A debate essay, also known as a persuasive or argumentative essay, is actually quite fun to write! You can express your opinion on something you feel passionate about. Of course, sometimes you aren’t given a choice of what to write about, but if you follow this guide, you will find the result is an awesome paper that you have written effortlessly.
Every good paper has some key elements that set it apart from subpar essays. In this article, we will share with you some of those tips so you can get top grades for your paper.
1. Come up with a Catchy Title and Opening
You want your readers to be interested to read! If your paper is interesting it will be enjoyed far more than if it weren’t. The first thing that will attract a reader is the title, and the second is the first two sentences. This is often called the “hook” because you want to hook your readers’ interest and not let it go!
2. Keep Your Audience in Mind
The entire time you are drafting your essay, you need to have your readers in the back of your head. You are writing for them, not for yourself. Who are they? What do they want to know? What do they need to know? The answers to these questions will dictate the tone of your piece.
3. Support Your Side of the Debate with Strong Evidence
There’s no point in making a claim if you can’t back it up. Whatever side you are on, you need to make sure you can backup what you are arguing. These can be findings from personal experience, statistics or scientific facts. They have to be included so that you are credible. Don’t forget to cite your sources if needed.
4. Make Concessions
Part of what will make your side of the debate stronger is if you bring up and understand the other side. Doing this shows that you are reasonable and have thought things through. For example, you could use the sentence skeleton:
Even though some say __________, others contend ____________.
and go on to say who is right or wrong and why.
5. Go Through the Writing Process Thoroughly
In case you’ve forgotten middle school times, the writing process goes like this: brainstorming, outlining, drafting, revising, drafting, editing and publishing. It’s quite a difficult process but very important, though. Doing each step will guarantee that you produce a well-thought paper. Brainstorming gets your ideas out. Outlining provides you with a structure. Drafting starts you off writing. Revising makes you go back and improve what you already have. Drafting again perfects your essay. And voila!
These tips are extremely helpful in creating an essay that will captivate your audience and be enjoyed by all those who read it. It will be strong and memorable that is very important in a debate essay. Good luck on your writing journey. We know, you will succeed!