Writing an Essay: argumentation in English | Terminale

What is an argumentative essay?

Argumentative Essay

A type of writing where you present your opinion on a topic and support it with arguments and evidence. You may also consider the opposing viewpoint.

Essay structure

Introduction → Body (2-3 paragraphs) → Conclusion

1. Introduction

Three elements:

Hook : Catch the reader's attention (question, quote, fact)
Context : Introduce the topic
Thesis statement : State your position clearly

EXEMPLE

Topic: Should smartphones be banned in schools?

"In today's digital age, smartphones have become an essential part of our daily lives. However, their presence in classrooms has sparked a heated debate. I firmly believe that smartphones should be restricted during school hours because they are a major distraction and can negatively impact students' academic performance."

2. Body paragraphs

Each paragraph should have:

Topic sentence : Main idea of the paragraph
Supporting arguments : Evidence, examples, facts
Explanation : Develop your point
Link : Connect to your thesis

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Structure: P.E.E.L

Point (topic sentence)
Evidence (example, fact)
Explanation (analysis)
Link (to thesis or next point)

3. Conclusion

Three elements:

Restate thesis : Rephrase your main argument
Summarize : Key points (briefly)
Final thought : Broader perspective, call to action, prediction

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Never introduce new arguments in the conclusion!

Useful connectors

Introducing arguments

Connector	French equivalent
First of all / Firstly	Tout d'abord
To begin with	Pour commencer
First and foremost	En premier lieu
The first point to consider is...	Le premier point à considérer est...

Adding arguments

Connector	French equivalent
Furthermore	De plus
Moreover	En outre
In addition	De plus
Besides	Par ailleurs
What is more	Qui plus est
Another point is that...	Un autre point est que...

Giving examples

Connector	French equivalent
For instance	Par exemple
For example	Par exemple
Such as	Comme
To illustrate	Pour illustrer
A case in point is...	Un exemple frappant est...

Expressing contrast

Connector	French equivalent
However	Cependant
Nevertheless	Néanmoins
On the other hand	D'un autre côté
Although / Though	Bien que
Despite / In spite of	Malgré
While	Alors que
Whereas	Tandis que

Expressing cause and consequence

Connector	French equivalent
Because / Since / As	Parce que
Therefore	Par conséquent
Consequently	En conséquence
As a result	En conséquence
Thus	Ainsi
This leads to...	Cela mène à...

Concluding

Connector	French equivalent
In conclusion	En conclusion
To sum up	Pour résumer
All in all	Tout compte fait
To conclude	Pour conclure
In summary	En résumé
All things considered	Tout bien considéré

Useful expressions

Expressing opinion

Expression	Level of certainty
I strongly believe that...	Fort
I am convinced that...	Fort
In my opinion...	Modéré
From my point of view...	Modéré
It seems to me that...	Nuancé
I tend to think that...	Nuancé

Agreeing and disagreeing

Agreeing:

I completely agree with...
It is undeniable that...
There is no doubt that...

Partially agreeing:

To a certain extent, I agree...
While it may be true that..., I believe...
Although there is some truth in this...

Disagreeing:

I totally disagree with...
It is questionable whether...
I fail to see how...

Presenting counterarguments

⚠️

Acknowledging the opposite view strengthens your essay!

Expression	Usage
Some people argue that...	Introduire un contre-argument
Critics may claim that...	Présenter une objection
Admittedly...	Concéder un point
It could be argued that...	Reconnaître une autre vue
However, this overlooks...	Réfuter
This argument fails to consider...	Contrer

EXEMPLE

"Some people argue that technology in schools is essential for preparing students for the modern world. Admittedly, digital literacy is important. However, this overlooks the fact that excessive screen time can harm concentration and social skills."

Types of essays

For and against essay

Structure:

Introduction (no personal opinion)
Arguments FOR
Arguments AGAINST
Conclusion (personal opinion optional)

Opinion essay

Structure:

Introduction (state your opinion)
Arguments supporting your view
Counterargument + refutation (optional)
Conclusion (restate opinion)

Problem-solution essay

Structure:

Introduction (present the problem)
Causes / Effects of the problem
Solutions
Conclusion (recommendation)

Common mistakes to avoid

Mistake	Correction
Using "I think" repeatedly	Vary: "I believe", "In my view"...
Starting with "Because..."	Use "Since..." or restructure
Using contractions	Write "cannot" not "can't"
Too informal language	Avoid slang and colloquialisms
Repetitive vocabulary	Use synonyms
Very long sentences	Break them up for clarity

Vocabulary for common topics

Environment

Word/Expression	Meaning
Climate change	Changement climatique
Renewable energy	Énergie renouvelable
Carbon footprint	Empreinte carbone
Sustainable development	Développement durable
To reduce emissions	Réduire les émissions

Technology

Word/Expression	Meaning
Digital divide	Fracture numérique
Artificial intelligence	Intelligence artificielle
Privacy concerns	Préoccupations de vie privée
Cyberbullying	Harcèlement en ligne
To go viral	Devenir viral

Society

Word/Expression	Meaning
Social inequality	Inégalités sociales
Gender equality	Égalité des genres
Discrimination	Discrimination
To raise awareness	Sensibiliser
Civil rights	Droits civiques

Practice

Write an essay (250-300 words) on one of these topics:

"Social media does more harm than good." Do you agree?
Should voting be compulsory?
Is working from home the future of employment?

Checklist:

Points clés à retenir

Structure: Introduction → Body → Conclusion
Use the P.E.E.L method for paragraphs
Vary your connectors and expressions
Acknowledge counterarguments
Use formal language (no contractions)
Support your opinion with evidence
End with a strong, memorable conclusion