AP Argumentative Essay Template

(1) Introduction

• Hook:

  • Begin with an engaging and thought-provoking statement to capture the reader's attention.

• Background Information:

  • Provide essential context to help the reader understand the topic.

  • Explain why the issue matters and why the reader should care.

  • Identify the audience who would be most interested in the topic.

• Thesis:

  • Clearly state your stance on the topic (whether you agree, disagree, or partially agree).

  • Outline 2-3 reasons that support your viewpoint, setting the stage for the body paragraphs.

(2) Body Paragraphs

• Topic Sentence:

  • Present a claim that supports part of your thesis.

  • The topic sentence should indicate the main idea of the paragraph.

• Evidence:

  • Provide relevant and convincing evidence to support your claim.

  • Types of evidence to use:

    • Current Events: Examples from recent news.

    • Historical Context: Relevant events or time periods.

    • Outside Knowledge: Examples from fields like sports, pop culture, or music.

    • Reading: Insights from literature or academic sources.

    • Personal Experience: Anecdotes that connect to the argument.

    • Scientific Evidence: Facts or findings from research.

• Commentary:

  • Explain how the evidence supports your claim.

  • Guide the reader to understand the connection between the evidence and your argument by using phrases like:

    • "[Evidence] proves/supports/highlights [claim] because [explanation]."

    • "Consequently, [assumption] leads to [outcome], which ties back to [claim]."

    • "Therefore, [assumption] confirms [claim], reinforcing the thesis."

• Transition:

  • Conclude the paragraph by linking it to the next paragraph, ensuring a smooth flow of ideas.

(3) Refutation

• Acknowledgement of Opposing Viewpoints:

  • Respectfully mention the opposing arguments or evidence.

  • Clearly explain the viewpoint that differs from your stance.

• Refutation:

  • Disprove the opposing viewpoint by using phrases like “however” or “although.”

  • Present reasoning and evidence to demonstrate why the opposing argument is flawed or less valid.

  • Show how your argument is stronger by offering more compelling evidence or logic.

(4) Conclusion

• Restate Thesis:

  • Rephrase your thesis in a more refined and comprehensive way, reflecting the depth of the discussion.

  • Summarize the main points made throughout the essay and their connection to your thesis.

• Re-emphasize the Importance of the Topic:

  • Reiterate why the issue matters and why the audience should care.

• Call to Action:

  • End with a thought-provoking statement that encourages the reader to take action or think critically about the topic.

AP English Language Exam Structure (2023)

Section 1: Multiple Choice (45% of score)

• Number of Questions: 45 multiple-choice questions

• Time Limit: 1 hour

• Focus: Analyze a piece of literature

  • Questions cover the content of the passage

  • May include questions about potential edits or improvements to the passage

Section 2: Free Response (55% of score)

• Number of Questions: Three essay questions

• Time Limit: 2 hours and 15 minutes

• Essay Types:

  • Synthesis Essay

    1. Task: Read 6-7 sources

    2. Goal: Construct an argument using at least three of the sources

  • Rhetorical Analysis Essay

    1. Task: Analyze how a piece of writing evokes meaning and symbolism

    2. Focus: Discuss the author's use of rhetorical devices to convey their message

  • Argumentative Essay

    1. Task: Take a side in a debate or statement

    2. Goal: Develop a logical argument with supporting evidence

    3. Structure: Typically a five-paragraph format

    4. Scoring: Holistic scoring (1-9 points)

Tips for Writing the AP Language Argument Essay

• Organize your essay before writing:

  • Plan your arguments before you start writing.

  • List the arguments and corresponding evidence to support each one.

  • Determine the best order for your arguments (chronological or logical flow).

  • A well-organized essay is essential for success.

• Pick one side of the argument, but acknowledge the other side:

  • Choose one side of the debate to support throughout the essay.

  • Provide evidence only for the side you pick.

  • In the introduction, mention the opposing viewpoint and briefly explain its merits.

  • Acknowledge and refute the opposing argument to strengthen your own.

• Provide evidence to support your claims:

  • Use concrete examples to back up your argument.

  • Don’t focus on memorizing facts, but be prepared to cite relevant examples.

  • The evidence should clearly support and strengthen your argument.

  • Example: For a topic about the role of media in society, mention “fake news” during the 2016 election as evidence if you argue that media’s role has been detrimental.

• Create a strong thesis statement:

  • The thesis statement should be specific, clear, and focused.

  • Place it as the last sentence of the introductory paragraph.

  • Use the thesis to outline the key points that will be discussed in the essay.

  • Each point mentioned in the thesis should start a new body paragraph.

AP Language Argumentative Essay Examples and Analysis

Prompt #1 (2019 exam)

• “The term “overrated” is often used to diminish concepts, places, roles, etc. that the speaker believes do not deserve the prestige they commonly enjoy; for example, many writers have argued that success is overrated, a character in a novel by Anthony Burgess famously describes Rome as a “vastly overrated city,” and Queen Rania of Jordan herself has asserted that “[b]eing queen is overrated.” Select a concept, place, role, etc. to which you believe that the term “overrated” should be applied. Then, write a well-developed essay in which you explain your judgment. Use appropriate evidence from your reading, experience, or observations to support your argument.

Sample Essay 

[1] Competition is “overrated.” The notion of motivation between peers has evolved into a source of unnecessary stress and even lack of morals. Whether it be in an academic environment or in the industry, this new idea of competition is harmful to those competing and those around them.

[2] Back in elementary school, competition was rather friendly. It could have been who could do the most pushups or who could get the most imaginary points in a classroom for a prize. If you couldn’t do the most pushups or win that smelly sticker, you would go home and improve yourself – there would be no strong feelings towards anyone, you would just focus on making yourself a better version of yourself. Then as high school rolled around, suddenly applying for college doesn’t seem so far away –GPA seems to be that one stat that defines you – extracurriculars seem to shape you – test scores seem to categorize you. Sleepless nights, studying for the next day’s exam, seem to become more and more frequent. Floating duck syndrome seems to surround you (FDS is where a competitive student pretends to not work hard but is furiously studying beneath the surface just like how a duck furiously kicks to stay afloat). All of your competitors appear to hope you fail – but in the end what do you and your competitor’s gain? Getting one extra point on the test? Does that self-satisfaction compensate for the tremendous amounts of acquired stress? This new type of “competition” is overrated – it serves nothing except a never-ending source of anxiety and seeks to weaken friendships and solidarity as a whole in the school setting.

[3] A similar idea of “competition” can be applied to business. On the most fundamental level, competition serves to be a beneficial regulator of prices and business models for both the business themselves and consumers. However, as businesses grew increasingly greedy and desperate, companies resorted to immoral tactics that only hurt their reputations and consumers as a whole. Whether it be McDonald’s coupons that force you to buy more food or tech companies like Apple intentionally slowing down your iPhone after 3 years to force you to upgrade to the newest device, consumers suffer and in turn speak down upon these companies. Similar to the evolved form of competition in school, this overrated form causes pain for all parties and has since diverged from the encouraging nature that the principle of competition was “founded” on.

Notes

Score: 4/6

• Captures the main purpose of the essay but has significant gaps.

Organization:

• The essay is well-organized, following a clear structure based on the thesis statement.

• Begins with the harmful effects of competition in elementary school, followed by its impact in the business world.

• This organization mirrors the chronological order of life, which helps with flow.

Arguments:

• The arguments are underdeveloped, lacking enough specific examples to explain why competition is overrated.

• Discusses contexts where competition may be overrated but fails to connect these examples to the core argument.

First Example (School Stress):

• Mentions school stress as a result of competition but doesn’t explain why competition is overrated in this context.

• The argument only highlights that competition can be unhealthy but doesn’t delve into how competition is overstated in school environments.

• The final sentence of the paragraph introduces the main point but needs further elaboration on how the anxiety caused by competition in school carries into later life.

Second Example (Business Practices):

• Talks about harmful business practices (e.g., monopolies) as a result of competition but fails to explain why competition is overrated.

• The argument could have been developed further by discussing how business structures like monopolies diminish the value of competition, rather than just explaining how they harm it.

Lack of Detail:

• The examples used are vague and lack sufficient explanation.

• A stronger essay would provide more detailed and thorough examples that directly support the argument.

Structural Issues:

• The introduction contains only a thesis statement, lacking additional context to frame the argument.

• There is no conclusion paragraph to summarize the essay, leaving the essay feeling incomplete.

• These missing components contributed to the score of 4/6.

Prompt #2 (2022 exam)

• Colin Powell, a four-star general and former United States Secretary of State, wrote in his 1995 autobiography: “[W]e do not have the luxury of collecting information indefinitely. At some point, before we can have every possible fact in hand, we have to decide. The key is not to make quick decisions, but to make timely decisions.”

• Write an essay that argues your position on the extent to which Powell’s claim about making decisions is valid. 

• In your response you should do the following:

  • Respond to the prompt with a thesis that presents a defensible position. 

  • Provide evidence to support your line of reasoning. 

  • Explain how the evidence supports your line of reasoning. 

  • Use appropriate grammar and punctuation in communicating your argument.

Sample Essay 

[1] Colin Powell, who was a four star general and a former United States Secretary of State. He wrote an autobiography and had made a claim about making decisions. In my personal opinion, Powell’s claim is true to full extent and shows an extremely valuable piece of advice that we do not consider when we make decisions.

[2] Powell stated, “before we can have every possible fact in hand we have to decide…. but to make it a timely decision” (1995). With this statement Powell is telling the audience of his autobiography that it does not necessarily matter how many facts you have, and how many things you know. Being able to have access to everything possible takes a great amount of time and we don’t always have all of the time in the world. A decision has to be made with what you know, waiting for something else to come in while trying to make a decision whether that other fact is good or bad you already have a good amount of things that you know. Everyone’s time is valuable, including yours. At the end of the day the decision will have to be made and that is why it should be made in a “timely” manner.

Notes

Score: 2/6

• The thesis was clearly stated, but the response lacks substantial evidence and analysis to support the argument.

Thesis:

• The thesis is clearly outlined at the end of the first paragraph.

• The student agrees with Powell’s claim, establishing the direction of the essay.

• The thesis is concise, specific, and arguable, which helps in setting up the argument.

Evidence:

• The student attempted to provide evidence to support the thesis, but it was vague and lacking in detail.

• The essay referenced Powell’s statement but did not delve into specific instances or examples to make the argument more convincing.

• The evidence was not developed enough to substantiate the claims made.

Commentary:

• Commentary is an essential part of the essay, but in this case, it was too vague and did not effectively explain the significance of the evidence.

• The student didn’t connect the evidence back to the thesis in a meaningful way, leaving the argument underdeveloped.

Improvement Suggestions:

• The student should provide more concrete examples to support their thesis, showing how Powell’s claims have proven true in specific situations.

• For instance, referencing key moments from Powell’s career would have helped illustrate the argument more clearly.

Sophistication:

• The essay lacks complexity and depth. The student simply agrees with Powell’s claim without offering a deeper analysis or considering the rhetorical situation.

• Sophistication in argumentation involves understanding the complexities of the topic and making thoughtful, nuanced arguments.

Suggestions for Increasing Sophistication:

• The student could consider counterarguments or complexities within Powell’s claim, such as the potential drawbacks of making decisions without full information.

• Analyzing Powell’s background and experiences could provide more context and show a deeper understanding of the rhetorical situation.

• Discussing how Powell’s perspective may have shaped his argument would add depth to the analysis.

Key Point:

• Sophistication isn’t about using complex language, but rather showing critical thinking and a nuanced understanding of the issue.