The Five Step Method to an arguemntative Essay.

Take the argument apart.

Identify the topic What is the broad Subject?

What is the specific aspect of the

Identify the scope of the topic.
topic that you will be dealing with?

What is the main idea that the autor

wants to establish in the prompt? /
Identify the conclusion. What is the main idea that the
professor wants to see in the
Step 1 question that he asked?
What are the details, facts, examples
Look for evidence that support the and reasons that can be used to
conclusion support the evidence that you have
identified?
Identify pieces of evidence that are
not explicitly stated, but must be
Look for assumptions.
true in order for the argument to
hold water.
Note any terms that are ambigious and
need defining.
Select the Points that you will make.
Think of the arguments on both side.
Make a decision as to which side
Identify your side of the argument. you wll support. Or identify the
extent by which you agree or
Step 2 disagree with a given position.
Identify important gaps between the
evidence and the conclusion. Think
Identify gaps
of remedies for the problems that
you discover.
Organize your thoughts.

Identify what you are going to say

in the introduction, in the middle
Create an outline. paragraphs and in your final
Step 3 paragraph. (each paragraph should
contain one main point only.)

Lead with your best arguments

Think about the entire flow of the essay.
Type your essay.
Start and conclude with strong
arguments.
Step 4
Be forceful.
Step 4

Make transitions, link related ideas; it

will help your writing flow.
Proof read:
Read through the entire essay.
Step 5
Have a sense of errors that you are liable
to make.
 Concrete Reflective Abstract
Citation / references Verbatim
experience Observation Conceptualization
Active Synthesis in own
Experimentation words.
Transition Words: Connecting and Linking words.

Before
After
Since
Next
During
at the same time
Time
then Cause and effect
always
often
sometime
meanwhile

Most imporant
Less important
Basically
First
Second
subordinate
Degree
primarily
Explanation
secondarily
lesser
essentially
principally
chiefly

Similar to

Correspondingly
as
common in
similarly Adding more
like, alike information
almost the same as
In a like manner
also
Differ from
Nevertheless
Comapre and More than that
contrast
Although
Comapre and
contrast
However
even though
unlike
while yet
otherwise
different from
in contrast to
but
still
less than
on the other hand
instead
so
for this reason
since
thus
as a result
due to
consequently
because, because of
although
therefore
owing to
so that

In other words
As
Such as
To clarify
like
for instance
to explain
that is
to illustrate
to paraphrase
for example
namely

In addition
Moreover
besides
similarly
furthermore
also
as well as
What's more
Integrative Essays: This can be about integrating ideas from two or more readings. It could also be about integrating lecture notes
and readings.

When you read, look for the main ideas

and their supporting detials. Identify the
Take Good notes.
elements that will help you respond to the
question / paper.
Step 1: Planning
Listen to the main dieas and supporting
Take good lecture notes:
detials in class.
Organize your reading notes and your
Create outlines and idea maps.
lecture notes.

The thesis statement is what you plan to

write about. It is the main idea for the
whole essay. In an integrative essay your
Write the thesis statement.
thesis must refer to the main ideas of the
readings and the main ideas of the
lecture.

Re-state the point of view of the passage

Point of view that you read and the point of view of the
lecture. (use reporting verbs)

Step 2: Writing Stage Compare and contrast what the text is

saying and what the lecture is saying.
Comapre and contrast Write about how the lecture supports,
explains or even refute or contrast what the
reading is saying. (and vice versa)

Explain the ideas that you read and heard.

Write the supporting details Remember that these are not your ideas -
you are reporting the ideas of other people.

Capture the main idea - express them in

Paraphrasing
your own words.

After you write - revise your content and

Revision check list
language.
Step 3: Revise
Check spelling and punctuation

Example of an idea Map

Introduction Topic / Main idea

Detial 1
Detail 2
Idea1

Body
 Idea1
Detail 3
Detail 1
Body
Idea 2 Detail 2
Detail 3
Detial 1
Idea 3 Detail 2
Detail 3
Conclusion Ideas 1, 2, 3

Believe
Propose
State
Think
Assert
Reporting verbs suggest
Tell
Point out
Describe
warn
explain

Revision Checklist
Thesis statement
Topics that support the thesis
Content
Main ideas
Supporting detials
Transition words
Fluency and
Grammar and spelling
Cohesion
Sentence Variety
out integrating lecture notes

Source A
Structure Verbatim Paraphrased Structure Verbatim

Introduction Topic / Main idea

Detial 1
Detail 2
Idea1

Body
 Idea1
Detail 3
Detail 1
Body
Idea 2 Detail 2
Detail 3
Detial 1
Idea 3 Detail 2
Detail 3
Conclusion Ideas 1, 2, 3

Final Synthesis: Write your final synthesis of the two sources once
 Source B
Paraphrased Structure Verbatim Paraphrased Structure

Introduction Topic / Main idea

Detial 1
Detail 2
Idea1
Compare and
Contrast
Body
 Idea1
Compare and Detail 3
Contrast
Detail 1
Body
Idea 2 Detail 2
Detail 3
Detial 1
Idea 3 Detail 2
Detail 3
Conclusion Ideas 1, 2, 3

ynthesis of the two sources once you have referenced, paraphrased and structured them just like in the format above.
Verbatim Paraphrased
Independent Essays: This essay is about writing your own ideas.

Thesis Statement.
The thesis statement must focus
the direction of your essay.
You must tell the reader
what the essay is about.

Step 1: Planning Make notes about general and

specific details.
Here you write your own
ideas and your own opinion.
Use an idea map: General rule -
you should have three general
ideas with at least two supporting
detials each.

What is your opinion on the

Write the introduction: topic that you are writing
about?
Write the topic sentences of
each and every one of your
paragraphs. (your opinion will
tell the reader what you think;
and your topic sentences will
Step 2: Writing serve as a guide)
State your opinion Express your opinion.
Tell the reader how you plan to
Guide the reader
develop your topic.
Sumarize the topic sentences
that you develop in our idea
map.

Write the Paragraphs Remember to keep it structured.

Write to support your thesis and

Write the conclusion remind the reader of your
intentions.
Restate your thesis and your
Restatement
topic statements.

Step 3:
Conclusion:
Different ways
to conclude an
essay.
 Use all the information you
Generalization provided and make a
Step 3: generalization out of it.
Conclusion:
Sumarize the informaiton you
Different ways
Prediction have provided and point the
to conclude an
reader to the next logical step.
essay.
Conclude with a question that
Question does not need an answer.
(Rethorical question)

Urge the readers to do

Recommendation something with the information
that you have provided.

Use the revision Checklist

Step 4: Revise
Spelling and grammar check

Expressing Opinion
In my opinion It is my opinion that
According to
I believe
me
To my way of
I think
thinking
In my view It seems to me that
To me It appears that
From my point
To my mind.
of view

Qualify your opinion

Seemingly maybe almost
conceivably probably doubtless

possibly presumably no doubt

perhaps certainly definitely

Revision Checklist
Thesis statement
Topics that support the thesis
Content
Main ideas
Supporting detials
Transition words
Fluency and
Cohesion
Fluency and
Grammar and spelling
Cohesion
Sentence Variety
Structure Content Source Verbatim
Opinion on the topic
Sumarry of topic sentence
1
Sumarry of topic sentence
Introduction 2
Sumarry of topic sentence
3
Describe topic
development
Detial 1
Idea 1 Detail 2
Detail 3
Detail 1
Ideas 2 Detail 2
Detail 3
Detail 1
Idea 3
Idea 3 Detail 2
Detail 3
Restate
Generalize
Conlcusion: Options
Predict
Question
Recommend
Own words / Paraphrase
 Book Reviews

Book Name:
Author:
Citation:
Book Review Structure. Verbatim notes
Title of the book
Provide a context for the book. Name of the author
Author's back ground.
Why did the author write the
book?
Introduction
What is the profession of the
Identify the purpose of the book author?
What is the extent of his
importance in the field of his
work?

Indicate your impresisons about Do you think that this book was
the book. worth writing? Why or why not?

Indicate why the subject matter

that the book addresses is
important.

Rethorical question
Provide a hook to reel the reader Short annecdote
towards reading your review.
Definition of an important word.

What is the main argument of the

book?
State the main topic of the book.
What is the importance of this
Body book's main argument.

What is the importance of the

Expalin the importance of the book book's claim?
- this is the "so what part of your
writing." Once you know the claim that
the book is making, ask yourself
- SO WHAT?

Key concept 1
Summarize the key concepts of the
book. (make frequent referecnces
to the author note that this is not Key concept 2
your own work) Key concept 3
Key concept 4
Key concept 5
 Overall impression.
Evaluation.
Suggestions.
Conclusion Conclude the book review Recommendations - what can be
done after reading the book?

Make a logical prediction out of

the key ideas in the book.
Paraphrased Concrete experience Reflective observation Abstract Conceptualization
Active experimentation Synthesis
EPM term paper format.
This format can be modified to suit the requirements of other te
papers.

Term Paper structure

Identify the background of the

author from whom the
guiding principles and ideas
come from.

What are the (educational)

Identify guiding principles that he beleives in?
Introduction principles and Author
ideas What are the (educational)
experiences that the author
talks about?
What is the author's purpose
in developing and writing his
principles?

Develop the meaning of topics

by exploring various sources.

What is the concern of the

(Educational) subject matter for the past?
Principles What is the significance of the What is the concern of the
topic under study as well as the learner in the present?
very definitions of the topics?
The social phenomena: What
is the concern of the topic for
the future?

Author's context
Draw similarities and
Contextualize differences between the context
the author's of the author and your context Personal context
ideas to which you are applying his Compare and contrast
or her ideas. Develop contextually relevant
Body principles
Application
In what ways can the
identified principles enhance
your current practice in your
context today and in the
future?
Role of the What is the potential role of the
principle in your principles in your context
context today?
 Role of the What is the potential role of the
principle in your principles in your context Discuss possible
context today? improvements.

Discuss possible roadblocks.

How can you mitigate these

potential roadblocks?

Cite specific examples of how Example 1

Provide
the principles have been done
practical
in practice. (research is needed
examples.
here) Example 2
Example 3
Make a generalzation out of all
Generalize the information you have
gathered.

Summarize the information

Conclusion Predict you have gathered and lead the
(options) reader to the next logical step.

Question Raise a rethorical question.

Urge the readers to do
Recommend something about the
information you provided.
uirements of other term

Personal remarks: Additional

Verbatim Notes Paraphrased Synthesis Source author
detials; facts; examples and reasons
page number