create 2 paragraph essay stating your view

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IELTS two-views-and-opinion essay tips

Yuliia Chorna

create 2 paragraph essay stating your view

You will definitely do better in the Writing section of IELTS Academic if you take some time to familiarize yourself with different types of essays that can appear in the exam, learn and practise useful tips and strategies for each of them.

What are two-views-and-opinion essays about?

Students and candidates might often find it difficult to distinguish between two-views-and-opinion essays, opinion essays or advantage and disadvantage essays . However, if you read the task carefully, you will easily identify which type of essay you are supposed to write because questions for two-views-and-opinion essays can be worded in several different ways. For example:

What does this mean? In this type of task, you will have to complete three different tasks:

write why people hold the first point of view;
write why other people adhere to the second;
write which position of these two you choose and why.

For example:

The task above looks at two views:

students should spend the same time on all subjects;
students should spend more time on the subjects they like.

That is why you have to write why people think students should spend equal amount of time on different subjects, and why others consider that it is advisable to spend more time on favourite subjects. Finally, you have to choose one of these opinions and provide reasoning.

It is likely that you will use the wrong structure for your essay if you misidentify the type of the question. It is also one of the reasons why many candidates do not give their opinion, do not provide arguments for both views, or they do not develop both sides of the arguments appropriately, i.e. to an equal extent. These are considered blunders because the question clearly states that one has to give their opinion. Regardless which side you take, give equal attention to both. Providing more weighty reasons for the view you prefer leads to a badly balanced essay and high chances of poor task achievement, i.e. your lower score.

READ ABOUT: How to link ideas in IELTS essays

Steps for writing an essay

You might have read about different ways to write a two-views-and-opinion essays but the one we are offering will make you write your essay in a few simple steps.

Step 1. Analyse the task.

As we have mentioned above, you have to read the task carefully. Next, underline the key information in the topic. By doing so you will have a better understanding of what to write about and what you do not need to do.

After that, try to paraphrase the statement for yourself using simple language in order to understand it better.

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Step 2. Map out your essay.

It is important to plan your essay in detail. This will help you outline it properly and provide a good score for the structure and organization.

Since you are going to write about two different views, it is a good idea to brainstorm details and examples to support both sides. These should be reasons to support the views and some examples.

Next, decide on your own opinion. You have to choose whether you support view 1 or view 2. If you can’t choose, go for a balance. Think of details and examples for your opinion as well.

Step 3. Write your essay.

First, write the introduction where you have to introduce the topic, the issue, state your opinion and what will be discussed.

The main body should include 3 paragraphs:

in body paragraph 1, give reasons for view 1 (a topic sentence and details/examples)
in body paragraph 2, give reasons for view 2 (a topic sentence and details/examples)
in body paragraph 3, give reasons for your own opinion (a topic sentence and details/examples)

Finally, write the conclusion where you need to summarize views 1 and 2, and restate your opinion.

Step 4. Check your essay.

First of all, pay attention to spelling mistakes. Next, read your essay and look for mistakes you typically make. After that, make sure you do not repeat yourself too much and use proper linking devices to receive a high score for the criterion of Coherence and Cohesion.

READ ABOUT: How to check your IELTS writing

Essay structure

If you use our tips for writing your two-views-and-opinion essay, it will have the following structure:

In our course , we you will learn how to build all possible types of essays step by step. You will practise brainstorming ideas and writing different parts of the essay, learn useful language to present your ideas and make your essay well-organized and coherent. You will do a lot of writing practice and receive feedback from our IELTS experts. Finally, you will take a mock test that will allow you to feel the taste of a real exam.

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Writing a discussion essay: Discuss two views and give your opinion

Choose the correct options in the gaps to complete the following essay..

Some people think that the internet has brought people together while others think that people have become more isolated now. Discuss both sides and give your opinion.

The impact of the internet on social interaction has been a topic of discussion for a long time. 1 critics claim claim In addition I believe that In conclusion supporters In my view While some argue For instance Nevertheless that the internet has helped people form stronger and closer relationships, others 2 In conclusion critics claim In addition claim I believe that While some argue In my view Nevertheless supporters For instance that it has caused individuals to be more disconnected. 3 I believe that claim For instance supporters critics claim Nevertheless In addition While some argue In my view In conclusion , although it's true that the internet has connected the world in ways never imagined, it has also contributed to social isolation and impacted the quality of human relationships.

On the one hand, 4 supporters For instance In addition critics claim Nevertheless claim In my view While some argue In conclusion I believe that of the internet's positive effect on social connections emphasize its ability to unite people. They argue that social media platforms and online communities have enabled people to connect with like-minded individuals globally, transcending geographical boundaries. 5 claim I believe that While some argue supporters In addition Nevertheless For instance critics claim In conclusion In my view , people can now engage in meaningful discussions, share experiences, and find support through online forums or social media platforms, promoting a sense of belonging.

6 critics claim Nevertheless claim In conclusion For instance supporters In addition While some argue I believe that In my view , 7 In addition While some argue In my view supporters I believe that In conclusion claim Nevertheless critics claim For instance that excessive internet use results in social isolation. They argue that online interactions have negatively affected face-to-face communication. Instead of spending time with people in person, some individuals may prefer to be in online communities, making them feel alone and disconnected. 8 I believe that In my view critics claim In addition In conclusion supporters claim While some argue Nevertheless For instance , using too much digital content and social media create a false feeling of connection that isn't deep or meaningful. For example, studies have shown that spending too much time on screens can harm mental well-being and cause feelings of loneliness and disconnection from others.

9 In addition In conclusion Nevertheless In my view While some argue claim critics claim I believe that supporters For instance , the discussion surrounding the internet's impact on social connections revolves around its potential to bring people together versus the risks of increased isolation. While the internet has facilitated global connections and created opportunities for meaningful interactions, it has also contributed to social isolation and affected the quality of relationships. 10 For instance In addition In conclusion claim I believe that In my view Nevertheless critics claim While some argue supporters finding a balance between using the internet and spending time with people in person is essential. This will help to keep relationships real and prevent feeling alone.

A discussion essay is an essay where you are presented with two opposing views on a topic, and you are asked to discuss both views and, often, to give your opinion.

Make sure you understand the question

The first thing you should do is analyse the question and make sure that you understand exactly what you are asked to do and all the points you need to include in your text. Here is an example question that we will use to guide you through the process of planning and writing a discussion essay:

Some people believe that vaping is a safer alternative to smoking and helps people quit smoking , while others think that e-cigarettes are harmful and may lead to vapers becoming smokers in the future.

Discuss both views and give your opinion.

This is the information we have in the question:

Topic : vaping/e-cigarettes

‘ For ‘ arguments: safer than smoking, quit smoking aid

‘ Against ‘ arguments: harmful, may lead to smoking

We can see from the question that you have to discuss two opposing views about vaping. You must concentrate on discussing ideas relevant to the for and against arguments provided. Also, you have to give your opinion.

Structure of a discussion essay

The first thing you need to do is think about what is your opinion, and then you need to have a clear idea of the structure you want to use. This part of the process of writing the essay is essential. Here, we suggest a possible structure for your essay:

1) Introduction

Introduce the topic and the two opposing views
State your opinion

2) Body paragraph 1

Topic sentence: describe the view/s that you disagree with.
Explanation: explain why some people support this view or provide evidence that supports it.
(Optional: you can also add a counterargument to incorporate your opinion.)
Example: give an example.

3) Body paragraph 2

Topic sentence: describe the view that you agree with.

4) Conclusion

Summarise the key points and reaffirm your opinion

Introduction

➪ The introduction should not be very long. You should start by paraphrasing the question, which means saying the same but using different words.

Essay question: Some people believe that vaping is a safer alternative to smoking and helps people quit smoking, while others think that e-cigarettes are harmful and may lead to vapers becoming smokers in the future.

Paraphrase: It is often said that vaping is healthier than smoking and helps smokers quit their habit. However, many are concerned about the potential harm of e-cigarettes and their role in leading people to become smokers.

➪ After the paraphrased version, you should add your opinion, always including the opposite view again.

Opinion: While it might be true that vaping is less dangerous than smoking, I believe the substances in e-cigarettes are proven to be harmful and addictive and should be regulated more strictly.

Here is the final version:

Useful expressions

Introduce the first view

Some people argue/claim/say/believe that…
There are those who argue/claim/say/believe that…
It is often claimed that…

Introduce the opposite view

Nevertheless, other people claim/argue/believe that…
However, there are those who claim/argue/believe that…
However, opponents of… claim/argue/believe that…

Introduce your opinion

I hold the view that…
In my view,…
In my opinion,…

Body paragraph 1

The three suggested parts of this paragraph are:

Topic sentence 1

On the one hand, some people argue that vaping is a safer option than smoking traditional cigarettes.

Explanation

They emphasise that it eliminates all the harmful substances resulting from tobacco combustion.

Topic sentence 2

In addition, supporters also say that e-cigarettes provide a means for smokers to stop smoking.

Explanation

They believe that since vaping offers the possibility to decrease the nicotine you consume gradually, it makes quitting easier.

For instance, in some countries like the UK or New Zealand, e-cigarettes are promoted as an important treatment option for smokers who want to quit.

This is the final result:

Introduce the paragraph with the first view

On the one hand,…

Introduce an argument that supports the first view

Supporters argue/suggest/claim/say that…

Add a new argument, idea, example, etc

In addition,…
Moreover,…
Furthermore,…

Introduce a second argument that supports this view

Some people also argue/claim/say/believe that…
There are those who also argue/claim/say/believe that…
It has also been claimed/suggested that…
Supporters also argue/suggest/claim/say that…

Introduce an example

For example,…
For instance,…

Body paragraph 2

However, critics claim that while vaping eliminates some harmful chemicals, e-cigarettes still contain addictive or dangerous substances such as nicotine or flavouring chemicals.

Moreover, e-cigarettes are known to cause nicotine addiction among non-smokers, which may lead them to take up smoking.

Many people who have never smoked are attracted to vaping by the aggressive marketing campaigns and the existence of many different enticing flavours, and many of them progress from e-cigarettes to tobacco.

For example, vaping has become very popular among British youngsters, and there is a lot of debate about the need to implement stricter regulations because many of these vapers end up becoming smokers.

Introduce the paragraph with the second view

On the other hand,…
However,…
In contrast,…

Introduce an argument that supports the second view

Other people argue/claim/say/believe that…
Critics/opponents argue/suggest/claim/say that…

Use distancing expressions to introduce an argument

It is known that (e-cigarretes/vaping/etc.)…
(E-cigarretes/vaping/etc.) are/is known to…

The conclusion shouldn’t be too long. It should consist of two parts:

Summary of the main points of your essay

Although it could be argued that e-cigarettes are less harmful than tobacco and offer a potential alternative for adult smokers trying to quit, the presence of unsafe chemicals and addictive substances in e-liquids is a health risk and leads many non-smokers to start smoking.

Your opinion

In my opinion, vaping has serious health effects, and we need stronger regulations to restrict the use of e-cigarettes and mitigate their potential risks.

Introduce the conclusion

In conclusion,…
To conclude,…
To sum up,…

Introduce the argument you don’t support

Although/While it could be argued that…
Although/While some people argue that…
Although/While it is often claimed that…
I believe that…

Here’s the complete essay :

On the one hand, some people argue that vaping is a safer option than smoking traditional cigarettes. They emphasise that it eliminates all the harmful substances resulting from tobacco combustion. In addition, supporters also say that e-cigarettes provide a means for smokers to stop smoking. They believe that since vaping offers the possibility to decrease the nicotine you consume gradually, it makes quitting easier. For instance, in some countries like the UK or New Zealand, e-cigarettes are promoted as an important treatment option for smokers who want to quit.

However, critics claim that while vaping eliminates some harmful chemicals, e-cigarettes still contain addictive or dangerous substances such as nicotine or flavouring chemicals. Moreover, e-cigarettes are known to cause nicotine addiction among non-smokers, which may lead them to take up smoking. Many people who have never smoked are attracted to vaping by the aggressive marketing campaigns and the existence of many different enticing flavours, and many of them progress from e-cigarettes to tobacco. For example, vaping has become very popular among British youngsters, and there is a lot of debate about the need to implement stricter regulations because many of these vapers end up becoming smokers.

In conclusion, although it could be argued that e-cigarettes are less harmful than tobacco and offer a potential alternative for adult smokers trying to quit, the presence of unsafe chemicals and addictive substances in e-liquids is a health risk and leads many non-smokers to start smoking. In my opinion, vaping has serious health effects, and we need stronger regulations to restrict the use of e-cigarettes and mitigate their potential risks.

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A simple formula for discussing two opposing views in your IELTS essay

Learn how to discuss two opposing views for your IELTS essay

Content Tags

Doing your best on the writing section of the IELTS exam is easier if you take the time to get to know the different essay types that can appear.

Once you know the kinds of tasks you might face, it’s possible to make a general outline or map for each, into which you can organize your ideas. Having an outline will give you some breathing room to focus on your answer during this time-sensitive test, as you only have about 40 minutes to write the essay.

Those of you who have been preparing already know that there are 4 question types that often appear on the exam*.

Essay Types and Example Questions

*Note, most other essays ask direct questions (usually 2) about a subject and you should answer each of those questions in separate paragraphs making sure you include an introduction and conclusion. They will likely be some form of the above essays.

Introduction

In this article we will look at how to organize discussion essays or essays that present two opposing views and ask for your opinion. This sample outline isn’t the definitive or only way to put a discussion essay together, but I hope that by looking at the example, you will see the basic essentials of an essay format (introduction, body, conclusion, including support/examples) and understand, generally, what to do in order to get the score you need to succeed.

CAUTION: Before we begin, you should remember that when you are asked to discuss two opposing views, you must put yourself in the shoes of the people who hold each opinion - seeing the issue from both sides of the fence. If you don’t, you will limit your score.

Now, while you look at the response to the following task, see if you can identify what each sentence does before you look at the outline below.

Some people believe that the best way to control accidents on city streets is to lower the speed limit but others think there are more important issues that need attention before roads can be safe.

Discuss both views and give your opinion.

As more and more people drive cars in major cities, the number of serious accidents grow each year. Some people believe that the best way to address this problem is to reduce the speed limit on city streets while others disagree and think that there are more pressing issues that need to be addressed to keep people safe. Although speeding is an issue, I agree that more needs to be done to ensure that everyone can travel without fear. This essay will consider the different viewpoints before deciding what is the best solution.

There are some that see speeding as the main reason why people are involved in motor vehicle accidents and think that driving slower would solve the problem. Indeed, if people maintained a safe speed throughout the city, the risk and frequency of traffic accidents would clearly be reduced as the faster a car travels, the more damage it can do to whatever it hits. Many cities around the world adopted very low speed limits over the last decade and there is some evidence that there have been fewer incidents and far fewer serious accidents within the city limits.

However, there are others who would say that the problem is more about people driving while distracted and that heavy penalties to address this issue would be more effective in improving the situation. It’s hard not to notice that many drivers are looking down at their phones and not at the road while driving. The dangers of not paying attention are obvious and, in fact, the number one cause of traffic accidents in recent times is reported to be distraction as people text or email while they are in the driver’s seat not watching where they are going.

In my opinion, both views have merit but the best way to solve this problem is to make sure the government provides the funding for law enforcement. Without the manpower and budget for crime detection and policing to catch offenders, many will continue to break the texting and speeding laws if they know they can get away with it. Cities that have allocated enough money to their police force and empowered them to come up with ways to catch distracted and aggressive drivers have made their metropolises safer.

City streets need to be safer for everyone and speeding and distracted drivers are a problem. If the proper funding is given to law enforcement to catch and punish those who break safe driving laws, city dwellers will feel more at ease on the roads.

Paragraph One – Introduction

Here is the map or outline explaining how the above essay was created:

DISCUSSION ESSAY - 5 PARAGRAPH FORMULA

Sentence 1: Introduces the main subject.

As more and more people drive cars in major cities, the number of serious accidents grow each year.

Sentence 2: States the two opposing views about the subject.

Some people believe that the best way to address this problem is to reduce the speed limit on city streets while others disagree and think that there are more pressing issues that need to be addressed to keep people safe.

Sentence 3: States the writer’s opinion in the matter.

Although speeding is an issue, I agree that more needs to be done to ensure that everyone can travel without fear.

Sentence 4: Briefly outlines what the writer is going to write about in the paragraphs that follow.

This essay will consider the different viewpoints before deciding what is the best solution.

Paragraph Two – Body

Sentence 1: Gives the first viewpoint. There are some that see speeding as the main reason why people are involved in motor vehicle accidents and think that driving slower would solve the problem.

Sentence 2: Discusses why some people might hold this view. Indeed, if people maintained a safe speed throughout the city, the risk and frequency of traffic accidents would clearly be reduced as the faster a car travels, the more damage it can do to whatever it hits.

Sentence 3: Gives an example that supports their viewpoint.

Many cities around the world adopted very low speed limits over the last decade and there is some evidence that there have been fewer incidents and far fewer serious accidents within the city limits.

Paragraph Three – Body

Sentence 1: Gives the second viewpoint.

Sentence 2: Discusses why some people might hold this view.

It’s hard not to notice that many drivers are looking down at their phones and not at the road while driving.

The dangers of not paying attention are obvious and, in fact, the number one cause of traffic accidents in recent times is reported to be distraction as people text or email while they are in the driver’s seat not watching where they are going.

Paragraph Four – Body

Sentence 1: Gives your viewpoint.

In my opinion, both views have merit but the best way to solve this problem is to make sure the government provides the funding for law enforcement.

Sentence 2: Discusses why you hold this view.

Without the manpower and budget for crime detection and policing to catch offenders, many will continue to break the texting and speeding laws if they know they can get away with it.

Sentence 3: Gives an example that supports your viewpoint.

Cities that have allocated enough money to their police force and empowered them to come up with ways to catch distracted and aggressive drivers have made their metropolises safer.

Paragraph Five - Conclusion

Sentence 1: Summarizes the different opinions on the topic.

City streets need to be safer for everyone and speeding and distracted drivers are a problem.

Sentence 2: States which opinion is better or more important in your view.

If the proper funding is given to law enforcement to catch and punish those who break safe driving laws, city dwellers will feel more at ease on the roads.

Two opinions - Conclusion

In this example, the opinion of the writer is different than the two given opinions but it is also possible to agree with one or both of the opinions provided as well. In this case, you would use the same outline and give further or different support in the fourth paragraph.

Discussion Template

Below is a template for the discussion essay that you can use to help you practice and learn how to organize your ideas for the exam.

I hope you find them useful. Good luck and have fun with your preparations.

Discussion Template - Paragraph One - Introduction

Sentence 1: ___________________________________________________________________________

Introduce the main subject.

Sentence 2: ___________________________________________________________________________

State the two opposing views.

Sentence 3: ___________________________________________________________________________

State your opinion in the matter.

Sentence 4: ___________________________________________________________________________

Briefly outline what you will write about in the following paragraphs.

Discussion Template - Paragraphs two, three, and four - the body of support

Paragraph two.

Sentence 1 (topic sentence): ___________________________________________________________________________

Tell the reader what this paragraph is about by stating the first view point.

Assume that the reader doesn’t know anything about this topic and discuss why some people might have this view.

Give a real life or made up example that supports this view.

Paragraph Three - Repeat the above for the other viewpoint

Tell the reader what this paragraph is about by stating the second view point.

Paragraph Four - Repeat the above for the your viewpoint

Tell the reader what this paragraph is about by stating your view point (whether you have a different opinion OR you agree with one more than the other OR how you might agree with both).

Discuss why you have this view.

Give a real life or made up example that supports your view.

Rephrase or summarize the different opinions on the topic.

State which opinion is better or more important in your view.

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Sat / act prep online guides and tips, how to write an a+ argumentative essay.

Miscellaneous

You'll no doubt have to write a number of argumentative essays in both high school and college, but what, exactly, is an argumentative essay and how do you write the best one possible? Let's take a look.

A great argumentative essay always combines the same basic elements: approaching an argument from a rational perspective, researching sources, supporting your claims using facts rather than opinion, and articulating your reasoning into the most cogent and reasoned points. Argumentative essays are great building blocks for all sorts of research and rhetoric, so your teachers will expect you to master the technique before long.

But if this sounds daunting, never fear! We'll show how an argumentative essay differs from other kinds of papers, how to research and write them, how to pick an argumentative essay topic, and where to find example essays. So let's get started.

What Is an Argumentative Essay? How Is it Different from Other Kinds of Essays?

There are two basic requirements for any and all essays: to state a claim (a thesis statement) and to support that claim with evidence.

Though every essay is founded on these two ideas, there are several different types of essays, differentiated by the style of the writing, how the writer presents the thesis, and the types of evidence used to support the thesis statement.

Essays can be roughly divided into four different types:

#1: Argumentative #2: Persuasive #3: Expository #4: Analytical

So let's look at each type and what the differences are between them before we focus the rest of our time to argumentative essays.

Argumentative Essay

Argumentative essays are what this article is all about, so let's talk about them first.

An argumentative essay attempts to convince a reader to agree with a particular argument (the writer's thesis statement). The writer takes a firm stand one way or another on a topic and then uses hard evidence to support that stance.

An argumentative essay seeks to prove to the reader that one argument —the writer's argument— is the factually and logically correct one. This means that an argumentative essay must use only evidence-based support to back up a claim , rather than emotional or philosophical reasoning (which is often allowed in other types of essays). Thus, an argumentative essay has a burden of substantiated proof and sources , whereas some other types of essays (namely persuasive essays) do not.

You can write an argumentative essay on any topic, so long as there's room for argument. Generally, you can use the same topics for both a persuasive essay or an argumentative one, so long as you support the argumentative essay with hard evidence.

Example topics of an argumentative essay:

"Should farmers be allowed to shoot wolves if those wolves injure or kill farm animals?"
"Should the drinking age be lowered in the United States?"
"Are alternatives to democracy effective and/or feasible to implement?"

The next three types of essays are not argumentative essays, but you may have written them in school. We're going to cover them so you know what not to do for your argumentative essay.

Persuasive Essay

Persuasive essays are similar to argumentative essays, so it can be easy to get them confused. But knowing what makes an argumentative essay different than a persuasive essay can often mean the difference between an excellent grade and an average one.

Persuasive essays seek to persuade a reader to agree with the point of view of the writer, whether that point of view is based on factual evidence or not. The writer has much more flexibility in the evidence they can use, with the ability to use moral, cultural, or opinion-based reasoning as well as factual reasoning to persuade the reader to agree the writer's side of a given issue.

Instead of being forced to use "pure" reason as one would in an argumentative essay, the writer of a persuasive essay can manipulate or appeal to the reader's emotions. So long as the writer attempts to steer the readers into agreeing with the thesis statement, the writer doesn't necessarily need hard evidence in favor of the argument.

Often, you can use the same topics for both a persuasive essay or an argumentative one—the difference is all in the approach and the evidence you present.

Example topics of a persuasive essay:

"Should children be responsible for their parents' debts?"
"Should cheating on a test be automatic grounds for expulsion?"
"How much should sports leagues be held accountable for player injuries and the long-term consequences of those injuries?"

Expository Essay

An expository essay is typically a short essay in which the writer explains an idea, issue, or theme , or discusses the history of a person, place, or idea.

This is typically a fact-forward essay with little argument or opinion one way or the other.

Example topics of an expository essay:

"The History of the Philadelphia Liberty Bell"
"The Reasons I Always Wanted to be a Doctor"
"The Meaning Behind the Colloquialism ‘People in Glass Houses Shouldn't Throw Stones'"

Analytical Essay

An analytical essay seeks to delve into the deeper meaning of a text or work of art, or unpack a complicated idea . These kinds of essays closely interpret a source and look into its meaning by analyzing it at both a macro and micro level.

This type of analysis can be augmented by historical context or other expert or widely-regarded opinions on the subject, but is mainly supported directly through the original source (the piece or art or text being analyzed) .

Example topics of an analytical essay:

"Victory Gin in Place of Water: The Symbolism Behind Gin as the Only Potable Substance in George Orwell's 1984"
"Amarna Period Art: The Meaning Behind the Shift from Rigid to Fluid Poses"
"Adultery During WWII, as Told Through a Series of Letters to and from Soldiers"

There are many different types of essay and, over time, you'll be able to master them all.

A Typical Argumentative Essay Assignment

The average argumentative essay is between three to five pages, and will require at least three or four separate sources with which to back your claims . As for the essay topic , you'll most often be asked to write an argumentative essay in an English class on a "general" topic of your choice, ranging the gamut from science, to history, to literature.

But while the topics of an argumentative essay can span several different fields, the structure of an argumentative essay is always the same: you must support a claim—a claim that can reasonably have multiple sides—using multiple sources and using a standard essay format (which we'll talk about later on).

This is why many argumentative essay topics begin with the word "should," as in:

"Should all students be required to learn chemistry in high school?"
"Should children be required to learn a second language?"
"Should schools or governments be allowed to ban books?"

These topics all have at least two sides of the argument: Yes or no. And you must support the side you choose with evidence as to why your side is the correct one.

But there are also plenty of other ways to frame an argumentative essay as well:

"Does using social media do more to benefit or harm people?"
"Does the legal status of artwork or its creators—graffiti and vandalism, pirated media, a creator who's in jail—have an impact on the art itself?"
"Is or should anyone ever be ‘above the law?'"

Though these are worded differently than the first three, you're still essentially forced to pick between two sides of an issue: yes or no, for or against, benefit or detriment. Though your argument might not fall entirely into one side of the divide or another—for instance, you could claim that social media has positively impacted some aspects of modern life while being a detriment to others—your essay should still support one side of the argument above all. Your final stance would be that overall , social media is beneficial or overall , social media is harmful.

If your argument is one that is mostly text-based or backed by a single source (e.g., "How does Salinger show that Holden Caulfield is an unreliable narrator?" or "Does Gatsby personify the American Dream?"), then it's an analytical essay, rather than an argumentative essay. An argumentative essay will always be focused on more general topics so that you can use multiple sources to back up your claims.

Good Argumentative Essay Topics

So you know the basic idea behind an argumentative essay, but what topic should you write about?

Again, almost always, you'll be asked to write an argumentative essay on a free topic of your choice, or you'll be asked to select between a few given topics . If you're given complete free reign of topics, then it'll be up to you to find an essay topic that no only appeals to you, but that you can turn into an A+ argumentative essay.

What makes a "good" argumentative essay topic depends on both the subject matter and your personal interest —it can be hard to give your best effort on something that bores you to tears! But it can also be near impossible to write an argumentative essay on a topic that has no room for debate.

As we said earlier, a good argumentative essay topic will be one that has the potential to reasonably go in at least two directions—for or against, yes or no, and why . For example, it's pretty hard to write an argumentative essay on whether or not people should be allowed to murder one another—not a whole lot of debate there for most people!—but writing an essay for or against the death penalty has a lot more wiggle room for evidence and argument.

A good topic is also one that can be substantiated through hard evidence and relevant sources . So be sure to pick a topic that other people have studied (or at least studied elements of) so that you can use their data in your argument. For example, if you're arguing that it should be mandatory for all middle school children to play a sport, you might have to apply smaller scientific data points to the larger picture you're trying to justify. There are probably several studies you could cite on the benefits of physical activity and the positive effect structure and teamwork has on young minds, but there's probably no study you could use where a group of scientists put all middle-schoolers in one jurisdiction into a mandatory sports program (since that's probably never happened). So long as your evidence is relevant to your point and you can extrapolate from it to form a larger whole, you can use it as a part of your resource material.

And if you need ideas on where to get started, or just want to see sample argumentative essay topics, then check out these links for hundreds of potential argumentative essay topics.

101 Persuasive (or Argumentative) Essay and Speech Topics

301 Prompts for Argumentative Writing

Top 50 Ideas for Argumentative/Persuasive Essay Writing

[Note: some of these say "persuasive essay topics," but just remember that the same topic can often be used for both a persuasive essay and an argumentative essay; the difference is in your writing style and the evidence you use to support your claims.]

KO! Find that one argumentative essay topic you can absolutely conquer.

Argumentative Essay Format

Argumentative Essays are composed of four main elements:

A position (your argument)
Your reasons
Supporting evidence for those reasons (from reliable sources)
Counterargument(s) (possible opposing arguments and reasons why those arguments are incorrect)

If you're familiar with essay writing in general, then you're also probably familiar with the five paragraph essay structure . This structure is a simple tool to show how one outlines an essay and breaks it down into its component parts, although it can be expanded into as many paragraphs as you want beyond the core five.

The standard argumentative essay is often 3-5 pages, which will usually mean a lot more than five paragraphs, but your overall structure will look the same as a much shorter essay.

An argumentative essay at its simplest structure will look like:

Paragraph 1: Intro

Set up the story/problem/issue
Thesis/claim

Paragraph 2: Support

Reason #1 claim is correct
Supporting evidence with sources

Paragraph 3: Support

Reason #2 claim is correct

Paragraph 4: Counterargument

Explanation of argument for the other side
Refutation of opposing argument with supporting evidence

Paragraph 5: Conclusion

Re-state claim
Sum up reasons and support of claim from the essay to prove claim is correct

Now let's unpack each of these paragraph types to see how they work (with examples!), what goes into them, and why.

Paragraph 1—Set Up and Claim

Your first task is to introduce the reader to the topic at hand so they'll be prepared for your claim. Give a little background information, set the scene, and give the reader some stakes so that they care about the issue you're going to discuss.

Next, you absolutely must have a position on an argument and make that position clear to the readers. It's not an argumentative essay unless you're arguing for a specific claim, and this claim will be your thesis statement.

Your thesis CANNOT be a mere statement of fact (e.g., "Washington DC is the capital of the United States"). Your thesis must instead be an opinion which can be backed up with evidence and has the potential to be argued against (e.g., "New York should be the capital of the United States").

Paragraphs 2 and 3—Your Evidence

These are your body paragraphs in which you give the reasons why your argument is the best one and back up this reasoning with concrete evidence .

The argument supporting the thesis of an argumentative essay should be one that can be supported by facts and evidence, rather than personal opinion or cultural or religious mores.

For example, if you're arguing that New York should be the new capital of the US, you would have to back up that fact by discussing the factual contrasts between New York and DC in terms of location, population, revenue, and laws. You would then have to talk about the precedents for what makes for a good capital city and why New York fits the bill more than DC does.

Your argument can't simply be that a lot of people think New York is the best city ever and that you agree.

In addition to using concrete evidence, you always want to keep the tone of your essay passionate, but impersonal . Even though you're writing your argument from a single opinion, don't use first person language—"I think," "I feel," "I believe,"—to present your claims. Doing so is repetitive, since by writing the essay you're already telling the audience what you feel, and using first person language weakens your writing voice.

For example,

"I think that Washington DC is no longer suited to be the capital city of the United States."

"Washington DC is no longer suited to be the capital city of the United States."

The second statement sounds far stronger and more analytical.

Paragraph 4—Argument for the Other Side and Refutation

Even without a counter argument, you can make a pretty persuasive claim, but a counterargument will round out your essay into one that is much more persuasive and substantial.

By anticipating an argument against your claim and taking the initiative to counter it, you're allowing yourself to get ahead of the game. This way, you show that you've given great thought to all sides of the issue before choosing your position, and you demonstrate in multiple ways how yours is the more reasoned and supported side.

Paragraph 5—Conclusion

This paragraph is where you re-state your argument and summarize why it's the best claim.

Briefly touch on your supporting evidence and voila! A finished argumentative essay.

Your essay should have just as awesome a skeleton as this plesiosaur does. (In other words: a ridiculously awesome skeleton)

Argumentative Essay Example: 5-Paragraph Style

It always helps to have an example to learn from. I've written a full 5-paragraph argumentative essay here. Look at how I state my thesis in paragraph 1, give supporting evidence in paragraphs 2 and 3, address a counterargument in paragraph 4, and conclude in paragraph 5.

Topic: Is it possible to maintain conflicting loyalties?

Paragraph 1

It is almost impossible to go through life without encountering a situation where your loyalties to different people or causes come into conflict with each other. Maybe you have a loving relationship with your sister, but she disagrees with your decision to join the army, or you find yourself torn between your cultural beliefs and your scientific ones. These conflicting loyalties can often be maintained for a time, but as examples from both history and psychological theory illustrate, sooner or later, people have to make a choice between competing loyalties, as no one can maintain a conflicting loyalty or belief system forever.

The first two sentences set the scene and give some hypothetical examples and stakes for the reader to care about.

The third sentence finishes off the intro with the thesis statement, making very clear how the author stands on the issue ("people have to make a choice between competing loyalties, as no one can maintain a conflicting loyalty or belief system forever." )

Paragraphs 2 and 3

Psychological theory states that human beings are not equipped to maintain conflicting loyalties indefinitely and that attempting to do so leads to a state called "cognitive dissonance." Cognitive dissonance theory is the psychological idea that people undergo tremendous mental stress or anxiety when holding contradictory beliefs, values, or loyalties (Festinger, 1957). Even if human beings initially hold a conflicting loyalty, they will do their best to find a mental equilibrium by making a choice between those loyalties—stay stalwart to a belief system or change their beliefs. One of the earliest formal examples of cognitive dissonance theory comes from Leon Festinger's When Prophesy Fails . Members of an apocalyptic cult are told that the end of the world will occur on a specific date and that they alone will be spared the Earth's destruction. When that day comes and goes with no apocalypse, the cult members face a cognitive dissonance between what they see and what they've been led to believe (Festinger, 1956). Some choose to believe that the cult's beliefs are still correct, but that the Earth was simply spared from destruction by mercy, while others choose to believe that they were lied to and that the cult was fraudulent all along. Both beliefs cannot be correct at the same time, and so the cult members are forced to make their choice.

But even when conflicting loyalties can lead to potentially physical, rather than just mental, consequences, people will always make a choice to fall on one side or other of a dividing line. Take, for instance, Nicolaus Copernicus, a man born and raised in Catholic Poland (and educated in Catholic Italy). Though the Catholic church dictated specific scientific teachings, Copernicus' loyalty to his own observations and scientific evidence won out over his loyalty to his country's government and belief system. When he published his heliocentric model of the solar system--in opposition to the geocentric model that had been widely accepted for hundreds of years (Hannam, 2011)-- Copernicus was making a choice between his loyalties. In an attempt t o maintain his fealty both to the established system and to what he believed, h e sat on his findings for a number of years (Fantoli, 1994). But, ultimately, Copernicus made the choice to side with his beliefs and observations above all and published his work for the world to see (even though, in doing so, he risked both his reputation and personal freedoms).

These two paragraphs provide the reasons why the author supports the main argument and uses substantiated sources to back those reasons.

The paragraph on cognitive dissonance theory gives both broad supporting evidence and more narrow, detailed supporting evidence to show why the thesis statement is correct not just anecdotally but also scientifically and psychologically. First, we see why people in general have a difficult time accepting conflicting loyalties and desires and then how this applies to individuals through the example of the cult members from the Dr. Festinger's research.

The next paragraph continues to use more detailed examples from history to provide further evidence of why the thesis that people cannot indefinitely maintain conflicting loyalties is true.

Paragraph 4

Some will claim that it is possible to maintain conflicting beliefs or loyalties permanently, but this is often more a matter of people deluding themselves and still making a choice for one side or the other, rather than truly maintaining loyalty to both sides equally. For example, Lancelot du Lac typifies a person who claims to maintain a balanced loyalty between to two parties, but his attempt to do so fails (as all attempts to permanently maintain conflicting loyalties must). Lancelot tells himself and others that he is equally devoted to both King Arthur and his court and to being Queen Guinevere's knight (Malory, 2008). But he can neither be in two places at once to protect both the king and queen, nor can he help but let his romantic feelings for the queen to interfere with his duties to the king and the kingdom. Ultimately, he and Queen Guinevere give into their feelings for one another and Lancelot—though he denies it—chooses his loyalty to her over his loyalty to Arthur. This decision plunges the kingdom into a civil war, ages Lancelot prematurely, and ultimately leads to Camelot's ruin (Raabe, 1987). Though Lancelot claimed to have been loyal to both the king and the queen, this loyalty was ultimately in conflict, and he could not maintain it.

Here we have the acknowledgement of a potential counter-argument and the evidence as to why it isn't true.

The argument is that some people (or literary characters) have asserted that they give equal weight to their conflicting loyalties. The refutation is that, though some may claim to be able to maintain conflicting loyalties, they're either lying to others or deceiving themselves. The paragraph shows why this is true by providing an example of this in action.

Paragraph 5

Whether it be through literature or history, time and time again, people demonstrate the challenges of trying to manage conflicting loyalties and the inevitable consequences of doing so. Though belief systems are malleable and will often change over time, it is not possible to maintain two mutually exclusive loyalties or beliefs at once. In the end, people always make a choice, and loyalty for one party or one side of an issue will always trump loyalty to the other.

The concluding paragraph summarizes the essay, touches on the evidence presented, and re-states the thesis statement.

How to Write an Argumentative Essay: 8 Steps

Writing the best argumentative essay is all about the preparation, so let's talk steps:

#1: Preliminary Research

If you have the option to pick your own argumentative essay topic (which you most likely will), then choose one or two topics you find the most intriguing or that you have a vested interest in and do some preliminary research on both sides of the debate.

Do an open internet search just to see what the general chatter is on the topic and what the research trends are.

Did your preliminary reading influence you to pick a side or change your side? Without diving into all the scholarly articles at length, do you believe there's enough evidence to support your claim? Have there been scientific studies? Experiments? Does a noted scholar in the field agree with you? If not, you may need to pick another topic or side of the argument to support.

#2: Pick Your Side and Form Your Thesis

Now's the time to pick the side of the argument you feel you can support the best and summarize your main point into your thesis statement.

Your thesis will be the basis of your entire essay, so make sure you know which side you're on, that you've stated it clearly, and that you stick by your argument throughout the entire essay .

#3: Heavy-Duty Research Time

You've taken a gander at what the internet at large has to say on your argument, but now's the time to actually read those sources and take notes.

Check scholarly journals online at Google Scholar , the Directory of Open Access Journals , or JStor . You can also search individual university or school libraries and websites to see what kinds of academic articles you can access for free. Keep track of your important quotes and page numbers and put them somewhere that's easy to find later.

And don't forget to check your school or local libraries as well!

#4: Outline

Follow the five-paragraph outline structure from the previous section.

Fill in your topic, your reasons, and your supporting evidence into each of the categories.

Before you begin to flesh out the essay, take a look at what you've got. Is your thesis statement in the first paragraph? Is it clear? Is your argument logical? Does your supporting evidence support your reasoning?

By outlining your essay, you streamline your process and take care of any logic gaps before you dive headfirst into the writing. This will save you a lot of grief later on if you need to change your sources or your structure, so don't get too trigger-happy and skip this step.

Now that you've laid out exactly what you'll need for your essay and where, it's time to fill in all the gaps by writing it out.

Take it one step at a time and expand your ideas into complete sentences and substantiated claims. It may feel daunting to turn an outline into a complete draft, but just remember that you've already laid out all the groundwork; now you're just filling in the gaps.

If you have the time before deadline, give yourself a day or two (or even just an hour!) away from your essay . Looking it over with fresh eyes will allow you to see errors, both minor and major, that you likely would have missed had you tried to edit when it was still raw.

Take a first pass over the entire essay and try your best to ignore any minor spelling or grammar mistakes—you're just looking at the big picture right now. Does it make sense as a whole? Did the essay succeed in making an argument and backing that argument up logically? (Do you feel persuaded?)

If not, go back and make notes so that you can fix it for your final draft.

Once you've made your revisions to the overall structure, mark all your small errors and grammar problems so you can fix them in the next draft.

#7: Final Draft

Use the notes you made on the rough draft and go in and hack and smooth away until you're satisfied with the final result.

A checklist for your final draft:

Formatting is correct according to your teacher's standards
No errors in spelling, grammar, and punctuation
Essay is the right length and size for the assignment
The argument is present, consistent, and concise
Each reason is supported by relevant evidence
The essay makes sense overall

#8: Celebrate!

Once you've brought that final draft to a perfect polish and turned in your assignment, you're done! Go you!

Be prepared and ♪ you'll never go hungry again ♪, *cough*, or struggle with your argumentative essay-writing again. (Walt Disney Studios)

Good Examples of Argumentative Essays Online

Theory is all well and good, but examples are key. Just to get you started on what a fully-fleshed out argumentative essay looks like, let's see some examples in action.

Check out these two argumentative essay examples on the use of landmines and freons (and note the excellent use of concrete sources to back up their arguments!).

The Use of Landmines

A Shattered Sky

The Take-Aways: Keys to Writing an Argumentative Essay

At first, writing an argumentative essay may seem like a monstrous hurdle to overcome, but with the proper preparation and understanding, you'll be able to knock yours out of the park.

Remember the differences between a persuasive essay and an argumentative one, make sure your thesis is clear, and double-check that your supporting evidence is both relevant to your point and well-sourced . Pick your topic, do your research, make your outline, and fill in the gaps. Before you know it, you'll have yourself an A+ argumentative essay there, my friend.

What's Next?

Now you know the ins and outs of an argumentative essay, but how comfortable are you writing in other styles? Learn more about the four writing styles and when it makes sense to use each .

Understand how to make an argument, but still having trouble organizing your thoughts? Check out our guide to three popular essay formats and choose which one is right for you.

Ready to make your case, but not sure what to write about? We've created a list of 50 potential argumentative essay topics to spark your imagination.

Courtney scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT in high school and went on to graduate from Stanford University with a degree in Cultural and Social Anthropology. She is passionate about bringing education and the tools to succeed to students from all backgrounds and walks of life, as she believes open education is one of the great societal equalizers. She has years of tutoring experience and writes creative works in her free time.

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How to structure an essay: Templates and tips

How to Structure an Essay | Tips & Templates

Published on September 18, 2020 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on July 23, 2023.

The basic structure of an essay always consists of an introduction , a body , and a conclusion . But for many students, the most difficult part of structuring an essay is deciding how to organize information within the body.

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The basics of essay structure, chronological structure, compare-and-contrast structure, problems-methods-solutions structure, signposting to clarify your structure, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about essay structure.

There are two main things to keep in mind when working on your essay structure: making sure to include the right information in each part, and deciding how you’ll organize the information within the body.

Parts of an essay

The three parts that make up all essays are described in the table below.

Order of information

You’ll also have to consider how to present information within the body. There are a few general principles that can guide you here.

The first is that your argument should move from the simplest claim to the most complex . The body of a good argumentative essay often begins with simple and widely accepted claims, and then moves towards more complex and contentious ones.

For example, you might begin by describing a generally accepted philosophical concept, and then apply it to a new topic. The grounding in the general concept will allow the reader to understand your unique application of it.

The second principle is that background information should appear towards the beginning of your essay . General background is presented in the introduction. If you have additional background to present, this information will usually come at the start of the body.

The third principle is that everything in your essay should be relevant to the thesis . Ask yourself whether each piece of information advances your argument or provides necessary background. And make sure that the text clearly expresses each piece of information’s relevance.

The sections below present several organizational templates for essays: the chronological approach, the compare-and-contrast approach, and the problems-methods-solutions approach.

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The chronological approach (sometimes called the cause-and-effect approach) is probably the simplest way to structure an essay. It just means discussing events in the order in which they occurred, discussing how they are related (i.e. the cause and effect involved) as you go.

A chronological approach can be useful when your essay is about a series of events. Don’t rule out other approaches, though—even when the chronological approach is the obvious one, you might be able to bring out more with a different structure.

Explore the tabs below to see a general template and a specific example outline from an essay on the invention of the printing press.

Thesis statement
Discussion of event/period
Consequences
Importance of topic
Strong closing statement
Claim that the printing press marks the end of the Middle Ages
Background on the low levels of literacy before the printing press
Thesis statement: The invention of the printing press increased circulation of information in Europe, paving the way for the Reformation
High levels of illiteracy in medieval Europe
Literacy and thus knowledge and education were mainly the domain of religious and political elites
Consequence: this discouraged political and religious change
Invention of the printing press in 1440 by Johannes Gutenberg
Implications of the new technology for book production
Consequence: Rapid spread of the technology and the printing of the Gutenberg Bible
Trend for translating the Bible into vernacular languages during the years following the printing press’s invention
Luther’s own translation of the Bible during the Reformation
Consequence: The large-scale effects the Reformation would have on religion and politics
Summarize the history described
Stress the significance of the printing press to the events of this period

Essays with two or more main subjects are often structured around comparing and contrasting . For example, a literary analysis essay might compare two different texts, and an argumentative essay might compare the strengths of different arguments.

There are two main ways of structuring a compare-and-contrast essay: the alternating method, and the block method.

Alternating

In the alternating method, each paragraph compares your subjects in terms of a specific point of comparison. These points of comparison are therefore what defines each paragraph.

The tabs below show a general template for this structure, and a specific example for an essay comparing and contrasting distance learning with traditional classroom learning.

Synthesis of arguments
Topical relevance of distance learning in lockdown
Increasing prevalence of distance learning over the last decade
Thesis statement: While distance learning has certain advantages, it introduces multiple new accessibility issues that must be addressed for it to be as effective as classroom learning
Classroom learning: Ease of identifying difficulties and privately discussing them
Distance learning: Difficulty of noticing and unobtrusively helping
Classroom learning: Difficulties accessing the classroom (disability, distance travelled from home)
Distance learning: Difficulties with online work (lack of tech literacy, unreliable connection, distractions)
Classroom learning: Tends to encourage personal engagement among students and with teacher, more relaxed social environment
Distance learning: Greater ability to reach out to teacher privately
Sum up, emphasize that distance learning introduces more difficulties than it solves
Stress the importance of addressing issues with distance learning as it becomes increasingly common
Distance learning may prove to be the future, but it still has a long way to go

In the block method, each subject is covered all in one go, potentially across multiple paragraphs. For example, you might write two paragraphs about your first subject and then two about your second subject, making comparisons back to the first.

The tabs again show a general template, followed by another essay on distance learning, this time with the body structured in blocks.

Point 1 (compare)
Point 2 (compare)
Point 3 (compare)
Point 4 (compare)
Advantages: Flexibility, accessibility
Disadvantages: Discomfort, challenges for those with poor internet or tech literacy
Advantages: Potential for teacher to discuss issues with a student in a separate private call
Disadvantages: Difficulty of identifying struggling students and aiding them unobtrusively, lack of personal interaction among students
Advantages: More accessible to those with low tech literacy, equality of all sharing one learning environment
Disadvantages: Students must live close enough to attend, commutes may vary, classrooms not always accessible for disabled students
Advantages: Ease of picking up on signs a student is struggling, more personal interaction among students
Disadvantages: May be harder for students to approach teacher privately in person to raise issues

An essay that concerns a specific problem (practical or theoretical) may be structured according to the problems-methods-solutions approach.

This is just what it sounds like: You define the problem, characterize a method or theory that may solve it, and finally analyze the problem, using this method or theory to arrive at a solution. If the problem is theoretical, the solution might be the analysis you present in the essay itself; otherwise, you might just present a proposed solution.

The tabs below show a template for this structure and an example outline for an essay about the problem of fake news.

Introduce the problem
Provide background
Describe your approach to solving it
Define the problem precisely
Describe why it’s important
Indicate previous approaches to the problem
Present your new approach, and why it’s better
Apply the new method or theory to the problem
Indicate the solution you arrive at by doing so
Assess (potential or actual) effectiveness of solution
Describe the implications
Problem: The growth of “fake news” online
Prevalence of polarized/conspiracy-focused news sources online
Thesis statement: Rather than attempting to stamp out online fake news through social media moderation, an effective approach to combating it must work with educational institutions to improve media literacy
Definition: Deliberate disinformation designed to spread virally online
Popularization of the term, growth of the phenomenon
Previous approaches: Labeling and moderation on social media platforms
Critique: This approach feeds conspiracies; the real solution is to improve media literacy so users can better identify fake news
Greater emphasis should be placed on media literacy education in schools
This allows people to assess news sources independently, rather than just being told which ones to trust
This is a long-term solution but could be highly effective
It would require significant organization and investment, but would equip people to judge news sources more effectively
Rather than trying to contain the spread of fake news, we must teach the next generation not to fall for it

Signposting means guiding the reader through your essay with language that describes or hints at the structure of what follows. It can help you clarify your structure for yourself as well as helping your reader follow your ideas.

The essay overview

In longer essays whose body is split into multiple named sections, the introduction often ends with an overview of the rest of the essay. This gives a brief description of the main idea or argument of each section.

The overview allows the reader to immediately understand what will be covered in the essay and in what order. Though it describes what comes later in the text, it is generally written in the present tense . The following example is from a literary analysis essay on Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein .

Transitions

Transition words and phrases are used throughout all good essays to link together different ideas. They help guide the reader through your text, and an essay that uses them effectively will be much easier to follow.

Various different relationships can be expressed by transition words, as shown in this example.

Because Hitler failed to respond to the British ultimatum, France and the UK declared war on Germany. Although it was an outcome the Allies had hoped to avoid, they were prepared to back up their ultimatum in order to combat the existential threat posed by the Third Reich.

Transition sentences may be included to transition between different paragraphs or sections of an essay. A good transition sentence moves the reader on to the next topic while indicating how it relates to the previous one.

… Distance learning, then, seems to improve accessibility in some ways while representing a step backwards in others.

However , considering the issue of personal interaction among students presents a different picture.

If you want to know more about AI tools , college essays , or fallacies make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!

Ad hominem fallacy
Post hoc fallacy
Appeal to authority fallacy
False cause fallacy
Sunk cost fallacy

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The structure of an essay is divided into an introduction that presents your topic and thesis statement , a body containing your in-depth analysis and arguments, and a conclusion wrapping up your ideas.

The structure of the body is flexible, but you should always spend some time thinking about how you can organize your essay to best serve your ideas.

An essay isn’t just a loose collection of facts and ideas. Instead, it should be centered on an overarching argument (summarized in your thesis statement ) that every part of the essay relates to.

The way you structure your essay is crucial to presenting your argument coherently. A well-structured essay helps your reader follow the logic of your ideas and understand your overall point.

Comparisons in essays are generally structured in one of two ways:

The alternating method, where you compare your subjects side by side according to one specific aspect at a time.
The block method, where you cover each subject separately in its entirety.

It’s also possible to combine both methods, for example by writing a full paragraph on each of your topics and then a final paragraph contrasting the two according to a specific metric.

You should try to follow your outline as you write your essay . However, if your ideas change or it becomes clear that your structure could be better, it’s okay to depart from your essay outline . Just make sure you know why you’re doing so.

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Can an Essay be 2-Paragraphs? And how to write it

Even though writing essays can be challenging, writing a two-paragraph essay becomes even more complicated. It is always a challenging form of academic writing assessment that gives students stress.

Many wonder how do they do it? Does it even count as an essay? And what if you have too many points to fit in just two paragraphs for an essay?

Unlike the three-paragraph essay or the 5-paragraph essay , where one has many words to spare, the lack of words to waste makes a two-paragraph essay a mainstay for brevity, conciseness, and specificity. It is an essay that you write to address a topic with only 250 to 300 words, nothing more, nothing less.

To write an essay with two paragraphs, your organization and presentation skills must be top-notch. You will be recruiting and using the skills you use to write the longer essays, only that you must condense the content.

In this comprehensive short essay guide, you will learn what a two-paragraph essay looks like, the steps to take when writing one, the length and time it takes to write, and some of the best tips to use. By the time you are done, you will have a knack for writing a 2-paragraph essay.

Let us dig right into it!

What is a two-paragraph essay?

An essay can be two paragraphs. A two-paragraph essay is a brief or short written piece explaining one or two ideas in a few sentences and two paragraphs. It is a typical writing assessment for short-answer essay-based questions during examinations.

It is a condensed version of a traditional essay, but it needs you to explain the details or compress the content to fit within two paragraphs. A two-paragraph essay is about 8-16 sentences long. Its word count is between 250 words and 300 words. Therefore, it must be straightforward, brief, and concise. Like a one-paragraph essay, you must be highly mean or economical with words but spend your words writing about your topic.

When assigned to write a two-paragraph essay, knowing how to write an essay with one paragraph can come in handy.

A two-paragraph essay can have anything between 10-28 sentences, depending on how long such sentences are. The premise is based on the fact that a one-paragraph essay can be as long as 10-14 sentences long.

Outline for a two-paragraph essay

Writing and maintaining a suitable structure with only two paragraphs for content and other parts of an essay might be challenging, but not when you have an outline . On the other hand, it is advisable to stick to an outline when writing short essays. In this case, the outline limits and restricts the scope of your essay, ensuring that you wholly and briefly address the main point (s).

Paragraph 1

Opening sentence/statement. Should introduce the first main point.
First main point
Supporting information to the first main point
Concluding sentence that includes transition

Paragraph 2

Topic sentence. Transitions from the first main point to the second one. Introduces the second main point. You can use transition words such as in addition, on the other hand, likewise, etc.
Second main point. A sentence that details the second point of your essay. It should relate to your topic and thesis statement.
Supporting information for the second main point. These sentences introduce evidence to illustrate, explain, expound on, and provide examples that support the main point. You should also have a sentence that comments on the evidence or the commentary to present the evidence in your own words. Again, you should use transition words to ensure the flow of ideas.
Concluding sentence for the second main point . This sentence summarizes the entire work, offers closure to the whole essay, and wraps up the paper.

Structure of a Two Paragraph Essay

Since your essay consists of two paragraphs, it must have a thesis statement, topic sentences, supporting sentences, and concluding sentences. Then, assuming you have already settled on a topic, you must research. And after the research and outlining are done, here is how to organize or plan your essay to discuss ideas in the two paragraphs.

Note that when writing such an essay, you must select two strong points that stand a high chance of directly answering the question or prompt. So, what does a two-paragraph essay look like?

Just like a standard academic essay, ensure that you have a title page. The title page bears the title of your essay, name of your institution, name of your professor/instructor, course code and name, date of submission, etc. The title pages vary depending on your chosen formatting style, i.e., MLA, APA, Harvard, or Chicago. Remember, never underline the headline of your essay. And if you have to bold the title, only do it if the formatting style allows you to do so.

Topic statement

The topic sentence is the mini-thesis of your paragraphs. When writing a two-paragraph essay, the topic sentence captures the content of the sentences within a paragraph. It answers the main title and is a logical explanation of the claims presented within the header. Ensure that your topic sentences are brief, cogent, and relatable.

Supportive points

After the topic sentences (two in this case) comes a series of supporting sentences that contain details about the points raised in your opening sentence. This is the series of sentences in the paragraphs where you integrate evidence, use factual data, provide examples, and illustrate the ideas to prove the validity of the topic sentence. In a two-paragraph essay, you could have up to five or four supporting sentences to back up the thesis of your essay.

Concluding statement

Just like you opened the paragraph, you must close it. Having a closing sentence in the body of your essay does the trick. It winds or wraps up the paragraph and transitions it to the next. The closing sentence affirms to your readers the reason the topic statement was valid, given the facts presented in the supporting sentences.

You can only use the transition sentence in the closing sentence of the first paragraph for a 2-paragraph essay. The second closing sentence winds up the entire essay and offers closure so that the writer is in a complete loop of information. It is a conclusive statement for the whole of the essay.

To avoid plagiarism, you must integrate evidence from scholarly sources into an essay . The only best way is to have in-text citations and a list of references (works cited, bibliography, or references page). Then, ensure that the work is referenced appropriately, following your professor's formatting and citation style.

Related: How to structure paragraphs effectively.

How do you write an Essay in 2 Paragraphs? The Steps

You are being tested for your comprehension, critical thinking, creativity, analytical, and organization skills; that’s the purpose of assigning you to write a two-paragraph essay. In addition, a two-paragraph essay must show that you can be specific in deciding the best material and evidence to put forth when handling a topic and discarding unwanted or irrelevant information.

Like the one-paragraph essay, you will take the skills that a longer essay needs and condense the ideas and steps to achieve the same objective. Here is how you can write a perfect essay in just two paragraphs.

Step 1: Choose a topic

It is a cliché in most of our articles and an essential step. However, choosing a good topic for an essay delineates a successful and a failing student. When writing an essay, your first step is to select a topic before brainstorming for ideas. Then, if you have a specific question or topic provided, you can jump to the next step. Otherwise, select a topic that is relatable, interesting, easy to find information about, and one you enjoy writing about.

Step 2: Brainstorm for Ideas

With the topic knowledge, research widely, take notes, and brainstorm the ideas you wish to include in your essay. As you research and brainstorm, organize the relevant and valid sources for later use. Sometimes, you do not need sources if it is part of an exam. Then, all you need to do is develop related ideas and write a short two-paragraph essay answer.

Step 3: Narrow down your thesis

Like other short essays, a two-page essay is a condensed version of the longer ones. Because you understand what is required of you, come up with a brief, declarative, and informative statement describing your essay's gist. This is your thesis statement , which is presented in the first sentence of the first paragraph of the two-paragraph essay.

Step 4: Outline your ideas

Quickly write an essay outline where you define what goes where and in what sequence. The outline should be the backbone of your essay when it comes to the writing stage. You can do this faster to ensure that no time is wasted or that you do not derail when writing. Next, outline the paragraphs to determine the tone of the topic sentences and the supporting and closing sentences.

Step 5: Write the essay

To write the essay, which can take 20-30 minutes, start by writing the first topic sentence. The first topic sentence bears a condensed version of the thesis and serves as an attention grabber for your readers. It should be outstanding, short, and sweet. Next, present the examples, illustrations, facts, and elaborations as your supporting sentences. Cite as you write to ensure that you correctly cite the information. Finally, conclude the first paragraph by wrapping up the paragraph and transitioning to the second paragraph.

Repeat the steps you did in the first and second paragraphs, only that the last sentence wraps up the entire essay. Lastly, sum up the two paragraphs and close the essay.

Step 6: Proofread, edit, and submit

As a final step, which takes approximately 5-10 minutes, address all your essay's errors, mistakes, and omissions. Ensure that you proofread your essay well before submitting it for assessment. Also, ensure that your essay is submitted within the recommended deadline and in the correct format (PDF or Word document).

The above techniques, approaches, or steps can save time writing a two-paragraph essay. The two-paragraph essay rule applies to short college essays, personal statements, leadership, nursing philosophy, and brief narrative essays. Sometimes, there is no need for sources. Nevertheless, maintain the structure we have discussed above.

Tips to Make an excellent two-paragraph essay

Let’s assume that you are sitting for an exam and would like to write a two-paragraph essay that answers the short essay-based questions. You can use these tips to spice up your writing, conclusively answer the question, and win the heart of the markers, professor, or instructor.

1. Be brief

Being economical with words will save you the trouble of truncating ideas when done. It also helps save time. Instead, use loaded sentences that capture the main ideas you want to communicate. Besides, avoid using too many words to explain something when you can use a word or two. When explaining concepts, be thorough, composed, and brief to avoid confusing the readers.

2. Keep it romped up

Your essay must grab the attention of the readers. Remember, your first or first opening sentence is your thesis statement. Therefore, you can begin with a hook as a thesis statement for this short essay. Just like in the one-paragraph essay . Besides, ensure that every body paragraph focuses on the idea mentioned in the topic sentence. Keep your relevance, validity, and authenticity by citing any information borrowed. Your choice of words should also be top-notch.

3. Maintain a good organization

Ensure that your two-paragraph essay is well-organized. For example, have the two body paragraphs with distinguishable topic sentences, supporting sentences, and closing sentences. As well, plan your essay well before writing. A good organization will help you avoid wasting words and reduce the chances of unnecessary repetition.

4. Use transitions

Use linking words, signals, and sentences to ensure a smooth flow of ideas in your essay. Making good use of transitions always carries the day. Ensure that you do not overuse the transitions or that you don’t use the wrong transitions for the sake of it.

6. Proofread and edit well

There are high chances of your professor being keen on your essay, given that it is short. Therefore, you have to limit the chances of them awarding a poor grade just because of a few errors and mistakes. Therefore, follow our self-editing checklist and edit, proofread, and polish the 2-paragraphs of your essay. Remember to assess and correct the grammar, spelling, and punctuation mistakes. Also, check whether your essay has a good choice of words; replace the complex vocabulary if you can. The simpler your essay is to read and understand, the higher the chances of a good grade.

Related Reading: How to write an analytical essay .

Wrapping Up

An essay can have two paragraphs if you are requested to fulfill writing a given number of words on a given topic in two paragraphs. Majorly, a two-paragraph essay is between 250 and 300 words.

It contains two well-balanced paragraphs that expound on a narrowed-down thesis. Two-paragraph essays have a slightly different structure from conventional essays.

And now, with the steps, tips, and explanations, we have the best writers if you want to hire someone to write your 2-paragraph essay. Our essay service has some of the finest writers you will ever meet.

You can use the model of two-paragraph essays to revise, learn how to write, and understand how to organize short essays.

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Argument and Persuasion: Structuring and Writing an Argument Essay

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Structuring and Writing an Argument Essay

Page Overview

This page deals with the process of writing the argument: planning, structuring, strategies, writing, revision.

Pre-Writing Considerations

There are things that should be given some attention before you begin writing your argument. Thoughtful planning in the pre-writing stage increases the chances of your argument successfully convincing your audience. A well-executed piece of writing should be unified, coherent, and complete.

unified = the paper presents only a single idea or, if more than one idea, one point is made the principal one and the others are subordinated to it

coherent = the discussion flows smoothly and logically and is easy for the reader to follow; trying to make sense of the writing does not become an ordeal

complete = everything that should be said, has been said; no questions are left in the mind of the reader

Achieving a coherent, complete, unified piece of Argumentative Writing

1. Clearly state the argument/proposition of your essay.

2. Analyze the proposition. First, jot down points of conflict between your view and the opposing view. Second, think over your jottings and try to decide which points are the issues on which your argument should hinge. Third, arrange your jottings in order to give unity and coherence to your essay.

3. Write a paragraph (or more if necessary) on each point of conflict. (This step will have some variation, depending on whether you are using the block or point pattern of organization.)

4. Analyze and evaluate what you have written to see whether (a) the evidence seems reliable and (b) the reasoning free of fallacies.

5. Establish effective transitions between the discussions of the various points ( coherence ), keeping in mind that your objective is to connect each point to the main contention of your theme, the main proposition.

6. Think of your introduction. What makes the topic worth arguing about now (purpose)? (NOTE: Your topic should be broad enough to interest a large number of people, yet narrow enough that you can focus and manage the discussion.) What kind of people are you writing for (audience)? Can you depend on an interested and sympathetic hearing, or must you strive to gain attention and win people over? If you have to gain attention, how will you go about it? After you have thought about these things and written a first draft of your introduction, do you think it necessary to go back and revise the discussion in the body of your essay to make it better adapted to your audience?

7. Treat your conclusion as the last impression you will leave on your readers. Do you return here to your key point (your thesis), showing how your whole argument essay bears on and supports it? Do you leave your readers with a positive impression of your effort, even if you cannot be sure of having totally convinced them by reason?

Outlines for an Argument Essay

Pattern Outlines for an Argument Essay

(Based on https://apps.spokane.edu/.../Summary%20Response%20Essay%20Assignment.pdf

In the context of argument, "pro" means agree/support, and "con" means disagree/oppose. Whether you structure your argument to follow the block style or point-by-point pattern, the three principal components of presentation, support, and refutation must be included. A point-by-point structure probably will be easier to follow, as the block style creates some separation between the "pro" and "con" sides of an argument which may require readers to do some up-and-down "scrolling" of the text.

Breaking it Down in Detail

Argument Deconstructed Source: Mesa Community College. Provides multiple links to cover argument in-depth and from many aspects. Includes argument essay charts, outlines, and worksheets.

Defining Arguments: defines what argument is and is not while providing some insights on laying the groundwork before the writing begins

How To Create an Argument: covers the stages of pre-writng, writing, and revising an argument

Argument at a Glance: P.A.P.A.: a blank page with no content

Argument Claims: discusses types of claims and perspectives from which to launch your argument; includes links to sample readings

Argument Outline: provides outlines for various argument structures and types and also contains worksheets for preparing an argument

Rogerian Argument: explains an alternative approach to the "traditional" argumentative style

Ethos, Logos, and Pathos: offers tips on how to interact with the audience in an argumentative context

Fallacies: a glossary of things to avoid

Sample Essays: a selection of seven argumentative essays written by students

Argument on the Web

The Purdue OWL: The OWL is the Online Writing Laboratory maintained by Purdue University. It is a comprehensive, encyclopedic online reference source for nearly all aspects of research and writing, from topic selection to citation styles and source evaluation. Every serious researcher should bookmark the OWL.

For information regarding writing argumentative papers, either type "Purdue OWL" argument into an internet search box. The first page of results provides links to more specific aspects of writing argument. Or, you can type the word argument into the "Search the OWL" box (https://owl.purdue.edu/search.html). Once you have landed on any OWL screen, it is good to scan the left pane for other pages which you may find useful.

CAVEAT: Purdue OWL has merged with Chegg, a for-profit company who has created a citation machine service for citation management. This partnership has resulted in pop-up advertisements appearing on OWL screens as well as permitting Chegg influence on OWL's citation help pages. Those using the OWL may wish to keep these things in mind.

Useful options besides the Purdue OWL are

Excelsior College Online Writing Lab ( https://owl.excelsior.edu/ )
Massey University OWLL ( http://owll.massey.ac.nz/index.php )

To locate information on the internet on argument, in the search box type argument along with a modifying term such as writing or structure.

To locate additional LibGuides on argument on the internet, in the search box type argument libguide.

<< Previous: Find Books
Last Updated: Nov 8, 2023 1:49 PM
URL: https://libguides.jsu.edu/argument

Some experts argue that focusing on individual actions to combat climate change takes the focus away from the collective action required to keep carbon levels from rising. Change will not be effected, say some others, unless individual actions raise the necessary awareness.

While a reader can see the connection between the sentences above, it’s not immediately clear that the second sentence is providing a counterargument to the first. In the example below, key “old information” is repeated in the second sentence to help readers quickly see the connection. This makes the sequence of ideas easier to follow.

Sentence pair #2: Effective Transition

You can use this same technique to create clear transitions between paragraphs. Here’s an example:

Some experts argue that focusing on individual actions to combat climate change takes the focus away from the collective action required to keep carbon levels from rising. Other experts argue that individual actions are key to raising the awareness necessary to effect change. According to Annie Lowery, individual actions are important to making social change because when individuals take action, they can change values, which can lead to more people becoming invested in fighting climate change. She writes, “Researchers believe that these kinds of household-led trends can help avert climate catastrophe, even if government and corporate actions are far more important” (Lowery).

So, what’s an individual household supposed to do?

The repetition of the word “household” in the new paragraph helps readers see the connection between what has come before (a discussion of whether household actions matter) and what is about to come (a proposal for what types of actions households can take to combat climate change).

Sometimes, transitional words can help readers see how ideas are connected. But it’s not enough to just include a “therefore,” “moreover,” “also,” or “in addition.” You should choose these words carefully to show your readers what kind of connection you are making between your ideas.

To decide which transitional word to use, start by identifying the relationship between your ideas. For example, you might be

making a comparison or showing a contrast Transitional words that compare and contrast include also, in the same way, similarly, in contrast, yet, on the one hand, on the other hand. But before you signal comparison, ask these questions: Do your readers need another example of the same thing? Is there a new nuance in this next point that distinguishes it from the previous example? For those relationships between ideas, you might try this type of transition: While x may appear the same, it actually raises a new question in a slightly different way.
expressing agreement or disagreement When you are making an argument, you need to signal to readers where you stand in relation to other scholars and critics. You may agree with another person’s claim, you may want to concede some part of the argument even if you don’t agree with everything, or you may disagree. Transitional words that signal agreement, concession, and disagreement include however, nevertheless, actually, still, despite, admittedly, still, on the contrary, nonetheless .
showing cause and effect Transitional phrases that show cause and effect include therefore, hence, consequently, thus, so. Before you choose one of these words, make sure that what you are about to illustrate is really a causal link. Novice writers tend to add therefore and hence when they aren’t sure how to transition; you should reserve these words for when they accurately signal the progression of your ideas.
explaining or elaborating Transitions can signal to readers that you are going to expand on a point that you have just made or explain something further. Transitional words that signal explanation or elaboration include in other words, for example, for instance, in particular, that is, to illustrate, moreover .
drawing conclusions You can use transitions to signal to readers that you are moving from the body of your argument to your conclusions. Before you use transitional words to signal conclusions, consider whether you can write a stronger conclusion by creating a transition that shows the relationship between your ideas rather than by flagging the paragraph simply as a conclusion. Transitional words that signal a conclusion include in conclusion , as a result, ultimately, overall— but strong conclusions do not necessarily have to include those phrases.

If you’re not sure which transitional words to use—or whether to use one at all—see if you can explain the connection between your paragraphs or sentence either out loud or in the margins of your draft.

For example, if you write a paragraph in which you summarize physician Atul Gawande’s argument about the value of incremental care, and then you move on to a paragraph that challenges those ideas, you might write down something like this next to the first paragraph: “In this paragraph I summarize Gawande’s main claim.” Then, next to the second paragraph, you might write, “In this paragraph I present a challenge to Gawande’s main claim.” Now that you have identified the relationship between those two paragraphs, you can choose the most effective transition between them. Since the second paragraph in this example challenges the ideas in the first, you might begin with something like “but,” or “however,” to signal that shift for your readers.

picture_as_pdf Transitions

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How You Can Format 2 Paragraph Essays

Table of Contents

Two paragraphs may not seem like much when writing an essay, but it can be with the proper planning and format.

In this article, we’ll discuss how you can write a 2 paragraph essay format that will discuss all your main points. We’ll also guide you through some pre-writing tips and a format example to help make the writing process much more manageable.

Essays are commonly composed of at least three paragraphs. The first paragraph is an introductory section, followed by the second paragraph that provides support for the thesis with evidence. And it concludes with a final paragraph wrapping up everything that was discussed.

You can still incorporate all the main elements of an essay in just two paragraphs. Read on to learn how.

Pre-Writing Tips for an Effective Essay

Preparation is key to writing an effective essay . Before you start the writing process, here are some pre-writing tips that can help you out.

Understand your assignment: It’s essential to understand the writing task you’ve been given before writing about it. What’s the goal of this essay? What will you be writing about? And are there specific essay requirements you need to follow? You may risk significantly lowering your grade if you don’t follow the proper instructions.

Define a topic: If you can choose your topic, try to pick something you already know a bit about. And something that will grab your readers’ interest.

Do your research: Take notes and read primary and secondary sources to determine your position and angle on the topic. These will serve as evidence to support your points.

Come up with a thesis: A thesis statement is the main point or argument you want to make in your essay. An effective thesis is essential to a focused essay; remember to refer back to it as you write.

Create an outline:

Draw out your essay’s rough structure in an outline. This will help you speed up your writing process and keep track of what to write. If you have a clear idea of what you’ll discuss, in what order, and what evidence you’ll use, you are ready to start writing!

How to Format a 2 Paragraph Essay

Skip the introduction and go straight to the point — or keep your introduction brief..

You only have two paragraphs for all your thoughts, so writing a long introduction is unnecessary. You may dedicate only one short sentence for your intro to ensure a smooth flow of your work or leave it out altogether.

Each paragraph should contain at least 3-5 sentences.

An ideal paragraph length shouldn’t contain more than five sentences. If you have a lot of things to discuss the topic, make use of all five sentences. At the very least, you should write a few words on the subject in general if you’re limited to only two paragraphs. Include all of the necessary ideas in your writing briefly.

Don’t forget about the paragraph structure.

Each essay should have paragraphs with a clear structure. Use a topic sentence, a supporting idea, and a concluding sentence for each point you address.

Be sure to use transitions.

You should make sure that your essay is easy to read and follow, even if it’s just two paragraphs long. It helps to insert a transitional sentence at the end of the first paragraph or make the concluding sentence also transitional.

Don’t overload your paper with information.

You should avoid any empty constructions, additional points, or examples that are not particularly useful for your ideas. Reserve your limited writing space for points that are actually important and specific to your point.

2 Paragraph Essay Format Sample

First paragraph

Introductory sentence (optional).
Main point
Supporting information for the main point
Concluding sentence for the main point
Transitional sentence (may also be included in the concluding sentence).

Second paragraph

Secondary Main Point
Supporting information for the second main point
Concluding sentence for the second main point
Summarizing sentence or conclusion

Final Words

It’s not easy to fit all your ideas into just two paragraphs. But with the help of a 2 paragraph essay format , you can make the most of your work.

Be sure to use transitions to make sure your reader stays interested in the conversation. Keep your introduction short and your argument clear.

Abir Ghenaiet

Abir is a data analyst and researcher. Among her interests are artificial intelligence, machine learning, and natural language processing. As a humanitarian and educator, she actively supports women in tech and promotes diversity.

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2 Paragraph Essay Examples: Possible Solutions to Global Warming

Published by gudwriter on September 10, 2017 September 10, 2017

2 Paragraph Essay Examples

Before showing you some examples of a 2 paragraph essay (I have three, scroll down to find them), I would like to quickly point out a few things:

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Two paragraph essay literally contains two body paragraphs with each paragraph containing 4 – 5 sentences. Too many or few can make your paragraph too vague or overwhelming.
Be economical with words. You don’t want to put unnecessary information that is not relevant to the essay. Be precise and to the point.
The best structure is to have one main point per paragraph whereby the first sentence introduces the point and the subsequent sentences support the point.
Having any difficulties, admission essay writers will assist you with any form of essay you may need.

2 Paragraph Essay Outline

Paragraph 1:

Opening statement (introduce the first main point)
Supporting facts (support the first main point)

Paragraph 2:

Opening statement (introduce the second main point. Include transitional words for smooth transition between paragraphs. Some words include also, likewise, additionally. E.g. Additionally, increasing the adoption of renewable energy could reduce global warming . )
Supporting facts (support the second main point).
Concluding statement (summarize your work in one sentence e.g. In conclusion, boosting energy efficiency and adopting renewable energy would reduce global warming.)

Here are two paragraph essay examples on possible solutions to global warming. The 3 essays are double spaced and have been formatted according to APA formatting guidelines .

Possible Solutions to Global Warming -Example 1

Boosting and encouraging use of energy efficiency technologies would lead to reduced energy needs for powering, heating, and cooling of homes, businesses, and industries. This would be effective in reducing global warming as the problem is largely contributed to by the energy used for cooling, heating, and power services in industries, businesses, and homes. In the transportation sector for instance, switching to fuels that are low in carbon, and improving fuel efficiency in terms of miles per gallon would reduce the amount of heat-trapping emissions released into the atmosphere.

Additionally, revving up renewable energy could reduce global warming. The vast majority of energy needs worldwide can be potentially met by such renewable sources of energy as bioenergy, geothermal, wind, and solar energy that apart from reducing pollution, would also create jobs. According to the Environmental Protection Agency’s 2012 report, coal-fired power plants produce approximately 25 percent of total U.S. global warming emissions while natural gas-fired power plants produce 6 percent of total emissions. In contrast, most renewable energy sources produce little to no global warming emissions. Conclusively, boosting energy efficiency and adopting renewable energy would reduce global warming.

Dincer, I., Coplan, C. O. & Kadiouglu, F. (2013). Causes, impacts and solutions to global warming. Springer Science & Business Media.

Langholz, J. & Turner, K. (2008). You can prevent global warming (and save money!): 51 easy ways. Andrews McMeel Publishing.

Lomborg, B. (2010). Smart solutions to climate change: comparing costs and benefits. Cambridge University Press.

Possible Solutions to Global Warming -Example 2

New kinds of geopolitical consensus would ensure that various countries strive to reduce carbon dioxide emissions within their borders. For instance, in 2014, an agreement to combat climate change was signed between the U.S. and China, the two most polluting countries in the world. China agreed to get 20% of its electric power from the sun, wind, fission, and dams. The U.S. promised to enhance its pollution reduction efforts so that the rate of pollution declines by 2% per year (Hawken, 2017).

Additionally, global warming could be reduced through control of methane leaks. Methane is a greenhouse gas that has more global warming effects than even carbon dioxide. Currently, 9% of US greenhouse gas pollution is accounted for by methane (Pittock, 2013). Therefore, within days after their discovery, leaks in methane storage tanks and pipeline as well as other infrastructure should be fixed. Conclusively, global warming would be addressed through new kinds of geopolitical consensus and control of methane leaks.

Hawken, P. (2017). Drawdown: the most comprehensive plan ever proposed to reverse global warming . London, UK: Penguin Publishing Group.

Pittock, A. B. (2013). Climate change: the science, impacts and solutions . New York, NY: Routledge.

Possible Solutions to Global Warming -Example 3

Passing tougher emissions and efficiency standards for cars and power plants would ensure less production of heat-trapping carbon dioxide and smog-forming nitrogen oxides into the atmosphere. This may be possible through better hybrid systems of energy production and efficient internal combustion engines. Such electric cars as Tesla Model S, Nissan LEAF, and Chevy Volt can also help here as long as fossil fuels are not the source of electricity that powers them. The US is already implementing strict high emissions reduction standards for power plants, reducing pollution by 10% since 2005 (Dincer, Colpan & Kadioglu, 2013).

Additionally, global warming could be reduced through greener farming. Farmers could reduce greenhouse emissions through precision agriculture whereby crops are grown efficiently. Farms could also provide energy crops for producing biofules. The amount of carbon dioxide already in the atmosphere could be drawn down by such fuels from plants (Pittock, 2013). In conclusion, tougher emissions and efficiency standards and greener farming would possibly solve global warming.

Dincer, I., Colpan, C. O., & Kadioglu, F. (2013). Causes, impacts and solutions to global warming . Berlin: Springer Science & Business Media.

How to Write a two Paragraph Essay

A two-paragraph essay is a brief piece of writing that explains ideas in a few words. The article is popular among junior scholars or during examinations. While some questions require detailed, lengthy answers, this essay needs you to explain your details in less than two paragraphs.

A large number of students find this challenging. Condensing ideas to make one small, brief and straightforward piece requires proper planning, organization, and economization of language. So, how can you write a compelling 2-paragraph essay? Well, below, I have come up with the perfect guide on how to get all your ideas in two simple parts.

The Structure

The essay contains 2 paragraphs only, and; they must bear the intended meaning. If you want to come up with the perfect article you must, therefore, know the topic well. You could research prior to writing down the piece.

Then, you require laying out a plan on how to fit your ideas into the two paragraphs. This means that you may have to choose two strong points that supersede the rest. Each section should contain a well-explained idea. So, below is the paragraph structure.

As is the case with all essays, you must have a title at the beginning of your work. This helps the readers to understand what the content is about. Be sure to make the headline bold, explicit and concise. Then, use the paragraphs to explain the title.

Topic Statement

What idea are you planning to write about? This should be an opening statement that captures the content of the sentences in the paragraph. It should also provide an answer to the main title. In most cases, it is a logical explanation of the claims presented in the title.

Supportive Points

The supportive sentences should follow the topic statement. They should offer details about the point raised in the first sentence. Thus, this is the excellent place for you to use your factual data to prove why the topic statement is valid. You can have four or five supportive sentences to back up your idea.

Concluding Statement

You will need to conclude your paragraph by affirming to the audience why the topic statement is valid as per the facts you have provided. If it is the first paragraph, you should also use the last sentence as a transition to the next paragraph. But, if it is the second, then you must use a conclusive statement to sign off the article.

Acknowledgements

After you finish writing the essay, remember to acknowledge the sources of the information provided in your work. Reference your work appropriately, as this makes it credible.

Additional Tips on How to Make a 2 Paragraph Essay

Organization.

Be sure to present an organized essay. To do this, you should have a plan on how to write. For instance, you can write a rough outline of the ideas and supportive statements. This helps reduce unwanted repetition.

Entertaining

The rule of the thumb of writing anything is to grab the reader’s attention. If your work is well organized, it will have a smooth flow. Relevance and style keeps the audience yearning for more.

Use transitions

To attain a smooth flow, you need to make good use of transitions. For instance, you can use ‘first, secondly or then’ to show that you are introducing another point. This ensures you don’t get the reader confused.

Be economical with words, and well loaded with information. To do this, you need to have the audience in mind. Don’t go overboard trying to overwhelm the readers with unnecessary info. Also, explain your ideas thoroughly to avoid leaving the audience guessing.

Expert Support

If you run into a dead-end while writing your two paragraph essay, feel free to browse our homework help online services and find the right tutor to show you the right way.

A two paragraph essay is popular in elementary and mid-schools. But, many professors also test it at advanced levels when they want students to provide a brief explanation of concepts. Brevity and sticking to the topic are the golden rules of writing a good 2 paragraph essay. Remember to incorporate a good style and editing skills, too.

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The Ultimate Guide to the 5-Paragraph Essay

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M.Ed., Education Administration, University of Georgia
B.A., History, Armstrong State University

A five-paragraph essay is a prose composition that follows a prescribed format of an introductory paragraph, three body paragraphs, and a concluding paragraph, and is typically taught during primary English education and applied on standardized testing throughout schooling.

Learning to write a high-quality five-paragraph essay is an essential skill for students in early English classes as it allows them to express certain ideas, claims, or concepts in an organized manner, complete with evidence that supports each of these notions. Later, though, students may decide to stray from the standard five-paragraph format and venture into writing an exploratory essay instead.

Still, teaching students to organize essays into the five-paragraph format is an easy way to introduce them to writing literary criticism, which will be tested time and again throughout their primary, secondary, and further education.

Writing a Good Introduction

The introduction is the first paragraph in your essay, and it should accomplish a few specific goals: capture the reader's interest, introduce the topic, and make a claim or express an opinion in a thesis statement.

It's a good idea to start your essay with a hook (fascinating statement) to pique the reader's interest, though this can also be accomplished by using descriptive words, an anecdote, an intriguing question, or an interesting fact. Students can practice with creative writing prompts to get some ideas for interesting ways to start an essay.

The next few sentences should explain your first statement, and prepare the reader for your thesis statement, which is typically the last sentence in the introduction. Your thesis sentence should provide your specific assertion and convey a clear point of view, which is typically divided into three distinct arguments that support this assertation, which will each serve as central themes for the body paragraphs.

Writing Body Paragraphs

The body of the essay will include three body paragraphs in a five-paragraph essay format, each limited to one main idea that supports your thesis.

To correctly write each of these three body paragraphs, you should state your supporting idea, your topic sentence, then back it up with two or three sentences of evidence. Use examples that validate the claim before concluding the paragraph and using transition words to lead to the paragraph that follows — meaning that all of your body paragraphs should follow the pattern of "statement, supporting ideas, transition statement."

Words to use as you transition from one paragraph to another include: moreover, in fact, on the whole, furthermore, as a result, simply put, for this reason, similarly, likewise, it follows that, naturally, by comparison, surely, and yet.

Writing a Conclusion

The final paragraph will summarize your main points and re-assert your main claim (from your thesis sentence). It should point out your main points, but should not repeat specific examples, and should, as always, leave a lasting impression on the reader.

The first sentence of the conclusion, therefore, should be used to restate the supporting claims argued in the body paragraphs as they relate to the thesis statement, then the next few sentences should be used to explain how the essay's main points can lead outward, perhaps to further thought on the topic. Ending the conclusion with a question, anecdote, or final pondering is a great way to leave a lasting impact.

Once you complete the first draft of your essay, it's a good idea to re-visit the thesis statement in your first paragraph. Read your essay to see if it flows well, and you might find that the supporting paragraphs are strong, but they don't address the exact focus of your thesis. Simply re-write your thesis sentence to fit your body and summary more exactly, and adjust the conclusion to wrap it all up nicely.

Practice Writing a Five-Paragraph Essay

Students can use the following steps to write a standard essay on any given topic. First, choose a topic, or ask your students to choose their topic, then allow them to form a basic five-paragraph by following these steps:

Decide on your basic thesis , your idea of a topic to discuss.
Decide on three pieces of supporting evidence you will use to prove your thesis.
Write an introductory paragraph, including your thesis and evidence (in order of strength).
Write your first body paragraph, starting with restating your thesis and focusing on your first piece of supporting evidence.
End your first paragraph with a transitional sentence that leads to the next body paragraph.
Write paragraph two of the body focussing on your second piece of evidence. Once again make the connection between your thesis and this piece of evidence.
End your second paragraph with a transitional sentence that leads to paragraph number three.
Repeat step 6 using your third piece of evidence.
Begin your concluding paragraph by restating your thesis. Include the three points you've used to prove your thesis.
End with a punch, a question, an anecdote, or an entertaining thought that will stay with the reader.

Once a student can master these 10 simple steps, writing a basic five-paragraph essay will be a piece of cake, so long as the student does so correctly and includes enough supporting information in each paragraph that all relate to the same centralized main idea, the thesis of the essay.

Limitations of the Five-Paragraph Essay

The five-paragraph essay is merely a starting point for students hoping to express their ideas in academic writing; there are some other forms and styles of writing that students should use to express their vocabulary in the written form.

According to Tory Young's "Studying English Literature: A Practical Guide":

"Although school students in the U.S. are examined on their ability to write a five-paragraph essay , its raison d'être is purportedly to give practice in basic writing skills that will lead to future success in more varied forms. Detractors feel, however, that writing to rule in this way is more likely to discourage imaginative writing and thinking than enable it. . . . The five-paragraph essay is less aware of its audience and sets out only to present information, an account or a kind of story rather than explicitly to persuade the reader."

Students should instead be asked to write other forms, such as journal entries, blog posts, reviews of goods or services, multi-paragraph research papers, and freeform expository writing around a central theme. Although five-paragraph essays are the golden rule when writing for standardized tests, experimentation with expression should be encouraged throughout primary schooling to bolster students' abilities to utilize the English language fully.

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COMMENTS

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How to write two-views-and-opinion essay for IELTS Academic
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Writing a discussion essay: Discuss two views and give your opinion
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3 Strong Argumentative Essay Examples, Analyzed
The thesis is the key to your argumentative essay; if it isn't clear or readers can't find it easily, your entire essay will be weak as a result. Always make sure that your thesis statement is easy to find. The typical spot for it is the final sentence of the introduction paragraph, but if it doesn't fit in that spot for your essay, try ...
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Writing Task 2 Discuss Both Views Essay Lesson
4- Example to support your view. Main Body Paragraph 2. 1- State second viewpoint. 2- Discuss second viewpoint. 3- Reason why you agree or disagree with viewpoint. 4- Example to support your view. Conclusion . Sentence 1- Summary. Sentence 2- State which one is better or more important. Practice . Here is a sample answer but I have mixed up the ...
How to Write an A+ Argumentative Essay
Argumentative Essay Example: 5-Paragraph Style. It always helps to have an example to learn from. I've written a full 5-paragraph argumentative essay here. Look at how I state my thesis in paragraph 1, give supporting evidence in paragraphs 2 and 3, address a counterargument in paragraph 4, and conclude in paragraph 5.
How to Structure an Essay
The basic structure of an essay always consists of an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. But for many students, the most difficult part of structuring an essay is deciding how to organize information within the body. This article provides useful templates and tips to help you outline your essay, make decisions about your structure, and ...
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Two Paragraph Essay: Definition, Steps, Tips, Format, & Structure
A two-paragraph essay is about 8-16 sentences long. Its word count is between 250 words and 300 words. Therefore, it must be straightforward, brief, and concise. Like a one-paragraph essay, you must be highly mean or economical with words but spend your words writing about your topic.
Structuring and Writing an Argument Essay
1. Clearly state the argument/proposition of your essay. 2. Analyze the proposition. First, jot down points of conflict between your view and the opposing view. Second, think over your jottings and try to decide which points are the issues on which your argument should hinge. Third, arrange your jottings in order to give unity and coherence to ...
Transitions
Transitions. Transitions help your readers move between ideas within a paragraph, between paragraphs, or between sections of your argument. When you are deciding how to transition from one idea to the next, your goal should be to help readers see how your ideas are connected—and how those ideas connect to the big picture.
Thesis Generator
The first sentence of the second body paragraph should state the second reason presented in your thesis. As with the previous paragraph, include supporting evidence after stating your topic sentence. Explain what the evidence means. Show the reader how this entire paragraph connects back to the thesis statement. Paragraph #3
How You Can Format 2 Paragraph Essays
Each paragraph should contain at least 3-5 sentences. An ideal paragraph length shouldn't contain more than five sentences. If you have a lot of things to discuss the topic, make use of all five sentences. At the very least, you should write a few words on the subject in general if you're limited to only two paragraphs.
Free AI Paragraph Generator
Students and researchers can benefit from Ahrefs' Paragraph Generator when working on papers, essays, or research articles. By providing the necessary instructions, the tool can generate well-structured paragraphs that present key arguments, evidence, and analysis, aiding in the writing process. Personal writing and communication.
2 Paragraph Essay Examples: Solutions to Global Warming
Two paragraph essay literally contains two body paragraphs with each paragraph containing 4 - 5 sentences. Too many or few can make your paragraph too vague or overwhelming. ... and solar energy that apart from reducing pollution, would also create jobs. According to the Environmental Protection Agency's 2012 report, coal-fired power plants ...
The Ultimate Guide to the 5-Paragraph Essay
Students can use the following steps to write a standard essay on any given topic. First, choose a topic, or ask your students to choose their topic, then allow them to form a basic five-paragraph by following these steps: Decide on your basic thesis, your idea of a topic to discuss. Decide on three pieces of supporting evidence you will use to ...

IELTS two-views-and-opinion essay tips

What are two-views-and-opinion essays about?

Steps for writing an essay

Essay structure

Writing a discussion essay: Discuss two views and give your opinion

Make sure you understand the question

Structure of a discussion essay

Introduction

Useful expressions

Body paragraph 1

Body paragraph 2

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A simple formula for discussing two opposing views in your IELTS essay

Content Tags

Essay Types and Example Questions

Introduction

Paragraph One – Introduction

Paragraph Two – Body

Paragraph Three – Body

Paragraph Four – Body

Paragraph Five - Conclusion

Two opinions - Conclusion

Discussion Template

Discussion Template - Paragraph One - Introduction

Discussion Template - Paragraphs two, three, and four - the body of support

Paragraph Three - Repeat the above for the other viewpoint

Paragraph Four - Repeat the above for the your viewpoint

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What Is an Argumentative Essay? How Is it Different from Other Kinds of Essays?

Argumentative Essay

Persuasive Essay

Expository Essay

Analytical Essay

A Typical Argumentative Essay Assignment

Good Argumentative Essay Topics

Argumentative Essay Format

Paragraph 1: Intro

Paragraph 2: Support

Paragraph 3: Support

Paragraph 4: Counterargument

Paragraph 5: Conclusion

Paragraph 1—Set Up and Claim

Paragraphs 2 and 3—Your Evidence

Paragraph 4—Argument for the Other Side and Refutation

Paragraph 5—Conclusion

Argumentative Essay Example: 5-Paragraph Style

How to Write an Argumentative Essay: 8 Steps

#1: Preliminary Research

#2: Pick Your Side and Form Your Thesis

#3: Heavy-Duty Research Time

#4: Outline

#7: Final Draft

#8: Celebrate!

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The Take-Aways: Keys to Writing an Argumentative Essay

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