1. Value of an Education Essay
Introduction, Body Paragraphs, Counterclaim Paragraph, Conclusion

2. Introduction Paragraph Example
Hook
Education is essential for everyone. It has a positive effect on people’s lives. Some people may say college is not worth it. But, it opens many doors and creates opportunities. A college education is valuable because graduates are less likely to be unemployed and earn more money.
Bkgd
details
Thesis statement

3. Hook
Imagine an animal alone and lonely, always in fear of what is to come because their life is in the hands of somebody who could care less about them. Animals go from one treatment to the next and that is not the least of their worries; they receive physical as well as emotional abuse. Such abuse involves being kicked, thrown, and flung into cages. Many animals are tortured, abused and have no escape route because everywhere they go, the scalpel follows them. Scientists should be banned from experimenting on animals because animals live in fear, suffer severe trauma prior to being abused and more often then not, end up dead.
Supporting
Detail
Sentences
Thesis

4. The correct way to cite evidence….
Evidence: “Workers with a professional degree earn about 1,000 more a week than workers who have a high school diploma,” (BLS Survey 63).
Explanation: A college degree gives a student a better chance of earning double the amount of money.

5. Evidence: “the rate of unemployment for workers with a bachelor’s degree was about half that of those with no education beyond high school,” (BLS Survey 63). Explanation: Unemployment rates of those with a four year college education are significantly lower than unemployment rates of those with only a high school diploma. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, “the rate of unemployment for workers with a bachelor’s degree was about half that of those with no education beyond high school,” (BLS Survey 63).

6. Correct Citations (Five Ways pg.58) (Rotherham 80) (BLS Survey 63)
(Obama pg#)

7. Writing with ACES
The purpose of writing is to communicate an idea to a reader, whether you’re writing a note to your best friend about why the Redskins are the worst team in the NFL right now or an in-depth research paper dealing with the major flaws of the United States Congress. It is imperative that we express our ideas clearly and logically, since human beings easily confuse and misinterpret one another.

8. Body Paragraph (ACE)
A ssertion
C ite evidence
E explain and analyze

9. A-Assertion
This is your claim, the reason you’re drafting this paragraph to begin with. This is the point you are trying to prove to your reader. It is simple, to the point, and should be refutable (i.e. someone stubborn can argue your assertion is wrong).
Example – “Brussel sprouts are the grossest vegetable in existence.”

10. C-Cite Textual Evidence
This is the firm support you offer to back up your assertion. This is the “logos” section of your paragraph. It is typically rooted in fact, and you’ll insert quotes, facts, statistics, or experiences from outside sources here.
…consider….personal experience is OK, but biased. Non-biased evidence will create a much more concrete argument (one harder to argue against).
Example-
“One time, when I was younger, I chewed on one brussel sprout for a half an hour because I couldn’t swallow it.”

11. E-Explain and Elaborate
This is an elaboration on your assertion, and is more detailed and biased toward your opinion. It ranges from 1-2 sentences, based on how intricate your assertion is.
Example –
“Just the smell alone makes me want to cry.”
“It should be illegal for parents to feed them to their kids.”
“The experience has scarred me, and I do not want anyone else to be forced to go through the torment that is eating brussel sprouts.”

12. ACES Paragraph
Brussel sprouts are the grossest vegetable in existence. One time, when I was younger, I chewed on one brussel sprout for a half an hour because I could not swallow it. Just the smell alone makes me want to cry, and it should be illegal for parents to feed them to their kids. The experience has scarred me, and I do not want anyone else to be forced to go through the torment that is eating brussel sprouts.

13. A college degree will allow graduates to get better jobs with a higher salary. According to statistics, “Workers with a professional degree earn about 1,000 more a week than workers who have a high school diploma,” (BLS Survey 63). A degree gives a student a better chance of earning double the amount of money. This will allow them to live comfortably and be able to support a future family. Moreover, a college degree gives people options. Current data shows, “…college graduates earn more, and are more likely to have a job in the first place,” (Rotherham 79). College graduates have more opportunities and advantages compared to people that only complete high school. College prepares people for a successful life.

14. A college degree will open the door to many opportunities
A college degree will open the door to many opportunities. According to studies, “it is the most effective mobile strategy we have,” (Rotherham 80). Children from low income families have an opportunity to move up in society. They can get a good education and change their situation. Additionally, education gives people more choices in life. According to Malcolm X, “Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today,” (Malcolm X 61). A college education will prepare students for a successful future. It will give them the skills needed to excel in the real world.

15. Different ways to introduce quotes….
According to Rotherham,
Studies show,

16. Counterclaims & Rebuttals
Remember, your paper is arguing to get the reader to accept your point of view.
An effective paper addresses what the other side might say and explains why that point of view is wrong.
AND
You must address counterclaims in your argumentative essay if you want have a high score on your essay.
But…
How do you write an effective counterclaim paragraph? What does an effective rebuttal look like?

17. I’m right; you’re wrong, and here’s why.
Claim  What is your argument to the reader? What do you believe?
Counterclaim  What would someone who disagrees with you say?
Refutation / Rebuttal  Prove them wrong using your ideas or evidence from the passage(s).

19. Counterclaim
When you are in an argument, it makes sense to address the opposite side of what you are arguing and point out why that view is wrong. This is called a counterclaim.
Example:
Claim: Although they are traditionally seen as a distraction, students should be able to bring cell phones to school because digital literacy can be used for educational purposes.
Counterclaim: Students should not be able to being cell phones to school because they could use them to communicate during a test.

20. ADDRESSING THE COUNTERCLAIM
Some may say __________.
X argues __________.
X observes that __________.
According to X, “__________.”
According to some people __________. However, __________.

21. Topic sentence (introduce counterclaim)
OUTLINE
Topic sentence (introduce counterclaim)
Give Rebuttal
Give the Evidence
Explain how evidence proves the other side wrong.
Try using these transitions to start:
Many people [believe/ argue/ feel/ think/ suppose] that… [state counterclaim here]
It is often [thought/believed/imagined/etc.] that…
It would be easy to [think/ believe/ imagine/ suppose] that…
It might [seem/appear/look/etc] as if
[However/On the other hand/etc.], many people [believe/think/etc.] that…
Ask a Question: [Couldn’t/Doesn’t/Wouldn’t/Isn’t] …

22. Student Sample
Some may say that animal testing is ok, but they are overlooking that it is cruel and inhumane. There are alternative ways to do testing. “Computer models, such as virtual reconstructions of human molecular structures, can predict the toxicity of substances without invasive experiments on animals” (Source 2, p.2). Animal testing sometimes doesn’t benefit us. So, this is why they are wrong.

23. Student Example

24. How to Write a Conclusion Paragraph
Wrap-up that essay and leave the reader a present.

25. Conclusion Paragraph Things to consider:
Start with a strong transition word.
Include a larger implication for your essay: Why did you write this essay?
(And no, not because Ms. Woolley told you to)
Restate your major points
Leave the reader understanding your main idea (Thesis/Argument) and your purpose (Why should the reader care? So what?).
Call –to-action

26. Conclusion
The result of the removal of extracurricular sports in high schools is an absolutely terrible idea. Students will become overweight and obese. They will be limited to a scarce amount of afterschool programs. They will also lose an important aspect of their social life. As the school bell rings for dismissal, the hopes and dreams of teenagers becoming a professional athlete get dismissed, too.