1. Reconsider the prompt: To what extent does Civil Disobedience promote social progress?
Write your thesis (either the original you included in your timed write, or a revision)

2. Write your reasons for your stance.
Because…   Because…   Because…   Because…

3. Review the example of Civil Disobedience you brought for this assignment. Decide which side of the T-chart you think this example exemplifies
Civil Disobedience promotes social progress
Civil Disobedience prevents social progress

4. Decide how to use this example in your argument
Determine whether this example is an example that supports your stance, or one that works as an example of the counterargument. If it supports your stance, follow the directions on the left. If it works as an example of the counterargument, follow directions on the right.

5. The topic sentence (mini-argument)
Consider your example of Civil Disobedience alongside the list of reasons you generated. Does the example illustrate one of these reasons for your stance? Or does it bring up a new reason to support your thesis? In either case, use the reason that fits your example to write a bold claim that offers readers a mini- argument in support of your thesis. This will be the topic sentence of your paragraph.
Consider your example of Civil Disobedience alongside the list of reasons you generated. Does the example seem to directly contradict one of these reasons for your stance? Or does it illustrate an argument that the opposition makes that you find faulty? In either case, write a sentence that offers up one of the counterargument’s main claims, but alongside language like “A common misconception about Civil Disobedience is…” or “Those who support [the opposite of what you do] argue that…” to show that you do NOT adhere to the argument you’re presenting. This will be the topic sentence of your paragraph.

6. Explanation
Next write a sentence or two of explanation to clarify the claim you’ve made and further connect it to your thesis.
Next write a sentence or two to clarify the opposition’s stance.
You can also use these sentences to explain your disagreement with the opposition’s stance.
Continue using the third person “they” to describe the group and their line of thinking.

7. Transition to Specific Example
Now transition into your example. Try a phrase like “For example,” “For instance,” “To illustrate,” “specifically,” “to demonstrate,” “one example,” or “recently.”
Now transition into your example. Try a phrase like “For example,” “For instance,” “To illustrate,” “specifically,” “to demonstrate,” “one example,” or “recently.”

8. Signal phrase (introduce source!)
Then you need to introduce the source with a signal phrase that identifies important information such as the name of the author, the author’s credentials, the title of the article, the name of the publication, and the date of publication (it isn’t necessary to include ALL of these; include enough to lend context and credibility to your example).
Then you need to introduce the source with a signal phrase that identifies important information such as the name of the author, the author’s credentials, the title of the article, the name of the publication, and the date of publication (it isn’t necessary to include ALL of these; include enough to lend context and credibility to your example).

9. Presenting the Evidence
Then write a brief (2-4) sentence description of the act of Civil Disobedience. Give readers the necessary information (who, what, when, where, why and how) and also be sure to explain how the action fits as Civil Disobedience.
Then write a brief (2-4) sentence description of the act of Civil Disobedience. Give readers the necessary information (who, what, when, where, why and how) and also be sure to explain how the action fits as Civil Disobedience.

10. Analysis
The next step is to ANALYZE your example. Here you need to spell out for the reader how you want them to understand the example. Explain how you believe it connects to and supports your paragraph’s claim by discussing things like how/whether the act of civil disobedience led to any changes and why/why not. This section should be 2-3 X as long as the description of the example.
The next step is to ANALYZE your example. Here you need to spell out for the reader how you want them to understand the example. Explain how the opposition interprets the example, and then explain how/why their interpretation is wrong. Perhaps show that an act often applauded as successful civil disobedience didn’t lead to any significant change. This section should be 2-3 X as long as the description of the example.

11. Conclusion
Finally, conclude with a bold statement of claim that ties everything you’ve shown in this paragraph back to the thesis statement. (in other words, answer the question “how does this all prove your point?)
Finally, conclude with a bold statement of claim that ties everything you’ve shown in this paragraph back to the thesis statement. (in other words, answer the question “how does this all prove your point?)