. Conclusion a. Detail 1 b. Detail 2 c. Etc.

Turning an argument on its head means presenting the opposing view as a starting point. You can use this technique as a hook to generate interest and pull the reader into the essay. After you give the opposing view, you present your own view. Follow it with general ideas and background information about the issue at hand. Then finish your first paragraph with the thesis statement. Mind the following tips for using this technique:

ü Make sure that you can use the opposing view as a starting point in a way that makes sense logically. If you simply state both views, this is not “turning the argument on its head”.

ü Do not go into too much detail for this technique. Use only one or two sentences.

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