1. Introduction and Conclusion Paragraphs
Informative/research paper and link to Argumentative

2. Background information on Civil Rights Act of 1964

3. Purpose on introductory paragraphs
Grab reader’s attention
Introduce the topic
Give background information
State your thesis or claim (proposition)

4. Thesis: Typically the last sentence of the introduction
_________________ was a significant event in the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 which made it illegal to discriminate based on race or gender.

5. The introduction has a “hook or grabber” to catch the reader’s attention.
Some “grabbers” include opening with a:
strong statement/headline
Quotation
Anecdote/story
Statistic/fact
Rhetorical question
Dialogue/conversation
B A R- background, argument, roadmap

6. Shocking Statement/headline
Statement 14 year old African -American killed for allegedly whistling at a White woman.
Bridge/link Headlines like this and pictures of this young man’s mutilated body hit newsstands all across America.
Thesis: The shocking death of Emmett Till unified people to fight against injustice. This unity led to the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 which made it illegal to discriminate based on race or color.

7. Opening with a quotation from the story or something related.
Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.Martin Luther King, Jr.
bridge: King’s message of peace and love helped unite people to join in peaceful protests, such as the Montgomery Bus Boycotts.
Now write your thesis:

8. Anecdote/Story
Emmett Till, a teenager from Chicago, had no idea that the South played by different rules. Little did he know that when he accepted a silly bet to flirt with a white woman, it would cost him his life. His death would lead to the unifying of many, willing to fight to end racial injustice.
Thesis:

9. Statistic or fact
Percentage of the total population living below the poverty threshold in 1966: 14.7% Percentage of the white population living in poverty in 1966: 11.3% Percentage of the black population living in poverty in 1966: 41.8%
Add bridge and thesis

10. Percentage of the total population living below the poverty threshold in 1966: 14.7% Percentage of the white population living in poverty in 1966: 11.3% Percentage of the black population living in poverty in 1966: 41.8% Statistics like these demonstrate the need for Blacks in America to join the Civil Rights Movement. Many joined in the Nashville Sit-Ins to protest the financial inequality as well as to end the segregation of lunch counters. Insert Thesis.

11. Dialogue/conversation
Milam: "Take off your clothes."
Slowly, Bobo, also known as Emmett Till, pulled off his shoes, his socks. He stood up, unbuttoned his shirt, dropped his pants, his shorts.
He stood there naked.
It was Sunday morning, a little before 7.
Milam: "You still as good as I am?"
Bobo: "Yeah."
According to the murderers, this was Till’s last conversation before they killed him. Till’s death was a major event in the Civil Rights Movement.

12. Rhetorical Question
Why would one murder spark the Civil Rights Movement?

13. B A R: background, argument, roadmap
Background to the Civil Rights Movement esp. Rosa Parks/bus boycotts.
Argument- Without the Montgomery Bus Boycotts, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. would not have become the leader of a peaceful, effective protest which led to the end of segregation of buses.
Roadmap- The Montgomery Bus Boycotts established Dr. King as the leader and led to the first of many successful steps leading to the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1p64.

14. Conclusion Conclusion Paragraph (4 sentences)
Restate thesis in an original way.
Answers how or why this is true.
Give advice, a recommendation, or a universal application on the subject.
Go full circle. Relates back to your introduction.

15. Go universal or give advice
How does this thesis relate to all injustice?
What advice would you give someone who does not have access to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness? or equality?

16. Go full circle
If you began your essay with something, end with the same idea.
If you began with statistics, end with modern day statistics

17. Purdue Argumentative Intro Conclusion Click Link
power point