academic essay writing, toolbox

Toolbox of Skills
needed for practicing academic essay writing




In writing argumentative essays, some students may desire to use the same structure that is used in opening statements in a courtroom argument.  They may want to deliver most concessions near the beginning of the argument so that their major points located in the body of the essay may best be left in the minds of those who need to know.

A good format for teaching students the structure of that particular paragraph can be seen in the following model which I constructed for my students in English I.   This form can be readily adapted by student or teacher from one writing to another as the student gains some skill through practice.

Con Paragraph Development
(Concessions or Points conceded or given up or acknowledged)

 Sentence One:   Of course, not everyone agrees with the notion that 


(Restated Thesis)


Sentences Two and Three:
(What do those who disagree say?)

Sentence Four:

(Are there any other facts or statistics which might disagree with the writer's position)
Sentences Five and/or six, etc.:

(But these people have not considered... .)

Sentence Seven

(Return to your thesis for this last sentence.  Offer more support of your thesis statement a you insist that you   were right in the first place.)  Note:  This format serves as a good starting point.  It does not take long for the students to shed the rigidity of form as they gain insight into what is required and develop an adequate style of their own.
 
 
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