1. The Argument Essay By Mrs. Biziewski AP Lang & Comp VHS By Mrs. Biziewski AP Lang & Comp VHS

2. #1 Work the prompt! / 3-5 minutes / Underline/box key words / Deconstruct the prompt / Write your thesis on your planning page: / (I believe that) ________________ because ______________________ / 3-5 minutes / Underline/box key words / Deconstruct the prompt / Write your thesis on your planning page: / (I believe that) ________________ because ______________________

3. #2 Plan your support / 10 minutes / Write down evidence that supports your claim (thesis) / Use specific evidence from your own experience, your readings, the news, historical events (show your reader that you’re well read!) / 10 minutes / Write down evidence that supports your claim (thesis) / Use specific evidence from your own experience, your readings, the news, historical events (show your reader that you’re well read!)

4. #3 Write the essay / 20 minutes / Intro paragraph / First body paragraph: concession or counterargument / 2-3 support paragraphs: reasons, examples, facts from news & world / Conclusion: “so what?” / 20 minutes / Intro paragraph / First body paragraph: concession or counterargument / 2-3 support paragraphs: reasons, examples, facts from news & world / Conclusion: “so what?”

5. Intro Paragraph strategies:  a short anecdote that deals with the big idea of your argument / a concession / an interesting or controversial fact or statistic / a question or several questions that will be answered in your argument / relevant background material / an analogy or image that you can sustain (revisit) throughout the argument / a definition of a term or idea that is central to your argument  a short anecdote that deals with the big idea of your argument / a concession / an interesting or controversial fact or statistic / a question or several questions that will be answered in your argument / relevant background material / an analogy or image that you can sustain (revisit) throughout the argument / a definition of a term or idea that is central to your argument

6. Concession/counterargument paragraph / Optional, if appropriate / What possible argument might your reader pose against your argument and/or some aspect of your reasoning? State it. / Then refute it. / End this paragraph with a concluding sentence that reasserts your paper’s claim. / Optional, if appropriate / What possible argument might your reader pose against your argument and/or some aspect of your reasoning? State it. / Then refute it. / End this paragraph with a concluding sentence that reasserts your paper’s claim.

7. Each body paragraph: / Topic sentence (which may include a concession/counterargument) / Evidence 1 to support claim / Explanation of how evidence 1 supports claim / How does this evidence prove the point you are trying to make? / How should we read or interpret the evidence? / Can be opinion based, usually 1-3 sentences / Transition to the next idea / Evidence 2 to support claim / Explanation of how evidence 2 supports claim / Topic sentence (which may include a concession/counterargument) / Evidence 1 to support claim / Explanation of how evidence 1 supports claim / How does this evidence prove the point you are trying to make? / How should we read or interpret the evidence? / Can be opinion based, usually 1-3 sentences / Transition to the next idea / Evidence 2 to support claim / Explanation of how evidence 2 supports claim

8. Conclusion / Do NOT merely restate what you’ve already said! / Your conclusion should tell us why we should care about your claim. / Take your reader to a higher place, an / “So what?” / Do NOT merely restate what you’ve already said! / Your conclusion should tell us why we should care about your claim. / Take your reader to a higher place, an / “So what?”

9. Conclusion strategies:  Ask a pertinent question  Present a final vivid and memorable image  Provide an accurate and useful analogy  Dismiss an opposing idea  Predict future consequences  Call for further action / Return to a scene or anecdote from the introduction  Ask a pertinent question  Present a final vivid and memorable image  Provide an accurate and useful analogy  Dismiss an opposing idea  Predict future consequences  Call for further action / Return to a scene or anecdote from the introduction

10. #4 Proofread! / 3-5 minutes / Make neat cross outs / Scan from the bottom, right to left (spelling) / Use strong verbs / Combine sentences / 3-5 minutes / Make neat cross outs / Scan from the bottom, right to left (spelling) / Use strong verbs / Combine sentences