good opening sentences for argumentative essays

Grammar and Composition

Sentence Starters for Argumentative Essay

An argumentative essay aims to persuade readers to agree with a certain perspective or stance on a topic. While the content itself is key, proper use of transitional phrases and sentence starters can significantly strengthen the logic, flow, and impact of an argumentative essay.

Purposes and Benefits of Sentence Starters

Sentence starters, also known as transitional phrases or stylistic devices, serve important purposes in argumentative writing.

Firstly, they help guide the reader through the logical flow of the argument being made. Using transitional phrases to connect ideas improves coherence and clarity.

Sentence starters also smooth transitions between sentences and paragraphs. This enhances overall readability. Additionally, sentence starters can highlight key points and main takeaways for the reader.

Strategic use of introductory phrases frames the argument and positions it within a broader context as well.

Utilizing sentence starters effectively provides several advantages to argumentative essay writing. Sentence starters bolster claims with qualifications and exceptions, lending more nuance. They allow the writer to address counterarguments fairly yet persuasively.

Sentence starters establish significance and orient the reader. Most importantly, sentence starters elevate an essay from competent to exemplary.

They strengthen the construction of an argument from beginning to end. In summary, sentence starters improve logic, transitions, framing, and rhetorical power within argumentative essays.

Types of Sentence Starters

There are several categories of useful sentence starters based on the specific context within an argumentative essay structure:

Introductory Sentence Starters
Thesis Statement Starters
Topic Sentence Starters
Evidence Sentence Starters
Analysis Sentence Starters
Counterargument Sentence Starters
Conclusion Sentence Starters

1- Introductory Sentence Starters

The first sentences of any text introduce the topic, grab the reader’s attention, and prepare him/her for what is to follow. Consider these examples:

Across the United States, high school dropout rates are a major concern.
Recent polls indicate a sharp divide among voters heading into the 2020 presidential election.
From income inequality to climate change, today’s youth face unprecedented challenges.
With the rising cost of college tuition, student debt has become a crisis.

2- Thesis Statement Starters

A good thesis is usually characterized by the use of assertive statements to make the main argument. Sentence starters help strengthen the thesis:

This essay will argue that single-use plastics should be banned outright.
I intend to prove that rehabilitation should be prioritized over lengthy prison sentences.
This paper will demonstrate that increased economic opportunity can reduce crime rates.

3- Topic Sentence Starters

Topic sentences are used to start the body paragraphs and to indicate the change of the focus. Sentence starters provide transition:

Turning to social factors at play, proper education and guidance can greatly impact youth crime.
Regarding the economic benefits of green energy, renewable sources create more jobs per unit of energy.
In terms of public health effects, studies show pollution from coal plants increases rates of respiratory illness.

4- Evidence Sentence Starters

When making claims, one should support them with facts. Link evidence to claims using starters such as:

According to a multi-year study by UC Berkeley, dropout rates declined by 4% after mentoring programs were introduced in at-risk schools.
Recent surveys indicate over 65% support tax incentives to encourage more wind and solar power development.
Data from the National Institute of Health reveals children living near coal plants have a 43% higher incidence of asthma.

5- Analysis Sentence Starters

After the evidence has been provided, it is necessary to analyze what it represents. Sentence starters help strengthen connections:

This trend suggests mentoring gives students a valuable sense of personal investment that motivates finishing school.
Such strong public approval implies that clean energy incentives would likely have bipartisan support among voters.
The correlation between emissions and respiratory disease indicates health should be a priority in future energy policy.

6- Counterargument Sentence Starters

This is important as it add substance to the argument and makes the work more credible when responding to opposing views. Sentence starters allow a fair representation of counterpoints:

While some argue that mentoring programs are too expensive, the long-term payoff makes the investment worthwhile.
Despite concerns about startup costs, green energy could mitigate climate change risks that incur far greater costs.
Of course achieving total transition from fossil fuels is complicated, but phasing in more renewables can steadily reduce emissions.

7- Conclusion Sentence Starters

In a strong conclusion, the main points made are summarized and the implications are discussed for the future. Sentence starters provide synthesis:

For communities plagued by poverty and youth unemployment, mentoring programs represent a promising path to increased high school completion.
Given the environmental and health benefits, promoting clean energy emerges as a moral and practical necessity.
Though the priorities of the economy often clash with public health priorities, reducing pollution remains an ethical obligation.

Strategic Use of Sentence Starters

Now that we’ve covered types of sentence starters in-depth, here are some strategies for using them effectively:

Vary sentence structure. Use a mix of simple, compound, complex sentences.
Avoid overuse of start phrases; moderate density is best.
Make sure starters match the register and tone of the piece.
Highlight relationships between evidence, claims, analysis.
Use emphatic wording to underline key points.
Transition between opposing views.
Circle back to central thesis.
Provide closure without introducing new arguments.

Sentence Starters for Argumentative Essay

Dos and Don’ts

Use to transition between ideas and paragraphs
Use to contextualize evidence
Use to acknowledge counterarguments
Vary length and structure of sentences

DON’T

Overuse or rely too heavily on set phrases
Use redundant starters like “furthermore” and “in addition”
Fail to clearly link back to central thesis
Use overly casual language

See also: Opinion Writing Sentence Starters

Practice Developing Argumentative Sentences

Consider this claim: Schools should not eliminate arts education programs even when facing budget shortfalls.

Introductory sentence: Unfortunately, as schools struggle to find money, many arts education programs are cut from the budget, but this can have negative consequences.

Thesis statement: This essay hence opines that cutting off funding for arts in schools is unfair to students and should not be done even in lean years.

Topic sentence: As for cognitive effects, the available research suggests that arts education improves students’ critical thinking, focus, and achievement in other subjects.

Evidence: A study that was conducted in 2012 documented in PLoS One showed that low income students who were engaged in the arts had better academic performance and enrollment rates in college than their peers who were less engaged.

Analysis: This trend is in line with the idea that arts education enhances cognitive skills and is associated with higher achievement.

Counterargument: Even though transferring money from arts to basic subjects appears reasonable, students would lose motivation to study in classes that let them express themselves artistically.

Conclusion: Based on the discussion above, negative effects of defunding arts education on development and academic achievement are all too possible. It is therefore important for schools to find ways and means of sustaining arts in their programs.

Templates for Core Sections

Intro Template

[Introduce topic] This essay will examine/discuss/investigate…

Thesis Template

This piece will argue/show/make the case that…

Body Paragraph Template

Turning to/Regarding/In terms of…[topic sentence] [Evidence] According to/As demonstrated by… [Analysis] This indicates/suggests/shows…

Counterargument Template

It could be argued/Some contend…[acknowledge opposite view] However/Nevertheless/Still…[rebuttal restating thesis view]

Conclusion Template

In review/To recap/All things considered…[restate key points] Ultimately/Therefore/With the weight of the evidence…[reassert thesis] Going forward…[implications]