Grabber!

Grabber- The introductory should have a strong attention grabber related to theme or topic. This can be a strong statement, a relevant quotation, statistic, or a question addressed to the reader.

Background Summary

Background - The background should be limited to 3-4 sentences. The background summary gives the reader context to understand the issue.

It should feature:

the date (or time period)

the place or setting

and the conditions that led to feudalism.

Stating the Question

Stating the Analytical Question- You

are writing an argumentative essay.

By writing the question, you are

informing the reader of the question

you will answer in the essay.

For maximum credit, you should

rewrite the question in your own

words, but be careful that your revised

question stays true to the original.

Thesis Statement and Roadmap

Thesis Statement: The idea that governs an essay must be complex: its parts (thesis points ) provide the content, and the order of its parts provides the organization. The thesis statement does not simply express the main idea; it shows the essay’s plan of development.

- Syd Corbett

Roadmap- Refers to the thesis points and the order of its parts.

Thesis and Roadmap (example)

The Chicken Foot!

The differences outweigh the similarities between samurai and knights because…

Main Point # 2 (bucket label)

Position/Claim

Roadmap

Partially completed thesis statement derived from the Chicken Foot

The differences outweigh the similarities between samurai and knights because they both served in feudal societies that were significantly distinct,………….,and…......

Topic Sentence

Topic Sentence- Topic sentences are like thesis statements for your body paragraphs. A clear topic sentence will establish the main idea of the paragraph so that the reader understands what each paragraph is about.

Baby Thesis

Baby Thesis: The baby

thesis typically begins

each body paragraph.

It is more than a topic

sentence; it is a

position statement.

Baby Thesis vs. Topic Sentence

Topic Sentence

1) Samurai and Knights both served in feudal societies that were distinct. ( it states the topic, but doesn’t take a position)

Baby Thesis

2) One reason the differences between Samurai and Knights far outweighed their similarities is because they each served in very distinct feudal societies. ( takes a position, by claiming the differences outweigh the similarities)

Evidence

The evidence is drawn from the documents and supports your baby thesis.

Parenthetical Citation

Evidence Example

When to cite a source… You must acknowledge in your paper

the source of :

A direct quotation

A statistic

An idea (other than your own)

Someone else’s opinion

Concrete facts

Information taken from a computer

Illustrations, photographs, or charts

Information not commonly known.

Two Popular Forms of Evidence (both require citation)

A direct copy of the source/document word for word. Quotes are usually short and appear between quotation marks.

Does not match the source document word for word. Involves putting a passage from a source into your own words. Changes the words or phrasing of a passage, but retains the original meaning.

Argument

Argument: Your explanation as to how the evidence supports your baby thesis.

The argument finishes this sentence: “The given evidence supports the baby thesis because …”______________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Conclusion

A strong conclusion should contain two of the three elements:

1) An optional “although” statement (counterargument)

2) A summary of the key argument

3) An explanation why this question is important today