3. What other words do we use?
● Thesis
● Topic Sentence
What is an Assertion or an Argument?
● Your main idea or insight
● What you are going to prove in your essay and in each body paragraph
Assertion/Argument
4. What other words do we use?
● Context
You developed your idea BECAUSE…
(anything that completes that sentence is part of your reasoning)
Reasoning
5. What other words do we use?
● Examples
● Supporting Details
Evidence provides PROOF!
Evidence
6. ● Direct quotes from primary sources
● Major historical documents (i.e., The Declaration of Independence, The
Constitution, The Magna Carta)
● Conflicts, wars, battles (i.e., The Civil War, World War II)
● Movements (i.e., The Women’s Rights Movement, The Abolitionist
Movement)
● Leaders as well as their missions and values
● Social systems (i.e., slavery, indentured servitude)
● Laws
● Artwork and pictures
● Current events
Evidence in History Class
7. ● Direct quotes from novels and short stories
● Connections to poems, stories, articles or concepts from outside of
class/other subjects
● Music and lyrics
● Current events
● Artwork and pictures
Evidence in English Class
8. Do you ever ask yourself, “Why should I care?”
That is exactly what your readers ask after every piece of evidence in
your paper!
Explain how and why your evidence supports your assertion.
● How does it affect people’s attitudes, idea, beliefs, and behaviors?
● Why does it cause or prevent conflict?
● How does it impact future events?
● Why is it important?!?
Significance
9. Introduction Paragraph
Grabber!
Context
Assertion/
Argument/Thesis
How are you going to capture your
audience’s attention? Quote?
Anecdote? Statistic?
What specifically are you going to
prove throughout your paper?
What is your argument, position,
or insight?
What information and vocabulary does your
audience need about historical conflicts, social
situations, values, or people in order to best
understand your topic?
10. EVERY Body Paragraph
Assertion
Reasoning
Evidence
Significance
One clear, specific point that you are going to
prove throughout your paragraph.
3-4 sentences where you explain your ideas in
your own words and use relevant vocabulary.
Supporting details with parenthetical citations -
cite your sources (Creeden 2015).
How does your evidence support your
assertion? How does it connect to society? DIG
DEEPER. Pull back the layers. Keep asking
yourself: “Why?”
11. What does parenthetical citation do?
Gives people credit for their work, words, and ideas
Where does a parenthetical citation go?
At the end of the sentence BEFORE the period
Parenthetical Citation 101
12. ...(Creeden 2015).
Parenthetical Citation Components
Author’s Last Name
(from the article, book,
document where you
found the information)
Date of Publication
(of the article, book,
document where you
found the information)
If you have more than one author, list their last names in alphabetical order.
...(Creeden, Pokorney 2015).
13. Conclusion Paragraph
Summarize your
Assertion
Summarize your
Reasoning
Make us THINK about the
significance.
Use specific, meaningful,
powerful vocabulary!
Pull your ideas together in a
new way. Draw connections!
Show us. Do not plop facts
down.
Leave your readers with a
TAKE AWAY message. Give
them something to think about.
14. ❏ No “I” or “I think”
❏ No good, bad, mad, glad, sad (Use specific, meaningful vocabulary!)
❏ No “this”
❏ At least 3 transition words and phrases per paragraph
❏ Commas after transition words and phrases (i.e., prepositional phrases,
adverbial clauses)
❏ Commas before direct quotes
❏ Commas with FANBOYS
❏ Proper parenthetical citation when you use other people’s words and ideas
❏ Capitalize proper nouns
Basic Writing Check-List
