1. Introduction
Hook: Quote, Story, Statistics, THOUGHT-PROVOKING Question! Needs to be something that really draws your reader in.
Tell Background Information: If you are writing about the story, tell the title and author and tell about the story. Readers need to know about the topic!
Claim/Thesis Statement: WHAT YOUR ENTIRE ESSAY SHOULD BE ABOUT. You have to stay true to this throughout your entire essay. Do not stray from it! Also, go ahead and mention the fact that there is another side.
“Although there are people who may disagree, cellphones are not beneficial in the classroom environment.”

2. Body Paragraphs
Always start with a TOPIC SENTENCE! This should be where you tell your readers the reasons that support your claim/thesis!
Next, EVIDENCE. This is SO very important. The more evidence you have, the better off you are. Evidence gives the paper credibility. Don’t feel like you are limited to one quote per body paragraph. Also, evidence can be summarized or paraphrased. You do not have to use a direct quote.
Elaboration: You have to connect back and EXPLAIN how your evidence proves your point. Do not leave your reader hanging. Remember, your analysis is the most important part.

3. Conclusion
REPHRASE your thesis/claim: Your conclusion paragraph is about bringing your paper to a close. So, you want to tell your reader one last time what you are trying to prove.
Summarize main points: Take one sentence per point to remind your reader about each point. Do you always remember everything you read a few pages back?
Leave a lasting impression: Leave your reader with one or two sentences that makes a lasting impression… it may be leaving them with a question or statement. THIS IS THEIR LAST IMPRESSION OF YOUR ENTIRE PAPER so make it good!

4. Counterclaim: Right before your last body paragraph!
Step One: State what the opposing side may believe AND WHY THEY MAY BELIEVE THAT! “Some people may argue cellphones should be used in school because they can be used for educational purposes.”
Step Two: Go back to THE ORIGINAL CLAIM! “However, students should not be allowed to use cellphones in school for several reasons.”
Step Three: Give evidence to negate what the opposing side might say and give evidence to support your claim. “However, cellphones are rarely used for educational purposes. If a student needs to look up something, most of the time they have access to a computer.”
Most important component: Show weakness in the other side!
Goes right before your last body paragraph.

5. Think SeeSaw Effect.

6. Formal Writing Remember that this is formal writing.
When writing an essay, it does not need to be conversational.
No contractions, no personal pronouns (or “you”), and no abbreviations!

7. Let’s practice with a counterclaim paragraph!
Despite what some people may believe, television has a negative effect on society.

8. Feedback from Counterclaim Paragraphs
Evidence… You cannot just tell why the other side is wrong. You have to give evidence to disprove the other side! (Cite where you got the information from)
Start out by clearly stating the other side. “On the other hand, advocates of the opposition may believe television has a positive effect on society. People may believe this because….”
*Look at example!

9. The claim for our argument essay…
Mary Maloney is being put on trial for murdering her husband.
Plea: Not Guilty due to temporary insanity.
Definition: in a criminal prosecution, a defense by the accused that he/she was briefly insane at the time the crime was committed and therefore was incapable of knowing the nature of his/her alleged criminal act.
Now… we need evidence to support the fact that she was temporarily insane at the time of the murder.