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10 Tips for Writing A Successful Essay About Controversial Issues

Writing A Successful Essay About Controversial Issues

Controversial essay topics can be challenging to write mostly because they discuss issues that people have strong feelings about. Such topics call for objectivity and the ability to pass on your idea based on facts and reasoning while being persuasive enough to help the reader understand your point of view. Some of the controversial topics to write about include political debates, gay marriage, capital punishment, abortion, and gun control essays.

Taking an example of essays on gun control, in your write up, your aim should be to establish good faith with your reader, that regardless of your point of view on whether gun keep people safe or they trigger gun violence, the reader is entitled to their opinion, and your points about the topics are open for discussion. You can learn how to present your argument logically when you choose absolutely free gun control essays from reliable education platforms that offer such samples. These gun control essay examples will give your ideas of some of the main issues to discuss in your essays gun control.

When writing an essay on a controversial topic, several factors should be considered to make the essay a success. The following are factors to consider when writing an essay:

10 Tips for Writing A Successful Essay About Controversial Issues

Have a structure in place

Structure refers to the logical manner in which you arrange your points in the essay. It entails having an introduction, body and conclusion.

Introduction: For the introduction, have one that shares your problem statement. It should introduce the topic to be discussed. The introduction should be catchy and strong as it gives the reader a glimpse or overview of what to expect in your essay. It could begin with a rhetoric question or a quote.

Body: The body follows after the introduction and is considered as the longest part of the essay. The body should be written in paragraphs, and each paragraph should represent a new idea. For a sensitive topic, the body should give the reader your stance. If you are for the argument, you should have at least three points, with examples.

Conclusion: This is always the last bit of an essay. It summarizes the argument by rephrasing the thesis statement to prove you delivered on the thesis statement.

Research on the topics

Before settling for a topic, for example ‘Should marijuana be legalized’ ensure you have solid points to support your argument. This will help you corroborate your views. If you are arguing for its legalization, it is good to share an example backing your reason. For example, you could say that marijuana should be legalized as it is used to alleviate pain terminal in cancer patients.

Use credible sources

When conducting research for your essay, a student should be keen to use reliable data. For example, when arguing against contraception use in teenage girls in the modern day, be careful not to use data that was researched in the 17th century while there exist recent data that refuted the old data.

Proofread your work

Before submitting the essay, read through your work to correct errors in grammar and spelling. Proofreading helps you notice ambiguous phrases you may have used in your essay. For example, you may notice that while your argument in support of a given topic, you may have lost track and supported your opponent in your writing.

Choose a side you are passionate about in the topic

When choosing a side to debate on, choose one you are passionate about. This will help you enjoy the research process for the essay.

10 Tips for Writing A Successful Essay About Controversial Issues

Here is a list of what not to do when writing an essay

a. Do not use abusive language

While conveying your points, your language should not be foul. Refrain from insulting the parties that differ with your opinion. Do not call someone stupid just to prove a point. Convey your points in a firm but respectful manner. For example, when arguing against gun control do not say that you need a gun to shoot people from a certain community as they tend to be thieves. You could instead argue you need a gun for your security.

b. Do not use jargons

You should refrain from using words which will not be understood by the reader.  For example, if you are a lawyer and the targets of your essay are not lawyers do not use complicated law phrases that your readers will struggle to understand. For example, do not say ‘res ipsa loquitur’ when you could easily say the occurrence was due to negligence.

c. Do not be subjective

Being subjective refers to arguing based on feelings. Aim to look at the findings and reason using facts as opposed to emotions. Let the facts speak for themselves.

d. Do not guess statistics

When arguing your points, do not guess figures when trying to state a point on statistics. The reader could be aware of the correct statistics, and this would discredit your argument. It will portray you as a liar, and the reader could easily lose interest in your argument.

e. Do not plagiarize

Students should not plagiarize another people’s work. If you use someone’s work to make a point in your essay, ensure you acknowledge your source by including citations in your work.