Authorship and AI

Argumentative Essay Project

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Table of Contents

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Overview

In this module, you will write an argumentative essay in order to:

  • gather and organize information
  • practice paraphrasing and citing sources using APA style (7th Ed)
  • develop an understanding of the writing process, including drafting and revising
  • develop editing skills
  • explore appropriate AI tool uses

What is an Argumentative Essay?

In this essay, you will identify a topic in your field, identify your position on that topic, and provide support for your position using scholarly sources in English, including peer-reviewed academic journals. You must construct an argument that you can support; you are not writing a neutral report on a topic.

Additional resources

Specifications

  1. 5–6 pages in length, including title page and references (3–4 pages of text / 1000–1300 words)
  2. Five scholarly sources in APA style, at least two from peer-reviewed academic journals
    • Two additional sources may be from popular sources (magazines, websites, blog posts)
  3. One visual (graph, table, diagram, etc.) which you discuss in the essay
  4. Essay organization:
    • Title page
    • Essay body:
      • Introduction, including a clear and arguable thesis statement
      • Body — multiple paragraphs discussing the topic with specificity and detail, both directly supporting your argument and acknowledging and responding to opposing views
      • Conclusion
    • References (APA style)
  5. Typed, left-aligned text (except where APA formatting requires otherwise), double-spaced, 1-inch margins, 12-point standard font, and page numbers in header (right side)

Steps and Dates

The final paper is to be completed according to the following steps. You must satisfactorily complete each step in the required order to receive credit for the final paper. All work must be typed. Use APA style.

Step Assignment Points
1 3 topic ideas for your argumentative essay 3
2 Literature mapping for research topic 5
3 Argumentative essay topic, thesis statement, and two sources 10
4 APA template, citation management, and reference list 10
5 Outline, visual support, and references 10
6 Evidence-based body paragraph 10
7 Argumentative essay — Draft 1 and peer review 10
8 Argumentative essay — Draft 2 40
9 Argumentative essay — Final draft 100

Argumentative Essay Structure

The Core Idea: An Essay with an Opinion

The most important thing to remember about an argumentative essay is that it is not a neutral report. You are not just presenting facts about a topic. Instead, you are presenting your own opinion or argument and using facts and evidence to persuade your reader that your opinion is a thoughtful and valid one.

Think of yourself as a lawyer in a courtroom. You have a clear position (“My client is innocent!”), and your job is to present the evidence that proves it. Every part of your essay should work to support that one central argument.

  • Your Goal: Persuade the reader with evidence.
  • Your Main Tools: A clear, focused thesis statement; strong evidence from multiple reliable sources.

The Big Picture: The 6+ Paragraph “Road Map”

An argumentative essay builds on the foundation of the five-paragraph essay structure you may have learned previously, but adds an important element: explicit engagement with opposing viewpoints. This structure works like a map for your reader, making your ideas easy to follow while demonstrating that you’ve considered multiple perspectives on the issue.

The basic logic is:

  1. Introduction (Paragraph 1): “Tell them what you’re going to tell them.” Introduce your topic and present your main argument in a clear thesis statement.
  2. Supporting Body Paragraphs (Paragraphs 2, 3, and 4): “Support your position with evidence and analysis.” Each body paragraph presents one key idea that supports your thesis and supports it with at least one citation. This is where you build your case.
  3. Concession and Rebuttal (Paragraph 5): “Show that you understand the other side.” Acknowledge a serious challenge to your position, preferably with a citation from a reputable source who disagrees with you. Then respond with a rebuttal, showing why your position is still stronger overall.
  4. Conclusion (Paragraph 6): “Tell them what you told them.” Summarize your argument and remind the reader of your main points, leaving them with a final thought.
Paragraph Role
1. Introductory Paragraph Background information; thesis statement
2. Supporting Body Paragraph 1 Topic sentence, evidence & analysis, concluding sentence
3. Supporting Body Paragraph 2 Topic sentence, evidence & analysis, concluding sentence
4. Supporting Body Paragraph 3 Topic sentence, evidence & analysis, concluding sentence
5. Concession and Rebuttal Acknowledge opposing view; explain why your position is still stronger
6. Concluding Paragraph Restate thesis in new words; final thought

A Paragraph-by-Paragraph Guide

Paragraph 1: The Introduction

The introduction has two main jobs. First, it provides a small amount of background information to help your reader understand the topic. You are not trying to teach the reader everything; only enough information to easily understand your opinion.

Second, and most importantly, your introduction ends with your thesis statement.

  • Thesis Statement: This is the most important sentence in your entire essay. It states your topic, your specific claim or argument about the topic (controlling idea), and the three key points you will use to support it. Every other paragraph in the essay connects directly back to what you say in this sentence.

In the color-coded examples below, each component of the thesis is highlighted:

Topic, Controlling Idea, Key Point 1, Key Point 2, Key Point 3

Example Thesis Statement 1: Social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok threaten the mental health of young adults because they create a culture of constant social comparison, disrupt healthy sleep patterns, and expose users to cyberbullying.

Example Thesis Statement 2: To better prepare students for the modern workforce, universities should place less emphasis on traditional lectures and final exams and instead prioritize hands-on learning through required internships, collaborative real-world projects, and portfolio-based assessments.

Example Thesis Statement 3: The fast fashion industry is a major contributor to the global environmental crisis due to its excessive water consumption in textile production, its reliance on fossil fuels for manufacturing and transportation, and the massive amount of non-biodegradable waste it generates.

Example introduction with thesis statement

In the 21st century, social media has become as common as the television was to previous generations, fundamentally reshaping how we communicate, share information, and present our lives to the world. For young adults who have grown up with a smartphone in their hands, platforms like Instagram and TikTok are central to their social existence. While these tools claim that they provide connection and community, a growing body of evidence suggests they may come at a significant psychological cost. Social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok threaten the mental health of young adults because they create a culture of constant social comparison, disrupt healthy sleep patterns, and expose users to cyberbullying.

Paragraphs 2, 3, & 4: The Key Supporting Points

These three paragraphs are the core of your essay where you present your supporting evidence for your position. Each supporting body paragraph should focus on one single key supporting idea that supports your thesis.

Every body paragraph needs:

  • A Topic Sentence: The first sentence of the paragraph. It clearly states the main point of that paragraph and connects it back to the argument you made in your thesis statement.
    • Example Body Paragraph 1 Topic Sentence: First, the carefully curated and unrealistic images of success and happiness that dominate platforms like Instagram create a toxic environment of constant social comparison that can damage a young person’s self-esteem.
    • Example Body Paragraph 2 Topic Sentence: In addition to fostering social comparison, the design of these applications, with their endless scrolling and constant notifications, directly contributes to poor mental health by disrupting healthy sleep patterns.
    • Example Body Paragraph 3 Topic Sentence: Finally, the anonymous and distant nature of online interaction on these platforms creates a space where cyberbullying can thrive, exposing young adults to harassment that has serious psychological consequences.
  • Evidence: This is where you bring in information from your sources. You will use quotations or paraphrases to support your topic sentence. Remember to include a correct APA in-text citation every time you use a source.
  • Analysis: This is where you explain the evidence in your own words. How does this piece of evidence prove the point you are making in your topic sentence? This is your thinking on display.

💡 Tip: Using Signal Phrases

To help your reader follow your argument, use signal words and phrases to introduce new points or evidence.

  • To introduce a body paragraph: “First,” “In addition,” “Furthermore,” “Finally,”
  • To introduce evidence: “For example,” “According to Smith (2023),” “As the article explains,”

In the example below, paraphrases, direct quotations, and in-text citations are highlighted.

Example full body paragraph

First, the carefully curated and unrealistic images of success and happiness that dominate platforms like Instagram create a toxic environment of constant social comparison that can damage a young person’s self-esteem. Social networking sites provide abundant opportunities for upward social comparison, where individuals compare themselves to others who appear superior in desirable characteristics (Vogel et al., 2014). As Vogel et al. (2014) explain, “participants who used Facebook most often had poorer trait self-esteem, and this was mediated by greater exposure to upward social comparisons on social media” (p. 206). The problem is further compounded by the fact that users can selectively curate their online presence, posting only the most flattering photos and highlighting positive experiences while concealing flaws, which creates an unrealistic standard for comparison (Derbaix et al., 2025). Derbaix et al. (2025) found that social media users frequently engage in upward comparisons based on physical attractiveness, popularity, and lifestyle, with these comparisons often triggering contrast mechanisms that lead to diminished self-esteem rather than inspiration. This constant exposure to seemingly perfect lives can make young adults feel inadequate about their own achievements and appearance, particularly when they perceive these comparison targets as similar to themselves in age or social background. The cumulative effect of these repeated upward comparisons is steadily increasing damage to social media users’ mental health and self-worth, as individuals begin to internalize the belief that they are not measuring up to the idealized standards they encounter daily on their feeds.

Paragraph 5: Concession and Rebuttal

A strong argumentative essay doesn’t ignore opposing views, but instead addresses them directly. This paragraph shows that you understand the other side of the debate and can explain why your position is still stronger overall.

Structure of a Concession and Rebuttal Paragraph:

  1. Topic Sentence: Introduce the opposing viewpoint
  2. Concession: Present the counter-argument fairly, ideally with a citation from a reputable source
  3. Rebuttal: Explain why your position is still stronger, or show a flaw in the opposing argument

Example Concession and Rebuttal Topic Sentence: Some critics argue that research linking social media to mental health problems is of questionable quality and that the documented negative effects are too small to warrant serious concern.

Example Concession and Rebuttal Paragraph

Some critics argue that research linking social media to mental health problems is of questionable quality and that the documented negative effects are too small to warrant serious concern. Orben (2020), in a comprehensive review of over 80 systematic reviews and meta-analyses, found that much of the research in this field is cross-sectional and of low quality, with the average association between social media use and psychological well-being being “negative but very small.” While it is true that individual studies often show modest effect sizes and methodological limitations, this critique overlooks the significance of even small effects when applied at a population scale. When millions of young adults are exposed to these platforms daily, even a small average negative effect translates into substantial real-world harm across entire generations. The fact that research quality needs improvement does not negate the growing body of evidence documenting concrete harms to sleep, self-esteem, and psychological safety.

Paragraph 6: The Conclusion

The conclusion is your chance to wrap everything up neatly. It should:

  1. Restate your thesis statement using different words.
  2. Briefly summarize the main points you made in your body paragraphs.
  3. End with a final thought such as a prediction or suggestion.

Important: Do not introduce any new arguments in your conclusion. The goal is to summarize, not to continue exploring new areas.

Example Conclusion

In conclusion, the constant pressure of social comparison, the disruption of essential sleep, and the pervasive threat of online harassment clearly demonstrate that social media poses a significant risk to the psychological well-being of young people. These platforms, while connecting us, have also created new and powerful sources of anxiety and distress. It is therefore crucial for users to engage with these technologies more mindfully and for society to have a more honest conversation about the hidden costs of our digital lives. By recognizing these dangers, we can begin to take control of our relationship with social media rather than allowing it to control us.

References Used in These Examples

Derbaix, M., Masciantonio, A., Balbo, L., Lao, A., Camus, S., Idrissi Tafraouti, S., & Bourguignon, D. (2025). Understanding social comparison dynamics on social media: A qualitative examination of individual and platform characteristics. Psychology & Marketing, 42(6), 1588–1606. https://doi.org/10.1002/mar.22194

Orben, A. (2020). Teenagers, screens and social media: a narrative review of reviews and key studies. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 55, 407–414. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-019-01825-4

Vogel, E. A., Rose, J. P., Roberts, L. R., & Eckles, K. (2014). Social comparison, social media, and self-esteem. Psychology of Popular Media Culture, 3(4), 206–222. https://doi.org/10.1037/ppm0000047

Instructor Notes

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Instructor Notes

Implementation Guidance

This module is designed to be adapted for use in your institution’s Learning Management System (LMS). Because the primary publication format for this OER is HTML, the formatted text of each section of this module can be copied and pasted directly into your LMS and edited to fit your course context.

The recommended approach is to create a dedicated module or unit in your LMS for the Argumentative Essay and Presentation project, then build out individual discussion boards and assignment submission dropboxes for each step of the project.

When adapting this material, you will likely need to:

  • Replace or remove any institution-specific links
  • Adjust point values and due dates to fit your course schedule
  • Update institution-specific resources such as writing center links or citation style guides

For guidance on creating discussions and assignments in your LMS, consult the official documentation for your platform:

Attribution

This chapter is licensed under CC BY 4.0, which means you are free to use and modify these materials at no cost and without permission required as long as you provide attribution. If you adapt and use these materials, please include the following acknowledgment in your course:

Price, B. (2026). Argumentative Essay Project. In Authorship & AI: Modular OER for Responsible Academic Writing with Generative Tools. University of Pittsburgh. https://billcprice3.github.io/authorship-and-ai/020-argumentative-essay-project.html

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License: This chapter is licensed under CC BY 4.0.

Cite this chapter as: Price, B. (2026). Argumentative Essay Project. In Authorship & AI: Modular OER for Responsible Academic Writing with Generative Tools. University of Pittsburgh. https://billcprice3.github.io/authorship-and-ai/010-your-writing-software-stack.html