How do you organize and order evidence prior to drafting an essay?

How do you organize and order evidence prior to drafting an

essay?

In this lesson you will learn how to organize your information for an

argumentative essay by using boxes and bullets to prioritize evidence.

Let’s Review

Planning To Write

Finding Supporting Evidence

Choosing a topic

Developing an Argument

A Common Mistake

Lack of organization leading to a weak argument.

Core Lesson

Write your introduction in boxes and bullets using claim and reasons.1

2 Make each bullet of your introduction a new box in the body outline. Add evidence for each body paragraph as bullets.

Ask, “Do I have enough evidence to make a strong argument for my thesis?” Add new evidence and order for strongest argument.

3

Core Lesson

Claim / ThesisReason #1

Reason #2

Reason #3

Claim: More people need access to clean water.

Lack of sanitation causes environmental/health problems

How do I use boxes and bullets to organize my

essay?

Can I reorganize my reasons for a more

effective argument?

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3 Many people are without clean drinking water

Economic systems are damaged

Core Lesson How do I use boxes and bullets to organize my

body paragraphs?

Reason #1 (Topic for Body Paragraph #1)

• Evidence

• Evidence

• Evidence

There is not enough drinking water.For many people in Africa, there is an urgent need for clean drinking water, one of the essentials for life.

Over 40% of those without water live in sub-Saharan Africa (UNICEF)884 million people lack access to clean drinking water, 3x the population of the US (water.org)Less than 1% of the world’s fresh water is available for human consumption (waterinfo.org)

Body Paragraph #1

Core LessonFor many people in Africa, there is an urgent need for clean drinking water, one of the essentials for life.


Do I have enough evidence to support this major reason

for my argument?

80% of disease in developing countries is caused by poor drinking water (WHO) 10 African countries only have enough clean drinking water to support half their population (Water Facts)

Core LessonFor many people, there is an urgent need for clean drinking water, one of the essentials for life.


10 African countries only have enough clean drinking water to support half their population (Water Facts)

80% of disease in developing countries is caused by poor drinking water (WHO)

Can I better organize my evidence?

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Core Lesson

Write your introduction in boxes and bullets using claim and reasons.1

2 Make each bullet of your introduction a new box in the body outline. Add evidence for each body paragraph as bullets.Ask, “Do I have enough evidence to make a strong argument for my thesis?” Add new evidence and order for strongest argument.3

In this lesson you learned how to organize your information for an

argumentative essay by using boxes and bullets to prioritize evidence.

Guided Practice

Practice by using boxes and bullets to organize your own reasons for why. Then use evidence to support one of the supporting reasons.

Improved Access To Drinking Water

Reason #1 Reason #2 Reason #3

Reason #1 Supporting evidence Supporting evidence Supporting evidence

Extension Activities


With a partner, read an article from the op-ed section of the local newspaper. Use the boxes and bullets method to breakdown the author’s claim and the evidence he/she uses to make the argument.

Working Backwards!



Think of a time that you really wanted something. Now, use boxes and bullets to diagram your argument along with supporting evidence/details.



Come up with a topic you would like to argue. Use boxes and bullets to organize reasons for why you are correct in your claim. Then, have a partner check to make sure that your argument is well organized.

Let’s ReviewQuick Quiz

Organize your information for an argumentative essay by using boxes and bullets to prioritize evidence while remembering to cite sources.

Documents

How do you organize and order evidence prior to drafting an essay?