Ms. Todoric

AP Lang.

The AP Argument Essay

Argument Essay Practice

The AP English Language & Composition argument (persuasive) essay question can ask you to do any of the following:

1)Defend, challenge, or qualify a quotation about, or particular take on, a specific topic

2)Evaluate the pros and cons of an argument and then indicate why you find one position more persuasive than another

3)Take a position of whatever debatable statement is provided in the prompt

Unlike the other two essays you will be asked to write, this essay does not provide any text other than the prompt. Instead, your thesis (that contains a claim) is supported by your own reading, observations, and experiences. In other words, this essay’s only support is you; what you “know” is the textual support. This essay can be difficult, as the question, regardless of what it is, presupposes that you have knowledge about the topic under discussion. The more you’ve learned about the world around you, and the more opinions you have formulated about it, the better.

If you choose to defend what the text argues, you will give reasons that support the argument given. If you choose to challenge what the text argues, your reasoning will contradict the argument. If you choose to qualify what the text argues, you will agree with parts of the statement and disagree with others. Or, you might agree with the statement, but only under certain circumstances.

The “pros and cons” essay is similar to the “qualify” essay in that you must give reasons both supporting and contradicting the statement. You must then evaluate why one side is more convincing. The “position” essay requires that you establish a specific position in response to the statement in your thesis and support it.

As always, the thesis for these essay prompts must be specific and focused. Avoid merely restating what the prompt states. Instead, make the prompt your own by articulating a specific argument.

No matter what the prompt for the AP test asks you to do, you must support your assertions with specific, relevant evidence:

  • Current Events/Politics
  • History
  • Personal Experience/Observations-Anecdotal Evidence
  • Science
  • Sports
  • Literature (but make sure that you ‘bridge the gap’ between the fictional nature of literature and the issues raised in your essay)
  • Pop Culture (but make sure that it’s relevant and profound)
  • Movies (but make sure that it’s relevant and profound and, if the movie is not a documentary, you ‘bridge the gap’ between the fictional nature of the movie and the issues raised in your essay)

How do I argue a point or position?

  1. Present the issue/situation/problem.
  2. State your assertion/claim/thesis.
  3. Support your claim drawing on all that you know about the subject: what you’ve experienced, read, or observed – generally AVOID personal anecdotes and too many pop culture/celebrity references. Your goal is to sound well read, educated, and reasoned.
  4. Acknowledge and respond to real or possible opposing views.
  5. Make your final comment or summary of the evidence, extending it to the “real world” (May not even be necessary at the exam).

The order of the presentation can be varied, and any rhetorical strategies can be employed, but you must make certain that your support/evidence is appropriate and effective. Your support should be rational and logical, not emotional; it should be objective rather than biased. Watch for – and avoid – logical fallacies.

Work the Prompt

Carefully read and deconstruct the prompt. A successful essay will depend on your thorough understanding of what is expected of you. Underline key ideas, concepts, etc. Pay attention to SOAPS (Subject, Occasion, Audience, Purpose, Speaker) where that information is provided.

Develop the Opening Paragraph

• refer specifically to the prompt

• clearly state your position (claim) relative to the prompt as it is asked (i.e., rather than saying “I think the death penalty is wrong,” say something like “Smith is wrong in his assertion that the death penalty is good public policy because….”)

Develop the Body

• First plan: What will you use as evidence to support your position?

– facts/statistics, details, quotations, anecdotes, cause and effect, appeal to authority, etc. Remember readings, entertainment/arts, history, universal truths, government, and observations.

• Counterarguments: What are the best arguments against my position; how will I address those?

• What will my final remarks be? Leave the reader with a sense of completion, and reinforce your thesis.

IDEAL: Identify, Example, Analysis (Explain), Link

Concluding Paragraph

• In a brief essay, you can be certain your reader can remember what you’ve already said, so there is no need to summarize your major points or to repeat the prompt.

• If you feel you MUST have a concluding statement/remark, make certain it is a FINAL remark that is of interest and is appropriate to your purpose

• You may use the last sentence of your last body paragraph as your concluding comment.

Common Mistakes

  • Not taking a clear position or wavering between positions
  • Substituting a thesis-oriented expository essay for an argumentative essay
  • Being reluctant to engage in verbal combat because "everyone's entitled to his or her own opinion," so there's nothing to argue about
  • Being afraid to have their own “voice”
  • Trying to argue about subjects such as photography by using evidence drawn from a literary reading list (for example, Othello, The Scarlet Letter) and sliding off topic into literary themes
  • Lacking clear connections between claims and the data, and the warrants needed to support them