The purpose of an argumentative essay is to defend your point. You do this with the help of special selected and adjusted arguments for an essay which support the main statement from different angles. The stronger the arguments, the more trustworthy your position looks and the more your readers are inclined to trust you. If you use weak arguments or questionable ones, then you might get a result which is opposite to your expectations — your readers will take the polar position. Arguments can and should be checked before you finalize your essay. Below are the questions that will help you to analyze your arguments in an essay.
How Well Does Your Argument Fit into the Essay?
When you introduce an argument in your paper, you should make sure that it fits the topic perfectly. Any offtopic will immediately stand out and weaken your position. Ensure that it is in the right place and is placed within the right context. After all, do you get an “aha!” moment when you read it aloud?
Is It Logically Associated with the Statements or Assumptions in Your Essay?
You have a certain position that you have stated at the very beginning of your essay. Does the argument serve as a ground for insisting on your position? Is there an evident cause-and-effect relationship between the argument and your assumption or statement?
Is the Evidence Strong Enough?
Is the evidence provided in your argument strong enough to convince the reader? Are the figures significant? Is the proof solid? Or is there any place for doubt left? If the latter is true, then withhold from a particular argument or find another one to provide additional support for your statement.
Does Your Argument Contain Assumptions That Can be Refuted?
This question is pretty much related to the previous one. When you provide a strong piece of evidence, you may not need additional proof for supporting your point of view. However, when your argument is based on an assumption, more evidence will be required to justify the use of such an assumption. In general, your initial thesis statement is often a supposition in the first place which needs to be substantiated further. So be sure to avoid unnecessary speculations.
Is the Line of Reasoning Present in Your Argument?
The line of reasoning refers to a cognitive process with certain steps that logically result one from another. If, you don’t have a feeling that each following step makes you closer to the conclusion when reading your argument once again, then you might rethink either the argument itself or the way you have presented it.
Is There Some Other Conclusion That Might Follow from the Argument?
Sometimes, it happens so that the conclusion that the readers make after acquainting him/herself with your argument is different from the one you were expecting. In this case, the argument was introduced in a new way. What’s also possible, is that it is a completely wrong argument from which you should withhold.
Analyzing each one of the arguments for an essay that you’ve chosen with the help of the questions above will help you to access their strength or aptitude. Be sure to perform the assessment of reasoning that you have provided in your argumentative essay. Ascertain that they are strong enough to convince your reader or at least make them seriously think about taking your point of view.