Effective Strategies for Writing a Pro Argument Essay

PRO ARGUMENT ESSAY

INTRODUCTION PARAGRAPH 1) Hook your audience. 2) Introduce a specific claim you are making about your topic. 3) Describe three ways in which you will cite evidence and support your claim.

INTRODUCTION PARAGRAPH HOOK Grab the reader s attention in a thought provoking and meaningful way with an anecdote, a rhetorical question, or a quotation. Read the following examples to help you form your own: * Anecdote a short story Example: One sunny afternoon while walking Blanca, my very sociable bullterrier, I decided to introduce her to Phillip, the mailman. At first, she was friendly, but as Phillip turned to leave, Blanca treacherously leaped for his buttocks and ripped off the back of Phillip s blue and gray trousers. Fortunately, Phillip was not injured. Nevertheless, I was very concerned about my dog s behavior, so I took Blanca to my veterinarian to find out why she had acted so aggressively. Dr. Rios, Blanca s veterinarian, explained that there were three factors which could trigger an aggressive response from almost any dog. *Rhetorical Question a question with an answer Example: "Africa is rich. Why then are Africans poor?" *Quotation a line from a story poem or song Example: To be or not to be? When a despondent Prince Hamlet asked this question he was contemplating death and suicide. The question is relevant to the challenges Western civilization faces. Do we give in to extremism or do we stand up to the murderous jihadists who killed 12 innocent people in Paris?

INTRODUCTION PARAGRAPH 1. Begin with a simile or a metaphor. My life has been a carnival. My family is like an open book. 2. Begin with a definition. Insanity in its entirety is doing the same thing over and over again expecting a different result. This is the case in Joseph Heller s novel Catch 22. 3. Begin with a comparison to a well-known person or celebrity. When addressing the topic of influential leaders it is difficult to refrain from mentioning the great Abraham Lincoln, the sixteenth President of the USA. 4. Begin with placing yourself in the future. In the year 2012 I see myself as a supreme ballerina performing in Camelot at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. 5. Begin with a dilemma. Deciding to attend Hampton Roads Academy, a private school, was one of my most difficult decisions.

INTRODUCTION PARAGRAPH A Thesis Statement: has a clearly stated opinion, but does not bluntly announce the opinion ("In this essay I will..."), is narrow enough to write a focused essay, but is also broad enough to write at least 3 body paragraphs, is clearly stated in specific terms, is easily recognized as the main idea, is forceful and direct, is not softened with token phrases ("in my opinion" or "I think"), and can list the 3 main points that will be made. Example: It is too late to save earth; therefore, humans should immediately set a date for their relocation to Mars where, with proper planning, they can avoid issues of famine, war, and global warming. Example: Marijuana has numerous medical applications, such as treating symptoms of epilepsy, cancer, and glaucoma. Legalizing the use of marijuana in the U.S. will greatly benefit the medical sector by giving physicians access to this lifesaving drug.

SAMPLE INTRODUCTION PARAGRAPH The Main Claim with Three Supporting Arguments THESIS STATEMENT Imagine you are taking a math test, but you just cannot concentrate. What you really need is a piece of gum to chew so that you can chew on that difficult problem involving the slope equation that you cannot possibly remember. Everyone wants that refreshing piece of gum in his or her mouth during school. The controversy in schools today however is that students are not allowed this luxury. Students face punishment and are accused of creating a dirty school environment because of gum chewing. Schools should allow students to chew gum because it can help students perform better on tests, it increases student concentration, and it increases student participation in class.

BACKGROUND PARAGRAPH Why is this Topic Important? Important Definitions Important Laws or court cases.

BACKGROUND PARAGRAPH *For the purpose of this essay, _____ is defined as ___________. *Although many may think of ________ as being just another ________, it is actually defined as _______________________.

BACKGROUND PARAGRAPH EXPLAIN,THE,ISSUE Introduce the issue that your essay will be about before you state your thesis. Why is it an issue? Why is it a problem or controversy? The following are sentence starters or frames that you can start with, although it should be longer than 1 sentence: * The issue of _______________ is a complex one. What it is about is__________. * The question everyone s asking is,______? * Here s the controversy: _______________. * We all need to consider ________________. * The debate is about ___________________. * The issue to grapple with is ____________. * The problem is ________________________. * We need to determine if _______________ because ___________________. * It will be important to decide ___________ because__________________.

SAMPLE BACKGROUND ESSAY For the purpose of this essay, marijuana is defined as the green leafy cannabis sativa plant that grows in almost any climate. It s stalk is known as hemp and is used in making ropes, canvas, and paper. Its leaves and buds secrete THC which is the potent part of the plant (Gerber 2). There is a long history of drug use in America and currently marijuana use is illegal in most American states. Nonetheless, marijuana is legalized in some form in 23 states and the District of Columbia and the numbers are growing. The issue of marijuana use is a complex one because of regulations and criminalization. Without question, marijuana should be legalized to reduce the amount of low level criminals in the United States corrections system.

TRANSITION WORDS To show Similarity Words/Expressions to Use also, in the same way, just as, likewise, similarly But, however, in spite of, on the one hand, on the other hand, nevertheless, nonetheless, notwithstanding, in contrast, on the contrary, still yet First, second, third , next, then, finally After, afterward, at last, before, currently, during, earlier, immediately, later, meanwhile, now, recently, simultaneously, subsequently, then For example, for instance, namely, specifically, to illustrate Even, indeed, in fact, of course, truly, without question, clearly, Exception/Contrast Sequence/Order Time Example Emphasis Place/Position Above, adjacent, below, beyond, here, in front, in back, nearby, there Cause and Effect Accordingly, consequently, hence, so, therefore, thus Additionally, again, also, and, as well, besides, equally important, further, furthermore, in addition, moreover, then Finally, in a word, in brief, briefly, in conclusion, in the end, in the final analysis, on the whole, thus, to conclude, to summarize, in sum, to sum up, in summary Additional Support or Evidence Conclusion/Summary