Planning+for+a+Six+Paragraph+Essay

Issue question: ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ Underline the key word(s) to the above question now! Define the key word(s) to the above question now! _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ Determine your thesis statement/answer to the above question now! _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ Planning - Begin every essay with a box outline to help you organize your case studies and values, and visualize the relationship between the two, like this:
 * Six Paragraph Outline and Planning Sheet for In-class Essay**
 * Cut and Paste this document into a Pages document. Some adjustments will be necessary, but do use this to your advantage in planning an essay.**
 * = Case Studies ||= Positive Values ||= Negative Values ||

Par. #1 – Introduction a) Write a general discussion of the dilemma or difficult choices to be made related to this issue.

Write definitions of major concepts related to this issue (the specific key word(s) you underlined earlier).

Discuss three opposing pairs of values. Complete of the following sentence using the specific key words of the issue question in order to create COHESION. Start the following sentences with something like “People who are _______________________________________________________________ (name a group of people or national system that supports these value) would likely value ____________________________________________________________________ (name three values from the positive side of your box outline in the above space).

“On the other hand, there are people who are ___________________________ _______________________________________________________________ (name a group of people or national system that supports these value) would likely support the negative values of ____________________________ _______________________________________________________________ (name three values from the negative side of your box outline in the above space).

d) State your thesis here beginning with something like "However, the best way to solve this issue of ______________________________________________________________ would be to _____________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

End this paragraph with a statement like this: “In order to prove this thesis correct, it would be wise to examine three different perspectives.”

Par. #2 - Case Study #1 Complete the following sentence using the specific key words of the issue question in order to create COHESION. a) Begin with a topic sentence or a specific tie-in to issue e.g. “One example that supports this position of ___________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ is ______________________________________________________________ (complete this sentence by naming your example/case study).

b) Write details that relate directly to this issue (in a negative or positive way) that support your thesis position - no extraneous details, just the important details/facts/ideas that will help convince the reader that your position is indeed the best of all possible choices. Jot down point form notes here. ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________

Par. #3 - Case Study #2 Complete the following sentence using the specific key words of the issue question in order to create COHESION. a) Begin with a topic sentence or a specific tie-in to issue e.g. “Another example that supports this position of _________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ is ______________________________________________________________ (complete this sentence by naming your example/case study). b) Write details that relate directly to this issue (in a negative or positive way) that support your thesis position - no extraneous details, just the important details/facts/ideas that will help convince the reader that your position is indeed the best of all possible choices. Jot down point form notes here. ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________

Par. #4 - Case Study #3 Complete the following sentence using the specific key words of the issue question in order to create COHESION. a) Begin with a topic sentence or a specific tie-in to issue e.g. “A third example that supports this position of _____________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ is ______________________________________________________________ (complete this sentence by naming your example/case study).

b) Write details that relate directly to this issue (in a negative or positive way) that support your thesis position - no extraneous details, just the important details/facts/ideas that will help convince the reader that your position is indeed the best of all possible choices. Jot down point form notes here. ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________

Par. #5 - Defence of position Complete the following sentence using the specific key words of the issue question in order to create COHESION. a) Begin with a restatement of your thesis (in a new word order): a clear, one sentence statement, incorporating the key words from the issue e.g. “The best way to resolve the issue of _________________________________ is to ____________________________________________________________ (complete this sentence with your specific answer to the essay question). b) Write a cohesive defence of your position, uniting values (V) from the introduction and case studies (CS) in paragraphs #2, #3 and #4, followed by clear arguments (A) that support your position (CS ► V ► A). Praise the case studies and/or related values that you support, using words like should, ought, the best method, the most beneficial compromise when connecting your values and arguments. Criticize those case studies and/or values that you dislike. Use words like should not, ought not, the worst method, the least beneficial compromise when connecting your values and arguments. i) Case Study #1 ► value you support ► argument __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ ► value you are against ► argument __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ ii) Case Study #2 ► value you support ► argument __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ ► value you are against ► argument __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ iii) Case Study #3 ► value you support ► argument __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ ► value you are against ► argument __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ Par. #6 – Conclusion a) Begin with a third restatement of your thesis (in yet another word order) using key specific words from the issue question in order to create COHESION. _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ b) Speak to the world about what they should do in response to this issue!! Integrate a quote (see Quotations to help improve your essays) into this position here (you may quote directly or paraphrase the author). _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________