Organizing Your Arguments

You’ve crafted a thesis statement and have brainstormed and drafted support with evidence. Now it’s time to learn about organizing your argument. There are a variety of ways to organize your argument in order to persuade your audience. The traditional, more classical methods of organization will be touched upon in the following module, but for this module it is best to think of the following methods.

Method 1 vs. Method 2

The first method involves structuring your argument by importance, ordering your paragraphs from the most important claim to least important. The second method involves using and disputing a counterargument.

**Comparing Argument Structures**
Section of Essay	Method 1 - Sort By Importance	Method 2 - Counterargument
Introduction	Use an introduction that includes a thesis statement at the end.	Use an introduction that includes a thesis statement at the end.
Body 1	Your most important claim centers your first paragraph. Create a topic sentence that focuses on this main claim, then use supporting evidence to explain the claim.	Your first body paragraph centers on supporting your main claim and sub-claims with evidence and explanation. Create a topic sentence that focuses on this main claim.
Body 2	Your most important claim centers your first paragraph. Create a topic sentence that focuses on this main claim, then use supporting evidence to explain the claim.	Your second body paragraph centers of introducing an opposing viewpoint or argument. Focus on explaining how your argument is stronger than the opposing view.
Conclusion	The conclusion should summarize your argument. The conclusion may include a call to action.	The conclusion should summarize your argument. The conclusion may include a call to action.

Note: most of the structure for the two forms is the same. The main difference lies in whether you introduce additional claims to strengthen your argument or if you introduce a contrasting viewpoint to strengthen your argument.

Whichever method you choose, it is important that each of your paragraphs has a topic sentence that will help guide the reader through your argument. Furthermore, note that both methods mentioned here only include 1-2 body paragraphs of support; however, you may add additional supporting body paragraphs to expand your argument as needed.

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