1. Persuasive Body Paragraphs
Modified by: Mrs. Knapp

2. Before Writing Body Paragraphs, BRAINSTORM and research.
Example thesis statement: Execution should be stopped because it is unjust and unfair, execution is not applied equally to both genders, and people are falsely accused.
Take the supporting details from your thesis statement, and brainstorm sub-supporting ideas (examples to help explain those points later in your paper)
If you cannot brainstorm at least 3 sub-supporting details, you should not use that reasoning.

3. Sub-supporting ideas/examples
Reason #1: Execution is unjust and unfair
Sub-supporting ideas:
Sedatives (calming drug) in a lethal injection can fail
Electrocution sometimes has to be repeated multiple times
The punishment of death doesn’t always fit the crime
Reason #2: Execution is not applied equally to both genders
Women on death-row are, many times, forgotten about
Many northwestern states have never executed a woman
Although their crimes are similar, women don’t get the death penalty nearly as often as men
Reason #3: People are falsely/wrongly accused
One in six executions involve falsely accused people
New technology has cleared some death-row inmates
The mentally handicapped do not have proper mental control

4. Color-code your ideas Reason #1: Execution is unjust and unfair
Sub-supporting ideas:
Sedatives (calming drug) in a lethal injection can fail
Electrocution sometimes has to be repeated multiple times
The punishment of death doesn’t always fit the crime
Reason #2: Execution is not applied equally to both genders
Women on death-row are, many times, forgotten about
Many northwestern states have never executed a woman
Although their crimes are similar, women don’t get the death penalty nearly as often as men
Reason #3: People are falsely/wrongly accused
One in six executions involve falsely accused people
New technology has cleared some death-row inmates
The mentally handicapped do not have proper mental control

5. Your Turn! Get out your Argumentative Practice Packet
Start by rewriting your graduation thesis statement on the next available page.
Then for ONE of your reasons, brainstorm three sub-supporting ideas to support it.
If you’re having a hard time, ask yourself, “What are some examples that PROVE this reason? How do I know?”

6. Let’s learn a little about counter arguments!
-lesson-plan/

7. Think of one counter argument for each of your body paragraphs
For each body paragraph, write a counter argument. Then you will refute it (prove it wrong) with one of your sub-supporting details.
Paragraph: Execution is unjust and unfair
counter argument: Inmates deserve to die
sub-supporting idea to refute: Electrocution sometimes has to be repeated multiple times
How you present this in a paper: “Although some people think inmates deserve to die, electrocuting them multiple times is inhumane, and no person should have to suffer through that.”

8. Counter Argument #2
Paragraph: Execution is not applied equally to both genders
counter argument: Maybe women don’t commit as horrible of crimes
sub-supporting idea to refute: Their crimes are similar, but women don’t get the death penalty nearly as often as men
How you present this in a paper: “Although some people think women don’t commit horrible crimes, their crimes are actually similar to men, but they don’t get the death penalty nearly as often.”

9. Counter Argument #3 Paragraph: People are falsely/wrongly accused
counter argument: Judges are fair and will examine all the evidence
sub-supporting idea to refute: New technology has cleared some death-row inmates
How you present this in a paper: “Although judges are fair and will examine all the evidence, new technology appears every day, and by the time it is used, it may be too late.”

10. Your Turn!
In your Argumentative Practice Packet, look at the topic sentence and 3 sub-supporting ideas you wrote (for the graduation topic)
Underneath this, write a counter argument for that topic sentence.
Then write the counter argument and your sub-supporting idea how you would write it in your paper.

11. How do I organize my body paragraphs?
3rd paragraph: best idea
2nd paragraph: weakest idea
1st paragraph: 2nd best idea
1st paragraph: 2nd best supporting idea
2nd paragraph: weakest supporting idea
you want to hide this in between two good ideas so readers won’t notice that it’s weak
3rd paragraph: best idea
“save the best for last!” because you want to end your paper with a punch

12. Create an outline
Each supporting idea in your thesis statement will be the topic sentences of your body paragraphs. The sub-supporting ideas you brainstormed will also be in their appropriate paragraphs and backed by research Example for Body paragraph #1
Transition word and first supporting idea (first listed in thesis)
Sub-supporting idea #1
Research to support
Counterargument
Sub-supporting idea #2
Sub-supporting idea #3
________________________________________________________________________________________________
To begin, execution is unjust and unfair.
Sedatives (a calming drug) in a lethal injection can sometimes fail.
“Recent legal challenges suggest that the initial sedatives may not be as effective as had been previously thought, causing the prisoner to die painfully and stressfully” (“We, On Death Row” 176).
Although some people think inmates deserve to die…
Electrocution sometimes has to be repeated multiple times.
“There is some evidence that it may take several episodes of application of electric shock before the inmate is actually killed, lasting anywhere from five to ten or more minutes” (“We, On Death Row” 178)
The punishment of death doesn’t always fit the crime.
“Rape is without doubt deserving of serious punishment; but in terms of moral depravity and of the injury to the person and to the public, it does not compare with murder, which does involve the unjustified taking of human life” (“Supreme Court Rulings…”)

13. Take the example you’ve been working with in your Argumentative Practice Packet, and create an outline for your first supporting idea!
Since this is just practice, I won’t make you use real research. Instead, give me further explanation about the sub-supporting ideas.
Write this in the next available space in your Argumentative Practice Packet!
If you don’t want to use the “Snacks in class” topic, create your own class topic.

14. Now What? When finished outlining, turn your outline into a paper.
Add transitions and sentences to help it flow
Make sure everything ties back to your thesis (this is called a bow)
Make sure topic sentences of each body paragraph follow the order they’re presented in the thesis statement

15. The “bow”
Each piece of evidence you use should tie back to your opinion for the paper. This bow should be 1-3 sentences long.
Example:
Electrocution sometimes has to be repeated multiple times. In the article “We, On Death Row” it states, “There is some evidence that it may take several episodes of application of electric shock before the inmate is actually killed, lasting anywhere from five to ten or more minutes” (178). It is not right to force this suffering on anyone. 10 minutes is a long time; it takes 10 minutes for the average adult to run a mile, but it should not take this long to kill someone.
Does this “bow” sound familiar? It’s similar to the bottom bun of your quote sandwich!

16. Before After Outline form should be in order
Express the simple, basic thoughts
Paragraph form should
add transitions
explain ideas to make them flow (the “bow”)
add further explanation to strengthen the argument if possible
Reread to make sure it flows after that

17. Ex: Outline Ex: Paragraph form
Transition word
Topic sentence: Execution is unjust and unfair.
Supporting idea 1: Sedatives can fail
cause prisoner to die slow and painfully (“We, On Death Row” 176)
To begin, execution is unjust and unfair. Sedatives used in lethal injections can sometimes fail, which, according to “We, On Death Row” can cause “the prisoner to die painfully and stressfully” (176). Not only are chemicals entering their bloodstream to poison them, but they are then made to experience every second of that agony if the drugs wear off. That is not justice, that is plain torture…..

18. Your Turn!
Now take the outline you created about graduation, and write a full body paragraph for this. Don’t forget to use a “bow”, and add transitions and extra explanatory sentences.

19. Students don’t make as much money
Amount of money for dropouts
“On average, students who drop out make 20,000 a year.”
First, students don’t make as much money. According to Dr. Seuss, “On average, students who drop out make 20,000 a year” (21). When you break down 20,000, that would not be enough money to live off.