Not only do essays need to be comprehensively descriptive, they also need to possess the quality of creating an argument either for or against the particular essay topic. Basic elements that make up a valid argument basis are "ethos, pathos & logos". ‘Ethos’ is an appeal to an authority; ‘pathos’ is an appeal to a person's emotions while ‘logos’ is an appeal to a person's logical reasoning.

In order to effectively use the language of argumentation in your essay, you can use the simple 5-paragraph format. This will also become a useful base model for learning how to write an essay using language of argumentation.

To start off, create an outline or prewriting of your essay while preparing the first draft. Your prewriting should contain sufficient and supportive elements for your introduction, three body paragraphs and conclusion.

Next, start writing a rough draft of your essay using the ideas and support from your prewriting. You may begin with an introductory paragraph. This paragraph is meant to introduce your topic to the audience and also garner their undivided attention to the essay. Your introductory paragraph must also contain your intended thesis statement for the essay. A thesis statement is a sentence that clearly states your argument, e.g. "Online Social Networking has created a barrier in actual interpersonal communications."

Once you’re done with the above, start writing your three body paragraphs. Each paragraph should focus on a single topic that supports your thesis statement. In order to achieve the maximum effect, this is where you bring in the three elements of the language of argumentation, i.e. "ethos, pathos & logos". You may use each in its own paragraph to support your argument. You may consider a single paragraph as a mini essay, which will feature an introduction, at least one supporting detail and a conclusion regarding a single topic point.

After the three body paragraphs, it’s time to write the concluding paragraph. The conclusion summarizes the essay you have written by briefly revisiting your supporting points for your argument and showing how they support your thesis statement. At this point, you may notice that the conclusion looks similar to the introduction, which is okay as its merely revisiting the content of your essay.

Do remember to revise and proofread your essay before submitting the final draft. It’s always a good idea to revise it after some time, which makes it easier to spot grammar and spelling mistakes. You may also have a good friend read it for you just to get a second opinion.