A focused presentation of the issue. You need to present the issue so the reader understands it. Issues need more or less explanation and examples, depending on what the audience already knows.
A clear position. You need a strong thesis that is positioned effectively, usually at the beginning or end of the essay, and repeated for emphasis and clarity as needed.
Plausible reasons and convincing support. You must provide reasons for supporting the position. You must also go beyond simply asserting reasons, by including examples, statistics, expert testimony, and/or anecdotes to support the reasons.
Anticipating opposing position and objections. An effective argument for a position includes recognizing and refuting opposing arguments, as well as anticipating and answering a readers questions.
