How can I start off an argument essay? My essay is about abolishing grades in school.

In argumentation, there are 4 types of claims. I suggest choosing a "policy" claim since you are advocating a change in future practice.  Here are the 4 types of claims.

•fact: claims which focus on empirically verifiable phenomena

•judgment/value: claims involving opinions, attitudes, and subjective evaluations of things

•policy: claims advocating courses of action that should be undertaken

•definition/classification: indicates what criteria are being used to to define a term or what category something falls into

Also, there are two organizational models in policy debates: Cause/Effect and Problem/Solution.  Pick either one for this topic, but I think problem/solution might be better if there is evidence to support the change.  Then, organize the paper like you would most others.  All writing is essentially persuasive.

A. Material to get the reader's attention (a "hook")

B. Introduce the problem or topic

C. Introduce your claim or thesis, perhaps with accompanying qualifiers that limit the scope of the argument.

Qualifiers, according to the Toumlin model of argumentation, are:

•"phrases showing what kind and degree of reliance is to be placed on the conclusion, given the arguments available to support them.” To set the degree of certainty, state a “qualification—‘usually,’ ‘possibly,’ ‘barring accidents,’ and so on.”