Teach this 1 – 3 – 1 structure of an argumentative essay properly and your students will never be in trouble with their essays.

If the student gets criteria-based feedback on his/her writing task, they will know which areas they are good at and which areas require much more work. In this article the focus is on the strategies how to improve ‘Content/Message’ and ‘Logical, convincing structure’ in writing an argumentative essay.

Is there a commonly accepted good logical structure for argumentative essays?

Yes, there is …

and it is the one often taught in British and American universities. The 1 – 3 – 1 essay: An introduction, 3 separate paragraphs and a conclusion. As simple as that. Not quite.

Of course, this is not the only model to be used and there may be various traditions in your country BUT this is a foolproof way to build up a logical and coherent argumentative essay.

	Introduction
Paragraph 1	Paragraph 2	Paragraph 3
	Conclusion

The students have to be taught what the ‘ideal’ logical structure of each 5 paragraph is like. Ok, let’s have an example.

Topic: Can we stop global warming? Note that there is no ‘correct’ answer to the question and the reader is not supposed to give the grade on the basis of to what extent he/she agrees with the writer. The whole point is how well and convincingly the writer can argue for his/her case.

Theoretically the writer has many options, positions to take:

• ‘Yes’, we can stop global warming … Reason/Means 1, Reason 2 and Reason 3
• ‘No’, we can’t stop it … Reason/Because 1, Reason 2 and Reason 3
• ‘Well, it depends …’ No, because we don’t … 1, Yes, if we … 2 and Yes, if we … 3

In other words, the writer has to take a position/stand, have a clear opinion on the matter, decide if his/her answer is Yes, No or Maybe if …

• If the topic is a yes/no question, you position is ‘yes’, ‘no’ or ‘undecided’ Can we stop global warming?
• If your topic starts with a question pronoun, you give 3 ideas or reasons. Why have we not been able to stop global warming?
• If your topic is a statement, you treat it as a yes/no question Global warming can be stopped if people really want to do it

Back to our example: If we are optimistic then we will take position ‘yes’ and come up with 3 reasons why we think global warming can be stopped: 1) Giving up fossil fuels, 2) Public opinion has changed and 3) Modern technology is improving

There are other possible reasons and any of them will do if our arguments or opinions are backed up with convincing evidence. Note that this time we have to know quite a lot about global warming and conservation of nature to be able to argue convincingly.

The introduction, 1st paragraph

Now that we have our position clear ( = YES, we can stop global warming) and we have three means how to do it, we can formulate our ‘main argument’ = ‘thesis statement’: Global warming can be stopped if we drastically reduce the consumption of fossil fuels and if we make use of the latest technology in energy production and affect the opinions of the genearl public even more than we have done so far.

Where do we place this main argument? ANSWER: At the very end of the introduction! WHY? Because its purpose is to reveal our position and this is the most memorable place.

Is there a formula to built up the main argument/thesis statement?

Ye, there is. Thesis statement >>>>

Topic + your position   (for, against or undecided) + 3 reasons (stated but justified only in the paragraphs)

It is quite interesting that in the Finnish tradition we are used to keeping the main argument hidden till the end of the essay, which is just the opposite to the British and American tradition.

I have noticed that many of my student are ashamed of revealing their main argument at the end of the introduction because they think it should be something mind-blowing. No, it does not have to be anything special. What is required is logic, clarity, coherence and convincing proof/examples.

Should	we allow seventeen years olds get a driving licence?	Topic question
Main argument >>>	We should allow those who are seventeen to get a driving licence under special circumstances. (position ‘yes’ and ‘no’)	1 reason against + 2 reasons for
How do	people find happiness in life?	Topic question
Main argument >>>	People find happiness by fulfilling their dreams, if they feel they are loved and respected and if they are allowed to make their own decisions. (3 ideas/reasons)	Idea 1 + idea 2 + idea 3

If the main argument is at the end of the 1st paragraph, the introduction, what comes at the very beginning of the essay itself ?

Here you have a few options: You can have a general comment on the topic, like ‘Over the last 20 years there has been a lot of controversy if global warming is actually taking place or if it is caused by human actions or not . …

OR use a (provokative) example ‘The home island of three hundred people, Takavu Island, was washed away last week and there was a narrow escape for the inhabitants thanks to a U.S. military vessel sailing nearby. The reason for …

The structure of paragraphs 2, 3 and 4

By now we have worked out the structure of the 1st paragraph: general background comments on the topic and our main argument which consists of three reasons why we answer ‘Yes’ to the topic question ‘Can we stop global warming?’

All three paragraphs have only one purpose: They try to convince the reader that the main argument is true. Therefore each paragraph is a partial proof for the main argument.

Where do you place the topic sentences? The topic sentence is the very first sentence of each paragraph (2, 3 and 4).

Paragraph 2: Topic sentence Fossil fuels are regarded as the worst polluters on earth and if we manage to reduce the use of them ...

And what comes after the topic sentence? Reasons and justifications or an example for having this argument. Restriction on the use of coal in China, the USA, Russia – producing fuel from waste materials …

And at the end of the paragraph: All in all, when we finally succeed in making more and more use of renewable energy …

Paragraph 3: Topic sentence One of the most significant things speaking in favour of us being able to stop global warming, pollution and destroying our planet if that more and more people are truly worried about … and they demand a change in our attitudes. Reasons and justifications or an example for having this argument. The recent rise of the green movement and the Green Parties in the western world is a sign of hope. Even advertizers … And at the end of the paragraph: In brief, awareness of the state of our planet and the desire to take actions …

Paragraph 4: Topic sentence There is no denying that the demand of energy will most likely not decline but modern technology offers us many promising solutions. Reasons and justifications or an example for having this argument. For example, the use of solar energy, geothermal energy and wind turbines has increased immensely over the last two decades. Cars running on diesel or petrol are likely to be replaced by electricity run vehicles …. And at the end of the paragraph: To sum up, the change in people’s attitudes towards … and the great advances in ‘green’ technology …

The structure of the conclusion, paragraph 5

It is quite interesting that the introduction begins with a general background idea and ends with a specific main argument with a clear stand or reader’s opinions on the matter.

For example: The use of fossil fuels has been criticized for decades. (= general background idea) … At present the consumption of fossil fuels is on the decrease thanks to the green movement, development in technology and change in people’s attitudes. (= the main argument)

In contrast, the conclusion begins with a specific rephrasing of the main argument and ends up with a general idea, often with a wider perspective to the topic.

For example: More and more people have realized a change is needed and they have joined the green movement and are forcing politicians to consider the transition to the use of alternative sources of energy. (= a rephrase of the main argument) … The dream some conservationists had decades ago is becoming reality. It will be a narrow escape but the human race will be able to stop the destruction of this planet. We have no other choice left!

The language in the conclusion has to be precise and concise. No need to use summing-up phrases like ’All in all’ or ’As pointed out earlier’. An effective quotation may make your essay stand out from the others.

The reader will most likely feel glad if you manage to end the essay with a positive convincing tone, encouraging them to take action or read more about the topic.

If you want to play safe with the conclusion

• rewrite the thesis statement and the topic sentences using other words
• in other words, you paraphrase the arguments and the evidence you presented
• do not repeat details or give brand-new information, use consice language

Overall importance of what you have written

1. Don’t write any new information. Your essay conclusion is about summarizing the thesis and statements.
2. Don’t share personal thoughts unless you write a first-person opinion piece.
3. Don’t restate each and all the details. You have body paragraphs for that.
4. Don’t just restate the thesis if you can provide some further – not new! – sophistication to original ideas.

The 1 – 3 – 1 structure of the essay

Introduction General comment at the beginning or a mind-shaker example The main argument = Thesis statement: At the end of paragraph 1 expressed in one sentence topic + your position (= opinion on the topic) + 3 reasons / ideas

The magical three paragraphs: 3 paragraphs defending the main argument 3 topic sentences to start the paragraphs 3 reasons, ideas or examples to support the main argument

Conclusion: rephrase the main argument (and expand the horizon)

A summary of the structure of a good argumentative essay

	Introduction General background comments on the topic + the main argument as the last sentence of the paragraph
Paragraph 1 starts with a topic sentence + reasons/proof why the topic sentence is true	Paragraph 2 starts with a topic sentence + reasons/proof why the topic sentence is true	Pragraph 3 starts with a topic sentence + reasons/proof why the topic sentence is true
	Conclusion Rephrasing the main argument

There are quite a great number of things to remember when you are writing an argumentative essay, aren’t there? See if you can answer the questions below without consulting the pages above.

• Is there any difference if the essay topic is a yes/no – question, starts with a pronoun or is a statement?
• How do you start and argumentative essay?
• Where do you place the main argument = the thesis statement?
• What does the main argument consist of? (= Which parts does it have?)
• What is meant by your postion in the essay?
• How do you start paragraph 2, 3 and 4 and what else is included in them?
• What is the structure of paragraph 5, the conclusion?
• How can you make the conclusion sound more interesting?