College Argument Essay

IDEAS / CONTENT  Review your Research Portfolio  Decide upon your action plan for post-secondary education 1 st choice 1 st choice 2 nd choice – if you can’t decide 2 nd choice – if you can’t decide

BACKGROUND  Reread the most pertinent portions of your Portfolio College Application Essay (narrative) College Application Essay (narrative) College Research College Research Housing options research Housing options research Financial plan Financial plan

ORGANIZATION Organize your ideas into an outline Paragraph 1 – Introduction Paragraph 2 & 3 – Arguments/Reasons/ Support Paragraph 4 – Counterargument/Rebuttal Paragraph 5 – Conclusion

Paragraph 1 -- Introduction  Attention Getter or Hook Get the attention of the audience Get the attention of the audience  Background information What does the reader need to know about this issue? What does the reader need to know about this issue?  Claim/Thesis statement

 Build to your strongest argument  Use evidence from your research  Use the charts/graphs you created  Use transitions  First, second, primarily, most important, etc. Paragraphs 2 & 3 – Your reasons/support

 Counterargument  What evidence might be used to argue AGAINST your claim?  Think about:  reasons why this plan may not be the absolute best for you.  reasons your parents/guardians/peers might tell you about why this plan is NOT the plan for YOU—  high cost  the necessity of student loans  far distance from home  extra costs for university, limiting salary for career choice  etc. Paragraph 4– Counterargument & Rebuttal

 Rebuttal  How do you respond to your parent’s counterargument? How do you prove the counterargument wrong?  Use evidence from your research  Use the charts/graphs you created Paragraphs 4 – Continued

Paragraph 5 -- Conclusion  Restate your claim / thesis statement  Provide a brief summary of your argument/reasons Strongest evidence supporting your ideas Strongest evidence supporting your ideas  Meaningful final thought

Brainstorm Your Argument  Without your research/sources in front of you…  Complete the Brainstorm handout

PREWRITE / DRAFT / PROOFREAD  1 st draft (graphic organizer)  Rough draft Include a variety of Smiley Face Tricks (minimum of 3) Include a variety of Smiley Face Tricks (minimum of 3) Use transitions Use transitions  First, second, primarily, most important, etc. Edit for grammar, spelling, and word choice errors Edit for grammar, spelling, and word choice errors  Final draft Upload to TIIC by 11:59 pm on due date Upload to TIIC by 11:59 pm on due date