AP exam argumentative essay

intro

• Hook & Context: Introduce the prompt's theme. Briefly state the debate surrounding it.

• The Thesis: Take a clear, definitive stance. Do not "fence-sit" (i.e., avoid saying "it has both pros and cons"). Instead, argue to what extent a claim is valid, or the specific circumstances in which it applies.

  • Formula: Although [concession/opposing view], [your argument] because [Reason 1] and [Reason 2]. [1, 2]

paragraph one

• Topic Sentence: State your first reason/claim and connect it back to your thesis.

• Evidence (Concrete): Provide a highly specific historical event, literary reference, or well-known current event. Avoid generalizations.

• Context: Give 1-2 sentences explaining what the evidence is.

• Commentary (The "Why"): Explain how this evidence proves your thesis. Use transitional phrases like "Because of this..." or "This demonstrates that..."

• Concluding Sentence: Wrap up the main idea and transition to the next point.

2

• Topic Sentence: State your second reason/claim.

• Evidence (Concrete): Present your second specific, real-world example.

• Context: Briefly explain the evidence.

• Commentary: Elaborate on your reasoning. Connect the dots so the reader fully understands your line of reasoning.

3

• The Turn: Acknowledge a valid point from the opposing side ("While some may argue that...").

• The Refutation: Prove why their point is less valid, or explain why your argument outweighs it, supported by a brief, specific example.

• Restate Thesis: Rephrase your thesis in a new way (do not copy-paste).

• Synthesize & Expand: Explain the broader implications of your argument. Why does this matter in the grand scheme?