Building a Persuasive Argument

A strong argument doesn’t just state an opinion — it builds a case.

Notice

  • Claim: Remote work should become the default option for office roles.
  • Reason: It improves employee wellbeing and reduces overhead costs.
  • Evidence: Studies consistently show higher reported job satisfaction among remote workers.
  • Conclusion: Given the evidence, companies should treat remote work as the norm, not the exception.

Rule

A persuasive argument follows a clear pattern: claim (your position), reason (why you hold it), evidence (support for the reason), and a conclusion that ties back to the claim with authority. At C1, this structure should feel natural rather than mechanical — woven into fluent prose rather than listed.

Practice

  1. What four elements make up a persuasive argument structure?
    Answer: Claim, reason, evidence, conclusion.
  2. Write a claim about a topic of your choice.
    Answer: Personal answer.
  3. Write a reason supporting that claim.
    Answer: Personal answer.
  4. Why is evidence important in persuasive writing?
    Answer: It gives credibility to a claim rather than leaving it as an unsupported opinion.

Connect

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CEFR: Writing — write clear, well-structured text expressing points of view at some length.

Azizul Hakim
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