A strong argumentative essay makes a clear claim and supports it with evidence and reasoning. The introduction states your thesis (your main argument). Body paragraphs each cover one supporting point, with evidence and explanation of how it supports the thesis — and a strong essay also acknowledges a counter-argument before responding to it. The conclusion restates the thesis and summarises the strongest points, without introducing brand-new evidence.
Example
Thesis: "Schools should start later in the morning." Body paragraph 1 might present research on teen sleep needs; body paragraph 2 might address the counter-argument ("but this disrupts family schedules") and explain why the benefits still outweigh that cost; the conclusion ties both points back to the thesis.
Key terms
Thesis:
The main argument or claim of an essay.
Counter-argument:
An opposing viewpoint acknowledged and responded to in an essay.
Evidence:
Facts, data or examples used to support a claim.
Questions
1. A thesis is:
The main argument of an essay
A punctuation mark
The essay's title only
A footnote
2. The thesis usually appears in the:
Introduction
Middle of a random paragraph
Only the conclusion
Nowhere specific
3. A counter-argument is:
An opposing viewpoint acknowledged in an essay
The same as the thesis
A type of evidence only
A grammar rule
4. Evidence in an essay refers to:
Facts, data or examples supporting a claim
Random opinions with no support
Only punctuation
The essay's length
5. Each body paragraph in an argumentative essay should:
Cover one supporting point
Cover ten unrelated points
Have no connection to the thesis
Be exactly one sentence long
6. The conclusion of an argumentative essay should:
Restate the thesis and summarise key points
Introduce a brand new argument
Contradict the thesis
Be left blank
7. Addressing a counter-argument in an essay shows:
A more balanced and persuasive argument
Weakness in your own argument
That you have no real opinion
Nothing useful
8. Why is it useful to address a counter-argument rather than ignore it?
It shows you've considered other views and strengthens your credibility
It always weakens your essay
It is required to be ignored by convention
It has no effect on persuasiveness
9. A body paragraph without any evidence is likely to be:
Less persuasive and harder to trust
Automatically the strongest paragraph
Perfectly sufficient on its own
Required by good essay structure
10. Introducing brand-new evidence in the conclusion is generally considered:
Poor essay structure
Best practice for conclusions
Required in every essay
The same as a thesis statement
11. A well-structured essay flows in which general order?
Introduction, body paragraphs, conclusion
Conclusion, introduction, body
Random order each time
Body only, with no introduction or conclusion
12. Which best describes the purpose of a topic sentence within a body paragraph of an argumentative essay?
It introduces that paragraph's specific supporting point
It always restates the entire thesis
It has no real function
It must always be a question
13. A thesis statement should be:
Clear and specific about the essay's argument
Vague and unclear on purpose
Identical to the essay title
Left out of formal essays
14. Which is the best example of a strong thesis statement?
"Schools should start later because teenagers need more sleep to function well."
"Schools are a topic."
"I think schools are fine I guess."
"Sleep is a thing that happens."
15. Why might an argumentative essay lose persuasive power if it never acknowledges any counter-arguments?
It can appear one-sided and less credible to a critical reader
Ignoring counter-arguments always makes an essay stronger
Readers never notice missing counter-arguments
It has no impact on persuasiveness at all
16. Which best explains the relationship between a thesis and the body paragraphs that follow it?
Each body paragraph should provide evidence and reasoning that supports the thesis
Body paragraphs should be unrelated to the thesis
Only the conclusion needs to relate to the thesis
The thesis is irrelevant once the essay begins
17. A rebuttal in an argumentative essay refers to:
A response that explains why a counter-argument does not outweigh your position
The same thing as a thesis
A type of evidence with no explanation
The essay's title
18. Why do strong essays typically order body paragraphs from a mid-strength point to the strongest point, rather than randomly?
It builds a persuasive momentum, leaving the reader with the strongest impression
Order never affects how persuasive an essay feels
Essays must always be in alphabetical order
The weakest point should always come last
19. Which scenario best reflects effective use of evidence in an argumentative essay?
Citing a specific study and explaining how it supports the thesis
Making a claim with no supporting facts at all
Repeating the thesis multiple times instead of using evidence
Using evidence that contradicts the thesis without explanation
20. Why is it considered weak practice to only present one side of an argument without ever mentioning opposing views exist?
It can make the argument seem naive or unaware of complexity in the issue
One-sided essays are always considered the strongest
Readers prefer essays that ignore opposing views entirely
It has no bearing on how persuasive the essay is
21. A conclusion that simply repeats the introduction word-for-word, with no synthesis of the essay's points, is generally considered:
A weak conclusion that misses a chance to reinforce the argument
The strongest possible conclusion
Required in every essay
Irrelevant to essay quality
Answer key (parent copy)
1. The main argument of an essay
2. Introduction
3. An opposing viewpoint acknowledged in an essay
4. Facts, data or examples supporting a claim
5. Cover one supporting point
6. Restate the thesis and summarise key points
7. A more balanced and persuasive argument
8. It shows you've considered other views and strengthens your credibility
9. Less persuasive and harder to trust
10. Poor essay structure
11. Introduction, body paragraphs, conclusion
12. It introduces that paragraph's specific supporting point
13. Clear and specific about the essay's argument
14. "Schools should start later because teenagers need more sleep to function well."
15. It can appear one-sided and less credible to a critical reader
16. Each body paragraph should provide evidence and reasoning that supports the thesis
17. A response that explains why a counter-argument does not outweigh your position
18. It builds a persuasive momentum, leaving the reader with the strongest impression
19. Citing a specific study and explaining how it supports the thesis
20. It can make the argument seem naive or unaware of complexity in the issue
21. A weak conclusion that misses a chance to reinforce the argument