1. It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought
without accepting it.
- Aristotle

2. Controversial Issues: Thesis, Focal Sentence, and Topic Sentences
Outlining
Controversial Issues:
Thesis, Focal Sentence, and Topic Sentences

3. What Is a “Controversial Issue”?
A controversial issue is something that people disagree about. For example:
legalizing marijuana
health insurance
drilling for natural gas.

4. Controversial issues can always be broken down into smaller issues.
In looking at controversial issues, you should always
be looking for at least two sides of the argument:
A Law against burning the U.S. flag
First Amendment
Prohibits such a law
Should not prohibit.
Definition of the flag
Can be defined
Cannot be defined

5. Punishment Conclusion Fines Jail Community Service Should be a fine
Should not be a fine
Jail
Yes No
Community Service
Conclusion

6. Write Three Different Thesis Sentences for this Essay
A Law against burning the U.S. flag

7. Taking a neutral position, write a focal Sentence and two topic sentences for this issue.
First Amendment
Prohibits such a law
Should not prohibit.

8. Taking a side either for or against a law, write a focal Sentence and the two topic sentences for this issue.
First Amendment
Prohibits such a law
Should not prohibit.