ABSTRACT
This chapter concerns the basic skills involved in writing an effective argumentative essay. An argumentative essay is different from several other types of essays. The difference is manifested in the fact that an argumentative essay has a conclusion or thesis. There are two points at which knowing your audience can be extremely important in developing the argument. They include: we must know your audience in order to determine what premises it will accept as assumed premises; it would be futile to argue for a conclusion that the audience already accepted. The goal of an argumentative essay is to convince audience of a conclusion. A conclusion must state something about the topic. A conclusion must never argue for a broader position than is necessary; clear whether it is demonstration, critique, or defense; make clear the kind of statement for which arguing occurs; make it definite; make sure it is an arguable statement and determine whether it requires qualification.
