how to start an opposing viewpoints essay

Opposing Viewpoints (Gale In Context): Resource Overview

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Gale in Context: Opposing Viewpoints

Gale In Co n text: Opposing Viewpoints is the premier online resource covering today's hottest social issues, from capital punishment to immigration to marijuana. This cross-curricular resource supports science, social studies, current events, and language arts classes. Informed, differing views help learners develop critical-thinking skills and draw their own conclusions.

Opposing Viewpoints is a rich resource for debaters and includes viewpoints, reference articles, infographics, news, images, video, audio, and more . A category on the National Debate Topic provides quick and easy access to content on frequently studied and discussed issues. Periodical content covers current events, news and commentary, economics, environmental issues, political science, and more.

Access Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints by clicking the icon below:

What is a Viewpoint?

Each viewpoint essay starts with an  Article Commentary  that includes information about the essay's  author(s) , position summary, main points, and questions to consider. Having this information at the start, sets you up to be a critical thinker. It's important to know the credentials of the author, their expertise, and potential biases in order to assess their credibility and understand why they take the perspective that they do. The brief position summary and  questions to consider  offer you a preview and help to focus your thinking as you read the essay.  (definition taken from South College)

In the Article Commentary highlighted in blue, you can find the authors credentials and affiliations to help you, the reader, evaluate any potential bias in this essay

You'll also find  questions to consider  with each viewpoint essay, These questions are designed to focus your reading. They help you make deeper connections between ideas, consider what you believe, and actively apply the information you are learning. 

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Part 2: Situation and Analysis

7 Opposing Viewpoints

Handling opposing viewpoints.

Because an argument implies differing points of view on the subject, you must be sure to acknowledge those opposing ideas. Avoiding ideas that conflict with your own gives the reader the impression that you may be uncertain, fearful, or unaware of opposing ideas. Thus it is essential that you not only address counterarguments but also do so respectfully.

Try to address opposing arguments earlier rather than later in your essay. Rhetorically speaking, ordering your positive arguments last allows you to better address ideas that conflict with your own, so you can spend the rest of the essay countering those arguments. This way, you leave your reader thinking about your argument rather than someone else’s. You have the last word.

Acknowledging points of view different from your own also has the effect of fostering more credibility between you and the audience. They know from the outset that you are aware of opposing ideas and that you are not afraid to give them space.

It is also helpful to establish the limits of your argument and what you are trying to accomplish. In effect, you are conceding early on that your argument is not the ultimate authority on a given topic. Such humility can go a long way toward earning credibility and trust with an audience. Audience members will know from the beginning that you are a reasonable writer, and audience members will trust your argument as a result. For example, in the following concessionary statement, the writer advocates for stricter gun control laws, but she admits it will not solve all of our problems with crimes:

Such a concession will be welcome by those who might disagree with this writer’s argument in the first place. To effectively persuade their readers, writers need to be modest in their goals and humble in their approach to get readers to listen to the ideas. Certain transitional words and phrases aid in keeping the reader oriented in the sequencing of a story. Some of these phrases are listed here:

Phrases of Concession

Opposing Argument Examples

As you read, look for the following:

• What is the author’s thesis?
• What key points does the author use to argue the thesis?
• How does the author use reasoning, research and/or examples to affirm his viewpoint?
• How does the author attempt to refute opposing arguments?

“The Case Against Torture,” by Alisa Soloman

In  “The Case Against Torture,” author and professor Alisa Soloman enumerate the reasons torture should never be practiced or justified in a civil society.

Click on the link to view the essay:  “The Case Against Torture” by Alisa Soloman

“The Case for Torture” by Michael Levin

In  “The Case for Torture,”  philosophy professor Michael Levin argues the circumstances under which torture may be justified in a civil society.

Click on the link to view the essay:  “The Case for Torture” by Michael Levin

Bias in Writing

Everyone has various biases on any number of topics. For example, you might have a bias toward wearing black instead of brightly colored clothes or wearing jeans rather than formal wear. You might have a bias toward working at night rather than in the morning, or working by deadlines rather than getting tasks done in advance. These examples identify minor biases, of course, but they still indicate preferences and opinions.

Handling bias in writing and in daily life can be a useful skill. It will allow you to articulate your own points of view while also defending yourself against unreasonable points of view. The ideal in persuasive writing is to let your reader know your bias, but do not let that bias blind you to the primary components of good argumentation: sound, thoughtful evidence and a respectful and reasonable address of opposing sides.

The strength of a personal bias is that it can motivate you to construct a strong argument. If you are invested in the topic, you are more likely to care about the piece of writing. Similarly, the more you care, the more time and effort you are apt to put forth and the better the final product will be.

The weakness of bias is when the bias begins to take over the essay—when, for example, you neglect opposing ideas, exaggerate your points, or repeatedly insert yourself ahead of the subject by using Itoo often. Being aware of all three of these pitfalls will help you avoid them.

Key Takeaway

• You should let your reader know your bias, but do not let that bias blind you to the primary components of good argumentation: sound, thoughtful evidence and respectfully and reasonably addressing opposing ideas.

ATTRIBUTIONS

• Content Adapted from Composition II. Authored by : Alexis McMillan-Clifton.  Provided by : Tacoma Community College.  Located at :  http://www.tacomacc.edu .  Project : Kaleidoscope Open Course Initiative.  License :  CC BY: Attribution

English 102: Journey Into Open Copyright © 2021 by Christine Jones is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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Opinion Essays – Step-by-Step Instructions

Home / Blog / Write An Opinion Essay

Introduction

What makes an opinion essay truly compelling? Why do some essays resonate while others fall flat? The art of opinion writing is not just about sharing your thoughts; it is about persuading, informing, and engaging your readers. Today, we will learn all about crafting an impactful opinion essay.

So, how do you transform your opinions into powerful words that leave a lasting impression? Let us dive in and discover the keys to success in opinion writing.

What Is an Opinion Essay?

An opinion essay is a written work where an author expresses their viewpoint on a particular topic or issue. Unlike other essays that primarily rely on factual information and objective analysis, an opinion essay is inherently subjective, emphasizing the writer's beliefs, feelings, and perspectives.

Opinion essays are prevalent in various contexts, from academic assignments and journalism to blogs and editorials. They serve as a platform for individuals to express themselves, share their unique perspectives, and contribute to meaningful discussions on various subjects.

What Kind of Student Faces an Opinion Essay?

Let us explore the characteristics and educational contexts where opinion essays are commonly encountered:

1. High School Students:

High school students are frequently introduced to opinion essays as part of their English or language arts curriculum. These essay help students develop fundamental writing skills and the ability to express their viewpoints coherently. Opinion essays at this level often revolve around personal experiences, literary analysis, or current events, fostering critical thinking and communication skills.

2. College and University Students:

College and university students encounter opinion essays across various disciplines, from humanities and social sciences to natural sciences and engineering. In college, opinion essays become more sophisticated, requiring students to delve into scholarly research, cite academic sources, and formulate well-supported arguments. These essays are instrumental in promoting research skills, academic writing proficiency, and the ability to synthesize complex information.

3. Graduates and Postgraduates:

Graduate and postgraduate students frequently engage in opinion essays as part of their coursework and research activities. At this level, opinion essays may take the form of thesis proposals, research position papers, or responses to academic debates. These essays serve as essential paraphrasing tool for contributing to the scholarly discourse within their fields.

4. Law Students:

Law students encounter opinion essays in the form of legal memoranda, case briefs, or persuasive arguments. These essays hone their legal writing and argumentative essay topics skills.

In the legal profession, constructing well-reasoned opinions is vital, as lawyers often need to advocate for their clients' positions.

5. Journalism and Communication Students:

Students pursuing journalism or communication degrees frequently write opinion pieces, such as editorials and op-eds. Opinion essays in this context train students to effectively convey their thoughts to a broader audience while adhering to ethical and journalistic standards.

6. Political Science and Philosophy Students:

Political science or philosophy students delve into opinion essays as they explore complex political ideologies, ethical dilemmas, and philosophical debates. Opinion essays in these disciplines require students to analyze and critically evaluate different perspectives, fostering a deep understanding of complex issues.

7. MBA and Business Students:

MBA and business students encounter opinion essays in business ethics, strategic management, and decision-making courses. These essays sharpen their ability to make informed, ethical business judgments and communicate their rationale effectively.

8. ESL and Non-Native English Speakers:

Students learning English as a second language (ESL) or non-native English speakers may face opinion essays to enhance their language proficiency. Opinion essays help ESL students develop language skills while expressing their thoughts on diverse essay topics .

What Are the Requirements of an Opinion Essay?

Here are the key elements that should be present in an opinion essay:

1. Clear and Concise Thesis Statement:

Every opinion essay should start with a well-defined thesis statement. This statement is the heart of your essay, succinctly summarizing your main argument or viewpoint. It should be placed in the introduction, typically towards the end of that section.

 2. Introduction:

• The introduction serves as the opening of your essay, capturing the reader's attention and providing essential context for the topic.
• Begin with a compelling hook, which can be a thought-provoking question, an interesting fact, a relevant quote, or a brief anecdote.
• Clearly present your thesis statement, outlining your opinion on the issue.
• Provide a brief overview of the points you intend to discuss in the essay's body, setting the reader's expectations.

3. Well-Structured Body Paragraphs:

• The body of your opinion essay should consist of several well-organized paragraphs, each dedicated to a specific aspect or supporting point related to your thesis.
• Start each paragraph with a clear topic sentence directly connecting to your thesis statement.
• Offer substantial evidence, examples, statistics, or personal experiences to support your viewpoint. Ensure the evidence is relevant and convincing.
• Maintain a logical flow between paragraphs, using transitional words and phrases to guide the reader seamlessly through your arguments.

4. Acknowledgment of Counterarguments:

• A robust opinion essay acknowledges opposing viewpoints or counterarguments. This demonstrates your ability to consider alternative perspectives and strengthens your own argument.
• Counterarguments can be addressed within the body paragraphs or in a dedicated paragraph where you present, discuss, and ultimately refute opposing views.

5. Conclusion:

• The conclusion should serve as the closing of your essay, summarizing your thesis statement and the main points presented in the body.
• However, avoid mere repetition of the introduction. Instead, offer a broader perspective, leaving the reader with something to contemplate, such as a thought-provoking idea, a call to action, or a suggestion for further exploration.
• Conclude your essay with a sense of closure, ensuring your final words leave a lasting impression.

6. Evidence and Examples:

Support your opinion with credible evidence, such as research findings, assignment expert opinions, or real-life examples. This lends credibility to your argument and makes it more persuasive.

7. Proper Citation:

If your essay includes external sources or references, ensure proper citation following the required citation style (e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago). Correct citation is essential to maintain academic integrity and prevent plagiarism.

8. Editing and Proofreading:

• Before finalizing your opinion essay, perform a thorough edit and proofread. Check for grammar and spelling errors, as well as clarity and coherence.
• Consider seeking peer, instructor, or professional editor feedback to ensure your essay is polished and error-free.

Opinion Essay Topics

Here are ten broad subject areas for opinion essay topics

1. Technology:

• The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Employment
• Is Social Media Beneficial or Harmful for Society?
• The Ethics of Data Privacy in the Digital Age
• Should Technology Be Used in Education More Extensively?
• Is Online Learning as Effective as Traditional Education?
• The Role of Technology in Solving Environmental Issues
• Are Smartphones a Necessity or a Distraction in Daily Life?
• The Pros and Cons of Video Games for Children
• Is Technology Making Us More or Less Connected to Each Other?
• The Future of Work in a World Dominated by Automation

2. Education:

• Standardized Testing: Does It Accurately Measure Student Abilities?
• The Impact of Homeschooling on Children's Development
• Should Schools Implement Uniform Dress Codes?
• The Role of Arts Education in Academic Curriculum
• Are College Degrees Still Worth the Investment?
• The Benefits and Drawbacks of Online Education
• Should Schools Teach Financial Literacy as a Mandatory Subject?
• The Influence of Teachers on Students' Success
• Does Homework Enhance or Impede Learning?
• The Importance of Inclusive Education for Special Needs Students

3. Environment:

• The Responsibility of Individuals in Combating Climate Change
• Should Plastic Bags and Bottles Be Banned to Reduce Pollution?
• The Impact of Deforestation on Biodiversity
• Renewable Energy Sources vs. Fossil Fuels: Which is Better?
• Should Governments Implement Carbon Tax to Reduce Emissions?
• The Ethics of Animal Testing in Scientific Research
• Is Sustainable Living Achievable for Everyone?
• The Role of Urban Planning in Creating Eco-Friendly Cities
• Are Electric Vehicles the Future of Transportation?
• The Effectiveness of Recycling Programs in Reducing Waste

4. Politics and Government:

• The Importance of Voting in a Democracy
• Is Political Correctness Beneficial or Restrictive to Free Speech?
• Should Term Limits Be Imposed on Elected Officials?
• The Role of Social Media in Shaping Political Opinions
• Universal Healthcare vs. Private Healthcare: Pros and Cons
• The Impact of Immigration Policies on Society
• Should Affirmative Action Still Be Implemented?
• Is Political Polarization a Threat to Democracy?
• The Influence of Lobbying and Special Interest Groups on Politics
• Should the Voting Age Be Lowered or Raised?

5. Health and Wellness:

• The Pros and Cons of a Vegetarian or Vegan Diet
• The Impact of Fast Food on Public Health
• Should Vaccination Be Mandatory for All Children?
• The Benefits and Risks of Legalizing Marijuana
• The Role of Mental Health Education in Schools
• Is Healthcare a Basic Human Right?
• The Ethics of Genetic Engineering and Designer Babies
• The Impact of Stress on Physical and Mental Health
• Is Alternative Medicine a Valid Alternative to Conventional Medicine?
• The Influence of Advertising on Unhealthy Eating Habits

6. Social Issues:

• The Role of Social Media in Promoting Body Image Issues
• The Impact of Income Inequality on Society
• Is Capital Punishment Ethical or Inhumane?
• The Importance of Gender Equality in the Workplace
• Should Animal Testing Be Banned for Cosmetic Products?
• The Ethics of Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide
• The Influence of Celebrity Culture on Young People
• Is Online Bullying a Serious Threat to Mental Health?
• The Role of Government in Combating Homelessness

7. Economics:

• The Effects of Inflation on Consumer Purchasing Power
• Is Globalization Beneficial or Harmful to Developing Countries?
• The Impact of Minimum Wage Laws on Employment
• The Role of Cryptocurrency in Modern Finance
• Should Governments Provide Universal Basic Income?
• The Ethics of Corporate Social Responsibility
• The Pros and Cons of Trade Tariffs
• Is Economic Growth Sustainable in the Long Term?
• The Influence of Consumerism on Environmental Degradation
• The Role of Government Regulation in Preventing Financial Crises

8. Science and Technology Ethics:

• The Ethical Implications of Human Gene Editing
• Should Artificial Intelligence Have Legal Rights?
• The Use of Facial Recognition Technology: Privacy vs. Security
• The Dangers and Benefits of Biotechnology Advancements
• The Ethics of Cloning Animals for Human Consumption
• Is Privacy Invasion Justified in the Name of National Security?
• The Impact of 3D Printing on Intellectual Property Rights
• Should Autonomous Weapons Be Banned?
• The Ethical Considerations of Using CRISPR for Genetic Enhancement
• Is Space Exploration Worth the Cost and Environmental Impact?

9. Culture and Society:

• The Influence of Pop Culture on Young People's Behavior
• Should Cultural Appropriation Be Condemned or Celebrated?
• The Importance of Preserving Indigenous Languages and Cultures
• The Role of Music in Shaping Social and Political Movements
• Should Museums Return Stolen Artifacts to Their Countries of Origin?
• The Impact of Reality TV Shows on Society's Perception of Reality
• Is Online Dating a Positive or Negative Trend in Modern Relationships?
• The Ethics of Cultural Tourism and Its Impact on Local Communities
• Should Schools Teach More Diverse History and Literature?
• The Role of Literature and Art in Promoting Social Change

10. Ethics and Morality:

• The Ethics of Physician-Assisted Suicide for Terminal Patients
• Is Lying Ever Justified in Moral Dilemmas?
• The Role of Religion in Shaping Personal Morality
• The Ethics of Animal Rights: Should Animals Have Legal Personhood?
• Is Forgiveness a Virtue or a Weakness?
• The Moral Implications of Cloning Humans
• The Ethics of Nuclear Weapons and Deterrence
• Should Government Surveillance Be Permitted for National Security?
• The Role of Free Will in Determining Moral Responsibility
• Is It Ethical to Experiment on Animals for Scientific Research?

Opinion Essay Structure

Here is a breakdown of the essential elements:

1. Introduction:

• Hook: Begin with an attention-grabbing hook, such as a question, fact, quote, or anecdote, to engage the reader's interest.
• Thesis Statement:  Present your clear and concise thesis statement. This statement is the foundation of your essay and encapsulates your main argument or opinion on the topic.
• Preview:  Offer a brief overview of the main points or arguments you will discuss in the body of the essay. This sets the reader's expectations.

2. Body Paragraphs:

• Topic Sentences: Start each body paragraph with a clear topic sentence that relates directly to your thesis statement.
• Supporting Evidence: Provide evidence, examples, statistics, or expert opinions that support each argument. Ensure that the evidence is relevant and compelling.
• Transition Sentences: Use transitional words and phrases to guide the reader smoothly from one point to the next. This creates coherence and logical flow.
• Counterarguments:  Address opposing viewpoints within the body of your essay, demonstrating your ability to evaluate different perspectives critically. This adds depth and persuasiveness to your argument.

3. Conclusion:

• Restate Thesis: Restate your thesis statement and summarize your main argument.
• Summarize Main Points: Summarize the key points or arguments you've presented in the essay's body.
• Broaden Perspective: Move beyond mere repetition of the introduction. Offer a broader perspective on the topic, leaving the reader with something to contemplate, such as the significance of your opinion or a call to action.
• Closing Thoughts: End with a thought-provoking closing thought, question, or statement that leaves a lasting impression on the reader.

Opinion Essay Examples

Here is an example for you -

The Impact of Social Media on Mental Health

Social media has become an integral part of our lives in today's digital age. While it offers various benefits, like staying connected with friends and accessing information, its influence on mental health has been a growing concern. This essay explores the impact of social media on mental well-being, arguing that while it has some advantages, it can also have detrimental effects.

Introduction:

The introduction provides a clear thesis statement: "This essay argues that social media has both positive and negative impacts on mental health." It engages the reader's interest with a hook, such as a startling statistic about social media usage or a relevant quote.

Body Paragraphs:

The body of the essay is divided into several paragraphs, each focusing on a specific aspect of the argument:

Positive Aspects:  This paragraph discusses the positive impact of social media, such as fostering connections, providing support networks, and raising awareness of mental health issues. It includes examples and statistics to support these points.

Negative Aspects:  Here, the essay delves into the negative effects of social media, including cyberbullying, social comparison, and addiction. Real-life examples and studies are cited to illustrate these harmful consequences.

Counterarguments: To address opposing viewpoints, the essay checker acknowledges that some studies suggest a limited negative impact of social media. However, it refutes these arguments with counter-studies and expert opinions, emphasizing the overall negative trend.

Conclusion:

The conclusion restates the thesis and summarizes the main points from the body paragraphs. It provides a balanced perspective by acknowledging the positive and negative aspects of social media's impact on mental health. The essay ends with a thought-provoking statement, encouraging the reader to consider their own relationship with social media and its effects on their well-being.

Additional Considerations:

The essay's clear topic sentences, evidence, and transitions between paragraphs maintain coherence. The essay follows a formal tone, uses proper grammar and citations, and avoids jargon. It provides a comprehensive overview of the topic while presenting a well-structured argument that engages the reader and encourages critical thinking.

Crafting top-notch and perfect opinion essay writing is not just about expressing your viewpoint; it is about constructing a persuasive and well-structured argument. You can effectively communicate your opinions by adhering to the fundamental elements of a clear thesis statement, an engaging introduction, well-supported body paragraphs, and a thought-provoking conclusion.

Remember to acknowledge opposing viewpoints, use evidence judiciously, and maintain a formal tone. Opinion essays are a powerful platform for sharing your thoughts, contributing to meaningful discussions, and refining your writing and critical thinking skills. You can craft opinion essays that resonate and persuade effectively with the right structure and approach.

Frequently asked questions

Q1. what is the key to a successful opinion essay.

The key to a successful opinion essay is a clear and compelling thesis statement that presents your main argument. Support your viewpoint with relevant evidence, maintain a logical structure, and acknowledge opposing perspectives.

Q2. How can I make my introduction engaging?

Start with a captivating hook, like a thought-provoking question or a surprising fact. Clearly state your thesis statement, and briefly preview the main points you will discuss.

Q3. What role do counterarguments play in an opinion essay?

Counterarguments demonstrate your critical thinking skills and strengthen your argument by addressing opposing viewpoints. You can acknowledge counterarguments within your essay and then refute them.

Q4. How can I ensure my opinion essay is well-structured?

Organize your essay with a clear introduction, body paragraphs focusing on specific points, and a conclusion summarizing your argument. Use transitional words for coherence.

Q5. Should I include personal experiences in my opinion essay?

Yes, personal experiences can enhance your essay's authenticity. However, ensure they are relevant to your argument and used as supporting evidence, not as the sole basis of your viewpoint.

Q6. How can I find credible evidence for my opinion essay?

Utilize reputable sources like academic journals, books, and expert opinions. Ensure your sources are recent and authoritative to bolster the credibility of your argument.

Q7. What is the difference between an opinion and a persuasive essay?

While both aim to persuade, an opinion essay primarily expresses your viewpoint. A persuasive essay focuses on convincing the reader to adopt your perspective through strong argumentation.

Q8. How can I maintain a formal tone in my opinion essay?

Avoid overly casual language and slang. Use proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation, and follow the conventions of academic writing, such as citing sources correctly.

Q9. Can I use personal anecdotes in my conclusion?

Yes, personal anecdotes can be effective in the conclusion to leave a lasting impression. Relate your personal experience back to your thesis or the broader implications of your opinion.

Q10. What is the most important aspect of revising my opinion essay?

The most crucial revision aspect is ensuring your essay is clear and well-organized. Check for logical flow between paragraphs, and edit for grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors.

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• Writing Tips

A Guide to Rebuttals in Argumentative Essays

4-minute read

• 27th May 2023

Rebuttals are an essential part of a strong argument. But what are they, exactly, and how can you use them effectively? Read on to find out.

What Is a Rebuttal?

When writing an argumentative essay , there’s always an opposing point of view. You can’t present an argument without the possibility of someone disagreeing.

Sure, you could just focus on your argument and ignore the other perspective, but that weakens your essay. Coming up with possible alternative points of view, or counterarguments, and being prepared to address them, gives you an edge. A rebuttal is your response to these opposing viewpoints.

How Do Rebuttals Work?

With a rebuttal, you can take the fighting power away from any opposition to your idea before they have a chance to attack. For a rebuttal to work, it needs to follow the same formula as the other key points in your essay: it should be researched, developed, and presented with evidence.

Rebuttals in Action

Suppose you’re writing an essay arguing that strawberries are the best fruit. A potential counterargument could be that strawberries don’t work as well in baked goods as other berries do, as they can get soggy and lose some of their flavor. Your rebuttal would state this point and then explain why it’s not valid:

Read on for a few simple steps to formulating an effective rebuttal.

Step 1. Come up with a Counterargument

A strong rebuttal is only possible when there’s a strong counterargument. You may be convinced of your idea but try to place yourself on the other side. Rather than addressing weak opposing views that are easy to fend off, try to come up with the strongest claims that could be made.

In your essay, explain the counterargument and agree with it. That’s right, agree with it – to an extent. State why there’s some truth to it and validate the concerns it presents.

Step 2. Point Out Its Flaws

Now that you’ve presented a counterargument, poke holes in it . To do so, analyze the argument carefully and notice if there are any biases or caveats that weaken it. Looking at the claim that strawberries don’t work well in baked goods, a weakness could be that this argument only applies when strawberries are baked in a pie.

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Step 3. Present New Points

Once you reveal the counterargument’s weakness, present a new perspective, and provide supporting evidence to show that your argument is still the correct one. This means providing new points that the opposer may not have considered when presenting their claim.

Offering new ideas that weaken a counterargument makes you come off as authoritative and informed, which will make your readers more likely to agree with you.

Summary: Rebuttals

Rebuttals are essential when presenting an argument. Even if a counterargument is stronger than your point, you can construct an effective rebuttal that stands a chance against it.

We hope this guide helps you to structure and format your argumentative essay . And once you’ve finished writing, send a copy to our expert editors. We’ll ensure perfect grammar, spelling, punctuation, referencing, and more. Try it out for free today!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a rebuttal in an essay.

A rebuttal is a response to a counterargument. It presents the potential counterclaim, discusses why it could be valid, and then explains why the original argument is still correct.

How do you form an effective rebuttal?

To use rebuttals effectively, come up with a strong counterclaim and respectfully point out its weaknesses. Then present new ideas that fill those gaps and strengthen your point.

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Addressing Opposing Point of Views in an Argumentative Essay

by  Antony W

January 16, 2023

Argumentative essay writing is about persuading your readers to accept your stand on an issue or subject as being right regardless of their opinion on the topic.

Unlike a college reflection essay and an expository essay , argumentative writing allows you to remain biased and provide your point of view to your audience, provided your arguments are convincingly logical, reasoned, informed, ethical, and ultimately right and persuasive.

However, argumentative essays need more than your ability to present your stance, or claim, and use relevant, objective evidence to defend your position.

You also need to address the opposing point of views in your argument and there are reasons why.

Why Is It Important to Address Opposing Point of Views in an Argumentative Essay?

As you write your argumentative essays, you’ll come across sensible arguments that challenge your very own.

We call these counterclaims , and they’re significant in persuasive essay writing. Remember, you’ve taken a stand on one position, but your readers know that the other position exists.

In some cases, your audience may even prefer the opposing view to yours until you convince them that your point of view is better or more truthful than the position they currently hold.

So it’s important to address the opposing point of view in your argument as a balancing act. It’s understandable that you don’t want to undermine your argument. But you can’t as easily dismiss the validity of the opposing views or ignore them straight outright.

Again, essays that don’t include counterclaims are generally weak and less persuasive.

When reading such an essay, it’s acceptable to make the assumption that you considered only one side of the subject or issue, even if you looked into both areas in the real sense. 

You end up undermining your very own argument, eventually making the essay less effective in communicating your message.

Also by including counterclaims, or the opposing point of views in your argumentative essay, you show your target audience that you invested your time in researching the two sides of an issue.

By doing so, you’re not only able to match your argument to the corresponding counterclaim. You are also able to strengthen your own argument.

When Should Address Opposing Point of Views in an Argumentative Essay?

First address your position on an issue, making sure you provide sufficient objective and reasonable evidence to support your claim. Then, you can work on the counterclaim thereafter.

Of course, you don’t want to go into great details when it comes to addressing the opposing point of views in your essay.

What you have to do instead is to state that you recognize the counterclaim to be accurate, but only to some degree.

Then, you’ll point out what’s wrong with it, using the strongest points or evidence possible so that you don’t weaken your argument.

The Right Way to Address the Opposing Views

When it comes to addressing the opposing point of views in your argumentative essay, you have to do so carefully so that your essay doesn’t end up weak.

The rule of thumb is to be objective and respectful . Also, be distinctive, making sure you make your audience know that this is clearly not your argument. It makes sense to be fair and making sure you address the issue accurately.

Recognizing the opposing point of view isn’t enough. You also have to refute them by showing that your logic clearly supersedes or negates the opposition.

In this case, start with the opposing view, follow that up with a refutation relevant to your argument, and then give concrete evidence to support your refutation.

How to Address Opposing Point of Views in Your Argumentative Essay

Like in a criminal trial, there’s far less conviction and satisfaction if you don’t consider the opposing claims in your argumentative essay.

In other words, you can’t leave objections unanswered and evidence from counterclaims swept under a rag and expect to make your stance convincing.

You have to look into the other side of the issue carefully to convince and satisfy your audience.

1. Research Both Sides of the Argument

We insist on looking at both sides of an argument because your audience may initially not accept your point of view on an issue.

So you need to research both sides before you start to write an argumentative essay .  It’s important that you don’t limit yourself to sympathetic sources.

Instead, find sources that both agree and disagree with your argument. Check the authors’ rationale and implementation of evidence so that you can easily understand the opposing view.

2. Understand the Opposing Point of View

Now that you have a clue on what the opposing point of views look like, you should find out why people would hold those positions in the first place.

Are there evidences they look at to arrive to their conclusions? How exactly do they interpret the evidence?

To put this in another way, understanding the opposing point of views will make it easy for you to figure out why your audience may likely disagree with your argument in the first place.

3. Prove Your Position to Be True

When it comes to dealing with counterarguments in argumentative essay,  the burden of proof is wholly on you. So don’t just state the opposing view, refute them.

Tell your audience that as much as you recognize the counterclaims as true, they have shortcomings that make them generally weak. Use your strongest points to refute those positions.

Include evidence such as quotes from experts, research studies, statistics, and literary materials to back your argument. Don’t leave readers’ excuse to chance.

Final Thoughts

Arguments that look into both sides of an issue are often stronger and convincing.

Balanced and properly articulated, such essays give your argument more strength and draw in the attention of your readers easily.

Even your readers are more than likely to show respect for the efforts you put in place to give your most reasonable views on the issue. And if you can persuade them well, they’ll be more than willing to consider your position on an issue, even if they didn’t agree with you initially. 

About the author 

Antony W is a professional writer and coach at Help for Assessment. He spends countless hours every day researching and writing great content filled with expert advice on how to write engaging essays, research papers, and assignments.

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The Power of Opposing Views in Crafting Effective Arguments in Your Essay

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Picture this: You're passionately crafting an argumentative essay, each sentence filled with your unyielding beliefs. But then you wonder, "What about the other side?" That's when it hits you – considering opposing points of view can indeed enhance your essay. This realization may seem daunting, but trust us; when we say that it adds depth to your argumentative essay, it can be quite powerful.

This post is your guide to understanding the significance of opposing points of view in an argumentative essay. We'll explore what it means to consider different perspectives, why it’s vital, and how you can effectively include these viewpoints in your own essays. This isn't about losing your standpoint but rather about enriching it, making it more nuanced and, ultimately, convincing.

By the end of this article, you'll see opposing points of view not as a challenge but as an opportunity to elevate your essay to the next level. So, let's jump in, shall we?

Understanding the Role of Opposing Points of View in an Argumentative Essay

Before we delve into how to include opposing views in your essay, it's essential to understand what role they play. By definition, an argumentative essay is about presenting an argument on a particular subject. But an argument isn't just about supporting your viewpoint – it's also about recognizing and addressing contrary perspectives.

The presence of differing viewpoints does two main things:

1. Enhances the Depth and Quality of Your Argument

Including opposing views shows that you've considered the topic from various angles. It demonstrates your understanding of the subject and enhances the depth and quality of your argument.

2. Strengthens Your Position

When you acknowledge and counter opposing viewpoints, you strengthen your position. It shows your readers that you've thought about potential criticisms or alternatives and still believe in your argument.

So, in essence, opposing views don't weaken your argument; instead, they make it more robust and well-rounded.

Recognizing and Researching Opposing Points of View

Once you understand the value of incorporating opposing viewpoints in your argument, the next step is to identify and research these alternative perspectives. This process involves:

Think about what objections someone might have to your argument. What are the possible holes or weaknesses in your position? These are the points you will need to address.

Conduct thorough research to understand these opposing points of view. Look for credible sources that present these perspectives convincingly.

Assess these counterarguments' strengths. Are they valid and supported by evidence? Acknowledge strong opposing arguments in your essay and address them effectively.

Prepare your responses to these counterarguments. You will need to rebut these opposing viewpoints in a way that further reinforces your own argument.

REMEMBER : the goal here isn't to dismiss or ignore differing perspectives but to understand them fully so you can construct a more convincing argument.

How to Effectively Incorporate Opposing Points in Your Argument

Successfully integrating opposing viewpoints in your argument is not just about acknowledging them – it's about how you position them in your argument and the way you respond to them.

Deciding where to place these counterarguments in your essay is key . They can go either before you present your arguments, serving as a preemptive strike, or after, as a rebuttal to potential objections. The choice depends on the nature of the argument and the counterarguments themselves.

Address each counterargument with respect and a logical, well-reasoned response. It's essential not to belittle the counterargument but to present a response that strengthens your position.

Acknowledge the validity of the opposing point of view where appropriate, but reinforce how your own viewpoint is more convincing. Make use of concrete evidence, logical reasoning, and persuasive language.

Maintain a respectful, objective tone throughout. Avoid emotional language and stick to the facts.

By treating opposing points of view with respect and responding to them logically and thoroughly, you can make your argument stronger and more persuasive.

The Importance of Refutation in Presenting Opposing Points of View

Refutation is the part of the essay where the writer tackles the opposing viewpoints. A strong refutation will address the argument and prove it incorrect or not powerful enough using statements backed by evidence.

Understanding the concept of refutation is crucial in addressing opposing viewpoints. It is where you challenge the counterarguments by proving them wrong, providing a stronger argument, or offering a compromise that still supports your main argument.

A strong refutation is more than just saying the opposing view is wrong. You need to explain why it's wrong and provide evidence supporting your claim.

An effective refutation can help in gaining the trust of your readers as it demonstrates your comprehensive understanding of the topic, including the counterarguments. It also allows you to reinforce your standpoint while respecting other viewpoints.

REMEMBER : a successful argumentative essay strikes a balance between asserting your points and acknowledging the valid counterarguments.

The Role of Counterarguments in Strengthening Your Main Argument

The inclusion of counterarguments in your essay does more than just present a balanced view. It also contributes significantly to making your main argument stronger and more compelling.

Counterarguments provide a broader perspective on the issue at hand, leading to a well-rounded view. This comprehensive approach can make your essay more credible and interesting to read.

Including counterarguments shows that you have done thorough research and understand all aspects of the topic. This makes your argument more believable.

When you successfully refute an opposing viewpoint, it helps prove that your argument is superior. This further convinces the reader of your standpoint.

Debating various viewpoints makes the essay more engaging for readers. They will appreciate your effort in understanding and addressing opposing views.

IN SUMMARY : counterarguments enrich your essay, enhance your credibility, and strengthen your primary argument.

How to Address Counterarguments Effectively

It's not enough just to mention opposing points of view in your essay; you need to know how to address them effectively. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you:

• Identify the Counterarguments
• Understand the Counterarguments
• Acknowledge the Counterarguments
• Refute the Counterarguments
• Summarize and Reinforce Your Argument

REMEMBER : handling counterarguments effectively can significantly improve your argumentative essay's quality and credibility.

Case Study: Effectively Addressing Opposing Points of View

To better illustrate the importance and method of handling opposing viewpoints, let's consider a practical example.

Imagine we are writing an argumentative essay on the topic: " Should physical education be mandatory in schools? "

Your thesis statement might be: " Physical education should be mandatory in schools because it promotes physical fitness, aids in stress management, and instills teamwork and discipline. "

Here are a few potential counterarguments and how to address them:

Counterargument 1: "Physical education takes away time that could be used for academic subjects."

Response: While academics are undeniably important, it's equally crucial to promote holistic development in students. Physical education not only helps improve health and fitness but also aids in better focus and productivity in academic tasks. Furthermore, it helps students understand the importance of balance in life.

Counterargument 2: "Not all students enjoy physical activities or sports."

Response: The aim of mandatory physical education isn't to turn all students into athletes. Instead, it's to expose students to the importance of regular physical activity, instill healthy habits, and foster a lifelong appreciation for fitness. Various activities can cater to different interests and capabilities, ensuring inclusivity.

As seen from the example above, addressing counterarguments not only strengthens your argument but also makes your essay more comprehensive and balanced. It shows that you've considered the topic from all angles and have strong, compelling responses to potential objections.

Final Thoughts

Understanding and acknowledging opposing views is more than a debating strategy; it's a life skill. It equips us to engage in constructive conversations, fostering empathy, open-mindedness, and respect for differing opinions.

In the context of writing an argumentative essay, considering opposing points of view allows you to create more convincing and comprehensive arguments. It shows readers that you've deeply considered the topic and are presenting a well-rounded, thoughtful perspective.

But remember, it's not about who has the last word—it's about who makes the most sense. So, next time you write an argumentative essay, take the time to explore the counterarguments. Your essay will be more persuasive for it.

Struggling with your argumentative essay? Don't let the fear of opposition deter you. Our team of experienced writers at Writers Per Hour is ready to help you craft a compelling, well-rounded argumentative essay. Reach out to us and hire a professional college essay writer .

To continue building your argumentative essay skills, explore our other posts and resources. Remember, practice makes perfect.

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General APA Guidelines

Your essay should be typed and double-spaced on standard-sized paper (8.5" x 11"), with 1" margins on all sides. You should use a font consistently throughout the paper. APA recommends using either a sans serif font such as 11-point Calibri, 11-point Arial, or 10-point Lucida Sans Unicode, or a serif font such as 12-point Times New Roman, 11-point Georgia, or 10-point Computer Modern.

Include a  page header   at the top of every page. For a student paper, this only includes the page number in the header even with the top right margin.

More details are available from your instructor, the sample paper link provide, the Purdue OWL website, or the APA Manual located at the library reference desk or on reserve at your campus library. 

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About Opposing Viewpoints

Opposing viewpoints in context.

Opposing Viewpoints is an online library of current event topics.  It is useful for all majors for finding information on contemporary social issues such as censorship, immigration, stem cell research, terrorism and many more.  The sources in this database allow you to explore the various sides of an issue. 

You can search by keywords in Opposing Viewpoints, but the easiest way to get started is to use the Browse Issues feature.

The contents include:

• Pro and con viewpoint articles, especially helpful for debate assignments and persuasive essays.
• Full-text magazines, academic journals, and newspapers.
• Statistical tables, charts and graphs.
• Podcasts, including NPR programs .

Accessing Opposing Viewpoints

Do I have to log in?

If you are using a campus computer or campus WiFi, you should be able to directly access the resource. If you are off-campus, you  will be prompted to log in using your Single Sign-On username and password. Contact the library if you have any problems accessing the resource.

Searching in Opposing Viewpoints

Basic Search :

Click the “ Browse Issues ” button (placement will vary depending on how large your screen is, as shown in above examples) to browse the topic list of subjects, OR

You may do a specific search by entering a term(s) in the search box.  A search assist function suggests topics as you type in a search term. Topic pages will appear in bold and italicized.

Advanced Search : This search allows you to search in multiple fields, like article title, subject, author, or company name. Add rows to your search to make it as specific as you want. You can also limit this type of search by document type, date, and source type.

Learn the basics about how to navigate Opposing Viewpoints by watching Gale's video:

Search Results

When you conduct a search, in the top section of your results page, you'll find a breakdown of all of the types of content the search found and the number of each type of content. Click on a content type (e.g. Videos) to go directly to those resources. 

Scroll through the center section of the page to view each of the titles your search returned, grouped by type.  In addition to the title, the source (e.g. NPR Morning Edition) and date of each item are also listed.  Dates can be very important if you're looking for the most recent information on your topic.

You also have the ability, on this page, to limit (reduce the number of) your results to Full Text Documents (you can read the entire document in the database) as well as apply other limiters (e.g. Date Published, Subjects) using the buttons on the right side of the page under the heading "Filter Your Results."

If you select a topic from the Browse Issues list, you will be taken to the topic page for the selected issue (see below).

Topic Pages in Opposing Viewpoints

When you select a topic from the Browse Issues list, you will be directed to the topic page. Topic pages include an overview article on the topic and links to relevant resources about the issue.

You can connect to many of these types of resources from a topic page:

• Position essays (Viewpoints)
• News stories
• Academic journals
• Podcasts (audio)
• Related topics
• Reference materials

Using Opposing Viewpoints: Finding and Narrowing a Topic

Opposing Viewpoints is also a good place to start your research or to find a topic.

This video will help you narrow your topic and select sources.

Library Database References

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**When using a generated citation, you must double check it for accuracy! It’s not unusual for a database to have an error in a citation!**

Database information is typically not included in most references because sources can be found in multiple platforms. The goal of a citation is to allow the reader to find the source, not to tell them how to find the source . Meaning a particular article may be found in Ebsco, or Gale, on the publisher's website. Database information is only included if they have "original, proprietary content and works of limited circulation" (Business Insights, Proquest dissertations & theses, Cochrane database of systematic reviews). URLs are usually not included because the reader would need to login to access the source, but your professor may request that you include them.

The citation tool above results in this for an article:

Peters, R., & Quinn, M. (2018). Agrowtopia: Cultivating Community, Consciousness and Capital on Campus. Journal of Case Studies , 36 (3). Retrieved from https://bi.gale.com/global/article/GALE|A597895516/48398b0d65e763958fb4d0e51125f445?u=centpenn_itc1#

The correct citation will not include the database information because the article can be found in other databases or through an online search. If there were a DOI, the DOI url would be included. If there were page numbers, they would be included after the issue number. Since there isn't a DOI, or page numbers, and the URL would take the reader to a login page the URL is not included. The reference ends after the volume number.

Peters, R., & Quinn, M. (2018). Agrowtopia: Cultivating community, consciousness and capital on campus. Journal of Case Studies, 36 (3).

In Business Insights there is a good chance you will be retrieving items that are not articles, but reports and other data. These sources do not have the citation tool option. These reports might not be found elsewhere so the name of the database is included, along with the retrieval date if they update over time and are not archived.

Author. (Year, Month day of publication). Title of the report [Type of report]. Database name .

OR , if the content updates and you should include the retrieval date:

Author. (Year, Month day of publication). Title of the report [Type of report]. Retrieved date, from Database name.

For example:

GlobalData. (2019, March). Starbucks Corp - Financial and strategic analysis review.  Business Insights.

New Constructs. (2022, February 19). Meta Platforms Inc. (FB) [Investment report]. Retrieved March 11, 2022, from Business Insights.

Starbucks Corp. [Company profile]. (2019). Business Insights. Retrieved February 13, 2020, from Business Insights.

McDonald's Corp. (2020).  [McDonald's Corp. interim - last 5 periods Income statement] . Retrieved February 18, 2020, from Business Insights.

** When using a generated citation, you must double check it for accuracy! It’s not unusual for a database to have an error in a citation!**

Database information is not included in most references because sources can be found in multiple platforms. The goal of a citation is to allow the reader to find the source, not to tell them how to find the source . Meaning a particular article may be found in Ebsco, or Gale, on the publisher's website. Database information is only included if they have "original, proprietary content and works of limited circulation" (Proquest dissertations & theses, Cochrane database of systematic reviews). URLs are not included because the reader would need to login to access the source.

In Credo, either use the citation tool at the top of the page or find the APA citation following each entry.

Copy and paste the citation, and then make any necessary corrections.

This is how a citation from a reference work is generally structured.

Author's last name, First initial. Middle initial. (Year). Title of entry. In Title of reference work (edition). Publisher name.

This is what the copied citation looks like using the citation tools in Credo:

Almost correct, but it does not need the URL in 7th edition APA. This is how it should look:

Posluszny, D., Spencer, S., & Baum, A. (2007). Post-traumatic stress disorder. In S. Ayers, A. Baum, C. McManus, & et. al. (Eds.), Cambridge handbook of psychology, health and medicine (2nd ed.). Cambridge University Press.

The following example, is if there is no author.

Hormone therapy. (2016). In Merriam Webster's Medical Dictionary . Merriam-Webster. 

Book and ebook citations are treated the same. They require the following elements: author(s), year of publication, book title, book edition (if applicable), and publisher name. Ebook Central does not need to be listed as the database.

Author's last name, initials. (year of publication).  Title of book: With only capitalization of first word of title and subtitle and any proper nouns. Publisher. DOI or URL

Change the format in the drop-down box to APA. The citation ends after the publisher's name because there is no DOI and the URL will not work without logging in. "Dark Knight" is one of Batman's most well-known nicknames, and the name Batman is also a proper noun, so all three words should be capitalized. You also don't need to include the business structure information (Limited). The corrected citation is:

Brooker, W. (2012). Hunting the Dark Knight: Twenty-first century Batman. I.B. Tauris & Company.

Database information is not included in most references because sources can be found in multiple platforms. The goal of a citation is to allow the reader to find the source, not to tell them how to find the source . Meaning a particular article may be found in Ebsco, or Gale, on the publisher's website. Database information is only included if they have "original, proprietary content and works of limited circulation" (Proquest dissertations & theses, Cochrane database of systematic reviews). URLs are usually not included because the reader would need to login to access the source.

When you click the Cite tool button the popup screen provides citations in a variety of styles. Scroll down to find the APA citation. Copy & paste it into your paper and then correct it for 7th edition style if necessary. Articles should follow this format:

Author's last name, first initial. middle initial. (Year). Title of article.  Title of Journal, volume# (issue#), pages-pages. DOI or URL

In the example below, the first word of the subtitle (after the colon) should be capitalized, but the 'of' in the Journal title should not be.

Corrected citation:

Dury, R. (2016). COPD and emotional distress: Not always noticed and therefore untreated. British Journal of Community Nursing , 21 (3), 138–141. https://doi.org/10.12968/bjcn.2016.21.3.138

Business reports are treated differently because these reports might not be found elsewhere; in this situation the name of the database is included. If the information updates over time and is not be archived, include the retrieval date.

Citation example of corrected MarketLine report in Business Source Premier:

MarketLine. (2019, October 28). Company profile: Netflix, Inc. Business source Premier .

[You'll find the date on the first page of the PDF, bottom left.]

Films on Demand does have a Citation tool available directly below the video frame. 

HOWEVER--Films on Demand citations for APA are usually incomplete and should not include a URL (APA citations should only have a retrieval date if the content might change).

You can start with the citation from Films on Demand, but you will need to correct it and finish it yourself with help from a style guide, a librarian, and/or your professor.

Here is an example citation from a Films on Demand video:

As you can see, the video director or producer is missing.  However, that information is easily available in the database. 

In the image below you can see, in the Details section, that the video producer is Java Films. 

A correct APA citation for this film would be:

Java Films (Producer). (2014). The mobile revolution [Video]. 

Many videos in Films on Demand are divided into segments, and sometimes you might only use a segment in a project/presentation. 

To cite a segment: Add the segment name and number to the citation

Java Films (Producer). (2014). Disruptive technology [segment 13]. In The mobile revolution [Video].

Articles should follow this basic format:

This is the citation that Gale displays:

Volkow, N. D., & Blanco, C. (2020). Medications for opioid use disorders: clinical and pharmacological considerations. Journal of Clinical Investigation , 130 (1), 10+. Retrieved from https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A612694392/AONE?u=centpenn_itc1&sid=AONE&xid=64436e81.

It should be:

Volkow, N. D., & Blanco, C. (2020). Medications for opioid use disorders: Clinical and pharmacological considerations. Journal of Clinical Investigation , 130 (1), 10-13. http://dx.doi.org/10.1172/JCI134708    

The page numbers indicated (10+) weren't correct. Downloading the article you are able to find the page range on the PDF, and there was a doi provided.

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The previous chapters in this section offer an overview of what it means to formulate an argument in an academic situation. The purpose of this chapter is to offer more concrete, actionable tips for drafting an academic persuasive essay. Keep in mind that preparing to draft a persuasive essay relies on the strategies for any other thesis-driven essay, covered by the section in this textbook, The Writing Process. The following chapters can be read in concert with this one:

• Critical Reading and other research strategies helps writers identify the exigence (issue) that demands a response, as well as what kinds of research to use.
• Generate Ideas covers prewriting models (such as brainstorming techniques) that allow students to make interesting connections and develop comprehensive thesis statements. These connections and main points will allow a writer to outline their core argument.
• Organizing is important for understanding why an argument essay needs a detailed plan, before the drafting stage. For an argument essay, start with a basic outline that identifies the claim, reasoning, and evidence, but be prepared to develop more detailed outlines that include counterarguments and rebuttals, warrants, additional backing, etc., as needed.
• Drafting introduces students to basic compositional strategies that they must be familiar with before beginning an argument essay. This current chapter offers more details about what kinds of paragraphs to practice in an argument essay, but it assumes the writer is familiar with basic strategies such as coherence and cohesion.

Classical structure of an argument essay

Academic persuasive essays tend to follow what’s known as the “classical” structure, based on techniques that derive from ancient Roman and Medieval rhetoricians. John D. Ramage, et. al outline this structure in Writing Arguments :

This very detailed table can be simplified. Most academic persuasive essays include the following basic elements:

• Introduction that explains why the situation is important and presents your argument (aka the claim or thesis).
• Reasons the thesis is correct or at least reasonable.
• Evidence that supports each reason, often occurring right after the reason the evidence supports.
• Acknowledgement of objections.
• Response to objections.

Keep in mind that the structure above is just a conventional starting point. The previous chapters of this section suggest how different kinds of arguments (Classical/Aristotelian, Toulmin, Rogerian) involve slightly different approaches, and your course, instructor, and specific assignment prompt may include its own specific instructions on how to complete the assignment. There are many different variations. At the same time, however, most academic argumentative/persuasive essays expect you to practice the techniques mentioned below. These tips overlap with the elements of argumentation, covered in that chapter, but they offer more explicit examples for how they might look in paragraph form, beginning with the introduction to your essay.

Persuasive introductions should move from context to thesis

Since one of the main goals of a persuasive essay introduction is to forecast the broader argument, it’s important to keep in mind that the legibility of the argument depends on the ability of the writer to provide sufficient information to the reader. If a basic high school essay moves from general topic to specific argument (the funnel technique), a more sophisticated academic persuasive essay is more likely to move from context to thesis.

The great stylist of clear writing, Joseph W. Williams, suggests that one of the key rhetorical moves a writer can make in a persuasive introduction is to not only provide enough background information (the context), but to frame that information in terms of a problem or issue, what the section on Reading and Writing Rhetorically terms the exigence . The ability to present a clearly defined problem and then the thesis as a solution creates a motivating introduction. The reader is more likely to be gripped by it, because we naturally want to see problems solved.

Consider these two persuasive introductions, both of which end with an argumentative thesis statement:

A. In America we often hold to the belief that our country is steadily progressing. topic This is a place where dreams come true. With enough hard work, we tell ourselves (and our children), we can do anything. I argue that, when progress is more carefully defined, our current period is actually one of decline. claim

B . Two years ago my dad developed Type 2 diabetes, and the doctors explained to him that it was due in large part to his heavy consumption of sugar. For him, the primary form of sugar consumption was soda. hook His experience is echoed by millions of Americans today. According to the most recent research, “Sugary drink portion sizes have risen dramatically over the past forty years, and children and adults are drinking more soft drinks than ever,” while two out of three adults in the United States are now considered either overweight or obese. This statistic correlates with reduced life expectancy by many years. Studies have shown that those who are overweight in this generation will live a lot fewer years than those who are already elderly. And those consumers who don’t become overweight remain at risk for developing Type 2 diabetes (like my dad), known as one of the most serious global health concerns (“Sugary Drinks and Obesity Fact Sheet”). problem In response to this problem, some political journalists, such as Alexandra Le Tellier, argue that sodas should be banned. On the opposite end of the political spectrum, politically conservative journalists such as Ernest Istook argue that absolutely nothing should be done because that would interfere with consumer freedom. debate I suggest something in between: a “soda tax,” which would balance concerns over the public welfare with concerns over consumer freedom. claim

Example B feels richer, more dramatic, and much more targeted not only because it’s longer, but because it’s structured in a “motivating” way. Here’s an outline of that structure:

• Hook: It opens with a brief hook that illustrates an emerging issue. This concrete, personal anecdote grips the reader’s attention.
• Problem: The anecdote is connected with the emerging issue, phrased as a problem that needs to be addressed.
• Debate: The writer briefly alludes to a debate over how to respond to the problem.
• Claim: The introduction ends by hinting at how the writer intends to address the problem, and it’s phrased conversationally, as part of an ongoing dialogue.

Not every persuasive introduction needs all of these elements. Not all introductions will have an obvious problem. Sometimes a “problem,” or the exigence, will be as subtle as an ambiguity in a text that needs to be cleared up (as in literary analysis essays). Other times it will indeed be an obvious problem, such as in a problem-solution argument essay.

In most cases, however, a clear introduction will proceed from context to thesis . The most attention-grabbing and motivating introductions will also include things like hooks and problem-oriented issues.

Here’s a very simple and streamlined template that can serve as rudimentary scaffolding for a persuasive introduction, inspired by the excellent book, They Say / I Say: The Moves That Matter in Academic Writing : Definition: Term

In discussions of __________, an emerging issue is _____________________. issue When addressing this issue, some experts suggest ________________. debate In my view, however, _______________________________. claim

Each aspect of the template will need to be developed, but it can serve as training wheels for how to craft a nicely structured context-to-thesis introduction, including things like an issue, debate, and claim. You can try filling in the blanks below, and then export your attempt as a document.

Define key terms, as needed

Much of an academic persuasive essay is dedicated to supporting the claim. A traditional thesis-driven essay has an introduction, body, and conclusion, and the support constitutes much of the body. In a persuasive essay, most of the support is dedicated to reasoning and evidence (more on that below). However, depending on what your claim does, a careful writer may dedicate the beginning (or other parts of the essay body) to defining key terms.

Suppose I wish to construct an argument that enters the debate over euthanasia. When researching the issue, I notice that much of the debate circles around the notion of rights, specifically what a “legal right” actually means. Clearly defining that term will help reduce some of the confusion and clarify my own argument. In Vancouver Island University’s resource “ Defining key terms ,” Ian Johnston offers this example for how to define “legal right” for an academic reader:

Before discussing the notion of a right to die, we need to clarify precisely what the term legal right means. In common language, the term “right” tends often to mean something good, something people ought to have (e.g., a right to a good home, a right to a meaningful job, and so on). In law, however, the term has a much more specific meaning. It refers to something to which people are legally entitled. Thus, a “legal” right also confers a legal obligation on someone or some institution to make sure the right is conferred. For instance, in Canada, children of a certain age have a right to a free public education. This right confers on society the obligation to provide that education, and society cannot refuse without breaking the law. Hence, when we use the term right to die in a legal sense, we are describing something to which a citizen is legally entitled, and we are insisting that someone in society has an obligation to provide the services which will confer that right on anyone who wants it.

As the example above shows, academics often dedicate space to providing nuanced and technical definitions that correct common misconceptions. Johnston’s definition relies on research, but it’s not always necessary to use research to define your terms. Here are some tips for crafting definitions in persuasive essays, from “Defining key terms”:

• Fit the descriptive detail in the definition to the knowledge of the intended audience. The definition of, say, AIDS for a general readership will be different from the definition for a group of doctors (the latter will be much more technical). It often helps to distinguish between common sense or popular definitions and more technical ones.
• Make sure definitions are full and complete; do not rush them unduly. And do not assume that just because the term is quite common that everyone knows just what it means (e.g., alcoholism ). If you are using the term in a very specific sense, then let the reader know what that is. The amount of detail you include in a definition should cover what is essential for the reader to know, in order to follow the argument. By the same token, do not overload the definition, providing too much detail or using far too technical a language for those who will be reading the essay.
• It’s unhelpful to simply quote the google or dictionary.com definition of a word. Dictionaries contain a few or several definitions for important terms, and the correct definition is informed by the context in which it’s being employed. It’s up to the writer to explain that context and how the word is usually understood within it.
• You do not always need to research a definition. Depending on the writing situation and audience, you may be able to develop your own understanding of certain terms.

Use P-E-A-S or M-E-A-L to support your claim

The heart of a persuasive essay is a claim supported by reasoning and evidence. Thus, much of the essay body is often devoted to the supporting reasons, which in turn are proved by evidence. One of the formulas commonly taught in K-12 and even college writing programs is known as PEAS, which overlaps strongly with the MEAL formula introduced by the chapter, “ Basic Integration “:

Point : State the reasoning as a single point: “One reason why a soda tax would be effective is that…” or “One way an individual can control their happiness is by…”

Evidence : After stating the supporting reason, prove that reason with related evidence. There can be more than one piece of evidence. “According to …” or “In the article, ‘…,’ the author shows that …”

Analysis : There a different levels of analysis. At the most basic level, a writer should clearly explain how the evidence proves the point, in their own words: “In other words…,” “What this data shows is that…” Sometimes the “A” part of PEAS becomes simple paraphrasing. Higher-level analysis will use more sophisticated techniques such as Toulmin’s warrants to explore deeper terrain. For more tips on how to discuss and analyze, refer to the previous chapter’s section, “ Analyze and discuss the evidence .”

Summary/So what? : Tie together all of the components (PEA) succinctly, before transitioning to the next idea. If necessary, remind the reader how the evidence and reasoning relates to the broader claim (the thesis argument).

PEAS and MEAL are very similar; in fact they are identical except for how they refer to the first and last part. In theory, it shouldn’t matter which acronym you choose. Both versions are effective because they translate the basic structure of a supporting reason (reasoning and evidence) into paragraph form.

Here’s an example of a PEAS paragraph in an academic persuasive essay that argues for a soda tax:

A soda tax would also provide more revenue for the federal government, thereby reducing its debt. point Despite Ernest Istook’s concerns about eroding American freedom, the United States has long supported the ability of government to leverage taxes in order to both curb unhealthy lifestyles and add revenue. According to Peter Ubel’s “Would the Founding Fathers Approve of a Sugar Tax?”, in 1791 the US government was heavily in debt and needed stable revenue. In response, the federal government taxed what most people viewed as a “sin” at that time: alcohol. This single tax increased government revenue by at least 20% on average, and in some years more than 40% . The effect was that only the people who really wanted alcohol purchased it, and those who could no longer afford it were getting rid of what they already viewed as a bad habit (Ubel). evidence Just as alcohol (and later, cigarettes) was viewed as a superfluous “sin” in the Early Republic, so today do many health experts and an increasing amount of Americans view sugar as extremely unhealthy, even addictive. If our society accepts taxes on other consumer sins as a way to improve government revenue, a tax on sugar is entirely consistent. analysis We could apply this to the soda tax and try to do something like this to help knock out two problems at once: help people lose their addiction towards soda and help reduce our government’s debt. summary/so what?

The paragraph above was written by a student who was taught the PEAS formula. However, we can see versions of this formula in professional writing. Here’s a more sophisticated example of PEAS, this time from a non-academic article. In Nicholas Carr’s extremely popular article, “ Is Google Making Us Stupid? “, he argues that Google is altering how we think. To prove that broader claim, Carr offers a variety of reasons and evidence. Here’s part of his reasoning:

Thanks to the ubiquity of text on the Internet, not to mention the popularity of text-messaging on cell phones, we may well be reading more today than we did in the 1970s or 1980s, when television was our medium of choice. But it’s a different kind of reading, and behind it lies a different kind of thinking—perhaps even a new sense of the self. point “We are not only what we read,” says Maryanne Wolf, a developmental psychologist at Tufts University and the author of Proust and the Squid: The Story and Science of the Reading Brain . “We are how we read.” Wolf worries that the style of reading promoted by the Net, a style that puts “efficiency” and “immediacy” above all else, may be weakening our capacity for the kind of deep reading that emerged when an earlier technology, the printing press, made long and complex works of prose commonplace. When we read online, she says, we tend to become “mere decoders of information.” evidence Our ability to interpret text, to make the rich mental connections that form when we read deeply and without distraction, remains largely disengaged. analysis

This excerpt only contains the first three elements, PEA, and the analysis part is very brief (it’s more like paraphrase), but it shows how professional writers often employ some version of the formula. It tends to appear in persuasive texts written by experienced writers because it reinforces writing techniques mentioned elsewhere in this textbook. A block of text structured according to PEA will practice coherence, because opening with a point (P) forecasts the main idea of that section. Embedding the evidence (E) within a topic sentence and follow-up commentary or analysis (A) is part of the “quote sandwich” strategy we cover in the section on “Writing With Sources.”

Use “they say / i say” strategies for Counterarguments and rebuttals

Another element that’s unique to persuasive essays is embedding a counterargument. Sometimes called naysayers or opposing positions, counterarguments are points of view that challenge our own.

Why embed a naysayer?

Recall above how a helpful strategy for beginning a persuasive essay (the introduction) is to briefly mention a debate—what some writing textbooks call “joining the conversation.” Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein’s They Say / I Say explains why engaging other points of view is so crucial:

Not long ago we attended a talk at an academic conference where the speaker’s central claim seemed to be that a certain sociologist—call him Dr. X—had done very good work in a number of areas of the discipline. The speaker proceeded to illustrate his thesis by referring extensively and in great detail to various books and articles by Dr. X and by quoting long pas-sages from them. The speaker was obviously both learned and impassioned, but as we listened to his talk we found ourselves somewhat puzzled: the argument—that Dr. X’s work was very important—was clear enough, but why did the speaker need to make it in the first place? Did anyone dispute it? Were there commentators in the field who had argued against X’s work or challenged its value? Was the speaker’s interpretation of what X had done somehow novel or revolutionary? Since the speaker gave no hint of an answer to any of these questions, we could only wonder why he was going on and on about X. It was only after the speaker finished and took questions from the audience that we got a clue: in response to one questioner, he referred to several critics who had vigorously questioned Dr. X’s ideas and convinced many sociologists that Dr. X’s work was unsound.

When writing for an academic audience, one of the most important moves a writer can make is to demonstrate how their ideas compare to others. It serves as part of the context. Your essay might be offering a highly original solution to a certain problem you’ve researched the entire semester, but the reader will only understand that if existing arguments are presented in your draft. Or, on the other hand, you might be synthesizing or connecting a variety of opinions in order to arrive at a more comprehensive solution. That’s also fine, but the creativity of your synthesis and its unique contribution to existing research will only be known if those other voices are included.

Aristotelian argumentation embeds counterarguments in order to refute them. Rogerian arguments present oppositional stances in order to synthesize and integrate them. No matter what your strategy is, the essay should be conversational.

Notice how Ana Mari Cauce opens her essay on free speech in higher education, “ Messy but Essential “:

Over the past year or two, issues surrounding the exercise of free speech and expression have come to the forefront at colleges around the country. The common narrative about free speech issues that we so often read goes something like this: today’s college students — overprotected and coddled by parents, poorly educated in high school and exposed to primarily left-leaning faculty — have become soft “snowflakes” who are easily offended by mere words and the slightest of insults, unable or unwilling to tolerate opinions that veer away from some politically correct orthodoxy and unable to engage in hard-hitting debate. counterargument

This is false in so many ways, and even insulting when you consider the reality of students’ experiences today. claim

The introduction to her article is essentially a counteragument (which serves as her introductory context) followed by a response. Embedding naysayers like this can appear anywhere in an essay, not just the introduction. Notice, furthermore, how Cauce’s naysayer isn’t gleaned from any research she did. It’s just a general, trendy naysayer, something one might hear nowadays, in the ether. It shows she’s attuned to an ongoing conversation, but it doesn’t require her to cite anything specific. As the previous chapter on using rhetorical appeals in arguments explained, this kind of attunement with an emerging problem (or exigence) is known as the appeal to kairos . A compelling, engaging introduction will demonstrate that the argument “kairotically” addresses a pressing concern.

Below is a brief overview of what counterarguments are and how you might respond to them in your arguments. This section was developed by Robin Jeffrey, in “ Counterargument and Response “:

Common Types of counterarguments

• Could someone disagree with your claim? If so, why? Explain this opposing perspective in your own argument, and then respond to it.
• Could someone draw a different conclusion from any of the facts or examples you present? If so, what is that different conclusion? Explain this different conclusion and then respond to it.
• Could a reader question any of your assumptions or claims? If so, which ones would they question? Explain and then respond.
• Could a reader offer a different explanation of an issue? If so, what might their explanation be? Describe this different explanation, and then respond to it.
• Is there any evidence out there that could weaken your position? If so, what is it? Cite and discuss this evidence and then respond to it.

If the answer to any of these questions is yes, that does not necessarily mean that you have a weak argument. It means, ideally and as long as your argument is logical and valid, that you have a counterargument. Good arguments can and do have counterarguments; it is important to discuss them. But you must also discuss and then respond to those counterarguments.

Responding to counterarguments

You do not need to attempt to do all of these things as a way to respond; instead, choose the response strategy that makes the most sense to you, for the counterargument that you have.

• If you agree with some of the counterargument perspectives, you can concede some of their points. (“I do agree that ….”, “Some of the points made by ____ are valid…..”) You could then challenge the importance/usefulness of those points. “However, this information does not apply to our topic because…”
• If the counterargument perspective is one that contains different evidence than you have in your own argument, you can explain why a reader should not accept the evidence that the counterarguer presents.
• If the counterargument perspective is one that contains a different interpretation of evidence than you have in your own argument, you can explain why a reader should not accept the interpretation of the evidence that that your opponent (counterarguer) presents.
• If the counterargument is an acknowledgement of evidence that threatens to weaken your argument, you must explain why and how that evidence does not, in fact invalidate your claim.

It is important to use transitional phrases in your paper to alert readers when you’re about to present an counterargument. It’s usually best to put this phrase at the beginning of a paragraph such as:

• Researchers have challenged these claims with…
• Critics argue that this view…
• Some readers may point to…
• A perspective that challenges the idea that . . .

Transitional phrases will again be useful to highlight your shift from counterargument to response:

• Indeed, some of those points are valid. However, . . .
• While I agree that . . . , it is more important to consider . . .
• These are all compelling points. Still, other information suggests that . .
• While I understand . . . , I cannot accept the evidence because . . .

Further reading

To read more about the importance of counterarguments in academic writing, read Steven D. Krause’s “ On the Other Hand: The Role of Antithetical Writing in First Year Composition Courses .”

When concluding, address the “so what?” challenge

As Joseph W. Williams mentions in his chapter on concluding persuasive essays in Style ,

a good introduction motivates your readers to keep reading, introduces your key themes, and states your main point … [but] a good conclusion serves a different end: as the last thing your reader reads, it should bring together your point, its significance, and its implications for thinking further about the ideas your explored.

At the very least, a good persuasive conclusion will

• Summarize the main points
• Address the So what? or Now what? challenge.

When summarizing the main points of longer essays, Williams suggests it’s fine to use “metadiscourse,” such as, “I have argued that.” If the essay is short enough, however, such metadiscourses may not be necessary, since the reader will already have those ideas fresh in their mind.

After summarizing your essay’s main points, imagine a friendly reader thinking,

“OK, I’m persuaded and entertained by everything you’ve laid out in your essay. But remind me what’s so important about these ideas? What are the implications? What kind of impact do you expect your ideas to have? Do you expect something to change?”

It’s sometimes appropriate to offer brief action points, based on the implications of your essay. When addressing the “So what?” challenge, however, it’s important to first consider whether your essay is primarily targeted towards changing the way people think or act . Do you expect the audience to do something, based on what you’ve argued in your essay? Or, do you expect the audience to think differently? Traditional academic essays tend to propose changes in how the reader thinks more than acts, but your essay may do both.

Finally, Williams suggests that it’s sometimes appropriate to end a persuasive essay with an anecdote, illustrative fact, or key quote that emphasizes the significance of the argument. We can see a good example of this in Carr’s article, “ Is Google Making Us Stupid? ” Here are the introduction and conclusion, side-by-side: Definition: Term

[Introduction] “Dave, stop. Stop, will you? Stop, Dave. Will you stop, Dave?” So the supercomputer HAL pleads with the implacable astronaut Dave Bowman in a famous and weirdly poignant scene toward the end of Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey . Bowman, having nearly been sent to a deep-space death by the malfunctioning machine, is calmly, coldly disconnecting the memory circuits that control its artificial “ brain. “Dave, my mind is going,” HAL says, forlornly. “I can feel it. I can feel it.”

I can feel it, too. Over the past few years I’ve had an uncomfortable sense that someone, or something, has been tinkering with my brain, remapping the neural circuitry, reprogramming the memory. …

[Conclusion] I’m haunted by that scene in 2001 . What makes it so poignant, and so weird, is the computer’s emotional response to the disassembly of its mind: its despair as one circuit after another goes dark, its childlike pleading with the astronaut—“I can feel it. I can feel it. I’m afraid”—and its final reversion to what can only be called a state of innocence. HAL’s outpouring of feeling contrasts with the emotionlessness that characterizes the human figures in the film, who go about their business with an almost robotic efficiency. Their thoughts and actions feel scripted, as if they’re following the steps of an algorithm. In the world of 2001 , people have become so machinelike that the most human character turns out to be a machine. That’s the essence of Kubrick’s dark prophecy: as we come to rely on computers to mediate our understanding of the world, it is our own intelligence that flattens into artificial intelligence.

Instead of merely rehashing all of the article’s main points, Carr returns to the same movie scene from 2001 that he opened with. The final lines interpret the scene according to the argument he just dedicated the entire essay to presenting.

The entire essay should use rhetorical appeals strategically

The chapter “ Persuasive Appeals ” introduces students to logos, pathos, ethos, and kairos. Becoming familiar with each of those persuasive appeals can add much to an essay. It also reinforces the idea that writing argumentative essays is not a straightforward process of jotting down proofs. It’s not a computer algorithm.

• Logos (appeals to evidence and reasoning) is the foundational appeal of an argument essay. Clearly identifying the claim, then supporting that claim with reasoning and evidence will appeal to the reader’s logos demands. As the previous chapter on argumentation mentions, however, what constitutes solid evidence will vary depending on the audience. Make sure your evidence is indeed convincing to your intended reader.
• Pathos (appeals to emotion) are a crucial component and should permeate should every section of the essay. Personal anecdotes are an effective way to illustrate important ideas, and they connect with the reader at an emotional level. Personal examples also cultivate voice .
• Ethos (appeals to character, image, and values) is essential to gaining the reader’s trust and assent. The tone of your essay (snarky, sincere, ironic, sarcastic, empathetic) is immensely important for its overall effect, and it helps build the reader’s image of you. A careful attention to high-quality research reinforces a sincere and empathetic tone. When supporting certain claims and sub-claims, it’s also important to identify implied beliefs (warrants) that your reader is most likely to agree with, and to undermine beliefs that might seem repugnant.
• Kairos (appeals to timeliness) impresses the reader with your attunement to the situation. This should be practiced especially in the introduction, but it can appear throughout the essay as you engage with research and other voices that have recently weighed in on the topic.

All of these appeals are already happening, whether or not they’re recognized. If they are missed, the audience will often use them against you, judging your essay as not being personable enough (pathos), or not in touch with commonly accepted values (ethos), or out of touch with what’s going on (kairos). These non-logical appeals aren’t irrational. They are crucial components to writing that matters.

Argument Outline Exercise

To get started on your argument essay, practice adopting from of the outlines from this Persuasive Essay Outline worksheet .

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Last Name, First Name. "Title of Essay." Title of Book. Ed. (Editors) First Name

   Last Name. City, State: Publisher, Year. Name of Database. Web. Date Retrieved.

Hertsgaard, Mark. "Activism Has Been Crucial for the Environmental Movement." At Issue:

   Political Activism . Ed. Tom Lansford. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2007. Opposing

   Viewpoints Resource Center. Web. 25 Apr. 2009.

Magazine Article

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   Name of Database . Web. Date Retrieved.

Begley, Sharon. "Good Cop/Bad Cop Goes Green." Newsweek 4 May 2009: 49. Opposing

   Viewpoints Resource Center . Web. 29 June 2009.

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   of Database . Web. Date Retrieved.

Bean, Michael. "Bipartisan Environmentalism." Issues in Science and Technology 24.3

   (2008): 21+. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center . Web. 20 June 2009.

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Best 10+ Argumentative Essay Examples for Effective Writing

Discover top-notch argumentative essay examples that will elevate your writing skills and help you craft compelling arguments effectively.

Argumentative essays are a common assignment in academic writing that requires students to present a strong argument and support it with evidence. These essays aim to persuade the reader to agree with the writer's viewpoint on a particular topic or issue. To help you understand the key elements and techniques of writing an effective argumentative essay, we have compiled a list of the best 10+ argumentative essay examples. These examples will not only inspire you but also provide you with insights into different types of argumentative essays and how to write them successfully.

What is an Argumentative Essay?

An argumentative essay is a type of essay that presents a well-reasoned argument on a specific topic. The goal of this essay is to convince the reader to adopt the writer's perspective or take a certain action. In an argumentative essay, the writer presents evidence, supports claims with facts, and provides counterarguments to address opposing views. This type of essay relies heavily on logical reasoning and critical thinking skills.

Types of Argumentative Essays:

Classical Argument : This type of essay presents a clear argument, supports it with evidence, and refutes counterarguments.

Rogerian Argument : In this approach, the writer seeks to find common ground and establish mutual understanding between opposing viewpoints.

Toulmin Argument : The Toulmin model emphasizes using evidence to support claims, identifying and responding to counterarguments, and acknowledging the limitations of the argument.

Deductive Argument : In a deductive argument essay, the writer starts with a general statement or premise and provides specific examples to support it.

Inductive Argument : The inductive argument essay begins with detailed observations or examples and uses them to draw a general conclusion.

How to Write an Argumentative Essay:

To write an effective argumentative essay, follow these steps:

• Choose a debatable topic: Select a topic that is open to different interpretations or has contrasting viewpoints.
• Conduct thorough research: Gather relevant and credible sources to support your argument and address counterarguments.
• Develop a clear thesis statement: Your thesis statement should express your main argument and provide a roadmap for the essay.
• Outline your essay: Organize your thoughts and evidence in a logical order. Create sections for your introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion.
• Write a compelling introduction: Grab the reader's attention with a hook, provide background information, and present your thesis statement.
• Present your argument: Each body paragraph should focus on a separate point and provide evidence to support it.
• Address counterarguments: Acknowledge opposing viewpoints and refute them with evidence and logical reasoning.
• Summarize and conclude: Restate your thesis, summarize your main points, and leave the reader with a thought-provoking conclusion.

Now, let's explore the best 10+ argumentative essay examples that will serve as inspiration for your own writing endeavors.

Example 1: Should the use of cell phones be allowed in schools?

• Introduction: Cell phones have become an integral part of our daily lives, but their usage in schools remains a topic of debate.
• Body Paragraph 1: Cell phones can be used as educational tools as they provide access to a wealth of information and resources.
• Body Paragraph 2: Allowing cell phones in schools can enhance communication between students, parents, and teachers.
• Body Paragraph 3: The use of cell phones can promote safety and security as students can quickly contact authorities in case of emergencies.
• Counterargument: Opponents argue that cell phone usage can lead to distractions and disrupt the learning environment.
• Refutation: Proper guidelines can be implemented to regulate cell phone usage and minimize distractions.
• Conclusion: Allowing cell phones in schools, with appropriate restrictions, can have numerous benefits for education and overall student well-being.

Example 2: Should animal testing be banned?

• Introduction: Animal testing has long been a subject of ethical concern, and the debate about its necessity continues to rage on.
• Body Paragraph 1: Animal testing has contributed to numerous scientific breakthroughs and advancements in medicine.
• Body Paragraph 2: The suffering and unethical treatment of animals during testing is morally wrong and goes against our duty to protect animal rights.
• Body Paragraph 3: Alternative methods, such as in vitro testing and advanced computer simulations, can provide more accurate results without the need for animal experimentation.
• Counterargument: Critics argue that without animal testing, scientific progress and medical advancements would be hindered.
• Refutation: Increased funding and focus on alternative testing methods can lead to further advancements while eliminating the need for animal testing.
• Conclusion: Banning animal testing is a necessary step towards a more ethical and effective approach to scientific research and medical advancements.

Example 3: Is social media beneficial or harmful to society?

• Introduction: Social media has rapidly become a powerful force in our lives, but its impact on society remains a contentious issue.
• Body Paragraph 1: Social media allows for global connectivity and facilitates the spread of information and ideas.
• Body Paragraph 2: Social media provides a platform for marginalized groups to raise awareness, mobilize, and effect positive change.
• Body Paragraph 3: The addictive nature of social media and its negative impact on mental health is a cause for concern.
• Counterargument: Critics argue that social media promotes excessive self-comparison, depression, and cyberbullying.
• Refutation: Education and awareness campaigns can help individuals navigate social media's negative aspects and promote healthier online behavior.
• Conclusion: While social media has its downsides, its positive aspects outweigh the negatives, making it a valuable tool for communication and societal progress.

Example 4: Should college education be free for all?

• Introduction: The rising cost of college education has sparked a debate about accessibility and affordability.
• Body Paragraph 1: Providing free college education can ensure equal opportunities for all, regardless of socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Body Paragraph 2: Free college education can lead to a more educated society, benefiting the economy and promoting social mobility.
• Body Paragraph 3: Critics argue that free education would result in oversaturation of the job market and devalue the worth of a college degree.
• Refutation: Strict admission criteria and high-quality education can maintain the value of a college degree while ensuring broader access.
• Conclusion: By making college education free, societies can break down barriers to education and create a more equitable and prosperous future.

Example 5: Is the death penalty an effective form of punishment?

• Introduction: The death penalty has long been a topic of ethical and moral debate.
• Body Paragraph 1: Supporters argue that the death penalty deters potential criminals and ensures justice for the most heinous crimes.
• Body Paragraph 2: The death penalty is irreversible and carries the risk of executing innocent individuals, making it ethically unacceptable.
• Body Paragraph 3: Alternative punishments, such as life imprisonment, can achieve the same objectives without the risk of wrongful execution.
• Counterargument: Some claim that the death penalty is a necessary retribution for the most severe crimes.
• Refutation: Life imprisonment can serve as a just punishment, allowing for potential reformation and avoiding the irreversible loss of innocent lives.
• Conclusion: Abolishing the death penalty is a crucial step towards a more humane and just criminal justice system.

Example 6: Should genetically modified organisms (GMOs) be labeled?

• Introduction: The use of genetically modified organisms in food production has become a topic of public concern, raising questions about transparency and consumer choice.
• Body Paragraph 1: Labeling GMOs allows consumers to make informed decisions about their food choices based on personal preferences and health considerations.
• Body Paragraph 2: The potential risks and long-term effects of GMOs on human health and the environment necessitate transparent labeling.
• Body Paragraph 3: Opponents argue that mandatory labeling of GMOs would increase food prices and stigmatize biotechnology.
• Refutation: Proper regulation and accurate labeling can provide necessary information without significantly impacting food prices or stigmatizing GMOs.
• Conclusion: Labeling GMOs is a matter of consumer rights, allowing individuals to make informed choices and promoting transparency in the food industry.

Example 7: Should plastic bags be banned?

• Introduction: Single-use plastic bags have emerged as a major environmental concern, prompting discussions about their impact and the need for regulation.
• Body Paragraph 1: Banning plastic bags can reduce plastic pollution, protect wildlife, and mitigate the harmful effects of plastic waste on ecosystems.
• Body Paragraph 2: Alternatives to plastic bags, such as reusable bags, are readily available and provide a more sustainable option for consumers.
• Body Paragraph 3: Critics argue that banning plastic bags would inconvenience consumers and negatively impact businesses.
• Refutation: Encouraging the use of reusable bags and providing alternative solutions can address these concerns without compromising the environment.
• Conclusion: Banning plastic bags is a necessary step towards reducing plastic pollution and promoting a more sustainable future.

Example 8: Should the voting age be lowered to 16?

• Introduction: The debate surrounding the voting age hinges on the question of youth political engagement and civic participation.
• Body Paragraph 1: Lowering the voting age to 16 can promote youth involvement in local, national, and global issues.
• Body Paragraph 2: Today's youth are well-informed and actively engaged in social and political matters, justifying their right to vote.
• Body Paragraph 3: Critics argue that 16-year-olds lack the necessary maturity and life experience to make informed voting decisions.
• Refutation: Many 16-year-olds contribute to society, work, pay taxes, and drive, indicating a level of responsibility and ability to make informed decisions.
• Conclusion: Lowering the voting age to 16 can empower the youth, thereby fostering a more democratic and inclusive political landscape.

Example 9: Should schools implement mandatory dress codes?

• Introduction: The issue of school dress codes often sparks contentious debates regarding self-expression, professionalism, and fostering a suitable learning environment.
• Body Paragraph 1: Implementing mandatory dress codes can promote a sense of unity, reduce peer pressure related to fashion, and minimize distractions.
• Body Paragraph 2: Dress codes can prepare students for future professional settings and teach them the importance of appropriate attire.
• Body Paragraph 3: Critics argue that dress codes limit individual expression and can perpetuate gender stereotypes.
• Refutation: Dress codes can be flexible and inclusive, allowing for self-expression within certain guidelines while still maintaining a suitable environment for learning.
• Conclusion: Implementing dress codes, when thoughtfully designed, can strike a balance between individual expression and maintaining a conducive learning environment.

Example 10: Is online learning as effective as traditional classroom learning?

• Introduction: The rapid growth of online learning has initiated discussions about the efficacy and widespread adoption of this educational format.
• Body Paragraph 1: Online learning provides flexibility, accessibility, and the opportunity for self-paced learning, catering to diverse student needs.
• Body Paragraph 2: Traditional classroom learning promotes face-to-face interactions, immediate feedback, and a sense of community among students.
• Body Paragraph 3: The integration of technology and interactive platforms in online learning can replicate the benefits of classroom settings.
• Counterargument: Critics argue that online learning lacks the social and collaborative aspects of traditional classroom learning.
• Refutation: Online learning can be augmented with virtual discussions, group projects, and video conferencing to foster similar collaborative experiences.
• Conclusion: Online learning, when combined with interactive and collaborative features, can be just as effective, if not more, than traditional classroom learning.

In conclusion, argumentative essays provide opportunities to explore various perspectives on contentious topics and present evidence-based arguments. By examining different viewpoints, rebutting counterarguments, and offering refutations, these essays can contribute to critical thinking and effective communication.

Get science-backed answers as you write with Paperpal's Research feature

Powerful Academic Phrases to Improve Your Essay Writing 

Adopting a formal style of writing is crucial for any type of academic writing, be it scholarly articles, research papers or essays. It requires a deep understanding of the subject matter, the ability to analyze and synthesize complex information, and the skill to communicate ideas effectively. One of the primary challenges of academic writing is the need to balance clarity with accuracy.  

There are various factors that should be borne in mind in academic writing. The writing should be clear and precise. It should be well structured with a clear focus while demonstrating the rigor with which the research was conducted. Long winding sentences and emotional language must be completely avoided. While discipline specific language should be used, jargon must be avoided. In other words, academic writing is not easy. However, by using the right words and academic phrases, you can deliver clear, concise writing that can elevate your scholarly papers or essays.  

In this article we will look at a few strong academic phrases that can go a long way in improving your academic essay writing.

Table of Contents

Comparing and contrasting, providing examples, elaborating on information, indicating uncertainty, summarising, academic phrases for various situations.

In writing an academic essay, arguments and ideas need to be built and articulated in a compelling manner. These should be supported with appropriate evidence. Furthermore, verifiable facts and examples must be presented in an engaging way and the entire essay should be well structured.  

In all these, the usage of right academic phrases becomes helpful. Depending on what you want to convey, different academic phrases can be used in various situations as discussed below. 

Very often in essays you may have to engage in the process of comparing and contrasting information, key aspects of two phenomena taken for study, or various sources for your literature review and so on. You will have to bring in to your discussion not just the similarities to your arguments, but also opposing or conflicting perspectives.  

Use of appropriate phrases will help organically bring in such similar or contrasting information. For example, some of the phrases that can be used to discuss similarities and differences include: In comparison or by contrast, however, conversely, alternatively, whereas, on the other hand, likewise, in the same way and so on. Example: “The author expresses his opinion based on anecdotal references. By contrast the survey he quotes and tries to argue against is more plausible with the rigorous data it has collected.”  

While writing an academic essay, you are required to support and expand your ideas and arguments through the use of examples. Phrases that can be used to provide examples include: for example, for instance, to illustrate, to exemplify, to demonstrate. 

Example: “Climate and weather patterns are changing rapidly and its ramifications are staring us in the face. For example, look at what is happening with the incessant rains pouring down during certain summer months.”  

As you structure your narrative, you will have to elaborate at various points on the information, ideas, and arguments that you are presenting. This has to be done in a manner that does not adversely affect the smooth flow of the narrative. It is here that the usage of appropriate phrases is crucial to uplift the quality of your essay. Using phrases such as moreover, furthermore, in other words, in addition and so on can aid in providing additional information. 

Example: “Rising temperatures are greatly impacting the health of children belonging to vulnerable groups in parts of the Asian sub-continent. Moreover, the lack of adequate government support and dismal welfare measures is making lives harder for such families.” 

While writing research papers or essays, researchers often acknowledge the limitations of their studies and the possibilities for conflicting or opposing views. Such recognition is pertinent for the advancement of scientific knowledge. There are various phrases that can be used to indicate uncertainty such as: it could be argued that the data suggest that evidence suggest that, or it is possible due to. 

Example: “The evidence suggests that the new teaching methods are beneficial and can be considered as an alternative to existing methods”. 

The concluding part of your essay should be a summary of your main ideas and arguments and its significance. To this end, the following phrases can be utilized: to summarise, to conclude, above all, or most significantly.  

Example: “To conclude, evidence points to the positive impact of periodic creative workshops on children’s cognitive development.”   

While academic writing may be challenging, mastering the use of appropriate academic phrases, avoiding jargon, and delivering clear, concise writing can elevate one’s writing to a higher and contribute to the advancement of knowledge in their respective fields. 

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Crucible of Doubt

Posted 29/05/2024 by NURPRT Forum

The following post by Austin Benedetto, an undergraduate student at Northwestern University, is the sixth in the series of posts highlighting exemplary work by undergraduates with interests in Russian Philosophy, Literature,  and Religious Thought. The NURPRT Forum welcomes any undergraduate student to  submit academic writing related to these fields to be considered for publication.

In Capitalism in America , Alan Greenspan attempts to explain the United States’ fading dynamism. He provides a few reasons, but the most important is rising entitlements (e.g., Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid). [1] These programs, to simplify, lower domestic savings and thus put at risk forward-looking investments that may yield long-term rewards. The more foundational problem, however, is that entitlements are hard to roll back. Once someone has something, it is really difficult to take it away. Economists Richard Thaler and Daniel Kahneman have extensively studied the “endowment effect,” but the idea can be traced back to Aristotle. In Nicomachean Ethics , he writes:

For most things are differently valued by those who have them and by those who wish to get them: what belongs to us, and what we give away, always seems very precious to us. [2]

This tendency, I submit, applies to more than just material goods. People similarly feel entitled to their respective ideologies. Consequently, they often leave their opinions unexamined.  When someone steps into a college classroom and vehemently declares that their political or economic system is the correct one, there is rarely any doubt in their voice. It is even more troublesome when these same people equate criticism with personal disrespect. They see other viewpoints as not only incorrect but morally inferior. In such cases, pedagogy morphs into fundamentalism and indoctrination.

All of this goes back to the idea of entitlement. People often feel that, simply by existing, they have the “right” to hold strong opinions on all subjects. While this is not necessarily consequential when it comes to something like rating movies, ideology is a different matter. We should be very careful with what philosophies we adopt. This is not to say all entitlements are bad – people have the right to their own opinions – but social and political philosophies ought to be open to careful examination and reconsideration, rather than treated as an inviolable personal possession.

Russian literature helps us to better understand this feeling of entitlement, whether economic or ideological. Surrounded by Russian utopists and nihilists, Dostoevsky observed hotheaded people who never suspected their own philosophies. Dostoevsky, on the other hand, was filled with doubt over even his most essential belief: God. In one of his letters, he wrote: “the main question is the very one I have struggled with consciously and unconsciously all my life—the existence of God.” [3] Despite proclaiming his faith, he greatly struggled with it. This conflict is best exemplified in the Brothers Karamazov where, through Ivan and the Grand Inquisitor, he gives one of the best rebuttals to Christianity. This makes clear that he did not believe in Christ “like a child”; instead, his belief “passed through a great furnace of doubt.” [4]

But is doubt really edifying? Surely it is – and this is where the power of the realist novel comes into play. In the essay “Art as Device,” Viktor Shklovsky describes the purpose of art as the “’enstrangement’ of things and the complication of the form.” [5] In other words, art interrupts thoughtless habit and allows the reader to see objectively as a third party. Shklovsky commends Tolstoy as the master of this form. His method, Shklovsky continues, “consists in not calling a thing or event by its name but describing it as if seen for the first time, as if happening for the first time.” [6]

Shklovsky gives many examples, but a relevant one comes from Stiva in Anna Karenina . Stiva is inattentive, and while “science, art, and politics had no special interest for him, he firmly held those views on all these subjects which were held by the majority and by his paper.” [7] This seems ridiculous to anyone who reads it, of course, but people habitually do this every day. I have read countless Op-Eds nodding in agreement without ever considering the other side. It is only when I read passages like this one from Tolstoy that the routine appears as foolish as it truly is.

Given the obvious absurdity of thoughtless agreement and oversimplification, why do we do it? Joseph Schumpeter, a famous economist, describes this phenomenon in relation to Karl Marx’s appeal. Much of economics is about individual technical insights, while Marx gives a fully packaged synthesis. On this, Schumpeter writes:

From the students who are taught to see only individual trees we hear discontented clamor for the forest. They fail to realize however… that the synthetic forest may look uncommonly like an intellectual concentration camp. [8]

We desire philosophies that purport to explain everything, but life is far more complicated than these theories can capture. By trying to limit the richness and endless variety of experience, we indirectly imprison ourselves. Moreover, in explaining everything simply through environmental or economic conditions, we may “solve” the issue but only tautologically.

To elucidate this point, Gary Saul Morson tells a story about two kids playing around on a sunny day. One child asks: “why is the sky blue?” The other responds: “because God wills it.” This certainly is an answer, but by explaining every phenomenon it in fact explains nothing. This type of totalistic explanation is also what creates that dangerous certitude which so reviles all other possible viewpoints.

We might find a better approach by starting with Berlin’s essay The Hedgehog and the Fox . Investigating Archilochus’s proverb, “The fox knows many things, but the hedgehog knows one big thing,” Berlin imagines two types of thinkers. Hedgehogs, like Karl Marx and Plato, have one big idea through which they view the world. Foxes, on the other hand, believe that recognizing life’s infinite complexity is truer to reality than any one “big idea.” This dichotomy may seem unfair to hedgehogs, but it is important to remember that hedgehogs have had a profound (sometimes baneful) impact on intellectual history.

The question now becomes: what does a “fox” look like? Evidently, we need to consciously criticize our habits and ideologies – but is there something more? I submit there is: dutiful and active awareness. This can be best understood by looking at the three Karamazov brothers.

Alyosha, the youngest of the brothers, is religious and arguably dutiful from the beginning – but he believes like a hedgehog. His faith is built upon his respect for the Elder Zosima (a spiritual man) and his belief in miracles. When Alyosha examines his brother Ivan’s motivations, he does not actually stop and think; instead, he merely copies Zosima’s diagnosis. To which his interlocuter interjects, “That’s plagiarism.” [9] Alyosha’s credulity, like Stiva’s, is exactly what needs to be avoided.

Yet, Alyosha soon experiences a reckoning. The miracle he expected doesn’t happen, and great doubt disrupts his religious base. Feeling aimless, he is goaded into the den of a women whom many see as debauched. But this woman, Grushenka, does not act as expected. She is warm and tells a story about a wicked woman who has the possibility for redemption solely because she did one good act: giving an onion to a poor beggar. These small deeds, both the onion and the telling of the story, are not miracles in the conventional sense. They are mundane acts which anyone can do. Yet, they offer a much stronger basis for belief because they are at once ordinary and extraordinary. No longer does Alyosha’s religious faith rest on an oversimplified belief in divine interventions. In other words, like a fox, he becomes aware of the individual trees that compose the forest of faith.

No one explains this phenomenon better than the Elder Zosima. When a woman confides to him that she is troubled by a crisis of faith, he does not dissimulate or give a ready-made proof for God. All the Elder does is prescribe a dutiful way of life: “there’s no proving it, though you can be convinced of it… By the experience of active love. Strive to love your neighbor actively and indefatigably” [10] This is hard-earned belief. Instead of blind faith or simplified ideology, one works for their principles and is thus better prepared to face the world’s contingencies.

Ivan, the middle Karamazov brother, undergoes a transformation like Alyosha, but one that, in its ambiguity, is possibly more revealing. From the onset, Ivan is described as “paradoxical.” [11] He struggles to square the possibility of a caring God in a cruel world. The Elder assesses Ivan’s anguish, saying the “idea [of morality] is still unresolved in [Ivan’s] heart and torments it.” [12] While Ivan is commendable for examining his belief system, he does so with detachment. By signing his writings as “The Observer,” he impersonally remains a step away from truly working through his ideas. In this way, he fails in the active part of ideological examination.

Unlike Alyosha, Ivan does not find definitive redemption. Still, by the end, it can be said that he takes a step in the right direction. After slowly grappling with his guilt over a crime of passivity, Ivan realizes that though contemplation is necessary, reflection, by itself, is not sufficient for assessing value systems.

This change can be seen through Ivan’s encounter with a peasant. Running over to see Smerdyakov, his quasi-accomplice in crime, Ivan overhears a peasant singing a song that is eerily reminiscent of his transgression. He knocks the peasant over and runs away, once again hiding and neglecting active duty. But after conversing with Smerdyakov for the third and final time, Ivan fully realizes his guilt – and on his return, Ivan goes over to the peasant and brings him to the hospital. For the first time, “something like a joy was springing in” the almost always gloomy Ivan. [13]

By taking action, Ivan begins to reconcile with the irreducible complexity of life he had abandoned for solipsistic thinking. All of this leads to a final encounter with his interior demon – an actual devil. Ivan’s devil famously exemplifies the ordinariness of evil, but more interestingly for this discussion, he elucidates the necessity of opposing viewpoints:

Without criticism, it would be nothing but one ‘hosannah.’ But nothing but hosannah is not enough for life, the hosannah must be tried in the crucible of doubt. [14]

Not only would life be less interesting were everything clear, but would belief even mean anything if it was so easily begotten? No, people value something more when it is achieved than when it is freely obtained.

Doubting your core beliefs is not easy, however. As Nobel laureate Svetlana Alexievich wrote: “Courage in war and courage of thought are two different things. I used to think they were the same.” [15] (WSJ). It requires immense personal suffering to speak against the prevailing ideology – maybe even more than when fighting in battle. All of this raises the question: how does one endure throughout the discovery process? Dmitri, the eldest Karamazov, provides a good resolution. After being arrested for a crime he did not commit, Dmitri exclaims he “could stand anything, any suffering, only to be able to say and to repeat to myself every moment, ‘I exist’” [16] By cultivating respect and perhaps even love for life’s complexity, one can better withstand its indispensable uncertainties.

Image: Aleksandr Ivanov, Study: Two Heads, Turning of the Head of the Doubter 1835-39

[1] Alan Greenspan and Adrian Wooldridge, Capitalism in America: A History . (New York: Random House, 2008), 404.

[2] Aristotle, The Nicomachean Ethics , Translated by F.H. Peters. (London: Kegal Paul, Trench, Truebner &Co, 1983), 206.

[3] Fyodor Dostoevsky and Susan Reynolds, The Brothers Karamazov: A Revised Translation . Translated by Constance Garnett. (New York: W.W. Norton & Co: 2011), 654.

[4] Dostoevsky, Brothers Karamazov , 667.

[5] Viktor Sklovsky, Art as Device , Translated by Alexandra Berlina. (Duke University Press, 2015): https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/arts/english/currentstudents/undergraduate/modules/fulllist/first/en122/lecturelist2017-18/art_as_device_2015.pdf

[6] Shklovsky, Art as Device .

[7] Leo Tolstoy, Anna Karenina , Translated by Constance Garnett. (New York: Modern Library, 1950), 9.

[8] Joseph Schumpeter, Capitalism, Socialism, and Democracy . (New York: Harper & Row, 1962), 46.

[9] Dostoevsky, Brothers Karamazov , 75.

[10] Dostoevsky, Brothers Karamazov , 54.

[11] Dostoevsky, Brothers Karamazov , 65.

[12] Dostoevsky, Brothers Karamazov , 65.

[13] Dostoevsky, Brothers Karamazov , 532.

[14] Dostoevsky, Brothers Karamazov , 539.

[15] Gary Saul Morson, “What Pilate Learns.” First Things , March 2023, https://www.firstthings.com/article/2023/03/what-pilate-learns

[16] Dostoevsky, Brothers Karamazov , 500.

Categories: Forum of Ideas , General , Undergraduate

Tags: Dostoevsky , Russian literature , Undergraduate

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Election Updates: Biden asks what Trump would have done if Capitol rioters were Black.

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Chris Cameron

Karoline Leavitt, press secretary for the Trump campaign, was asked by the Fox News host Jesse Watters if there would be “revenge” if Donald Trump won in November. Leavitt said that “certainly people” — including President Biden — “need to be held accountable for the crimes that have been committed over the last several years,” adding that Trump has vowed to pardon those convicted in connection to the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot.

Nicholas Nehamas

In Philadelphia, President Biden thanked Black voters for helping him win in 2020 and said he needs them to do it again. “Because Black America voted, Kamala and I are president and vice president of the United States. Because of you, that’s not hyperbole.” Biden’s event today was meant to help energize Black voters nationwide.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s campaign filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission alleging that CNN colluded with the Biden and Trump campaigns to exclude Kennedy from its June 27 debate. The Kennedy campaign argues that CNN unfairly requires Kennedy’s name be on the ballot in enough states to qualify to win the presidency by June 20, before Democrats and Republicans officially nominate their candidates.

Neil Vigdor

A day after verbally sparring with hecklers outside former President Donald J. Trump’s New York criminal trial, Robert De Niro reprised his supporting actor role for the Biden campaign in a fund-raising email denouncing Trump. “Over the years, I’ve played my share of vicious, low-life characters. I’ve spent a lot of time studying bad men.” De Niro wrote. “As an actor, I could never play him.”

Michael Gold

Speaking to reporters at the Manhattan courthouse, former President Donald J. Trump mocked Robert De Niro, who held a news conference outside the courthouse with the Biden campaign yesterday. “He’s a broken-down fool,” Trump said, repeating criticisms he has made on social media. Then, noting that De Niro got heckled, he added that the actor “got MAGA-ed yesterday. He got a big dose of it.”

Katie Glueck

A coalition of progressive Black activists who disagree with President Biden on Gaza are nonetheless starting a campaign aimed at defeating former President Donald J. Trump, one of the clearest signs yet that some of Biden’s left-leaning critics will still engage in November. But polls show Biden has major work to do with younger voters and voters of color who lean Democratic but are unenthused about this election.

President Biden’s speech in Philadelphia today is meant to shore up support from Black voters as his poll numbers continue to sag. Biden is drawing just 49 percent of Black voters in six of the top battleground states, a New York Times/Siena College poll found. In 2020, he won nearly nine in 10 Black voters nationwide.

The liberal activist organization MoveOn said it was adding Maryland’s open-seat contest for the U.S. Senate to its list of targeted races and endorsing Angela Alsobrooks, the Democratic Prince George’s County executive. The race became unexpectedly competitive with the entry of Larry Hogan, a Republican Trump critic and popular former governor.

Maggie Astor

House Majority PAC, the super PAC affiliated with House Democratic leadership, said it would spend $100 million this year on abortion rights messaging, including advertising and get-out-the-vote efforts. This “Reproductive Freedom Accountability Fund” is part of an overall $186 million spend that the PAC announced last month , a spokeswoman said.

Rosie Cuellar, the sister of Representative Henry Cuellar, was defeated on Tuesday in the Democratic primary for a state House seat that overlaps with her brother’s U.S. House district in southwest Texas. Rosie Cuellar’s defeat in the primary could be a sign of a backlash in the region’s Democratic base against her brother, who has been indicted on charges of bribery and money-laundering.

J. David Goodman

The Texas attorney general, Ken Paxton, who campaigned against Dade Phelan, the Texas House speaker, said in a statement that Phelan won on Tuesday by getting Democrats to vote for him in the open primary election, and he threatened Republican House members thinking of renewing their support for Phelan as speaker: “You will not return if you vote for Dade Phelan again.”

Craig Goldman , the chair of the Texas House Republican Caucus, defeated John O’Shea by a comfortable margin in the Republican primary for Texas’ 12th Congressional District on Tuesday. Last year, Goldman voted to impeach Ken Paxton, Texas’ attorney general, and Paxton had backed O’Shea.

Nicholas Nehamas and Maya King

Nicholas Nehamas reported from Philadelphia, and Maya King from New York.

Biden asks what Trump would have done if the Capitol rioters were Black.

President Biden made an aggressive push on Wednesday to head off former President Donald J. Trump’s modest gains among Black voters, condemning his Republican opponent as a racist who had lied to Black Americans about what his term in office delivered them.

Speaking alongside Vice President Kamala Harris at a rally in Philadelphia, Mr. Biden pressed home a series of arguments about why Black voters should choose him over Mr. Trump, who has been trying to court Americans of color .

“This is the same guy who wanted to tear-gas you as you peacefully protested George Floyd’s murder,” Mr. Biden told the predominantly Black crowd as he and Ms. Harris announced a national coalition of Black voters working on their behalf. “The same guy who still calls the Central Park Five guilty even though they were exonerated. He’s that landlord who denies housing applications because of the color of your skin.”

Invoking the Capitol attack on Jan. 6, 2021, and nodding to Mr. Trump’s remarks about pardoning the rioters, Mr. Biden said: “What do you think would have happened if Black Americans had stormed the Capitol? I don’t think he’d be talking about pardons.”

Mr. Biden and Ms. Harris were making a rare joint appearance at a campaign event as they push urgently to strengthen their support from Black voters, who helped propel them to victory in 2020 but whose lagging enthusiasm now poses a serious risk to their re-election prospects.

The event in Philadelphia — the Democratic stronghold of a must-win battleground state — capped a month of heavy outreach by Mr. Biden to African Americans. Prominent Black Democrats including Gov. Wes Moore of Maryland and Lt. Gov. Austin Davis of Pennsylvania appeared with the president and Ms. Harris on Wednesday at Girard College, a boarding school where a desegregation battle raged for more than a decade in the 1950s and ’60s.

Mr. Biden has plenty of ground to make up with Black Americans. Polls consistently show that his support from Black voters has declined to alarming levels for a Democrat. In a multicandidate race, just 49 percent of Black voters across six of the top battleground states said they would back Mr. Biden, a New York Times/Siena College/Philadelphia Inquirer poll found . Four years ago, nearly nine in 10 Black voters nationwide cast their ballots for Mr. Biden, according to exit polls.

Nationally, Democrats have expressed alarm at Mr. Biden’s polling numbers.

“It’s a big problem,” said Sherry Gay-Dagnogo, a Black Democrat who sits on Detroit’s school board. “And it really puts us in a position to lose.”

The Biden campaign said it would dispatch dozens of Black leaders on a nationwide “week of action” to mobilize Black voters in battleground states. It also plans to team up with national groups to hold events, recruit surrogates and speak directly to Black communities through November.

Mr. Trump, who has often relied on stereotypes to appeal to Black voters, tried to capitalize on their disaffection during a rally in the Bronx last Thursday, when he appeared with the rappers Sheff G and Sleepy Hallow , who have been charged with violent gang-related crimes.

The former president has also repeatedly and falsely said he oversaw the lowest Black unemployment rate in American history, which Mr. Biden on Wednesday called one of “Trump’s MAGA lies.” (In fact, the Black unemployment rate dipped lower under Mr. Biden.) Mr. Biden argued that Mr. Trump was “pandering and peddling lies and stereotypes” to Black voters so that “he can win for himself, not you.”

In a statement, Janiyah Thomas, the Black media director for the Trump campaign, accused Mr. Biden of “gaslighting Black voters” and noted that he had pushed for a 1994 federal crime bill that helped fuel mass incarceration for America’s Black communities.

“The Biden campaign is panicking because they see that Black voters aren’t buying what Biden is selling,” Ms. Thomas added.

In addition to its outreach to Black voters, the Biden campaign had previously announced coalitions geared toward mobilizing Hispanic voters, women, health care workers and educators, with more planned in the coming weeks.

Dozens of Girard College students in red tops and gray skirts or pants watched the rally on Wednesday from the upper levels of the school’s gymnasium, under a “Black Voters for Biden-Harris” sign.

The school was founded in 1848 to educate white boys without fathers. It began admitting Black male students in 1968 after a federal lawsuit, 14 years after the Supreme Court decided Brown v. Board of Education, and girls in 1984. Before the event began, drum lines and a gospel choir warmed up the crowd of roughly 1,000 people, the largest Mr. Biden has addressed during the campaign so far.

Recently, Mr. Biden and Ms. Harris have been speaking directly to Black audiences at multiple events per week. This month, Ms. Harris hosted economic opportunity events for Black entrepreneurs in Detroit and Milwaukee. On May 19, Mr. Biden delivered the commencement address at Morehouse College, an all-male historically Black university in Atlanta, before speaking at the Detroit N.A.A.C.P.’s annual dinner, one of the organization’s largest gatherings.

“We have delivered,” Ms. Harris said on Wednesday, after listing policy victories on capping insulin prices, forgiving student debt and signing a bipartisan gun violence law .

Black Democrats say the moves are critical to persuading disaffected Black voters that the Biden administration has improved their lives, even as many voters on the ground say they do not feel that way .

Michael Nutter, a former Democratic mayor of Philadelphia, said the party had not fully explained to Black voters how its policies had helped them — nor had it pushed back forcefully enough on Republicans’ claims that Democrats had failed them.

“The numbers are the numbers, and by anyone’s measure, things are better. But if you don’t feel it, it kind of doesn’t matter,” he said, later adding: “I think that there is room for President Biden, for Vice President Harris, for Democrats to be a little less genteel and a little more smash-mouth.”

Michael Gold contributed reporting from New York.

Nikki Haley writes ‘Finish them’ on an artillery shell in Israel.

Nikki Haley, the former Republican presidential candidate and U.N. ambassador during the Trump administration, wrote “Finish them” on an artillery shell in Israel this week.

Danny Danon, Israel’s former ambassador to the United Nations and a member of the Israeli Parliament, shared a photo on social media on Tuesday showing Ms. Haley signing the shell. Her visit came just days after Israel drew international condemnation for a strike that killed dozens of Gazan civilians in a camp for displaced Palestinians.

“This is what my friend, the former ambassador Nikki Haley, wrote today on a shell during a visit to an artillery post on the northern border,” Mr. Danon wrote, declaring of the Israeli military, “The I.D.F. will win!”

Ms. Haley finished her inscription with a note that “America loves Israel always,” using a heart emoji for “loves.”

She signed the artillery shell not along the Gaza frontier, in the south, but near Israel’s northern border with Lebanon, with which Israel also has a longstanding conflict. She also visited a kibbutz where Israelis were killed on Oct. 7, and her public remarks focused on Gaza.

Her trip included meetings with Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister, as well as with Yoav Gallant, the country’s defense minister, and Benny Gantz, a member of the war cabinet.

Ms. Haley’s message on the artillery shell drew denunciations from some commentators, including the author and columnist Wajahat Ali, who said in a video on TikTok : “If you think that Biden and Democrats are terrible on Gaza — I think they’ve been terrible — just know Republicans will be far, far worse, and I give you Nikki Haley.”

In an interview published Tuesday by the Israel Hayom newspaper, which is owned by the Republican donor Miriam Adelson, Ms. Haley said Israel had done nothing wrong in its invasion and bombardment of Gaza since Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, killing about 1,200 people. And she said the United States should continue to support it unconditionally.

“Israel, they’re the good guys,” she said. “And you know what I want Israelis to know? You’re doing the right thing. Don’t let anybody make you feel wrong.”

Israel’s military operations have killed more than 36,000 Gazans, including thousands of women and children , according to the Gazan health ministry. Many of the casualties, including those in the tent camp on Sunday , have been caused by bombs provided by the United States. President Biden recently withheld an arms shipment out of concern that it would be used in an offensive on the city of Rafah, where displaced Palestinians are sheltering.

When asked in the Israel Hayom interview about civilians who crossed into Israel during the Oct. 7 attacks, she said: “The rest of the world can’t say, ‘Oh, be nice to the Palestinians,’ when these are some of the people who murdered their brothers and sisters.” She added: “They don’t know who to trust. That’s not Israel’s fault. That’s the Palestinians’ fault now.”

Ms. Haley’s comments are in line with her history of support for Israel and rejection of international criticism of its actions. As U.N. ambassador, she accused the United Nations of “bullying” Israel and led the U.S. withdrawal of funding for an agency that helps Palestinian refugees.

She recently fell back in line behind Mr. Trump after previously refusing to endorse him, and Mr. Trump suggested he might bring her onto his team “in some form.”

Aaron Boxerman contributed reporting.

Katie Glueck and Maya King

‘Defeat by Truth’: Some of Biden’s Gaza critics are starting an anti-Trump campaign.

The Rev. Michael McBride was an early backer of a cease-fire in Gaza , publicly breaking with President Biden’s support for the war months before many other Democrats arrived in a similar place.

Nearly five months before Election Day, Mr. McBride, a co-founder of the group Black Church PAC, remains critical of how the administration has stood by Israel. But he is now leading an effort, alongside other progressive Black activists, strategists and faith leaders, that would indirectly help Mr. Biden by working to defeat former President Donald J. Trump.

It is one of the clearest signs yet that at least some of Mr. Biden’s critics on the left will still work to stop Mr. Trump — even if they are lukewarm on the incumbent president.

“We need to continue to push the president to shift his course on how he is addressing a number of issues, primarily which is Gaza,” Mr. McBride, the lead pastor at The Way Christian Center in Berkeley, Calif., said in an interview, noting that the campaign was not an endorsement of Mr. Biden. But, he said, “we can’t wait for the Biden administration to change their course before we start to sound the alarm.”

“We do realize,” he added, “that defeating Trump is our north star.”

The effort, called “Defeat by Truth,” is in fact a political action committee.

The project, in its early stages, works like this: Supporters sign up to automatically donate as little as one cent when Mr. Trump posts on social media, especially Truth Social. Contributors can cap their monthly donations at any amount. And the money raised will support a coalition of progressive organizations in swing states.

Mr. McBride said the project would also aid organizers working to support candidates like Representatives Jamaal Bowman of New York and Cori Bush of Missouri — early and fierce critics of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza after the Hamas-led Oct. 7 attack. They face significant primary challenges .

Asked if donations would be triggered by every social media post, Mr. McBride said that would happen in response to “something that communicates misinformation about the issues that we’re most concerned about.” He cited issues including militarism, criminal justice, immigration and “criminalizing protests.”

The focus, he said, will be on social media posts that promote hate speech, attacks on civil liberties or other “remarks that we think are false and betray our core values as people of faith or people of good will.”

The campaign’s website acknowledges “the variable nature of Defeat by Truth donations.”

The project builds on a 2020 campaign called “Defeat by Tweet,” which also did not emphasize endorsing Mr. Biden. Organizers say it raised more than $9 million. This year, they hope to raise and distribute $15 million by November, and to engage one million voters of color, especially in battleground states.

Supporters of the effort include the comic and commentator W. Kamau Bell; Tamika D. Mallory and Philip Agnew, both activists; the faith leaders Traci Blackmon, Otis Moss III, Frederick D. Haynes III and Leah D. Daughtry, who is also a veteran Democratic strategist.

“It circulates the money every time there’s a lie, every time there’s a mistruth, a half-truth, some disinformation,” said Mr. Agnew, a founder of the group Black Men Build, which aims to mobilize Black men to vote. “We’re transmuting the energy that he’s putting out into the world into some good.”

Their efforts come as Mr. Biden continues to face headwinds with Black voters, a key Democratic constituency. In polls, focus groups and conversations with Black Americans in battleground states , some have expressed disaffection with the president and questioned whether they will support his re-election or cast a ballot at all.

Mr. McBride said that typically, organizations like Black Church PAC would be months into their get-out-the-vote campaigns during an election year.

The Gaza war, he said, “has really put a lot of our folks in a place of paralysis because of the moral dissonance.”

Still, he said, he and other organizers felt a sense of urgency to take on Mr. Trump: “We cannot wait until the summer, the fall to mobilize our folks.”

Organizers and supporters of the effort hope it will have staying power at a time when many social justice groups and grass-roots organizers have warned of diminished energy and resources behind their work entering this election.

“No matter who the president is, America is still in a mess and going to be a mess,” Mr. Bell said. “The way we get out of this mess is by supporting Black and brown grass-roots activists.”

Maggie Astor and Chris Cameron

Here’s what happened in the Texas runoff elections.

Texans voted in runoff elections on Tuesday for a number of offices, with establishment candidates emerging victorious from two House Republican primaries, and the speaker of the State House narrowly surviving an insurgent challenge from a Trump-backed Republican.

Here’s what happened:

U.S. House District 23

Representative Tony Gonzales, a Republican who recently called some far-right members of his party “scumbags,” barely survived a challenge from his right after being forced into a runoff. He fended off his primary opponent, Brandon Herrera, a gun rights activist, by roughly 400 votes .

Mr. Herrera had received less than 25 percent of the vote in an earlier five-person primary, but then surged to 49 percent in the runoff on Tuesday.

Mr. Gonzales was first elected in 2020 to represent a swing district along the border, but the seat was made more solidly Republican through redistricting. And Mr. Gonzales has bucked the party line on some issues: He voted for bipartisan gun control legislation after the massacre at a school in Uvalde, Texas, and for a gay marriage bill. He also once opposed hard-line immigration policies, and the Texas Republican Party censured him — but he has since shifted toward them .

Mr. Herrera, a YouTuber who calls himself “the AK guy” after the AK-47 rifle , had consolidated much of the vote that went to multiple right-wing candidates who opposed Mr. Gonzales in the first round. He had also been endorsed by Representative Matt Gaetz of Florida and other members of the House Freedom Caucus.

But House Republican leaders stuck by Mr. Gonzales, and their support may have in part rescued Mr. Gonzales in a race that hung by a knife’s edge into early Wednesday morning.

U.S. House District 28

Jay Furman, a retired Navy officer, won the Republican primary in the 28th District, which stretches from the outskirts of San Antonio to the southern border. He will challenge Representative Henry Cuellar, a centrist Democrat who has been indicted on bribery charges.

Mr. Furman, who served in the military for nearly 30 years, beat Lazaro Garza Jr., a rancher, in a landslide, winning more than 65 percent of the vote .

In a four-person primary , Mr. Furman won about 45 percent of the vote and Mr. Garza won 27 percent to advance to the runoff.

Both candidates had made immigration central to their campaigns, echoing former President Donald J. Trump’s rhetoric about an “invasion” and his calls for a sweeping crackdown. Mr. Garza had also emphasized that he was born and raised in the district.

In a separate race on Tuesday, Mr. Cuellar’s sister — Rosie Cuellar, a former county tax assessor — was defeated in a Democratic primary for a state House seat. That loss could be a sign of how the Cuellar name has been tarnished by his indictment.

Texas House District 21

The speaker of the Texas House, Dade Phelan, edged out his Trump-backed opponent in the Republican primary for his seat, winning by fewer than 400 votes .

David Covey, a former county party leader, had nearly unseated the top Republican in the Texas House despite having never run for state office before. He was backed by several wealthy donors and endorsed by Mr. Trump, whose blessing carries significant influence in Republican primaries. In the first round of voting , Mr. Covey had narrowly led Mr. Phelan, 46 percent to 43 percent. In Tuesday’s runoff, Mr. Phelan took 50.7 percent of the vote.

The opposition to Mr. Phelan was driven in large part by the state attorney general, Ken Paxton, who was seeking revenge for the Texas House’s vote to impeach him on charges of corruption and abuse of office. Mr. Paxton was acquitted by the Texas Senate and had campaigned for Mr. Covey.

Reporting from Beaumont and Orange, Texas

Texas House speaker survives a challenge from the hard right.

The speaker of the Texas House, Dade Phelan, won renomination in a runoff on Tuesday, surviving a bruising Republican primary challenge from a party activist and first-time candidate who was backed by former President Donald J. Trump and his Texas supporters.

The race, in a southeast Texas district that includes part of the city of Beaumont, was a bitter political showdown among some of the most powerful players in Texas politics, and was likely to have been one of the most expensive ever for a Texas House seat.

Millions poured in to the campaigns during the primary, including large donations from West Texas oil and gas billionaires and out-of-state school-choice advocates who backed the challenger, David Covey. For his part, Mr. Phelan had help from deep-pocketed donors like Miriam Adelson, the Las Vegas casino magnate and widow of the Republican megadonor Sheldon Adelson.

Mr. Covey, a technical adviser to the oil and gas industry who has described himself as a “very committed Christian and a conservative,” led Mr. Phelan in the first round of voting in March, when neither candidate won a majority.

But during the runoff, Mr. Phelan rallied his supporters and campaign contributors, significantly out-raising his opponent through the middle of May.

“We came this close,” Mr. Covey said in a speech to supporters in Orange, Texas. He added that even in defeat his campaign had started a movement.

Mr. Phelan, in declaring victory on Tuesday night in Beaumont, told a crowded room of campaign volunteers, supporters and several members of the Texas House that the campaign against him had been based on “lies” and “deceit.”

“We’re done with that.” Mr. Phelan said. “House District 21 is not for sale.”

The close call for Mr. Phelan, who had not faced a challenger from either party in a decade, was likely to reverberate in Republican politics. His campaign raised more than $12.6 million to defend him.

Many activist Republicans in Texas see Mr. Phelan as insufficiently conservative. Chief among their complaints: He supported the longstanding Texas House practice of giving some committee chairmanships to the opposing party.

Ousting Mr. Phelan became the biggest prize sought by a hard-right faction of the Republican Party that includes the state attorney general, Ken Paxton, and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. That faction, which is aligned with Mr. Trump, has been trying to remake the Texas House, a moderating force in state politics, in the mold of the more rigidly conservative Texas Senate.

Defending Mr. Phelan became the goal of many members of the party’s old guard, including a former governor, Rick Perry, who campaigned on behalf of Mr. Phelan and appeared with him several times during the primary race.

The aggressive focus on Mr. Phelan came after the Texas House voted to impeach Mr. Paxton on charges of corruption and abuse of office last year. (Mr. Paxton was acquitted in a Senate trial that Mr. Patrick presided over.)

And it followed a session in which a small number of rural Republicans in the Texas House once again blocked proposals for state-funded vouchers that families could use to send children to private schools.

Gov. Greg Abbott, who has campaigned against Texas House members who opposed the voucher proposals, stayed on the sidelines in Mr. Phelan’s primary race.

Though Mr. Phelan is now poised to win re-election in November without a Democratic challenger for his strongly Republican seat, he is not guaranteed to have another legislative session as speaker. Some Republican representatives have already been suggested as possible replacements, setting the stage for a renewed fight for control of the Texas House.

Jazmine Ulloa

Reporting from Washington, D.C.

A Republican Navy veteran will face Henry Cuellar in South Texas.

Jay Furman, a retired Navy officer, has won the Republican nomination to challenge embattled Representative Henry Cuellar of South Texas in November, according to The Associated Press.

Mr. Furman defeated his challenger, Lazaro Garza Jr., a rancher, in a runoff after the two emerged as the top vote-getters in a crowded March primary. Mr. Cuellar, a centrist Democrat, is still largely expected to win re-election in Texas’ 28th Congressional District. But the terrain has become somewhat more favorable for Republicans after Mr. Cuellar was indicted this month on federal bribery and money-laundering charges.

Mr. Cuellar and his wife, Imelda Cuellar, are accused of accepting at least $598,000 over seven years from a Mexican bank and an oil company owned by the government of Azerbaijan, according to the federal indictment. He has denied any wrongdoing.

In his district, which stretches from his hometown, Laredo, and the U.S. southern border to the eastern outskirts of San Antonio, Mr. Cuellar is considered an institution . He has powerful allies on both sides of the aisle and has survived two bruising Democratic primary contests. Even former President Donald J. Trump — who is on trial over allegations that he falsified business records — has come to his defense, arguing Mr. Cuellar became a target of the Biden administration because he supports tight border policies.

Mr. Cuellar’s fund-raising efforts have dwarfed those of his Republican opponent. At the end of March, Mr. Cuellar had raised nearly $2 million and had more than $415,000 cash on hand. As of May, Mr. Furman had raised just under $195,500 and had roughly $2,013 cash on hand, according to the latest federal filings for each campaign.

Still, Mr. Furman is betting the charges against Mr. Cuellar have improved his odds. The election forecasters Cook Political Report and Sabato’s Crystal Ball have both shifted their rating for the general election from likely Democratic to leans Democratic.

Mr. Furman, who grew up in Austin and lives in San Antonio, served in the military for nearly 30 years before returning to Texas. Like Mr. Garza, he has made immigration central to his campaign. He echoes Mr. Trump’s inflammatory rhetoric and calls for hard-line actions, including mass deportations. On his website, he also has promised to tackle inflation, empower small businesses and block “‘woke’ insanity.”

In an interview, Mr. Furman argued the charges against Mr. Cuellar were “exactly in line with what the people have come to expect of the Cuellar dynasty.” But he also echoed Mr. Trump in his criticism of the Justice Department, which he contended had been weaponized against conservatives.

“My goal is not only to highlight his charges,” he said, “but also the arbitrary capricious enforcement of the law by our Department of Justice.”

Luke Broadwater

Reporting from Washington

Texas congressman wins runoff, bolstering G.O.P. effort to hold the House.

Representative Tony Gonzales, the Texas Republican who represents a large swath of the southern border, on Tuesday narrowly turned back a right-wing primary challenger who called himself the “AK Guy,” in a victory that could bolster his party’s efforts to hold the House.

Mr. Gonzales, 43, a military veteran in his second term in the House who calls himself a “governing conservative,” defeated Brandon Herrera, 28, a YouTube star who campaigned on gun rights, in a runoff election. Mr. Gonzales was the top vote-getter in the Republican primary in May but failed to reach the 50 percent threshold, prompting the runoff with his top challenger.

He barely survived the runoff election, and was clinging to a slim margin as The Associated Press declared him the victor early Wednesday morning.

The race divided House Republicans in a vivid display of the rifts that have plagued the party during a tumultuous Congress. Representative Bob Good of Virginia, who leads the House Freedom Caucus, and the prominent right-wing Representatives Chip Roy of Texas and Matt Gaetz of Florida endorsed Mr. Herrera. But G.O.P. leaders rallied around Mr. Gonzales, and Speaker Mike Johnson held a major fund-raiser for him in the district in April.

He also underwent something of a transformation during the race, from being an opponent of his party’s hard-line immigration stances to one of the chief proponents of House Republicans’ strict border enforcement bill.

A defining issue in the race was Mr. Gonzales’s support of a bipartisan bill to address gun violence called the Safer Communities Act , which fell short of the sweeping gun control measures Democrats have long sought but enhanced background checks and incentivized states to enact so-called red flag laws, among other measures.

Mr. Gonzales cited the deadliest school shooting in Texas history, which occurred in his district at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, as a contributing factor behind his support of the bill. Even so, the Republican Party of Texas voted to censure Mr. Gonzales after the vote.

Mr. Herrera argued that Mr. Gonzales had turned his back on Texas conservatives, and said he would work to repeal gun restrictions if elected.

Mr. Herrera wrote on social media that a vote for him would “slap the Uniparty establishment in the face. Let’s send the message to DC that if they vote against the people, they will lose their jobs.”

The seat was once in a hotly contested swing district, where a moderate Republican voice would likely be needed to win in a general election. But redistricting after the 2020 election made it more favorable terrain for Republicans. Even so, supporters of Mr. Gonzales warned that a Herrera victory could put the district back in play for a general election, in which House Republicans who hold a bare majority are grasping to keep control.

With right-wing Republicans backing his opponent, Mr. Gonzales went after them personally in an interview on CNN in April, deepening the tensions.

“It’s my absolute honor to be in Congress, but I serve with some real scumbags,” Mr. Gonzales said. He brought up allegations against Mr. Gaetz that resulted in an F.B.I. investigation but no charges.

“Look, Matt Gaetz — he paid minors to have sex with him at drug parties,” he said.

Mr. Gonzales also insinuated that Mr. Good was a racist.

“Bob Good endorsed my opponent, a known neo-Nazi,” Mr. Gonzales said. “These people used to walk around with white hoods at night; now they are walking around with white hoods in the daytime.”

He also took aim at Mr. Herrera in a memorable attack ad, styled after a famous salsa commercial, accusing him of mocking both former President Donald J. Trump and veteran suicide. Mr. Gonzales’s ad noted that Mr. Herrera hails from North Carolina.

“You deserve a Texas conservative,” Mr. Gonzales said in the ad.

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