Alright, so we’re diving into the nuts and bolts of how an argument works. This is about more than just shouting your opinion louder than the next person—it’s about building a solid case, backed up by premises, and then landing a conclusion that makes sense. Sounds boring? Stick with me, and I promise you’ll walk away feeling like a master of logic (and maybe even ready to ace your next paper).
The Argument: The Big Idea
The argument is your main claim. It’s what you’re trying to get the reader to agree with by the end of the essay or debate. Think of it like the thesis statement in your essay—it’s your core belief, the hill you’re willing to die on. In the example we’ve got here, the argument is:
“Contemporary women see visible body fat as evidence of personal failure.”
Boom. That’s a heavy statement, right? It’s the overarching idea this whole structure is working to support. But you can’t just toss that out there without backing it up.
The Premises: Where the Argument Gets Its Fuel
An argument without premises is like a car without gas—it’s not going anywhere. The premises are the reasons or evidence that support your main argument. These are the building blocks you need to convince your audience that your argument isn’t just some random thought you had over breakfast.
Here are the premises for this argument:
- Western culture believes external beauty reflects internal virtue.
Translation: If you look good, people think you’re a good person. - Women, more than men, are expected to be beautiful.
This one’s a cultural fact. Society puts way more pressure on women to be “beautiful” than it does on men. - Deviating from body shape norms of beauty is a sign of deficient virtue.
Here, the argument is that if you don’t meet beauty standards (like having body fat), society judges you as morally inferior.
Together, these premises build a strong foundation for the argument. They explain why women might see body fat as a personal failure. The culture they’re steeped in tells them that not looking a certain way means they’re not just less attractive—they’re less worthy.
The Conclusion: Wrapping It All Together
Now that you’ve laid out your premises, you need to draw a conclusion that ties everything together. The conclusion is the natural result of your premises—it’s where your argument lands.
In this case, the conclusion is:
“Women see visible body fat as evidence of personal failure because a culture that values beauty as a sign of virtue, and expects women to be beautiful, leads those who deviate from standard definitions of beauty to feel that they are morally deficient.”
Basically, because of the way society ties beauty to worth and places those expectations more on women, they’re likely to feel like they’ve failed if they don’t meet these beauty standards. It’s a harsh but logical conclusion based on the premises provided.
How to Use This in Your Own Writing (And Your Life)
Whenever you’re making an argument—whether it’s for a paper, a debate, or just a heated discussion—make sure you’ve got these three things in place:
- A clear argument: This is your claim. Keep it concise and strong.
- Well-supported premises: These are your reasons, your evidence, your facts. They’re the legs holding up your argument.
- A solid conclusion: Don’t leave your reader or listener hanging. Bring it all together in a logical way.
Once you’ve got these elements working together, your argument will be hard to ignore—and that’s how you win.
Final Thoughts
The PEEL essay structure helps you flesh out a paragraph, but this Argument, Premises, Conclusion breakdown? It’s the heart of any good essay, speech, or debate. Once you master this, you’re not just throwing out opinions—you’re making a case. Whether it’s in class, at work, or just hanging out with friends, you’ll have the tools to argue like a pro.
Now, go out there and win some arguments (the logical way).