Question

Which sentence best demonstrates an appropriate style for an argumentative essay?
Anyone who believes we should increase taxes is incapable of logical reasoning and should be discounted.
Increasing taxes would place an unnecessary hardship on the citizens and should be avoided.
Local legislative bodies are tasked with generating revenue to manage the needs of their districts.
Taxes are already out of control; it is unbelievable that the legislature is considering an increase.

Answer 1

"Increasing taxes would place an unnecessary hardship on the citizens and should be avoided."

Reason: it makes a clear, arguable claim in a civil, formal tone. The others are either ad hominem (first), purely descriptive/background (third), or overly emotional and hyperbolic (fourth).