How to Organize an Argumentative Paper

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How to Organize an Argumentative Paper

• TPEQEA- Its easy once you have the formula!!

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Introduction

• Hook
• Summary
• Thesis

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Hook or Lead

• Introduce the Topic with an interesting lead or
  hook.
• This could be a compelling quote from the text or
  that you heard somewhere
• This could be a question
• Why do we hurt the ones we love?

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Summary

• Summarize the topic- if it is a text (like a
  story, poem, or novel), spend about 3 to 4
  sentences explaining what the text is about.
• Make sure the first sentence includes the title
  of the work (novel, story, whatever) and the
  author.
• The Scarlet Ibis by James Hurst

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Thesis

• Last sentence of first paragraph should be the
  thesis.
• The thesis has three parts
• Counter claim (opposite of claim)
• However
• Claim

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Example Thesis

• Some may claim Brother is innocent because he
  taught Doodle to walk however, he only taught
  him to walk for his own selfish reasons making it
  clear that Brother is responsible for Doodles
  death.

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Body Paragraphs

• Write 3 body paragraphs
• Each BP has a reason that support your thesis
• Organize the paragraphs by using
• TPEQEA
• (pronounced tuh-pee-kee-uh)

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Body Paragraphs TPEQUE Style

• T Topic Sentence
• P Point
• E Example
• Q Quotation
• E Elaboration
• A Analysis

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• T Topic Sentence Introduces the topic of the
  paragraph
• P Point Makes a clear argument about the topic
• E Example Provides an example to back up the
  point

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• Q Quotation Research to prove the point
• E Elaboration Explains how the example proves
  the point
• A Analysis Analyzes the importance of the
  argument and takes the elaboration one step
  further.

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Layering

• Example, Quotation, Elaboration (AKA-
  EVIDENCE!!) can be layered to make your argument
  stronger!!

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Example Paragraph

• Thesis People may feel that Brother is innocent
  because he thought Doodle how to walk however,
  he only taught him to walk because he was
  embarrassed about having a brother who was
  disabled and his selfishness lead him to pushing
  Doodle too hard and causing his death.
• Reason 1 Brother ignored doctors orders for his
  own benefit

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T Topic Sentence Introduces the topic of the
paragraph

Throughout his short life, Brother constantly
pushed Doodle to do things he was incapable of
for his own selfish reasons. HINT use
adjectives that promote an emotional response
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P Makes a clear argument about the topic

• The warnings of the doctor not to physically
  exert Doodle fell on deaf ears.

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E Provides an example to back up the point

• For example, the family was told not to turn
  Doodle on his stomach. However, the order was
  ignored.

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Q Quotation Research to prove the point

• The doctor said that with his weak heart the
  strain would probably kill him, but it didnt
  (430).

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E Elaboration Explains how the example proves
the point

• Had brother not been so anxious to have a
  normal sibling, he would not have risked his
  brothers life by turning him over.

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E Provides an example to back up the point

• Also, Brother was given specific instructions on
  how to care for Doodle when he took him out.

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Q Quotation Research to prove the point

• The doctor had said that he mustn't get to
  excited, to hot, too cold, or too tired, and that
  he must always be treated gently (431).

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E Elaboration Explains how the example proves
the point

Because he did not want his burden of a brother
accompanying him, Brother constantly did the
opposite of what he was told.
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E Provides an example to back up the point

• When Doodle was in his care, not only did
  Brother not follow doctors orders, he also
  further jeopardized his brothers life.

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Q Quotation Research to prove the point

• To discourage his coming with me Id run with
  him across the end of the cotton rows and careen
  him around corners on two wheels. Sometimes I
  accidentally turned him over (431).

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E Elaboration Explains how the example proves
the point

• This shows how reckless and selfish Brother was.
  

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A Analysis Analyzes the importance of the
argument and takes the elaboration one step
further.

• Time and time again, Brother was told by a
  medical professional how to care for his fragile
  brother. Each time the orders were ignored,
  bringing Doodle closer to his death.

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Sample Body Paragraph

• Throughout his short life, Brother constantly
  pushed Doodle to do things he was incapable of
  for his own selfish reasons. The warnings of the
  doctor not to physically exert Doodle fell on
  deaf ears. For example, the family was told not
  to turn Doodle on his stomach. However, the
  order was ignored. The doctor said that with
  his weak heart the strain would probably kill
  him, but it didnt (430). Also, Brother was
  given specific instructions on how to care for
  Doodle when he took him out. The doctor had said
  that he mustn't get to excited, to hot, too cold,
  or too tired, and that he must always be treated
  gently (431). Because he did not want his
  burden of a brother accompanying him, Brother
  constantly did the opposite of what he was told.
  When Doodle was in his care, not only did Brother
  not follow doctors orders, he also further
  jeopardized his brothers life. To discourage
  his coming with me Id run with him across the
  end of the cotton rows and careen him around
  corners on two wheels. Sometimes I accidentally
  turned him over (431). This shows how reckless
  and selfish Brother was. Time and time again,
  Brother was told by a medical professional how to
  care for his fragile brother. Each time the
  orders were ignored, bringing Doodle closer to
  his death.

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The Conclusion Paragraph

• The last paragraph in an essay that neatly wraps
  up the paper
• Contains 3 main parts
• Restate the thesis
• Lead-out
• Clincher

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A Visual

• Think of the Conclusion as a triangle.

Specific
Restatement of Thesis
Lead-out
Clincher
General
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Transition

• Should include a transition to indicate that this
  is your concluding paragraph.
• It is clear from the evidence provided that
  Brother is innocent.

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Restate the thesis

• Summarize the thesis without repeating yourself
• The most specific part of the conclusion
• Though some may argue that Brother is guilty
  because he wanted Doodle to die, the evidence
  shows that he was an innocent naive child who
  grew to love his Brother immensely.

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The Lead-out

• Just like the lead-in only backwards
• Makes the topic larger to become more general and
  less specific
• Smoothes out the conclusion paragraph
• The facts that brother took Doodle with him
  everywhere, plan their future, and his reaction
  when Doodle died prove that he did not want his
  brother to die.

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The Clincher

• Last sentence of the last paragraph
• Give the paper finality
• Similar to an attention getter because it should
  make the reader think and leave an impression
• Most general part of the conclusion paragraph
• All brothers have a love/hate relationship, these
  two were no exception.

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Sample Conclusion

• Though some may argue that Brother is guilty
  because he wanted Doodle to die, the evidence
  shows that he was an innocent naive child who
  grew to love his Brother immensely. The facts
  that brother took Doodle with him everywhere,
  plan their future, and his reaction when Doodle
  died prove that he did not want his brother to
  die. All brothers have a love/hate relationship,
  these two were no exception.