Argumentative Essay

Option #2: Is Citizen Privacy or National Security More Important?

Develop a thesis statement focused on determining if citizen privacy or national security is more important. You can choose any country or region. Your chosen topic needs to be specific and might address a question like the ones you see in these examples:

• Should officials make citizens privacy more of a priority than national security? Why or why not? 
• Is national security likely to pose a risk for citizen privacy? Why or why not? 
• You may choose another topic regarding the relationship between citizen privacy and national security as well; just be sure that your main thesis addresses the association between these two ideas. 

Develop at least three strong arguments in addition to a counterargument and refutation ( can assist you in developing the counterargument and refutation). This organization should yield four body paragraphs. Using argumentative topic sentences that include your opinion for each section can help ensure the majority of your essay is argumentative. The beginning of a sample topic sentence might be, Primarily, exceptional national security is likely to reduce citizen privacy because. Then, be sure to support that claim with a point or two of researched data, followed by mostly original material that helps to explain how your research supports your claims as well as provides new insights and perspectives. Conclude each paragraph with a sentence that synthesizes the paragraphs main ideas.

Sample Thesis Statement: Ideally, a thesis would include the major assignment objectives for the essay, which in this case would be your claim/opinion, reasons why you have that opinion, and the counterargument: Implementing national security measures could lead to citizen privacy dilemmas because (add argument 1), (add argument 2), and (add argument 3), even though (add counterargument focus). *Note that a thorough thesis statement will include the counterargument in addition to your own arguments, but be sure to frame your counterargument as the oppositions opinion so that readers do not think that you are changing your stance.  

Use at least three credible sources (the author should be considered an expert on the topic in which he or she writes), such as books, articles, and websites, to support your claims. Include a mix of cited paraphrases, summaries, and quotes in your argumentative research paper. Use MLA format (Tip: You will find useful MLA resources within the course topics, particularly in Topic 9) to create proper parenthetical citations as well as a Works Cited page at the end of your essay. For additional Works Cited assistance visit and use the left navigation menu to locate the type of reference you need.

More Tips 

Visit   for more argumentative thesis statement assistance and to learn if your thesis is both arguable and narrowed.

A counter-argument section for this paper should explain what the opposition believes, and it is the opposite of the opinion you are arguing in your paper. For example, if you are arguing that anti-plagiarism software should not be used in college classes, then the counterargument would be that anti-plagiarism software should be used. Then in your refutation, try to prove the counterargument false, insignificant, or unimportant with researched information that is new to the essay (avoid recycling facts from a previous argument in the essay). 

 will help you craft your counter argument and refutation.

The guidelines and requirements for this assignment are as follows:

Format Requirements:

Header: Include a header in the upper left-hand corner of your writing assignment with the following information:

• Your first and last name 
• Course Title (Composition I) 
• Assignment name (Comparison and Contrast) 
• Current Date

Page Layout:

• MLA style documentation (please see the tutorial in the course topic)
• Last name and page number in the upper-right corner of each page 
• Double-spacing throughout
• Title, centered after heading
• Standard font (Times New Roman or Calibri)
• 1″ margins on all sides
• Save the file as .docx  or  .doc format

Length: This assignment should be at least 750 words. 

Underline your thesis statement.