OBJECTIVE # 12
Writing
12 a ~ INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH
12 b ~ BODY PARAGRAPHS
12 c ~ CONCLUSION PARAGRAPH
Editing
12 ~ d
Formatting
12 ~ e
Argumentative
Essay
WRITING THE ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY
Once all the previous objectives have been noted and/or accomplished, writing the
argumentative essay is the next objective. Utilize the topic outline or sentence outline as a
guide for the initial/rough draft of the argumentative essay. These two types of outlines
organize information acquired from research and notated on note cards. Information is
organized under general headings and logically arranged [and re-arranged] to procure a sound
essay.
12 A ~ INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH
Begin with the INTRODUCTORY paragraph: NOTE: The argumentative essay may
begin as a 5 paragraph essay (Introductory paragraph, 3 Body paragraphs, and Conclusion
paragraph) to focus writing. Please adhere to educator’s directives for multi-paragraph essays.
“FUNNEL”
INTO THESIS
Provide a HOOK
EXPLAIN or COMMENT on HOOK
(at least 1 strong sentence)
Continue FUNNELING, providing a LEAD-IN SENTENCE
that begins to TRANSITION the HOOK
and its EXPLANATION/COMMENT toward the
THESIS/POSITION STATEMENT.
(at least 1 strong sentence).
EXPLAIN/COMMENT on LEAD-IN SENTENCE.
(at least 1 strong sentence)
Finally, but MOST IMPORTANTLY,
provide the THESIS/POSITION STATEMENT
(1 strong sentence that declares an ARGUABLE CLAIM
+ 3 SUPPORTIVE POINTS/REASONS
TO SUPPORT THE ARGUABLE CLAIM)
12 B ~ BODY PARAGRAPHS
Next, compile the BODY PARAGRAPHS, adhering to thesis/position statement
sequence.
THESIS/POSITION STATEMENT EXAMPLE:
Victoria Falls [TOPIC/SUBJECT], in particular, deserves to be honored and celebrated as
one of the stateliest Seven Natural Wonders of the World [ARGUABLE CLAIM] in that its
GEOGRAPHY [SUPPORTIVE POINT/REASON # 1, ACQUIRED FROM RESEARCH
PROCESS], HISTORY [SUPPORTIVE POINT/REASON # 2, ACQUIRED FROM
RESEARCH PROCESS], and SPLENDOR are unsurpassed [SUPPORTIVE
POINT/REASON # 3, ACQUIRED FROM RESEARCH PROCESS].
BODY PARAGRAPHS MUST adhere to the same sequence as the thesis statement:
BODY PARAGRAPH # 1 MUST coincide with SUPPORTIVE POINT/
REASON # 1.
According to the example, the first SUPPORTIVE POINT/
REASON is GEOGRAPHY.
BODY PARAGRAPH # 2 MUST coincide with SUPPORTIVE POINT/
REASON # 2.
According to the example, the second SUPPORTIVE POINT/
REASON is HISTORY.
BODY PARAGRAPH # 3 MUST coincide with SUPPORTIVE POINT/
REASON # 3. According to the example, the third SUPPORTIVE POINT/
REASON is SPLENDOR.
NOTE: To further elaborate on the compilation of the BODY PARAGRAPHS, it can be noted
that each BODY PARAGRAPH should contain three focal sub-topics to assist in focusing
writing.
For example, BODY PARAGRAPH # 1, GEOGRAPHY, will elaborate on the GEOGRAPHICAL
LOCATION of Victoria Falls, the GEOGRAPHICAL FORMATION of Victoria Falls, and the
GEOGRAPHICAL MAGNITUDE of Victoria Falls.
It is imperative to utilize TRANSITION sentence-to-sentence, navigating from sub-topic to
subtopic within the realm of each body paragraph.
12 C ~ CONCLUSION
Last, compile the CONCLUSION PARAGRAPH. This paragraph is a “REVERSE
FUNNEL” approach, for the THESIS/POSITION STATEMENT appears FIRST.
Next, provide 1-2 sentences PER EACH BODY PARAGRAPH, summarizing the main ideas of
each body paragraph. Last, BOOK END the essay with a CONCLUDING STATEMENT that
MIRRORS the HOOK, providing FINALITY.
12 D ~ EDITING THE ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY
 Read backward sentence-by-sentence, for awkward sentence
structure, for run-ons, for fragments.
 Read paragraph-by-paragraph for transition sentence-to-sentence.
 Read for transition from one paragraph to another.
 Numbering within essay:
 If the number can be written in one or two words, write it out.
0—zero
100—one hundred
 Large numbers can use a combination of numerals and words
4.5 Million
 Treat percentages and money as other numbers. If it can be
spelled out in three words or fewer—five dollars, forty-five
percent—write it out. If not make sure to use the appropriate
symbols with the numerals.
115%
$5.35
 If there is an excessive amount of numbers in the essay, then
it is permissible to use numerals; however, DO NOT begin a
sentence with a numeral—it MUST be written out.
EXAMPLE: Sixty-four thousand one hundred people attended the game on Sunday.
 Inclusive numbers:
o When writing numbers through 99 provide the full
digits. EXAMPLE:
WRITE 42-48
NOT 42-8.
o Page numbers ABOVE 99 require only the last two
digits of the second number, write 1123-24. Leading
zeros are not dropped, write 1000-04.
o Write pages 1584-621 (NOT 1584—1621).
o Elide (omit) dates only when they fall within the same
century: 2009-10. If different centuries, write 18651917.
 Capitalization within essay:
 All titles and subtitles should be capitalized
even if they are not capitalized in the primary or
secondary source.

DO NOT capitalize the following parts of speech in the middle
of a title:
o Articles (a, an, the)
EXAMPLE: Under the Bamboo Tree
o
Prepositions (against, between, in, of, to)
EXAMPLE: The Merchant of Venice
o
Coordinating conjunctions (and, but, for, nor, or, so,
yet)
o
The to in infinitives
EXAMPLE: How to Play Chess
 Grammatical protocol in essay:
 Maintain and adhere to proper GRAMMAR and MECHANICS as
taught/reviewed by educator
 Compile/write essay in THIRD PERSON (DO NOT use I, me, we, you,
us, our)
 Maintain consistent VERB TENSE
 DO NOT use abbreviations, contractions, or slang
 TITLES should be ITALICIZED --NOT underlined (underlining is only
acceptable for handwritten work, such as source cards).
12 E ~ FORMATTING THE ESSAY IN WORD
1. Open a WORD DOCUMENT
2. Set up Font and Size –TIMES NEW ROMAN, 12 FONT
3. Click on INSERT—Click on PAGE NUMBER
4. Choose TOP OF PAGE—PLAIN NUMBER 3
5. A ‘1’ will appear in the HEADER in right margin
6. Type your LAST NAME in front of the number ‘1’ EX: Smith 1
5.
CLICK out of HEADER
7. CLICK on-PAGE LAYOUT
8. On PAGE LAYOUT – CLICK on MARGINS
9. CLICK on – Normal 1,1,1,1
10. CLICK on HOME
11. On document-In LEFT MARGIN- Type in HEADING
[First Name, Last Name, (HIT ENTER): EDUCATOR’S NAME (HIT ENTER): English 9
or 10 (HIT ENTER): DAY MONTH YEAR (HIT ENTER)
12. Type TWO PART COLONATED TITLE and CENTER IT : EXAMPLE- Victoria Falls: An
Unsurpassed Natural Wonder (HIT ENTER)
12. Commence typing INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH -- ALIGNED LEFT
EXAMPLE: FORMATTED ESSAY IN WORD:
HEADING
HEADER