Some students misunderstand the purpose of an argumentative research paper. They mistake that the word ‘argumentative’ only means that you should argue your theory. But if you reconsider it, you will realize that all research papers require you to argue your point. The specialty of an argumentative assignment is that everything starting from the topic to the style of writing would be of argumentative nature. The introduction gives you only just enough space for introducing the topic. And the conclusion, an equally short paragraph lets you do nothing more than conclude the research paper. On the other hand, the body paragraphs, which occupy most of the space in your sheets, would be where you will do all the explanation and justification required to prove your theory.

While preparing the first body paragraph of your argumentative research paper, link it to the introduction. You can link it either to the thesis statement or any of the other relevant points mentioned in the introduction. This will also help you open up your discussion. In the first paragraph you can either explain your theory or straight away get to the bottom of the topic being discussed. Slowly develop your argument. The best way to convince someone about your argument is to cover all the aspects one by one and slowly progress towards the conclusion.

Since the theory is of argumentative nature, you will need to present many pieces of strong evidence which covers all the aspects of the theory. So, first organize the points, ideally using the outline. Most points in an argument will need elaborate description and discussion. Hence dedicate one paragraph each for the points you have collected. This will make it look neat and avoid any possible confusion to the reader.

Once you have decided what content should go into each one of body paragraphs of your argumentative research paper, the next task is to arrange them perfectly. While at it, remember that smooth transition between paragraphs is absolutely important for the reader to be able to follow your argument. And for the purpose of transiting smoothly, you should arrange the points in such a way that the discussion on one point leads to the one discussed in the next paragraph. If there are individual points which cannot be linked so, use one of the generalized aspects to link it together. Isolating points will not add to the appeal of a research paper.

Discuss all the points you have collected, in the body paragraphs. Do not leave out anything as the conclusion will not be able to accommodate the discussion of a fresh point. Be legible in the discussion of the points in the body paragraphs. Do not ask the reader to “go back and refer to the point mentioned in the first body paragraph”. Instead mention it briefly again. But do not elaborate as it will sound repetitive.

An argumentative research paper is not about arguing on just about anything but it is about arguing on an arguable point. And the focus must be on the main purpose of the assignment, which is to argue to prove an argumentative theory. And only by skillfully framed body paragraphs, will you be able to accomplish the task of proving your argument effectively.

If writing is a skill, argumentative writing is even more so. There are different types of argumentative assignments that are given out to students of all subjects. This type of assignment forces them to learn the subject thoroughly and learn even more as they are looking around for evidence to support their argument. There are a few things which you should remember while handling an argumentative research paper assignment.

1. Do not think that argumentative assignments are all about arguing. It is not. It is more about ‘proving your argument’. Nobody cares if you want to argue or not. They care only about whether you succeed in convincing them that your argument is genuine and acceptable. And for the purpose of convincing the reader, you need substantial evidence. You also need to use it at the right place and in the right manner to bring out the best of it.

2. It is easy to argue but not so easy to win an argument. Arguing is something most people are capable of. But not everyone can prove their point. In-depth knowledge of the subject and the topic is absolutely necessary for being able to win an argument. It is very difficult to convince someone of what you are thinking. You will find that people resist others’ ideas and opinions on principle. This is the barrier you will have to break through to accomplish the task of writing an effective argumentative research paper.

3. Arguing in writing is completely different from verbal arguments. Casual conversations or even debates are easier than argumentative writing assignments because in both you get the response immediately and you can adjust the level of defense of your argument according to the response. But in argumentative writing, you do not know if your audience or reader agree with your argument or not. You do not know if there would be a counter argument. So your task would be to judge your audience or reader accurately and think of what kind of counter arguments they can come up with and answer it all, in advance.

4. The presentation method is important in argumentative writing. Effective use of words is an important element of a good presentation. Only strong words that reflect confidence and your knowledge of the subject will complement your argumentative presentation.

5. Sources, in argumentative essay or research paper assignments, are to be used to support your arguments. And weak sources will give away when faced with counter arguments. Only the strongest of sources can withstand the pressure of judgment of an argumentative research paper. The factors which make a research paper source strong are its credibility, proximity to the particular aspect of the topic that is being studied and the author’s credentials in the relevant area of research. The author’s fame in the subject area would also add to the credibility of the source. In certain subjects the period in which the source was issued also affects the reliability of the data.

Effective writing is indeed a skill; and the impressiveness of your argumentative research paper is highly dependent on your argumentative writing skills. This should be kept in mind while you are writing out the final draft of your argumentative assignment.

Writing a research paper is all about studying a topic in great detail in order to bring some new aspect of the topic to light. There are many types of research papers and each has its own unique objective. Argumentative research papers are one of the most common types of research paper assignments for the simple reason that they emphasize on the basic objective of all research papers – proving the point. But there is the difference that the method of proving the point is that of an argumentative nature.

Unlike analytical or opinion research papers, for an argumentative essay or research paper, you need a thesis which can be debated. Most types of writing assignments need a thesis as its focal point. But the nature of the theses varies with each assignment. In an argumentative research paper, the thesis would declare the perspective the writer has on the topic or a new aspect about the topic which is arguable. There is a simple theory that an argument cannot be termed so if it has no counter argument. This aspect leads to one of the most important facts about an argumentative theory – it should not be an obvious or unquestionable aspect. For example, you cannot argue that ‘earth is round in shape’. It is a known fact which is proved beyond any doubts. Nobody is going to argue against it. Hence it is a fact and not an argument.

A strong arguable thesis will only make a good base. What you build on that base is what determines the efficacy of your submission. Arguing is quite easy and fun while done verbally. Most people boast of being capable of arguing their point. But it will be foolish to judge your argumentative writing skills based on your ability to argue verbally. An argumentative research paper requires you not only to present a thesis but also to argue for it. While arguing a theory, you will need evidence to support your argument. Without strong and substantial evidence your theory will not materialize into an argument. This ascertains the importance of extensive research while dealing with an argumentative assignment.

A good and interesting topic can take quite a lot of load off your research paper writing process. Study the guidelines carefully and choose a topic accordingly. But while choosing your stance on the topic, make sure that you are not going for the obvious. It always helps to pick a topic which you are familiar with. But if you are someone who enjoys the trouble of studying a topic that is new to you, there is no harm in choosing one as long as you know how and where to start your research process. If you are choosing a topic that is not so familiar, make sure that the deadline is not very tight.

Argumentative research papers not only showcase your knowledge of the topic but also prove your confidence level. Your writing skills will also get assessed by the efficiency with which you present your argument. Handling a research paper assignment will be easier if you know what a good and impressive research paper look like. Take a look at our research paper samples to find out how to present your theory effectively.