Argumentative Essay Graphic Organizer Prewriting
Prompt: Write an argumentative essay in which you state and defend a claim about whether Dr. Jekyll is responsible for the crimes committed by Mr. Hyde.
Intro
Hook – Grab your reader’s attention (one or two sentences)
Background- give background on the plot of the novel (three or four sentences)
Thesis- state your claim
Restate the prompt + Answer the prompt (one sentence)
Dr. Jekyll is responsible for the actions of Mr. Hyde because . . .
Dr. Jekyll is not responsible for the actions of Mr. Hyde because . . .
Body Paragraph 1- First Reason
Topic Sentence- State your reason
Dr. Jekyll is responsible because he made the potion to create Mr. Hyde.
Evidence: (INSERT TRANSITION)
What evidence from the text supports your reason? (paraphrase, quotes).
Analysis: (INSERT TRANSITION)
How does your evidence support your reason?
Concluding Sentence – Restate your topic sentence and transition to the next paragraph
Body Paragraph 2- Second Reason
Topic Sentence- State your reason
He is also responsible because . . .
Evidence: (INSERT TRANSITION)
What evidence from the text supports your reason? (paraphrase, quotes).
Analysis: (INSERT TRANSITION)
How does your evidence support your reason?
Concluding Sentence – Restate your topic sentence and transition to the next paragraph
Body Paragraph 3- Third Reason
Topic Sentence- State your reason
The last reason he is responsible is because . . .
Evidence: (INSERT TRANSITION)
What evidence from the text supports your reason? (paraphrase, quotes).
Analysis: (INSERT TRANSITION)
How does your evidence support your reason?
Concluding Sentence – Restate your topic sentence
Body Paragraph 4 – Counter Claim
Counter Claim: What is one reason for the opposing side that someone could argue?
Some readers say that he is not responsible because they are two separate people.
Rebuttal: What is the weakness is this argument? How would you refute (argue against) it? However, this is not true because . . .
Conclusion
Restate thesis (Say it in a different way.)
Summarize – Summarize the main points of your essay
Final thought- States a broader lesson learned through writing this essay? Overall findings and conclusion drawn.
Works Cited- the final draft should include a Works Cited page. For more information, refer to the MLA style guide or OWL Purdue.
