3rd grade argumentative essay

60 Awesome Opinion Writing Prompts for 3rd Grade

Are you searching for a fun and effective way to engage your 3rd grade students in opinion writing? Look no further! In this blog post, we’ve compiled a list of 60 opinion writing prompts specifically designed for 3rd graders. T hese prompts will not only encourage your students to express their own opinions but also help them develop their critical thinking and persuasive writing skills.

From topics like “Should students have homework?” to “Who is the greatest superhero of all time?” these opinion writing prompts for 3rd grade cover a wide range of subjects that are sure to get your third graders’ creative juices flowing.

Whether they’re discussing their favorite hobbies, sharing their opinions on homework, or debating the merits of technology, these prompts provide endless opportunities for your students to express themselves and engage in writing thoughtful opinion pieces.

Benefits of using opinion writing prompts for 3rd grade

Opinion writing plays a crucial role in elementary education, providing an excellent way for students to develop their voice and express unique perspectives. Engaging in opinion writing helps students think critically, form logical arguments, and support opinions with good reasons and evidence. This skill is not only essential for academic success but also for their future personal and professional endeavors.

Introducing third graders to opinion writing prompts offers a multitude of benefits that extend beyond the classroom. Here are five key advantages:

1. Critical Thinking Skills

Opinion writing prompts encourage students to analyze and evaluate different viewpoints, helping them develop critical thinking skills as they formulate their own opinions and support them with evidence.

2. Expression of Individual Voice

By expressing their opinions on various topics, students learn to articulate their thoughts and feelings, fostering confidence in their ability to communicate effectively.

3. Persuasive Writing Abilities

Engaging with opinion writing prompts allows students to practice persuasive writing techniques, such as providing convincing arguments and appealing to their audience’s emotions, which are valuable skills for both academic and real-life situations.

4. Empathy and Understanding

Exploring different perspectives through opinion writing prompts promotes empathy and understanding among students as they consider viewpoints that may differ from their own, encouraging tolerance and respect for others’ opinions.

5. Preparation for Academic and Personal Success

Opinion writing prompts prepare third graders for future academic endeavors by honing their writing skills and teaching them to express themselves clearly and persuasively. Additionally, these prompts instill a lifelong love for writing and self-expression, fostering personal growth and success beyond the classroom.

60 Opinion Writing Prompts for 3rd Grade

Here is an ultimate list of 60 opinion writing prompts for 3rd grade that will improve your students’ writing skills and get even your most reluctant writers excited about opinion writing! These opinion writing prompts for 3rd grade can be used as opinion essay topics for your opinion unit or can be used for creative writing in a writing center.

• Pets:  In your opinion, do you believe cats or dogs make better pets? Explain.
• Junk Food:  What is your favorite junk food, and why?
• Best Friend:  Who is your best friend, and what makes them special? Explain.
• Best Season:  What’s your favorite season, and why do you like it?
• Homework:  Do you think homework is good for kids? Explain your thoughts.
• Uniforms:  Should we wear uniforms to school or our own clothes? Share your ideas.
• Favorite Book:  Write about your favorite book and why you love it.
• Favorite Place:  Where is your favorite place to go, and why?
• Color:  Which is your favorite color, and why do you like it?
• Game:  What is your favorite game to play, and why?
• Favorite Thing:  What is your favorite thing to play with, and why?
• Best Animal:  What do you think the best animal is, and why?
• Best Superhero:  Who do you think is the best superhero, and why?
• Favorite Movie:  Write about your favorite movie and why other kids should watch it.
• Favorite Dinner:  What is your favorite dinner food, and why?
• Favorite Animal:  Share why your favorite animal is the best one in the world.
• Dream Vacation:  If you could go on vacation anywhere in the world, where would you go, and what would you do there?
• Pets:  Do you think dogs make good pets? Explain why or why not.
• Favorite Holiday:  Which holiday is your favorite, and what makes it special to you?
• Ice Cream:  Which ice cream flavor is the best, and why?
• Best Place:  What’s the best place you’ve ever visited, and why did you love it?
• Best Dessert:  Express your opinion on the best dessert and why it tops your list.
• Social Studies:  What is one particular topic in social studies that is interesting to you, and why?
• Best Thing:  What is the best thing you have ever received for your birthday, and why?
• Favorite Adventure:  Describe an exciting day out you had and explain why it was so much fun.
• Dream Invention:  If you could invent anything, what would it be, and how would it make the world a better place?
• Book Review:  Write a book review of your favorite book, recommending it to others and sharing what you loved about it.
• Best School Subject:  Which school subject do you enjoy the most, and why is it your favorite?
• Space Travel:  What is your opinion on the idea of space travel becoming more common in the future? Explain.
• Protecting the Environment:  Why is it important to take care of our environment, and what can kids do to help?
• The Power of Friendship:  What qualities make someone a good friend in your eyes?
• Weekend:  In your opinion, what’s a great way to spend a lazy weekend afternoon?
• Fictional Adventure:  If you could step into a storybook, which story would you choose and why?
• Learning New Skills:  Share a skill you’d love to learn, like playing a musical instrument or a sport, and explain why you’re interested in it.
• Homework Assignment:  Do you think having a homework assignment every night is a good practice for elementary students? Explain why or why not.
• School Year:  Do you think the school year should be shorter or longer than it currently is? Explain.
• Helping Others:  Why is it important to help people in need, and what are some ways you can make a positive difference in your community?
• School Subjects:  Which school subject do you find the most challenging, and how do you overcome challenges in that subject?
• Dream Career:  What career do you dream to have when you grow up, and what steps will you take to achieve your goal?
• School Rules:  What new school rule should we incorporate, and why?
• Travel:  What country would you like to visit, and what would you do there?
• Uniforms:  Do you think school uniforms are a good idea or a restriction on personal expression?
• Community Clean-Up:  Write a letter to our local government persuading them to organize a community clean-up day to make our town a cleaner and more beautiful place.
• Playground:  Write a letter to our principal explaining what new playground equipment you would like to have and how it would benefit our school.
• The Power of Friendship:  What qualities make someone a great friend in your eyes?
• Physical Education:  Do you think physical education is an essential part of school? Why or why not?
• Board Game:  What is your favorite board game, and why?
• Perfect Activity:  What would you say is the perfect activity to do outside, and why?
• Video Games:  What’s your point of view on playing video games after finishing homework?
• Favorite Season:  Persuade your readers why your favorite season is the best, describing the unique activities that make it special.
• Technology Use:  Debate whether or not students should be allowed to use Chat GPT or other AI programs to help write their essays.
• Holiday:  Share which holiday is your favorite, and how the school could celebrate it.
• Cell Phones:  Do you think that third graders should have cell phones? Why or why not?
• Students in the Community:  How can students your age become involved in our town? How would it benefit both you and our community?
• Homework:  Do you think students in our school should have more or less homework? Explain.
• Sport:  What do you think is the best sport, and why?
• Virtual Learning:  Share your experience with virtual learning and its challenges or benefits.
• Good Grades:  Do you think it’s important for you to get good grades? Why or why  not?
• Foreign Language:  If you could learn any foreign language, which one would it be and why?
• Sports Teams:  Do you think elementary schools should have competitive sports teams? Why or why not?

3rd Grade Opinion Writing Unit

Set your third graders up for success with our comprehensive 3rd grade opinion writing unit . It’s the perfect resource to elevate their skills and boost their confidence as they venture into more formal writing pieces.

Incorporating opinion writing into the curriculum encourages students to develop empathy and understanding for diverse viewpoints. As they articulate their opinions and listen to those of their peers, students learn to respect differing perspectives and engage in constructive dialogue.

This fosters a sense of community within the classroom and prepares students to navigate the complexities of the world beyond the school walls. By embracing the power of opinion writing, educators empower their students to become active participants in society, equipped with the critical thinking and communication skills needed to effect positive change.

Conclusion 

Opinion writing is a crucial skill for elementary students. These opinion writing prompts for 3rd grade provide a structured starting point, making the opinion writing process engaging and boosting student confidence.

By igniting the spark of self-expression, students will develop essential skills for both academics and real-world success! 

Related Resources

Related Blog Posts

How to Run a Writing Workshop in Elementary

25 Fun Descriptive Writing Prompts for Elementary

60 Great Sentence Prompts for Writing Creative Stories

50 Free Creative Fall Writing Prompts for Kids

55 Creative Emotion Writing Prompts for Journaling

70 Best Silly Writing Prompts for Kids

Hey Teachers,

I'm jen from ela skill builder.

My mission is to help you be the  best  ELA teacher you can be by providing simple and creative ideas that will boost student engagement and skill mastery in your classroom.

Best Sellers!

coupon code

Get 15% off your first purchase.

free lessons!

join the waitlist

Revamp your writing class.

free routine!

FIND WHAT YOU NEED

Visit the shop.

• GRAMMAR RESOURCES
• WRITING RESOURCES
• WRITING COURSE

free narrative lessons

Grab your free week of narrative prewriting lessons!

JOIN THE ELEMENTARY ELA FACEBOOK COMMUNITY

Addition (Basic)

Addition (Multi-Digit)

Algebra & Pre-Algebra

Comparing Numbers

Daily Math Review (Math Buzz)

Division (Basic)

Division (Long Division)

Hundreds Charts

Measurement

Multiplication (Basic)

Multiplication (Multi-Digit)

Order of Operations

Place Value

Probability

Skip Counting

Subtraction

Telling Time

Word Problems (Daily)

More Math Worksheets

Reading Comprehension

Reading Comprehension Gr. 1

Reading Comprehension Gr. 2

Reading Comprehension Gr. 3

Reading Comprehension Gr. 4

Reading Comprehension Gr. 5

Reading Comprehension Gr. 6

Reading & Writing

Reading Worksheets

Cause & Effect

Daily ELA Review (ELA Buzz)

Fact & Opinion

Fix the Sentences

Graphic Organizers

Synonyms & Antonyms

Writing Prompts

Writing Story Pictures

Writing Worksheets

More ELA Worksheets

Consonant Sounds

Vowel Sounds

Consonant Blends

Consonant Digraphs

Word Families

More Phonics Worksheets

Early Literacy

Build Sentences

Sight Word Units

Sight Words (Individual)

More Early Literacy

Punctuation

Subjects and Predicates

More Grammar Worksheets

Spelling Lists

Spelling Grade 1

Spelling Grade 2

Spelling Grade 3

Spelling Grade 4

Spelling Grade 5

Spelling Grade 6

More Spelling Worksheets

Chapter Books

Charlotte's Web

Magic Tree House #1

Boxcar Children

More Literacy Units

Animal (Vertebrate) Groups

Butterfly Life Cycle

Electricity

Matter (Solid, Liquid, Gas)

Simple Machines

Space - Solar System

More Science Worksheets

Social Studies

Maps (Geography)

Maps (Map Skills)

More Social Studies

Columbus Day

Veterans Day

More Holiday Worksheets

Puzzles & Brain Teasers

Brain Teasers

Logic:  Addition Squares

Mystery Graph Pictures

Number Detective

Lost in the USA

More Thinking Puzzles

Teacher Helpers

Teaching Tools

Award Certificates

More Teacher Helpers

Pre-K and Kindergarten

Alphabet (ABCs)

Numbers and Counting

Shapes (Basic)

More Kindergarten

Worksheet Generator

Word Search Generator

Multiple Choice Generator

Fill-in-the-Blanks Generator

More Generator Tools

Full Website Index

Persuasive Writing

Use these worksheets to supplement your persuasive writing unit. Includes a variety of worksheets and writing prompts for students.

Persuasive Writing Topics

Logged in members can use the Super Teacher Worksheets filing cabinet to save their favorite worksheets.

Quickly access your most used files AND your custom generated worksheets!

Please login to your account or become a member and join our community today to utilize this helpful feature.

Opinion Piece Response

Graphic organizer.

Write creative stories and thoughts based on these fun writing prompts.

Color the pictures and write creative stories to explain what's happening in each scene.

Learn to write thank you notes and friendly letters. Also includes worksheets of figures of speech, editing, and writing projects.

Print editing wheels, proofreading bookmarks, and short passages for students to proofread.

Sample Worksheet Images

PDF with answer key:

PDF no answer key:

Free Printable Argument Writing Worksheets for 3rd Grade

Argument Writing worksheets for Grade 3 Reading & Writing teachers: Discover a variety of free printable resources to help students develop persuasive writing skills and critical thinking.

Explore Argument Writing Worksheets by Grades

• kindergarten

Explore Other Subject Worksheets for grade 3

• Social studies
• Social emotional
• Foreign language
• Reading & Writing

Explore printable Argument Writing worksheets for 3rd Grade

Argument Writing worksheets for Grade 3 are an essential resource for teachers looking to enhance their students' reading and writing skills. These worksheets are specifically designed to help third-grade students develop a strong foundation in nonfiction writing, which is a crucial aspect of their overall literacy development. By incorporating these worksheets into their lesson plans, teachers can provide their students with engaging and age-appropriate writing prompts that encourage them to think critically and express their ideas clearly. As students work through these exercises, they will gain valuable experience in constructing well-reasoned arguments, supporting their claims with evidence, and effectively communicating their thoughts in writing. Ultimately, Argument Writing worksheets for Grade 3 can play a vital role in fostering a love for reading and writing in young learners.

In addition to Argument Writing worksheets for Grade 3, Quizizz offers a wide range of resources that can help teachers create a dynamic and interactive learning environment for their students. This platform provides teachers with access to thousands of quizzes, games, and other educational materials that cover a variety of subjects, including reading, writing, and nonfiction writing. By incorporating Quizizz into their lesson plans, teachers can not only supplement their existing worksheets but also introduce new and engaging activities that cater to different learning styles and abilities. Furthermore, Quizizz allows teachers to track their students' progress and identify areas where they may need additional support or practice. With its diverse offerings and user-friendly interface, Quizizz is an invaluable tool for teachers seeking to enhance their students' reading and writing skills in Grade 3 and beyond.

9 Argumentative Text Example Articles You Can Confidently Use with Your Third Graders

Searching for good argumentative text examples that are age-appropriate for third graders takes forever. That’s probably one of the reasons there are many argumentative text resources that mistakenly use persuasive picture books as mentor texts.

Let out a sigh of relief because I’ve found some great argumentative articles you can confidently use with your third graders. Now, you can start planning your argumentative text unit before it’s time to pick up your students from specials.

Argumentative Text Example Articles with a Basic Text Structure

These argumentative text example articles are a great way to introduce the genre because they only argue one side, making the author’s claim easier to identify. I suggest starting with at least one of these before moving on to a more complex structure.

In third grade, you can also just stick with this basic structure for your whole argumentative text unit. This is my preferred choice to really make sure students master identifying the author’s claim, audience, and supporting evidence.

1. Let Them Play – FREEBIE from Cultivating Critical Readers

This argumentative essay argues that recess is good for kids. It will easily grab and keep your third graders’ attention as you discuss the structure of the argumentative article. Plus, it’s FREE. Be sure to grab it below.

2 & 3. Are Video Games Good for Kids? and Do You Want Your Kid Playing That? – Paired Set from Cultivating Critical Readers

These two argumentative text examples both use a basic structure to argue opposite points about the same topic. This allows you to continue to develop your students’ understanding of the structure and elements of argumentative text while analyzing the different decisions made by the author in each argument.

Get this paired set here .

4 & 5. The Ultimate Classroom Helpers and Please Don’t Bring That Animal into Your Classroom – Paired Set from Cultivating Critical Readers

This set also pairs two argumentative text examples about the same topic – classroom pets. Each article has a basic argumentative text structure, helping students identify the author’s intended audience, claim, and supporting evidence. Pairing the two together allows for analysis and comparison of how the author supported her argument.

Argumentative Text Example Articles That Argue Both Sides in the Same Passage

These argumentative text examples contain both sides of the argument in one article. I would only move on to this style after your students have a good understanding of the basic structure of an argumentative text.

6. Snooze Alarm – from ReadWorks.org

This argumentative text example discusses the pros and cons of school starting later in the morning so teens can get more sleep.

Read it here: https://www.readworks.org/article/Snooze-Alarm/fb4ed89c-1fb6-4499-9dbb-d92ed9a2b55f#!articleTab:content/

7. A Dodgy Call – from ReadWorks.org

This argumentative article provides arguments both for and against banning dodgeball in school.

Read it here: https://www.readworks.org/article/A-Dodgy-Call/572ce9a9-a027-4fc3-92e0-4246db82b83e#!articleTab:content/

8. Taking Out the Trash Talk? – from ReadWorks.org

Should trash talk be banned in pro sports? Read both sides in this argumentative essay.

Read it here: https://www.readworks.org/article/Taking-Out-the-Trash-Talk/c853e048-1369-4f4b-a6df-41143f02b1b8#!articleTab:content/

9. Fashion Do or Don’t? – from ReadWorks.org

This argumentative text example will engage your students in a discussion about whether students should wear uniforms to school.

Read it here: https://www.readworks.org/article/Fashion-Do-or-Dont/9d0586b4-caf0-4ba6-9b04-8cd504eacf32#!articleTab:content/

Confused as to why you didn’t see The Day the Crayons Quit or the I Wanna Books on this list?

While I absolutely love these books, they belong with your persuasive text unit. Read more here about the differences between persuasive and argumentative texts.

Choose an Argumentative Text Example and Get Started

Choose the structure that best suits your lesson. I like to start with the basic structure that only argues one side to help the students identify the author’s claim. Once your students understand how to identify the author’s claim, intended audience, and supporting evidence, you can move on to the more complicated structure that argues both sides of the coin.

After you’ve chosen a great argumentative text example to use with your third graders, it’s time to get to work planning your unit. Be sure to check out the two blog posts below if you want some guidance as you plan.

Helpful Blog Posts:

Pin It for Later:

I help third and fourth grade RLA teachers like you create engaging and effective reading lessons without all the stress.

Categories:

Affiliate links:, need help teaching figurative language.

Let me help out.

Get my figurative language free interactive notbook, other free resources, ideas, and tips no spam, just things you can use in your classroom., leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

MORE FROM THE BLOG:

7 Vocabulary Activities and Games Your Third Graders Will Love

After reading this list, you’ll have 7 meaningful vocabulary activities and games you can easily add to your vocabulary station tomorrow.

Author’s Purpose Anchor Chart and Free Activity for 3rd Grade

FacebookPinEmailPrint This author’s purpose anchor chart and free activity will help your third and fourth grade students understand that authors

Searching for good argumentative text examples that are age appropriate for third graders takes forever. Here are 9 great argumentative articles you can confidently use with your third graders.

Empowering ELA Teachers:  3 Effective Strategies for Supporting ELL Students

FacebookPin17EmailPrint You may not have been expecting the number of English language learners you have in your elementary classroom.  However,

How To Host an Incredible Back to School Night and Impress Your Parents

FacebookPin24EmailPrint Back to school night, meet the teacher night, open house, whatever you call it. It sets the tone for

8 Simple and Fun Icebreaker Games for Kids to Use During Back to School Season

Facebook10Pin21EmailPrint You likely have a thousand things to do to prepare for the first week of school and creating new,

Copyright 2021 | Cultivating Critical Readers, LLC | All Rights Reserved

STAAR Prep: A K-5 Argumentative/Opinion Writing Strategy

As we all know here in Texas, every grade level will have an “extended constructed response” on the STAAR test this school year. This response will either be informational or argumentative and will be an “essay.” Let’s take a look at exemplars and rubrics before we dive into an argumentative/opinion writing strategy for the elementary grades.

STAAR Test Example Responses

Here are some exemplars for grades 3 and 5 (for both short and extended constructed responses) provided by TEA (Texas Education Agency). These prompts and exemplars come from the field test, and this document walks you through the scoring. I go over more information about the constructed responses, STAAR test tools, and provide a few resources in Reading Language Arts STAAR Test Resources .

STAAR Argumentative Writing Rubrics

• RLA Grades 3-5 Argumentative/Opinion Writing Rubric   (10/18/22)
• RLA Grades 3-5 Argumentative/Opinion Writing Rubric-Spanish   (10/18/22)
• RLA Grades 3-5 Informational Writing Rubric   (10/18/22)
• RLA Grades 3-5 Informational Writing Rubric-Spanish   (10/18/22)

What’s the Difference Between Short and Extended Constructive Responses?

Here are exemplars from the stand-alone field test. The 5th grade prompts and responses are for the same passage, “Steam and Sail”. The responses on the left are short constructed responses (SCR), and the one on the right is an extended constructive response (ECR). The grade 3 response is within the writing domain, not the reading domain. There are no exemplars for grades 3 and 4 to reference for ECR in the scoring guide.

How to Teach Argumentative/Opinion Writing

So, of course, there are lots of ways to teach opinion writing to elementary students. But I’m a huge fan of the Gradual Release of Responsibility (GRR) , and I’m also a huge fan of discussion and verbal practice before beginning the writing process. That said, I’m going to walk through using GRR with some resources for teaching opinion/argumentative writing at the elementary level. This strategy is adaptable and meant to be built on over time, so the example given isn’t necessarily 5th grade, score point 5 level, but it can get students there with practice and some adapting!

Review: Fact vs. Opinion

Whether you’re teaching first grade or fifth grade, it’s always good to start with a review of the difference between fact and opinion. Here are a few resources for this.

• Florida Center for Reading Research Fact or Opinion Game
• Factile Fact vs. Opinion Game
• Teaching with a Mountain View: Four Activities to Teach Fact vs. Opinion in Upper Elementary

Talk Before You Write!

This is what I like to call, the “Speak Cycle.” Students may need to practice one or more of these steps, or the whole cycle, multiple times before moving on to writing. Speaking before writing helps students learn to organize their thoughts, look for text evidence, and also familiarizes them with proper sentence structures for opinion writing before they actually start writing. You might think, “Ok, maybe for lower elementary.” Sure, but even older students benefit from verbal practice before writing! It’s a form of rehearsal and planning.

1. Whole Group: Read the text. Discuss opinions as a class. Highlight the evidence.

Before broaching the topic of supporting evidence for an opinion, read the text and discuss opinions. Then ask students for supporting evidence. It’s much easier to talk about supporting evidence than it is to start writing about it from the get go! Here is an example text that works well for third and fourth grade from Education.com . I recommend starting with short texts and then, as stamina improves, introducing longer texts over time.

“Today, we’re going to read a text together about ___________. We’re going to discuss our opinions on ___________ based on what we read, and I’m going to highlight facts from the text to help support our opinion.” [Read the text] [Read the question] “So, what are our opinions?” [Student one offers an opinion.] “Thanks for sharing your opinion! What information in this text led you to think that?” [Highlight what the student references in the text. Repeat this with other examples.] “Ok! So, from our reading today, we formed the opinion ______. And we formed that opinion because [read off highlights of the text].”

In this practice, you are showing the students how to identify and highlight supporting evidence in the text, but this is first a verbal exercise. Start with easier texts and move to more difficult texts as students become more autonomous.

You can create your own questions, but here are a few resources that offer texts with questions for opinion writing.

• Education.com
• Ereadingworksheets.com
• National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE)

2. Small Group: Read the text. Discuss opinions with a small group. Highlight the evidence together.

This works best if you group students on similar reading levels. Give each student in the group the same short text that’s on their reading level. Read it together, discuss an opinion, and have students highlight the supporting facts with your guidance. Then, have students verbalize their opinions and reference the highlighted text evidence. Students should speak using the same sentence structures you want them to use when writing. Having these up as a visual is great for practice! This is all to get students ready to write.

• “I think…”
• “In my opinion,…”
• “I believe that…”
• “This is my opinion because…”
• “According to the text,…”
• “First, the author states…”
• “Second, I read that…”

3. Independently: Students read the text, highlight evidence, and discuss their opinion and supporting evidence with a partner or group.

Have students read a short text, think about their opinion, and highlight facts to support their opinion on their own. Students can discuss an explanation of their opinion and text evidence with a partner, or they can explain it in a small group setting. Students should still be speaking using the same sentence structures you would like them to write with.

It’s Time to Write!

Now that students are familiar with reading, forming an opinion, highlighting evidence to support their opinion, and using sentence structures verbally, it’s time to start writing. But it’s not quite time for them to write independently. First, we will model good writing for them, following a similar process to the speaking cycle.

1. Whole Group: Read the text. Highlight the evidence. Model the writing for the class.

So this step is similar to step one of the speak cycle, but instead of just discussing, you are going to be modeling the writing. Here’s one formula I like to use called, “It’s Peanut Butter Jelly Time!,” and I’ve included an example using the video game article from the beginning of this post.

The Bread: The Introduction (2-3 sentences)

• Write one sentence to state your opinion.
• Write a second sentence introducing two main facts from the text that support your opinion.

“In my opinion, video games are harmful to kids. Video games can be unhealthy. They can also be too violent.” (Just an example! This is not necessarily reflective of my actual opinion on video games.)

The Peanut Butter : Paragraph 2 (2-3 sentences)

• Write a few sentences to support the first fact.

“According to the text, video games can be unhealthy if children play them for too long and don’t move around or exercise. This can make kids overweight and have health issue.”

The Jelly : Paragraph 3 (2-3 sentences)

• Write a few sentences to support the second fact.

“Sometimes, violence can make kids fight, and this can be harmful to friendships. Violence isn’t good for kids’ brains and can lead them to become bullies.”

The Bread: The Conclusion (2-3 sentences)

• Say your opinion – again.
• Say why your opinion is true – again.

“I believe that video games can be harmful to kids. Sitting for too long in front of the game can cause health problems and violence can lead to aggressive behavior. It’s better for kids to be active and be more positive and less violent.”

2. Partnered Writing: Students read the text together, highlight the evidence, and write with a partner.

It’s similar to the whole group exercise, except that students are practicing writing more independently with a writing partner/buddy. In this step, you can offer students graphic organizers or an outline template to help them remember all the elements of their argumentative writing. They can work together to write one essay or they can each write an essay and then review each other’s writing.

3. Independently: Read the text. Highlight the evidence. Write the essay.

At this stage, students are practicing writing on their own. They may or may not need supports like sentence starters, graphic organizers , checklists , and visuals to reference in the room. But the goal is for students to be able to produce writing that expresses their opinion in response to a text and provide text evidence to support that opinion.

Practice, Practice, Practice!

It takes a lot of time and a lot of repetitive practice. As Miguel Guhlin references in his article, Writing Strategies: Insights from a Twitter Chat , discussing, teaching sentence structures/vocabulary, and showing examples isn’t enough. Deliberate, repetitive practice, and time, are key to teaching writing.

Do you have other ideas, strategies, or resources that have worked well for you and your K-5 students when it comes to argumentative/opinion writing? Please share them with us in the chat! We’d love to hear what’s worked in your classroom.

Additional STAAR and TEKS Articles You May Find Useful

Reading Language Arts STAAR Test Resources

The K-5 ELAR TEKS and Free, Editable Spreadsheets

The K-5 Math TEKS and Free, Editable Spreadsheets

A Practical Strategy for Teaching Editing Skills

A Powerful and Easy Strategy for Teaching Text Evidence

Emily has been in education since 2008. Prior to joining TCEA in 2021, she worked as a preK-8 grade principal for four years. Additionally, she taught middle school music, preschool, prekindergarten, and second grade in a trilingual school setting. Before that, she was a K-8 technology integrator and taught second through fifth grade enrichment classes and kindergarten, fifth, and sixth grade technology classes. She has a master’s degree in teaching, specializing in elementary education, and her Certificate of School Management and Leadership (CSML) from Harvard Graduate School of Education. Outside of work, she enjoys seeing movies, attending concerts, going camping and hiking, and spending time with her two cats.

Writing Strategies: Insights from a Twitter Chat

Resources shared at the 2023 tcea convention & exposition, you may also like, what’s the verdict on grammarly’s ai-powered writing assistance, write to learn: creating a districtwide culture of..., customizable drag-and-drop google slides templates, story bins: the virtual edition, whooo’s reading: beyond multiple choice comprehension questions, spark creativity in the classroom with story dice, the new digital sat® and the future of..., five powerful citation tools to unlock academic success, nanowrimo’s young writer’s program (ywp), ai meme generators and classroom activities.

Loved the succinct info!

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

You've made it this far.

Like what you're reading? Sign up to stay connected with us.

*By downloading, you are subscribing to our email list which includes our daily blog straight to your inbox and marketing emails. It can take up to 7 days for you to be added. You can change your preferences at any time.  

You have Successfully Subscribed!

By subscribing, you will receive our daily blog, newsletter, and marketing emails.

Jump to navigation

• Inside Writing
• Teacher's Guides

Student Models

• Writing Topics
• Minilessons
• Shopping Cart
• Inside Grammar
• Grammar Adventures
• CCSS Correlations
• Infographics

Student Writing Models

How do I use student models in my classroom?

When you need an example written by a student, check out our vast collection of free student models. Scroll through the list, or search for a mode of writing such as “explanatory” or “persuasive.”

Jump to . . .

Explanatory writing.

• How Much I Know About Space Explanatory Paragraph
• My Favorite Pet Explanatory Paragraph
• Sweet Spring Explanatory Paragraph

Narrative Writing

• A Happy Day Narrative Paragraph
• My Trip to Mexico Narrative Paragraph

Creative Writing

• Happy Easter Story Paragraph
• Leaf Person Story

Research Writing

• Parrots Report
• If I Were President Explanatory Paragraph
• My Dad Personal Narrative
• The Horrible Day Personal Narrative

Response to Literature

• One Great Book Book Review
• A Fable Story
• Ant Poem Poem
• The Missing Coin Story
• Winter Words Poem
• Horses Report
• Ladybugs Report
• How to Make Boiled Eggs How-To

Persuasive Writing

• Plastic, Paper, or Cloth? Persuasive Paragraph
• The Funny Dance Personal Narrative
• The Sled Run Personal Narrative
• Hello, Spring! Poem
• Cheetahs Report

Business Writing

• Dear Ms. Nathan Email
• My Favorite Place to Go Description
• My Mother Personal Essay
• Rules Personal Essay
• Shadow Fort Description
• Adopting a Pet from the Pound Editorial
• Letter to the Editor Letter to the Editor
• Ann Personal Narrative
• Grandpa, Chaz, and Me Personal Narrative
• Indy’s Life Story Personal Narrative
• Jet Bikes Personal Narrative
• The Day I Took the Spotlight Personal Narrative
• A Story of Survival Book Review
• Chloe’s Day Story
• Did You Ever Look At . . . Poem
• Dreams Poem
• I Am Attean Poem
• Sloppy Joes Poem
• The Civil War Poem
• The Haunted House Story
• The Terror of Kansas Story
• When I Was Upside Down Poem
• Deer Don’t Need to Flee to Stay Trouble-Free! Report
• Height-Challenged German Shepherd Report
• Friendship Definition
• What Really Matters News Feature
• Cheating in America Problem-Solution
• Hang Up and Drive Editorial
• Musical Arts Editorial
• Summer: 15 Days or 2 1/2 Months? Editorial
• A Cowboy's Journal Fictionalized Journal Entry
• Giving Life Personal Narrative
• The Great Paw Paw Personal Narrative
• The Racist Warehouse Personal Narrative
• Limadastrin Poem
• The Best Little Girl in the World Book Review
• How the Stars Came to Be Story
• Linden’s Library Story
• My Backyard Poem
• The Call Poem
• I Am Latvia Research Report
• Mir Pushed the Frontier of Space Research Report
• The Aloha State Research Report
• The Incredible Egg Observation Report
• Unique Wolves Research Report
• Dear Dr. Larson Email

Personal Writing

• A Lesson to Learn Journal
• Caught in the Net Definition
• From Bed Bound to Breaking Boards News Feature
• If Only They Knew Comparison-Contrast
• Save the Elephants Cause-Effect
• Student Entrepreneur Reaches for Dreams of the Sky News Feature
• Internet Plagiarism Problem-Solution
• Mosquito Madness Pet Peeve
• Anticipating the Dream Personal Narrative
• Huddling Together Personal Narrative
• H’s Hickory Chips Personal Narrative
• It’s a Boy! Personal Narrative
• My Greatest Instrument Personal Narrative
• Snapshots Personal Narrative
• Take Me to Casablanca Personal Narrative
• The Boy with Chris Pine Blue Eyes Personal Narrative
• The Climb Personal Narrative
• The House on Medford Avenue Personal Narrative
• Adam’s Train of Ghosts Music Review
• Diary of Gaspard Fictionalized Journal Entry
• My Interpretation of The Joy Luck Club Literary Analysis
• Mama’s Stitches Poem
• The KHS Press Play
• Rosa Parks Research Report
• The Killer Bean Research Report
• Mid-Project Report on History Paper Email
• Vegetarian Lunch Options at Bay High Email

• Grades 6-12
• School Leaders

Get our mega Halloween worksheets bundle! 👻

130 Interesting Persuasive Essay Topics for Kids and Teens

Use your words to sway the reader.

Persuasive writing is one of those skills that can help students succeed in real life. Learn the basics of this valuable skill, then use our big roundup of persuasive essay topics for practice.

What is persuasive writing?

In a persuasive essay, the writer uses a combination of facts and emotion to sway a reader to adopt their own point of view or take a specific action. Here are the general steps to writing persuasively:

• State your position: Clearly and succinctly, state your desired opinion or outcome up front. This could be the point of view you want the reader to adopt (“Pineapple has no place on a pizza.”) or the action you want them to take (“All adults should educate themselves and vote in every election.”).
• Provide evidence and support: Use facts to support your point of view, citing sources whenever you can. Explain how those facts back up your position, using logic and reason.
• Anticipate counterarguments: It’s important to know your audience so you can anticipate any counterarguments they might make and try to overcome them.
• Use emotional appeals: Persuasive essays are similar to argumentative essays, but they incorporate more emotion rather than sticking to facts and logic. For instance, you might try to anger, scare, or create a sense of pride in your reader so they’ll be more likely to agree with you.
• Make a call to action: Finish strong with the specific action you’d like the reader to take, whether it’s voting responsibly or never putting pineapple on a pizza again.

Help students understand what strong persuasive writing looks like by exploring well-known examples of persuasive essays, speeches, ads, and more . Then, use the topics here to give them practice writing persuasively on their own.

School and Education Persuasive Essay Topics

Life and ethics persuasive essay topics, science and technology persuasive essay topics, sports and entertainment persuasive essay topics, just for fun persuasive essay topics.

• Do you think homework should be required, optional, or not given at all?
• Students should/should not be able to use their phones during the school day.
• Should schools have dress codes?
• All students should wear school uniforms.
• If I could change one school rule, it would be …
• Is year-round school a good idea?
• Should we stop giving final exams?
• Is it better to be good at academics or good at sports?

• Which is better, private schools or public schools?
• Should every student have to participate in athletics?
• Should schools teach life skills like financial responsibility?
• Does your school handle bullying well?
• Do you think schools should ban junk food from their cafeterias?
• Should students be required to volunteer in their communities?
• What is the most important school subject?
• Are letter grades helpful, or should we replace them with something else?

• Is it ever OK to cheat on homework or a test?
• What are the ideal starting and ending hours for a school day?
• Should students get to grade their teachers?
• Do you think college should be free for anyone who wants to attend?
• Should schools be allowed to ban some books from their libraries?
• Which is better, book smarts or street smarts?
• Is attending college worth the time and effort?

• Should all students have to learn a foreign language?
• Are single-gender schools better or worse for students?
• Schools should reduce or eliminate standardized testing.
• Is it OK to eat animals?
• What animal makes the best pet?
• Visit an animal shelter, choose an animal that needs a home, and write an essay persuading someone to adopt that animal.
• Why is it important to vote?
• Wealthy people should pay a higher tax rate.
• If you find money on the ground, should you try to find the person who lost it, or is it yours to keep?

• Who faces more peer pressure, girls or boys?
• Should all Americans be required to vote?
• Is it better to be kind or truthful?
• Which is better, giving or receiving?
• Should free speech have any limitations?
• Is it OK to keep animals in zoos?
• Should we change the minimum driving age in the United States?

• Which is more important, happiness or success?
• Is democracy the best form of government?
• Is social media helpful or harmful?
• Should parents be punished for their children’s mistakes or crimes?
• Should kids have set bedtimes or just go to bed when they’re sleepy?
• Do you think the government should find a way to provide free universal health care for everyone?

• Is it better to save your allowance or spend it?
• Is capital punishment ever ethical or justified?
• Should we ban plastic bags and bottles?
• Which is better, living in the city or in the country?
• Immigration benefits the United States.
• A border wall between Mexico and the United States is essential for reducing crime rates.
• Should the United States have stronger gun regulations?
• If I could make a new law, it would be …
• Is Pluto a planet?
• Should human cloning be legal?
• Should vaccines be mandatory?
• Do the risks of nuclear power outweigh the risks?
• Is it right for countries to still maintain nuclear weapon arsenals?

• Should testing on animals be made illegal?
• Will expanded use of artificial intelligence be good for humanity?
• Should all people have free internet access in their homes?
• Is there intelligent life on other planets?
• Does technology create more jobs than it eliminates?
• Should parents use their children’s cell phones to track where they are?
• Should scientists try to develop a way for people to live forever?

• What’s the best type of smartphone: Android or iPhone?
• Which is better, Macs or PCs?
• Do people rely too much on technology in the modern world?
• Should cryptocurrencies replace cash?
• Should there be a minimum age requirement to own a smartphone?
• All people have a responsibility to help combat climate change.
• Is it important to keep spending money on space exploration, or should we use the money for other things?

• Should kids under 13 be allowed to use social media sites?
• Should we ban cigarette smoking and vaping entirely?
• Is it better to be an animal that lives in the water or on land?
• Are humans responsible for an increase in climate change?
• Should all communities be legally required to recycle?
• Should kids be allowed to watch TV on school nights?
• Which is better, paper books or e-books?
• Is the current movie rating system (G, PG, PG-13, etc.) effective?
• Are video games better than board games?
• Sports teams should have to pay to build their own arenas or stadiums rather than relying on the community.
• Movie theater tickets are too expensive.
• Should we allow little kids to play competitive sports?

• Youth sports have become too competitive.
• Which is better, reading books or watching TV?
• Are celebrities obligated to be positive role models for their fans?
• Does playing violent video games make people more violent in real life?
• Video games need more inclusive and diverse characters.
• Are graphic novels just as valuable as traditional fiction books?
• Women’s sports deserve equal funding and coverage as men’s sports.
• Should everyone play on the same sports teams, regardless of gender?
• Choose a book that’s been made into a movie. Which was better, the movie or the book?

• Who is the world’s best athlete, present or past?
• Are professional athletes/musicians/actors overpaid?
• Is hosting the Olympics a waste of a country’s money and resources?
• College athletes should be allowed to accept a salary for playing.
• Which is better, fiction or nonfiction?
• The best music genre is …
• What is one book that everyone should read?
• What new sport should be added to the Olympics?

• What’s the best video game system?
• Does playing video games make you smarter?
• Should high school athletes be required to maintain a minimum GPA to continue playing?
• Contact sports like boxing and football are too dangerous.
• Does reality TV actually depict real life?
• Should all neighborhoods have free parks and playgrounds?
• Are awards like the Grammys and Oscars biased and in need of reform?
• What’s the best holiday?
• The very best food of all time is …
• Which make better pets, dogs or cats?
• Which is better, artificial Christmas trees or real ones?

• What’s the best season of the year?
• Should you put ketchup on a hot dog?
• Is a taco a sandwich?
• Does fruit count as dessert?
• Everyone should eat dessert first.
• Should people have to go to school or work on their birthday?
• Are clowns scary or funny?
• Which is more dangerous, werewolves or vampires?

• The best pizza topping is …
• What would be the best superpower to have?
• Should everyone make their bed every day?
• Which came first, the chicken or the egg?
• Should you put pineapple on a pizza?
• Should you eat macaroni and cheese with a spoon or a fork?

• Describe the world’s best ice cream sundae.
• Is Monday the worst day of the week?
• Would you rather travel back in time or forward in time?
• Is it better to be too hot or too cold?
• Are there aliens living among us here on Earth?

What are your favorite persuasive essay topics for students? Come exchange ideas in the We Are Teachers HELPLINE group on Facebook .

Plus, check out the big list of essay topics for high school ., you might also like.

The Big List of Essay Topics for High School (150+ Ideas!)

Ideas to inspire every young writer. Continue Reading

Copyright © 2024. All rights reserved. 5335 Gate Parkway, Jacksonville, FL 32256

Filter Results

• clear all filters

Resource Type

• Worksheets 
• Guided Lessons
• Lesson Plans
• Hands-on Activities
• Interactive Stories
• Online Exercises
• Printable Workbooks
• Science Projects
• Song Videos

middle-school

• Fine arts 
• Foreign language 
• Math 
• Reading 
• Writing Process 
• Writing Organization and Structure 
• Genre Writing
• Fiction Writing 
• Reflective Writing
• Research Writing
• Informational Writing
• Opinion Writing
• Persuasive Writing
• Argument Writing
• Narrative Writing
• Essay Writing 
• Response to Literature
• Handwriting 
• Grammar 
• Science 
• Social emotional 
• Social studies 
• Typing 
• Holidays 
• Seasonal 
• Teacher Resources 
• Common Core 

Third Grade Essay Writing Worksheets and Printables

Choose Your Test

• Search Blogs By Category
• College Admissions
• AP and IB Exams
• GPA and Coursework

3 Strong Argumentative Essay Examples, Analyzed

General Education

Need to defend your opinion on an issue? Argumentative essays are one of the most popular types of essays you’ll write in school. They combine persuasive arguments with fact-based research, and, when done well, can be powerful tools for making someone agree with your point of view. If you’re struggling to write an argumentative essay or just want to learn more about them, seeing examples can be a big help.

After giving an overview of this type of essay, we provide three argumentative essay examples. After each essay, we explain in-depth how the essay was structured, what worked, and where the essay could be improved. We end with tips for making your own argumentative essay as strong as possible.

What Is an Argumentative Essay?

An argumentative essay is an essay that uses evidence and facts to support the claim it’s making. Its purpose is to persuade the reader to agree with the argument being made.

A good argumentative essay will use facts and evidence to support the argument, rather than just the author’s thoughts and opinions. For example, say you wanted to write an argumentative essay stating that Charleston, SC is a great destination for families. You couldn’t just say that it’s a great place because you took your family there and enjoyed it. For it to be an argumentative essay, you need to have facts and data to support your argument, such as the number of child-friendly attractions in Charleston, special deals you can get with kids, and surveys of people who visited Charleston as a family and enjoyed it. The first argument is based entirely on feelings, whereas the second is based on evidence that can be proven.

The standard five paragraph format is common, but not required, for argumentative essays. These essays typically follow one of two formats: the Toulmin model or the Rogerian model.

• The Toulmin model is the most common. It begins with an introduction, follows with a thesis/claim, and gives data and evidence to support that claim. This style of essay also includes rebuttals of counterarguments.
• The Rogerian model analyzes two sides of an argument and reaches a conclusion after weighing the strengths and weaknesses of each.

3 Good Argumentative Essay Examples + Analysis

Below are three examples of argumentative essays, written by yours truly in my school days, as well as analysis of what each did well and where it could be improved.

Argumentative Essay Example 1

Proponents of this idea state that it will save local cities and towns money because libraries are expensive to maintain. They also believe it will encourage more people to read because they won’t have to travel to a library to get a book; they can simply click on what they want to read and read it from wherever they are. They could also access more materials because libraries won’t have to buy physical copies of books; they can simply rent out as many digital copies as they need.

However, it would be a serious mistake to replace libraries with tablets. First, digital books and resources are associated with less learning and more problems than print resources. A study done on tablet vs book reading found that people read 20-30% slower on tablets, retain 20% less information, and understand 10% less of what they read compared to people who read the same information in print. Additionally, staring too long at a screen has been shown to cause numerous health problems, including blurred vision, dizziness, dry eyes, headaches, and eye strain, at much higher instances than reading print does. People who use tablets and mobile devices excessively also have a higher incidence of more serious health issues such as fibromyalgia, shoulder and back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, and muscle strain. I know that whenever I read from my e-reader for too long, my eyes begin to feel tired and my neck hurts. We should not add to these problems by giving people, especially young people, more reasons to look at screens.

Second, it is incredibly narrow-minded to assume that the only service libraries offer is book lending. Libraries have a multitude of benefits, and many are only available if the library has a physical location. Some of these benefits include acting as a quiet study space, giving people a way to converse with their neighbors, holding classes on a variety of topics, providing jobs, answering patron questions, and keeping the community connected. One neighborhood found that, after a local library instituted community events such as play times for toddlers and parents, job fairs for teenagers, and meeting spaces for senior citizens, over a third of residents reported feeling more connected to their community. Similarly, a Pew survey conducted in 2015 found that nearly two-thirds of American adults feel that closing their local library would have a major impact on their community. People see libraries as a way to connect with others and get their questions answered, benefits tablets can’t offer nearly as well or as easily.

While replacing libraries with tablets may seem like a simple solution, it would encourage people to spend even more time looking at digital screens, despite the myriad issues surrounding them. It would also end access to many of the benefits of libraries that people have come to rely on. In many areas, libraries are such an important part of the community network that they could never be replaced by a simple object.

The author begins by giving an overview of the counter-argument, then the thesis appears as the first sentence in the third paragraph. The essay then spends the rest of the paper dismantling the counter argument and showing why readers should believe the other side.

What this essay does well:

• Although it’s a bit unusual to have the thesis appear fairly far into the essay, it works because, once the thesis is stated, the rest of the essay focuses on supporting it since the counter-argument has already been discussed earlier in the paper.
• This essay includes numerous facts and cites studies to support its case. By having specific data to rely on, the author’s argument is stronger and readers will be more inclined to agree with it.
• For every argument the other side makes, the author makes sure to refute it and follow up with why her opinion is the stronger one. In order to make a strong argument, it’s important to dismantle the other side, which this essay does this by making the author's view appear stronger.
• This is a shorter paper, and if it needed to be expanded to meet length requirements, it could include more examples and go more into depth with them, such as by explaining specific cases where people benefited from local libraries.
• Additionally, while the paper uses lots of data, the author also mentions their own experience with using tablets. This should be removed since argumentative essays focus on facts and data to support an argument, not the author’s own opinion or experiences. Replacing that with more data on health issues associated with screen time would strengthen the essay.
• Some of the points made aren't completely accurate , particularly the one about digital books being cheaper. It actually often costs a library more money to rent out numerous digital copies of a book compared to buying a single physical copy. Make sure in your own essay you thoroughly research each of the points and rebuttals you make, otherwise you'll look like you don't know the issue that well.

Argumentative Essay Example 2

There are multiple drugs available to treat malaria, and many of them work well and save lives, but malaria eradication programs that focus too much on them and not enough on prevention haven’t seen long-term success in Sub-Saharan Africa. A major program to combat malaria was WHO’s Global Malaria Eradication Programme. Started in 1955, it had a goal of eliminating malaria in Africa within the next ten years. Based upon previously successful programs in Brazil and the United States, the program focused mainly on vector control. This included widely distributing chloroquine and spraying large amounts of DDT. More than one billion dollars was spent trying to abolish malaria. However, the program suffered from many problems and in 1969, WHO was forced to admit that the program had not succeeded in eradicating malaria. The number of people in Sub-Saharan Africa who contracted malaria as well as the number of malaria deaths had actually increased over 10% during the time the program was active.

One of the major reasons for the failure of the project was that it set uniform strategies and policies. By failing to consider variations between governments, geography, and infrastructure, the program was not nearly as successful as it could have been. Sub-Saharan Africa has neither the money nor the infrastructure to support such an elaborate program, and it couldn’t be run the way it was meant to. Most African countries don't have the resources to send all their people to doctors and get shots, nor can they afford to clear wetlands or other malaria prone areas. The continent’s spending per person for eradicating malaria was just a quarter of what Brazil spent. Sub-Saharan Africa simply can’t rely on a plan that requires more money, infrastructure, and expertise than they have to spare.

Additionally, the widespread use of chloroquine has created drug resistant parasites which are now plaguing Sub-Saharan Africa. Because chloroquine was used widely but inconsistently, mosquitoes developed resistance, and chloroquine is now nearly completely ineffective in Sub-Saharan Africa, with over 95% of mosquitoes resistant to it. As a result, newer, more expensive drugs need to be used to prevent and treat malaria, which further drives up the cost of malaria treatment for a region that can ill afford it.

Instead of developing plans to treat malaria after the infection has incurred, programs should focus on preventing infection from occurring in the first place. Not only is this plan cheaper and more effective, reducing the number of people who contract malaria also reduces loss of work/school days which can further bring down the productivity of the region.

One of the cheapest and most effective ways of preventing malaria is to implement insecticide-treated bed nets (ITNs).  These nets provide a protective barrier around the person or people using them. While untreated bed nets are still helpful, those treated with insecticides are much more useful because they stop mosquitoes from biting people through the nets, and they help reduce mosquito populations in a community, thus helping people who don’t even own bed nets.  Bed nets are also very effective because most mosquito bites occur while the person is sleeping, so bed nets would be able to drastically reduce the number of transmissions during the night. In fact, transmission of malaria can be reduced by as much as 90% in areas where the use of ITNs is widespread. Because money is so scarce in Sub-Saharan Africa, the low cost is a great benefit and a major reason why the program is so successful. Bed nets cost roughly 2 USD to make, last several years, and can protect two adults. Studies have shown that, for every 100-1000 more nets are being used, one less child dies of malaria. With an estimated 300 million people in Africa not being protected by mosquito nets, there’s the potential to save three million lives by spending just a few dollars per person.

Reducing the number of people who contract malaria would also reduce poverty levels in Africa significantly, thus improving other aspects of society like education levels and the economy. Vector control is more effective than treatment strategies because it means fewer people are getting sick. When fewer people get sick, the working population is stronger as a whole because people are not put out of work from malaria, nor are they caring for sick relatives. Malaria-afflicted families can typically only harvest 40% of the crops that healthy families can harvest. Additionally, a family with members who have malaria spends roughly a quarter of its income treatment, not including the loss of work they also must deal with due to the illness. It’s estimated that malaria costs Africa 12 billion USD in lost income every year. A strong working population creates a stronger economy, which Sub-Saharan Africa is in desperate need of.  

This essay begins with an introduction, which ends with the thesis (that malaria eradication plans in Sub-Saharan Africa should focus on prevention rather than treatment). The first part of the essay lays out why the counter argument (treatment rather than prevention) is not as effective, and the second part of the essay focuses on why prevention of malaria is the better path to take.

• The thesis appears early, is stated clearly, and is supported throughout the rest of the essay. This makes the argument clear for readers to understand and follow throughout the essay.
• There’s lots of solid research in this essay, including specific programs that were conducted and how successful they were, as well as specific data mentioned throughout. This evidence helps strengthen the author’s argument.
• The author makes a case for using expanding bed net use over waiting until malaria occurs and beginning treatment, but not much of a plan is given for how the bed nets would be distributed or how to ensure they’re being used properly. By going more into detail of what she believes should be done, the author would be making a stronger argument.
• The introduction of the essay does a good job of laying out the seriousness of the problem, but the conclusion is short and abrupt. Expanding it into its own paragraph would give the author a final way to convince readers of her side of the argument.

Argumentative Essay Example 3

There are many ways payments could work. They could be in the form of a free-market approach, where athletes are able to earn whatever the market is willing to pay them, it could be a set amount of money per athlete, or student athletes could earn income from endorsements, autographs, and control of their likeness, similar to the way top Olympians earn money.

Proponents of the idea believe that, because college athletes are the ones who are training, participating in games, and bringing in audiences, they should receive some sort of compensation for their work. If there were no college athletes, the NCAA wouldn’t exist, college coaches wouldn’t receive there (sometimes very high) salaries, and brands like Nike couldn’t profit from college sports. In fact, the NCAA brings in roughly $1 billion in revenue a year, but college athletes don’t receive any of that money in the form of a paycheck. Additionally, people who believe college athletes should be paid state that paying college athletes will actually encourage them to remain in college longer and not turn pro as quickly, either by giving them a way to begin earning money in college or requiring them to sign a contract stating they’ll stay at the university for a certain number of years while making an agreed-upon salary.  

Supporters of this idea point to Zion Williamson, the Duke basketball superstar, who, during his freshman year, sustained a serious knee injury. Many argued that, even if he enjoyed playing for Duke, it wasn’t worth risking another injury and ending his professional career before it even began for a program that wasn’t paying him. Williamson seems to have agreed with them and declared his eligibility for the NCAA draft later that year. If he was being paid, he may have stayed at Duke longer. In fact, roughly a third of student athletes surveyed stated that receiving a salary while in college would make them “strongly consider” remaining collegiate athletes longer before turning pro.

Paying athletes could also stop the recruitment scandals that have plagued the NCAA. In 2018, the NCAA stripped the University of Louisville's men's basketball team of its 2013 national championship title because it was discovered coaches were using sex workers to entice recruits to join the team. There have been dozens of other recruitment scandals where college athletes and recruits have been bribed with anything from having their grades changed, to getting free cars, to being straight out bribed. By paying college athletes and putting their salaries out in the open, the NCAA could end the illegal and underhanded ways some schools and coaches try to entice athletes to join.

People who argue against the idea of paying college athletes believe the practice could be disastrous for college sports. By paying athletes, they argue, they’d turn college sports into a bidding war, where only the richest schools could afford top athletes, and the majority of schools would be shut out from developing a talented team (though some argue this already happens because the best players often go to the most established college sports programs, who typically pay their coaches millions of dollars per year). It could also ruin the tight camaraderie of many college teams if players become jealous that certain teammates are making more money than they are.

They also argue that paying college athletes actually means only a small fraction would make significant money. Out of the 350 Division I athletic departments, fewer than a dozen earn any money. Nearly all the money the NCAA makes comes from men’s football and basketball, so paying college athletes would make a small group of men--who likely will be signed to pro teams and begin making millions immediately out of college--rich at the expense of other players.

Those against paying college athletes also believe that the athletes are receiving enough benefits already. The top athletes already receive scholarships that are worth tens of thousands per year, they receive free food/housing/textbooks, have access to top medical care if they are injured, receive top coaching, get travel perks and free gear, and can use their time in college as a way to capture the attention of professional recruiters. No other college students receive anywhere near as much from their schools.

People on this side also point out that, while the NCAA brings in a massive amount of money each year, it is still a non-profit organization. How? Because over 95% of those profits are redistributed to its members’ institutions in the form of scholarships, grants, conferences, support for Division II and Division III teams, and educational programs. Taking away a significant part of that revenue would hurt smaller programs that rely on that money to keep running.

While both sides have good points, it’s clear that the negatives of paying college athletes far outweigh the positives. College athletes spend a significant amount of time and energy playing for their school, but they are compensated for it by the scholarships and perks they receive. Adding a salary to that would result in a college athletic system where only a small handful of athletes (those likely to become millionaires in the professional leagues) are paid by a handful of schools who enter bidding wars to recruit them, while the majority of student athletics and college athletic programs suffer or even shut down for lack of money. Continuing to offer the current level of benefits to student athletes makes it possible for as many people to benefit from and enjoy college sports as possible.

This argumentative essay follows the Rogerian model. It discusses each side, first laying out multiple reasons people believe student athletes should be paid, then discussing reasons why the athletes shouldn’t be paid. It ends by stating that college athletes shouldn’t be paid by arguing that paying them would destroy college athletics programs and cause them to have many of the issues professional sports leagues have.

• Both sides of the argument are well developed, with multiple reasons why people agree with each side. It allows readers to get a full view of the argument and its nuances.
• Certain statements on both sides are directly rebuffed in order to show where the strengths and weaknesses of each side lie and give a more complete and sophisticated look at the argument.
• Using the Rogerian model can be tricky because oftentimes you don’t explicitly state your argument until the end of the paper. Here, the thesis doesn’t appear until the first sentence of the final paragraph. That doesn’t give readers a lot of time to be convinced that your argument is the right one, compared to a paper where the thesis is stated in the beginning and then supported throughout the paper. This paper could be strengthened if the final paragraph was expanded to more fully explain why the author supports the view, or if the paper had made it clearer that paying athletes was the weaker argument throughout.

3 Tips for Writing a Good Argumentative Essay

Now that you’ve seen examples of what good argumentative essay samples look like, follow these three tips when crafting your own essay.

#1: Make Your Thesis Crystal Clear

The thesis is the key to your argumentative essay; if it isn’t clear or readers can’t find it easily, your entire essay will be weak as a result. Always make sure that your thesis statement is easy to find. The typical spot for it is the final sentence of the introduction paragraph, but if it doesn’t fit in that spot for your essay, try to at least put it as the first or last sentence of a different paragraph so it stands out more.

Also make sure that your thesis makes clear what side of the argument you’re on. After you’ve written it, it’s a great idea to show your thesis to a couple different people--classmates are great for this. Just by reading your thesis they should be able to understand what point you’ll be trying to make with the rest of your essay.

#2: Show Why the Other Side Is Weak

When writing your essay, you may be tempted to ignore the other side of the argument and just focus on your side, but don’t do this. The best argumentative essays really tear apart the other side to show why readers shouldn’t believe it. Before you begin writing your essay, research what the other side believes, and what their strongest points are. Then, in your essay, be sure to mention each of these and use evidence to explain why they’re incorrect/weak arguments. That’ll make your essay much more effective than if you only focused on your side of the argument.

#3: Use Evidence to Support Your Side

Remember, an essay can’t be an argumentative essay if it doesn’t support its argument with evidence. For every point you make, make sure you have facts to back it up. Some examples are previous studies done on the topic, surveys of large groups of people, data points, etc. There should be lots of numbers in your argumentative essay that support your side of the argument. This will make your essay much stronger compared to only relying on your own opinions to support your argument.

Summary: Argumentative Essay Sample

Argumentative essays are persuasive essays that use facts and evidence to support their side of the argument. Most argumentative essays follow either the Toulmin model or the Rogerian model. By reading good argumentative essay examples, you can learn how to develop your essay and provide enough support to make readers agree with your opinion. When writing your essay, remember to always make your thesis clear, show where the other side is weak, and back up your opinion with data and evidence.

What's Next?

Do you need to write an argumentative essay as well? Check out our guide on the best argumentative essay topics for ideas!

You'll probably also need to write research papers for school. We've got you covered with 113 potential topics for research papers.

Your college admissions essay may end up being one of the most important essays you write. Follow our step-by-step guide on writing a personal statement to have an essay that'll impress colleges.

Trending Now

How to Get Into Harvard and the Ivy League

How to Get a Perfect 4.0 GPA

How to Write an Amazing College Essay

What Exactly Are Colleges Looking For?

ACT vs. SAT: Which Test Should You Take?

When should you take the SAT or ACT?

Get Your Free

Find Your Target SAT Score

Free Complete Official SAT Practice Tests

How to Get a Perfect SAT Score, by an Expert Full Scorer

Score 800 on SAT Math

Score 800 on SAT Reading and Writing

How to Improve Your Low SAT Score

Score 600 on SAT Math

Score 600 on SAT Reading and Writing

Find Your Target ACT Score

Complete Official Free ACT Practice Tests

How to Get a Perfect ACT Score, by a 36 Full Scorer

Get a 36 on ACT English

Get a 36 on ACT Math

Get a 36 on ACT Reading

Get a 36 on ACT Science

How to Improve Your Low ACT Score

Get a 24 on ACT English

Get a 24 on ACT Math

Get a 24 on ACT Reading

Get a 24 on ACT Science

Stay Informed

Get the latest articles and test prep tips!

Christine graduated from Michigan State University with degrees in Environmental Biology and Geography and received her Master's from Duke University. In high school she scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT and was named a National Merit Finalist. She has taught English and biology in several countries.

Ask a Question Below

Have any questions about this article or other topics? Ask below and we'll reply!

Persuasion Map

About this Interactive

Related resources.

The Persuasion Map is an interactive graphic organizer that enables students to map out their arguments for a persuasive essay or debate. Students begin by determining their goal or thesis. They then identify three reasons to support their argument, and three facts or examples to validate each reason. The map graphic in the upper right-hand corner allows students to move around the map, instead of having to work in a linear fashion. The finished map can be saved, e-mailed, or printed.

• Student Interactives
• Strategy Guides
• Calendar Activities
• Lesson Plans

The Essay Map is an interactive graphic organizer that enables students to organize and outline their ideas for an informational, definitional, or descriptive essay.

This Strategy Guide describes the processes involved in composing and producing audio files that are published online as podcasts.

This strategy guide explains the writing process and offers practical methods for applying it in your classroom to help students become proficient writers.

Through a classroom game and resource handouts, students learn about the techniques used in persuasive oral arguments and apply them to independent persuasive writing activities.

Students analyze rhetorical strategies in online editorials, building knowledge of strategies and awareness of local and national issues. This lesson teaches students connections between subject, writer, and audience and how rhetorical strategies are used in everyday writing.

Students examine books, selected from the American Library Association Challenged/Banned Books list, and write persuasive pieces expressing their views about what should be done with the books at their school.

Students will research a local issue, and then write letters to two different audiences, asking readers to take a related action or adopt a specific position on the issue.

• Print this resource

Explore Resources by Grade

• Kindergarten K