English — Writing: The Argumentative Essay (Structure and Techniques) — 3rd Year Secondary — Literary Stream — Baccalaureate — Algerian Curriculum

English — Writing: The Argumentative Essay (Structure and Techniques) — 3rd Year Secondary — Literary Stream — Baccalaureate — Algerian Curriculum

Structure of an Argumentative Essay

• Introduction: Hook, background information, thesis statement.
• Body Paragraphs (2-3): Each paragraph = one main argument + evidence + examples.
• Conclusion: Restate thesis, summarize main points, final thought.

Writing the Introduction

Body Paragraphs

Each body paragraph follows the PEEL structure:
P – Point: State your main idea. “Firstly, social media has a negative impact on mental health.”
E – Evidence: Provide facts, statistics, examples. “Studies show that teenagers who spend more than 3 hours on social media are more likely to feel anxious.”
E – Explanation: Explain how the evidence supports your point. “This is because social media creates unrealistic standards of comparison.”
L – Link: Link to the next paragraph or back to the thesis.

Useful Expressions for Argumentative Essays

• Introducing arguments: Firstly, Secondly, Moreover, Furthermore, In addition.
• Contrasting: However, On the other hand, Nevertheless, Although.
• Concluding: In conclusion, To sum up, Therefore, As a result.
• Giving opinions: In my opinion, I believe that, It seems to me that.

Sample Essay Outline

Topic: Should social media be banned for teenagers?
Introduction: Hook about social media use. Thesis: Social media should not be banned but regulated.
Body 1: Social media helps teenagers connect with friends. Evidence: 70% of teens say social media helps them stay connected.
Body 2: Social media can be educational. Evidence: Educational content on YouTube/TikTok.
Body 3: The solution is regulation, not banning. Evidence: Countries that successfully regulate social media.
Conclusion: Summarize, restate thesis, call for balanced approach.

Exercises

1. Write a thesis statement for: “Is technology making people lazy?”
2. Write one body paragraph (PEEL) for: “Why is education important?”
3. Write a complete introduction for an essay on “The benefits of reading.”

Similar Lessons

• Conditional Sentences
• Reported Speech

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