When you revise your argumentative essay, you use the same strategies you use for any essay. In addition, you concentrate on some specific concerns, which are listed in the following checklist.

CHECKLIST ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAYS 

• Is your topic debatable? 
• Does your essay have an argumentative thesis? 
• Have you defined the key terms you use in your argument? 
• Have you considered the opinions, attitudes, and values of your audience? 
• Have you summarized and refuted opposing arguments? 
• Have you supported your assertions with evidence?
• Have you used relevant visuals to strengthen your argument? 
• Have you documented all information that is not your own? 
• Have you established your credibility? 
• Have you been fair? Have you avoided logical fallacies? 
• Have you constructed your argumentative essay logically? 
• Have you provided your readers with enough background information? 
• Have you presented your points clearly and organized them logically? 
• Have you written an interesting introduction and a strong conclusion?

USING TRANSITIONS IN ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAYS 

Argumentative essays should include transitional words and phrases to indicate which paragraphs are arguments in support of the thesis, which are refutations of arguments that oppose the thesis, and which are conclusions. 

Arguments in support of thesis:

accordingly, because, for example, for instance, in general, given, generally, since

Refutations

although, admittedly, certainly, despite, granted, in all fairness, naturally, nonetheless, of course 

Conclusions

all things considered, as a result, in conclusion, in summary, therefore, thus

Adapted from the online PDF of the following out-of-print handbook:

Kirszner, Lauri and Stephen Mandell. The Holt Handbook. 6th ed., Thomson-Heinle, 2002.