Argumentative Essay Notes

What is an argumentative essay? You take a stand on an issue and persuade the audience to adopt the same stance or opinion.

What is a thesis statement? Every good essay MUST have a thesis statement. Your thesis statement is the main idea of the essay and the writer’s opinion on the topic. Your thesis statement is your roadmap for your essay.

What is a thesis statement? “Comma, Comma, And” Sentence: Take a stance on the topic and support that answer with at least 3 reasons. I think that _____________ because _________,___________, and__________.

What is the Writing High-Five? A tool you may use to remember proper writing template.

example: support support Support Conclusion Introduction

INTRODUCTION An introduction is the first paragraph in an essay. It introduces the main idea and the supporting details. Includes your thesis statement.

FADQQ is a formula you can use to build a compelling and effective introduction paragraph. What is FADQQ?

F FACT- Start with a startling or interesting fact to disturb, inform, surprise, or arouse curiosity in your reader. example: The largest pumpkin ever measured broke the world record in 1993 at 836 lbs.

A Anecdote- An incident, story, or interesting event to add human interest. example: I remember the first time I went to a pumpkin farm. I spent hours searching for the biggest and best pumpkin I could find.

D Description- Vivid, detailed, graphic, mysterious, or sensory description of a person or a place. example: Imagine a bulbous, smooth, round gourd with haunting yellow eyes glowing back at you.

Q Question- Thought provoking question to pique the reader’s interest so he/she wants an answer. example: Have you ever wondered who started the tradition of carving pumpkins?

Q Quote- Quotations or conversation to engage the reader. example: Henry Thoreau once said,” I would rather sit on a pumpkin, and have it all to myself, than be crowded on a velvet cushion.”

What are body paragraphs? There are usually at least 3 body paragraphs in an essay. They come after the introduction and explain your supporting details. SUPPORT, SUPPORT, SUPPORT!

What is FIRES? FIRES is a tool that will help you remember ways to build a strong and supported body paragraph. You may use one letter from FIRES or several.

F Fact- Give validity or believability to your essay with some well-placed facts.

I Incident- Share a concise anecdote to illustrate your point.

R Reasons- Tell your reader as explicitly as possible why you feel the way you do.

E Examples- Whether it’s something that really happened to you or someone you know or completely made up, examples are useful tools to convey your main idea.

S Similes and Sensory Details- Use similes and other figurative language as well as sensory details (how something looks, smells, tastes, sounds, or feels) to support your main ideas and make your arguments more compelling.

What is a conclusion? A conclusion is the last paragraph in an essay. It summarizes and restates the main idea and supporting details.

What is GREPQQ? A formula used to build a strong and lasting conclusion.

G Generalize- Apply your situation to a larger group. Words like “everyone,” “people,” and “all” indicate generalization.

Recommendation- Make a suggestion to the reader. Give advice.

E Emotions- Tell how you are feeling by the end of your experience.

P Predict- End by foretelling some future event. Use future tense or a word like “soon,” “someday,” or “in the future.”

Q Question- A thought-provoking question to inspire action is a good ending. Quote- A well phrased thought of another, or a dialogue (real or imagined) can sum up the points.