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2.  Thesis – The answer to the question – The central theme to you entire paper – 1 sentence  SAMPLE QUESTION: Which animal makes a better pet, a Dog or a Cat?  How can we answer that question in one sentence?  SAMPLE THESIS: Dogs are better pets than cats.

3. Dogs are better pets than cats.

4.  When you get in an argument with your friends, is that one sentence ever enough?  You should have EVIDENCE o Three o Support your thesis o These can be quotes or statistics or good information. o It is important to explain how each fact relates to your main idea.

5.  Readings, Notes, Textbook, Documents provided by Mr. Lindloff, Quotes from a video in class or from a Crash Course video  SAMPLE EVIDENCE:  “The best ways to protect your house from invaders are a gun, an alarm and a large dog.” – Officer Lassie  “A cat’s independence makes it difficult to play with, where a dog is always ready to play” – K-9 Fake-umentary  Dogs show incredibly more brain activity than cats in 9 of 10 comparisons – Institute of Brian Griffin

6. Dogs are better pets than cats.

7. Dogs are better pets than cats. “The best ways to protect your house from invaders are a gun, an alarm and a large dog.” (Officer Lassie) “A cat’s independence makes it difficult to play with, where a dog is always ready to play” (K-9 Fake-umentary) Dogs show incredibly more brain activity than cats in 9 of 10 comparisons (Institute of Brian Griffin)

8.  It is important to EXPLAIN your evidence o Relate them to your THESIS  SAMPLE EXPLANATIONS: o Officer Lassie’s quote? Dogs provide protection that cats do not. o K-9 Video? A dog is much more playful than a cat. o Institute of Brian? Dogs are smarter than cats.

9. Dogs are better pets than cats. “The best ways to protect your house from invaders are a gun, an alarm and a large dog.” (Officer Lassie) “A cat’s independence makes it difficult to play with, where a dog is always ready to play” (K-9 Fake-umentary) Dogs show incredibly more brain activity than cats in 9 of 10 comparisons (Institute of Brian Griffin)

10. Dogs are better pets than cats. “The best ways to protect your house from invaders are a gun, an alarm and a large dog.” (Officer Lassie) Dogs provide protection that cats do not. “A cat’s independence makes it difficult to play with, where a dog is always ready to play” (K-9 Fake-umentary). A dog is much more playful than a cat. Dogs show incredibly more brain activity than cats in 9 of 10 comparisons (Institute of Brian Griffin). Dogs are smarter than cats.

11.  Finish your paragraph with a CONCLUSION o Wrap up any ideas o Summarize your paragraph in one sentence o Hint at what this might lead to.  SAMPLE CONCLUSION:  Because of the protection they can offer, the entertainment they provide and their greater intelligence, dogs are much better pets than cats.

12. Dogs are better pets than cats. “The best ways to protect your house from invaders are a gun, an alarm and a large dog.” (Officer Lassie) Dogs provide protection that cats do not. “A cat’s independence makes it difficult to play with, where a dog is always ready to play” (K-9 Fake-umentary). A dog is much more playful than a cat. Dogs show incredibly more brain activity than cats in 9 of 10 comparisons (Institute of Brian Griffin). Dogs are smarter than cats.

13. Dogs are better pets than cats. “The best ways to protect your house from invaders are a gun, an alarm and a large dog.” (Officer Lassie) Dogs provide protection that cats do not. “A cat’s independence makes it difficult to play with, where a dog is always ready to play” (K-9 Fake-umentary). A dog is much more playful than a cat. Dogs show incredibly more brain activity than cats in 9 of 10 comparisons (Institute of Brian Griffin). Dogs are smarter than cats. Because of the protection they can offer, the entertainment they provide and their greater intelligence, dogs are much better pets than cats.

14.  Thesis o Evidence Explain o Evidence Explain o Evidence Explain  Conclusion  Choose a question.  Answer the question in 1 sentence (THESIS)  Research your question. Read the book & articles that cover the topic. (If you cannot do Step 2, then do this second and Step 2 third)  Find 3 facts or quotes that support your thesis. (EVIDENCE)  Develop sentences to explain each piece of evidence and connect it to the thesis. (EXPLANATION)  Create 1 sentence that wraps up the paragraph. STEPS