1. TTH Outline “The Tell Tale Heart” Persuasive Essays Let’s make your essay STRONG

2. Introduction Hook the reader’s attention in the opening line. Include the TAG. Give all appropriate background information to explain the crime and the criminal in detail (no more than three sentences). Use words to your advantage. If you are a prosecutor, you might want to use words like slaughter, butcher, cold-blooded, etc. If you are a defense attorney, use euphemisms or a gentler way to say something negative. For example, you might say “tragic loss of life” instead of “murder” or “unfortunate mental state” instead of “homicidal rage.” Remember, you control the way the reader views the crime, so use words carefully! You can not change what happened in the story, but you can make it sound like the evidence is more strongly in your favor.

3. Sample Introduction: Ladies and gentlemen on the jury, the question here today is not whether or not a man has lost his life. It is to understand the reality behind why this crime was committed. I stand here before you today to present the truth about my client, the narrator from Edgar Allen Poe’s Short Story, “The Tell-Tale Heart”. This poor, mentally unstable man was driven so far into madness that he heartbreakingly took the life of the victim and admitted to his crimes as a plea for help. (Insert Thesis) I will prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he should be found not guilty by reason of insanity OR guilty of first degree murder.

4. Counter Argument opposing argument When writing a persuasive essay, it is important to always consider the opposing argument. It allows you to anticipate doubts and preempt objections that a skeptical reader might have. It presents you as the kind of person who weighs alternatives before arguing for something, who confronts difficulties instead of sweeping them under the rug, who is more interested in discovering the truth than winning a point. You need to show that you understand the opposite viewpoint of your position and then counter it by When you counter-argue, you consider a possible argument against your thesis or some aspect of your reasoning. You need to show that you understand the opposite viewpoint of your position and then counter it by 1.providing contrasting evidence or 2. by finding mistakes and inconsistencies in the logic of the opposing argument.

5. Little Helpers… Possible ways to start your counter-argument paragraph are: While I can not argue that… Even though… I agree that… While it is true that… I cannot argue with… Granted… Admittedly… Examples: While it is true that the narrator premeditated his murder of the old man he should still be accused of insanity because… I agree that the narrator has some underlying mental issues; however, he is not insane because…

6. Body Paragraph 3 Topic Sentence includes the counterargument and rebuttal. Your rebuttal is how their counterargument is wrong and indicates what you will prove in this paragraph Your quotes support your reason as to why the counter is wrong. Your commentary shows why your evidence is stronger than the counterargument.

7. Conclusion Should leave the reader feeling satisfied; as though the topic has been fully covered DO NOT SIMPLY RESTATE THE THESIS Recap your main points in a new way Emotionally appeal to the reader with a call to action.

8. Sample Conclusion Ladies and gentlemen, after listening to the arguments presented before you in this courtroom today, the decision that you must make should be crystal clear. Due to the fact that my client has a mental disease that has clouded his realm of judgment for many years, that he hears “noises” unheard by others resulting in mind manipulation, and the fact that he really has no understanding of why he took the life of the old man, I ask that you favor the defense in this case. Did he take the life of another? Yes, he did. Did he leave an innocent family heartbroken and without their loved one? Yes, he did. But, the question you need to decide is whether he was aware of his actions and truly knew that what he was doing was wrong. The answer to that questions, ladies and gentlemen, is no. My client lives in a world that conflicts reality from fantasy and needs the assistance of doctors to help him cope in this world. Sending him to prison will send him down another dark and desolate trail he may never escape from. I am asking for your compassion to see this man for who he really is: a lost, confused, and mentally unstable man that needs medical assistance. So, on behalf of the evidence presented today in this courtroom and the defendant, I ask that you find him not guilty by reason of insanity.

9. Outline Peer Edit Trade Outline with someone at your table As we go through the slides, check your peer’s paper and make suggestions for improvement.

10. Introduction Is the jury addressed (ie. Ladies and gentlemen of the jury…)? Is the TAG provided in the background? Does the background explain what happened in the story concisely? Should it be longer, shorter? Does the thesis statement include all required elements?

11. Body Paragraphs Do topic sentences begin with transitional phrases? The first piece of evidence, the second, etc? Does the topic sentence state the reason being explored in the paragraph? Are the concrete details the best support of the reason? Are the concrete details introduced with signal phrases? Are there at least two sentences of commentary for each concrete detail? Does the concluding sentence wrap up the argument without being repetitive?

12. Does the topic sentence begin with a sentence starter that references the opposition? Does the quote support the writer’s case by proving the opposition is wrong? Does the commentary explain how the quote supports the writer’s case by proving the opposition wrong? Body Paragraph #3

13. Conclusion Does the writer use emotional appeals to sway the jury? Does the writer recap their main points and thesis without being repititive? Does the writer include a call to action?

14. What’s Wrong With this Body Paragraph? As a table group, make a list of all the things that are WRONG with this body paragraph. The defendant is crazy because he killed the man for his eye. “I think it was his eye! Yes. It was this!” This quote shows that the defendant killed the man for his eye. He had no other reason to kill him and only crazy people would pick that reason. “It was not the old man who vexed me, but his evil eye.” This quote shows how the defendant keeps on talking about how the eye bothers him. So he is crazy. The defendant is crazy because he killed the man for his eye. Now, working with your partner, FIX IT! This needs MAJOR reworking, pretty much the only thing that can stay are the quotes…You each need the body paragraph rewritten on your paper.

15. TS #1 – The defendant is guilty of first degree murder because he premedidated the crime CD#1 – “I made up my mind to take the life of the old man” (Poe 1). CM#1 – This quote shows that the defendant premeditated the murder CM#2 – Since he planned it out he is guilty of first degree murder.

16. To begin, the prosecution wishes to examine a certain piece of the defendant’s testimony that will prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he did indeed premeditate this gruesome crime. According to the defendant, the helpess victim had done nothing to harm him and yet he still clearly states that he “made up [his] mind to take the life of the old man” (Poe 1). This chilling statement is taken directly from the murderer’s testimony and clearly shows that this cold blooded murderer formed an intention to kill long before the act took place. Due to the fact that he clearly planned the horrendous act, the only applicable charge in this case is first degree murder. The fact that he acted with horrific malice will only make our case stronger.

17. What to add? Loaded language – Emotionally appeal to your audience Transitional phrases – First, next, finally, etc. Signal Phrases – Build background for your quotes (this might be a sentence or two explaining who was talking and what was going on around that time). EXPAND Commentary – avoid simple sentences, go for complex thoughts.