1. Introductory Paragraph Quiz
What are the 4 ways to introduce your topic in an introductory paragraph?
What are the 4 main things do you need to make a strong introductory paragraph?

2. Organizing Your Argument Title Introduction Thesis statement
Body Paragraphs
Constructing Topic Sentences
Building Main Points
Countering the Opposition
Conclusion
Rationale: This slide illustrates the topics covered in this presentation, as well as the ordering of the introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion within an argument. 2

3. How to write a really great paragraph!
Hamburger Paragraphs
How to write a really
great paragraph!

4. Click on me to learn about good paragraphs!

5. The Topic Sentence (Top Bun)
Very first sentence of your paragraph.
Always needs to be indented.
Tells what your paragraph is going to be about.
There are many reasons that I love to teach. First of all, I love to teach because I love being at school. Another reason I love teaching is that the days go by quickly. A third reason I love to teach is because I love seeing a student understand something new. Finally, I love to teach because I love to be around kids. These are just a few reasons I love to teach.
Click here to return to the hamburger

6. The First Detail (Lettuce)
There are many reasons that I love to teach. First of all, I love to teach because I love being at school. Another reason I love teaching is that the days go by quickly. A third reason I love to teach is because I love seeing a student understand something new. Finally, I love to teach because I love to be around kids. These are just a few reasons I love to teach.
Should not be the most important detail.
Needs to follow directly after the topic sentence.
Needs to be full of good “lettucy” details!
Click here to return to the hamburger

7. The Second Detail (Tomato)
There are many reasons that I love to teach. First of all, I love to teach because I love being at school. Another reason I love teaching is that the days go by quickly. A third reason I love to teach is because I love seeing a student understand something new. Finally, I love to teach because I love to be around kids. These are just a few reasons I love to teach.
Still should not be the most important detail.
Needs to follow directly after the lettuce sentence.
Needs to be full of good “juicy” details!
Click here to return to the hamburger

8. The Third Detail (Cheese)
There are many reasons that I love to teach. First of all, I love to teach because I love being at school. Another reason I love teaching is that the days go by quickly. A third reason I love to teach is because I love seeing a student understand something new. Finally, I love to teach because I love to be around kids. These are just a few reasons I love to teach.
Still not be the most important detail.
Needs to start differently than other sentences.
Needs to be full of good “cheesy” details!
Click here to return to the hamburger

9. Click here to return to the hamburger
The Last Detail (Meat)
There are many reasons that I love to teach. First of all, I love to teach because I love being at school. Another reason I love teaching is that the days go by quickly. A third reason I love to teach is because I love seeing a student understand something new. Finally, I love to teach because I love to be around kids. These are just a few reasons I love to teach.
Finally!! The most important detail.
Should start differently than most of the other sentences.
Needs to be full of good “meaty” details!
Click here to return to the hamburger

10. The Closing Sentence (Bottom Bun)
Should look a lot like the topic sentence.
Needs to summarize the topic.
Needs to be an obvious end to the sentence.
There are many reasons that I love to teach. First of all, I love to teach because I love being at school. Another reason I love teaching is that the days go by quickly. A third reason I love to teach is because I love seeing a student understand something new. Finally, I love to teach because I love to be around kids. These are just a few reasons I love to teach.
Click here to see a good paragraph on the web!

11. General Most important Strongest claim
Paragraphs may be ordered in several ways, depending upon the topic and purpose of your argument:
General
Specific
Most important
Least important
Key Concepts: Body paragraphs may be ordered in various patterns, depending upon the purpose, audience, and topic of the argument. This slide offers participants options for organizing their work.
Activity: The facilitator may choose to offer suggestions on organizing patterns for a current argumentative assignment.
Strongest claim
Weakest claim 11

12. Offering a Counterargument
Addressing the claims of the opposition is an important component in building a convincing argument.
It demonstrates your credibility as a writer—you have researched multiple sides of the argument and have come to an informed decision.
It shows you have considered other points of view - that other points of view are valid and reasonable.
Key Concepts: Concerned with asserting the importance of their own claims, writers sometimes overlook the importance of considering the views of the opposition within their own arguments. Countering oppositional claims demonstrates to the audience that the writer has carefully considered multiple components of the issue and has reached an educated decision. If a writer finds that the opposition cannot be countered effectively, he or she may need to reevaluate his or her own opinions and claims about the argument. 12

13. Locating a Counterargument
Counterarguments may be located at various locations within your body paragraphs. You may choose to:
Build each of your main points as a contrast to oppositional claims.
Offer a counterargument after you have articulated your main claims.
Key Concept: Counterarguments may be located at various points within a paper. It is important, however, that the writer offer a convincing response to the claims of the opposition.
Activity: The facilitator may choose to offer specific tips to students about counterarguing in a current argumentative assignment. 13

14. Effective Counterarguments
Consider your audience when you offer your counterargument:
Conceding to some of your opposition’s concerns can demonstrate respect for their opinions.
Using rude or deprecating language can cause your audience to reject your position. Remain tactful yet firm.
Key Concepts: This slide suggests the importance of considering the audience in offering a counterargument. If a writer is trying to argue about the dangers of second-hand smoke to a group of smokers, the writer needs to offer his or her opinion in such a way that the opposition can see the rationality of his or her claims. If the writer instead chooses to rant about how much he or she dislikes smokers, it is doubtful that the audience will feel any sympathy with the argued position and will reject the argument. The facilitator may choose to emphasize that tact and audience consideration are very important elements of effective counterarguments. 14

15. Research in Body Paragraphs
Researched material can aid you in proving the claims of your argument and disproving oppositional claims.
Be sure to use your research to support the claims made in your topic sentences—make your research work to prove your argument.
Key Concepts: Writers sometimes fall into the trap of letting research material overwhelm the paper, rather than using sources to prove their own argumentative claims. It is important to be selective when using source material; just because a source may relate to your topic does not mean it will necessarily be useful or relevant to proving your claims. Offering clear topic sentences that articulate claims relating to the thesis can be a useful strategy for offering a frame to researched material. Sources can then be used to back the claim provided in the topic sentence. 15

16. The Conclusion
Conclusion: Reemphasizes the main points made in your paper.
You may choose to reiterate a call to action or speculate on the future of your topic, when appropriate.
Avoid raising new claims in your conclusion.
Key Concepts: The conclusion is also an important paragraph in a paper--it provides the last words that a writer will present to his or her audience. Therefore, it should have a lasting impact. The conclusion should work to reemphasize the main claims of the argument, articulating the importance of the argued position and, when appropriate, the reader’s need to take action on the issue. Writers should also avoid raising new claims in concluding paragraphs--there is no more room to argue points comprehensively or convincingly. Such new points would be better repositioned within the body paragraphs. 16

17. Resources

18. Should college athletes be paid more than just tuition?
Your Turn
Should college athletes be paid more than just tuition?

19. Typical Sentence Arrangement for a Schaeffer or Regular Body Paragraph
Topic Sentence
Support Sentence
Elaboration Sentence
Elaboration Detail Sentence
Concluding Sentence