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Argument Paragraph

The document provides guidance on writing effective paragraphs in essays. It states that each paragraph should have a single main theme or argument introduced in the topic sentence. The paragraph should then provide supporting details to develop the topic sentence's argument, including facts, examples, analysis, and definitions. Concluding sentences are optional but should link back to the topic sentence or transition to the next paragraph. An example paragraph is given that argues against capital punishment from moral and human rights perspectives, with a topic sentence stating the argument followed by supporting evidence and analysis.

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Allister Lloyd Ching
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8K views2 pages

Argument Paragraph

The document provides guidance on writing effective paragraphs in essays. It states that each paragraph should have a single main theme or argument introduced in the topic sentence. The paragraph should then provide supporting details to develop the topic sentence's argument, including facts, examples, analysis, and definitions. Concluding sentences are optional but should link back to the topic sentence or transition to the next paragraph. An example paragraph is given that argues against capital punishment from moral and human rights perspectives, with a topic sentence stating the argument followed by supporting evidence and analysis.

Uploaded by

Allister Lloyd Ching
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
Download as docx, pdf, or txt
Download as docx, pdf, or txt
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Allister Ching

Argument Paragraph
Each paragraph within an essay should have a single main theme, point or argument. Begin a
new paragraph every time you introduce a new theme, point or argument. Closely linked sub-
themes, points and arguments may also be included within the same paragraph. When you look
at a paragraph, you should be able to sum it up in a single short statement.
Each paragraph should contain
• the 'topic sentence' - the main theme, point or argument should be stated in
the first sentence. This sentence announces the topic but it should also make
a transition from the previous paragraph.
• supporting material - which could involve: providing a brief history of the
topic specified in the topic sentence; developing the argument of the topic
statement, stating the reasoning behind the argument of the topic sentence;
introducing examples to support and/or challenge the argument of the topic
sentence (which could take the form of facts, statistics, quotations, brief
anecdotes, etc.); evalusate this evidence: compare or contrast sources;
analyse causes and reasons; examination od effects and consequences;
discuss issues raised; etc; discuss one or more of the topic sentence's key
terms. Explain any unclear terms.
• concluding sentences - any conclusions should be drawn at the very end of
the paragraph. Your concluding sentence should ideally link back to the topic
sentence, and possibly to the following paragraph. You may often find that
there is no need to provide a concluding sentence.
Sample:

The first compelling argument against capital punishment is that it is morally


indefensible. If we consider the argument from a Christian standpoint, we have the
prohibition on killing in the Ten Commandments. In addition, we learn from the
Bible that vengeance belongs to the Lord. However we describe capital punishment,
it clearly involves killing another human being and, in many cases, assuming
responsibility for avenging the death of someone else. From the point of view of
secular human rights, too, there are many principles in place which encourage us to
agree that the deliberate taking of a human life, especially in circumstances where
the person killed is defenceless against the invincible power of the state and where
the state's action constitutes cruel and unusual punishment, is morally wrong. It
may well be that our feelings are often outraged at the particular barbarity of the
original murder, that the guilt of the murderer is beyond doubt, that he or she
shows no signs of repentance, and that society carries a considerable cost for
incarcerating a murderer for life, all that may be true. None of it, however, removes
from us the awareness that for a group of rational human beings to sanction the
state killing of an individual, especially when there is no immediate threat to any
other individual or to the state collectively, is never morally justifiable

http://www.leeds.ac.uk/arts/studyskills/writtenassignments/page_11.htm

http://records.viu.ca/~johnstoi/arguments/argument8.htm

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