Building an argument

A strong essay is an argument, not a list of facts about a topic. This topic covers the three pieces that hold an argument together. First is the thesis statement. It must make a claim someone could reasonably disagree with; a statement of fact or a vague opinion gives the essay nothing to prove. Next are topic sentences. Each one should state the point of its paragraph and tie it back to the thesis, rather than retelling what happens in the text. The last page covers counterarguments and rebuttals: naming the strongest objection to your view and answering it. Done well, this makes your argument more convincing, not weaker. Students often skip it or raise an objection they never answer. A quick test for all three pages: read only your thesis and topic sentences in a row. They should make sense as a short outline of your whole argument. If they don't, fix them before you write a single body paragraph.