The document provides instructions for structuring an argument in 3 sentences or less. It begins with defining a thesis as the statement you plan to prove. It then explains how to come up with three reasons to support the thesis and organize them from weakest to strongest. Finally, it discusses adding details for each reason from primary and secondary sources to support the argument and conclusion.

1. how to
structure
an
argument

2. Definition
"Thesis"
A thesis is a statement you plan to prove.
This is "your argument," or what you believe is
true.

3. Come up with your own
thesis:
Example thesis:
"Bananas are the best fruit."

4. Come up with three reasons
why you are right:
Reason 1: "Bananas can fill you up."
Reason 2: "Bananas are versatile."
Reason 3: "Bananas are great in smoothies."

5. Put the points in order:
Put your best point last:
"Bananas can fill you up."
Put your second-best point first:
"Bananas are great in smoothies."
Put your weakest point in the middle:
"Bananas are versatile."

6. Write your reasons in the
new order:
1. Bananas are great in smoothies.
2. Bananas are versatile.
3. Bananas can fill you up.

7. Definitions:
Types of research sources
“Primary resource” means the information
comes from someone’s personal experience.
Examples are blogs, forums, youtube videos,
and interviews (you can even do your own
interview.)
“Secondary resource” means the information
was written by someone who did not actually
experience it. Examples are wikipedia and
news articles.

8. Add two details for each
reason
You can find your details online or you can do your own interviews.
1. Primary resource: At least one detail must come from a primary
resource
2. Secondary resource: At least one must come from a secondary
resource
3. Online resource: At least one must come from online (this can be
the same as one of your primary or secondary resources)
(See definitions on the previous slide.)

9. 1. Reason 1: Bananas are
great in smoothies.
Detail 1: Bananas help smoothies create that rich creamy
texture that makes a smoothie great.
Website: http://www.smoothieweb.com/category/fruit-
smoothies/banana-smoothies/
Detail 2: A good trick for beginners as they begin experimenting
with green smoothies, is to freeze bananas. Frozen bananas
help your smoothies to taste great, and give them the rich
consistency of a milkshake!
Website: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLfwMWqbz2I
** primary resource

10. 2. Reason 2:
Bananas are versatile.
Detail 1: You can eat them when they are mild tasting or when they
are as sweet as candy. A yellow banana with a little green at one end
is the first stage of ripeness. The banana is not yet fully sweet, but it
has begun to sweeten more fully .A fully yellow banana is ripe, the
peel has thinned a little and the banana is softer and sweeter. A
yellow banana with a couple brown spots is a full-ripe banana... this
is its height of sweetness. These bananas also have the strongest
banana flavor.
Website: http://askville.amazon.com/Banana-
ripe/AnswerViewer.do? requestId=9016572
Detail 2: Over-ripe bananas can be frozen and used in desserts such
as ice cream or baking.
Website: http://gentleworld.org/the-magic-of-frozen-bananas/

11. 3. Reason 3:
Bananas can fill you up.
Detail 1: Bananas are an excellent source of fiber and
carbohydrates, yet are fat free, cholesterol free, and sodium
free.
Website: http://realfoodie.hubpages.com/hub/BANANA-
The-Perfect-Food
Detail 2: One medium sized banana (about 7" long) contains
roughly 110 calories, yet is packed with vitamins, minerals that
will boost your energy.
Website: http://realfoodie.hubpages.com/hub/BANANA-
The-Perfect-Food

12. Definition
"Sign Posting"
Sign posting during a speech means adding
words and phrases that will help the audience
organize the ideas in their mind. These can
include words like "First," "Second," "Third,"
"To begin with," "Next," "Lastly," and "In
conclusion."

13. Next, turn each "reason"
into a paragraph:
Start each paragraph with a sign-posting word
or phrase:
Choose “First”, “Second,” and “Third.”
Or “To begin with,” “Next,” and “Lastly.”
Or you come up with your own variation.

14. First, bananas are great in smoothies. Bananas help smoothies
create that rich creamy texture that makes a smoothie great. A good
trick for beginners as they begin experimenting with green smoothies,
is to freeze bananas. Frozen bananas help your smoothies to taste
great, and give them the rich consistency of a milkshake!
Second, bananas are versatile. You can eat them when they are
mild tasting or when they are as sweet as candy. A yellow banana
with a little green at one end is the first stage of ripeness. The
banana is not yet fully sweet, but it has begun to sweeten more fully.
A fully yellow banana is ripe, the peel has thinned a little and the
banana is softer and sweeter. A yellow banana with a couple brown
spots is a full-ripe banana... this is its height of sweetness. These
bananas also have the strongest banana flavor. Over-ripe bananas can
be frozen and used in desserts such as ice cream or baking.
Lastly, bananas can fill you up. Bananas are an excellent source
of fiber and carbohydrates, yet are fat free, cholesterol free, and
sodium free. One medium sized banana (about 7" long) contains
roughly 110 calories, yet is packed with vitamins, minerals that will
boost your energy.

15. Next,
create an introduction...

16. First, write a lead-in statement that
briefly and bluntly states your thesis
and your three reasons:
Lead-in statement:
"Bananas are the best fruit around because
they can be mild or sweet, they are great in
smoothies, and they can fill you up."

17. Come up with a way to get the
audience’s attention.
Choose one of the following:
1. Humor (something funny)
2. A story (something interesting you heard or read that
relates to the topic)
3. A quote (something related to your topic)
4. A rhetorical question (philosophical questions to which
you do not expect an answer)
5. A startling statement (surprising facts, statistics or
outrageous ideas related to the topic)
6. A personal experience (a story from your own life)

18. Here's mine:
Startling Statement:
"Did you know bananas are the world's best-
selling fruit, outranking the apple and orange?"

19. Next, transition to your thesis
statement:
"In fact, I would go so far as to say that
bananas are THE best fruit in existence."

20. Let them know why they should
listen to YOU on this particular topic:
(maybe you've done research, or you have personal
experience, etc.)
"I personally eat about 10 bananas a day, and I
love them. I’ve also spent time researching
the banana and what makes them so very
wonderful, and now I’m ready to share what I
know with you."

21. Give the audience any background
information they might need and/or
define any terms.
(This is optional and may not be needed for all topics):
"Some background on the banana: the sweet
yellow banana is a mutant strain which
developed from original red and green cooking
bananas most often called plantains. The
banana is also a distant cousin to ginger,
tumeric, and cardamom, and is botanically
classified as a berry."

22. Combine your introductory
sentences into a paragraph, using
this structure:
1. Get the audience’s attention
2. Transition to your thesis
3. Tell them why they should listen to you
4. Give them background/definitions
(optional)
5. Lead-in statement

23. "Did you know bananas are the world's best-selling
fruit, outranking the apple and orange? In fact, I
would go so far as to say that bananas are THE best
fruit in existence. I personally eat about 10 bananas a
day, and I love them. I’ve also spent time
researching the banana and what makes them so very
wonderful, and now I’m ready to share what I know
with you. Some background on the banana: the sweet
yellow banana is a mutant strain which developed
from original red and green cooking bananas most
often called plantains. The banana is also a distant
cousin to ginger, turmeric, and cardamom, and is
botanically classified as a berry. Bananas are the best
fruit around because they can be mild or sweet, they
are great in smoothies, and they can fill you up."

24. Next, write an end to your
argument...

25. Begin with a sign-post transition like
“In conclusion” or “In summary,”
and then restate your thesis and
your three reasons:
(try to vary the words, if you can)
"In summary, the banana is a wonderful fruit
because it makes delicious smoothies, it can
have a variety of tastes, and it can actually fill
you up."

26. End the speech, thank the audience,
and transition to the Q and A:
"I hope that you found this speech informative
and that you will consider adding more
bananas into your day-to-day life. Thank you
for listening. Are there any questions?"

27. Turn your conclusion sentences into
a paragraph:
"In summary, the banana is a wonderful fruit
because it makes delicious smoothies, it can
have a variety of tastes, and it can actually fill
you up. I hope that you found this speech
informative and that you will consider adding
more bananas into your day-to-day life.
Thank you for listening. Are there any
questions?"

28. Finally, put your paragraphs in the
following order:
1. Introduction paragraph
2. Reason 1 paragraph
3. Reason 2 paragraph
4. Reason 3 paragraph
5. Conclusion paragraph

29. Did you know bananas are the world's best-selling fruit, outranking the apple and orange? In
fact, I would go so far as to say that bananas are THE best fruit in existence. I personally eat about
10 bananas a day, and I love them. I’ve also spent time researching the banana and what makes
them so very wonderful, and now I’m ready to share what I know with you. Some background on the
banana: the sweet yellow banana is a mutant strain which developed from original red and green
cooking bananas most often called plantains. The banana is also a distant cousin to ginger,
turmeric, and cardamom, and is botanically classified as a berry. Bananas are the best fruit around
because they can be mild or sweet, they are great in smoothies, and they can fill you up.
First, bananas are great in smoothies. Bananas help smoothies create that rich creamy texture
that makes a smoothie great. A good trick for beginners as they begin experimenting with green
smoothies, is to freeze bananas. Frozen bananas help your smoothies to taste great, and give them
the rich consistency of a milkshake!
Second, bananas are versatile. You can eat them when they are mild tasting or when they are
as sweet as candy. A yellow banana with a little green at one end is the first stage of ripeness. The
banana is not yet fully sweet, but it has begun to sweeten more fully.A fully yellow banana is ripe,
the peel has thinned a little and the banana is softer and sweeter. A yellow banana with a couple
brown spots is a full-ripe banana... this is its height of sweetness. These bananas also have the
strongest banana flavor. Over-ripe bananas can be frozen and used in desserts such as ice cream or
baking.
Lastly, bananas can fill you up. Bananas are an excellent source of fiber and carbohydrates,
yet are fat free, cholesterol free, and sodium free. One medium sized banana (about 7" long)
contains roughly 110 calories, yet is packed with vitamins, minerals that will boost your energy.
In summary, the banana is a wonderful fruit because it makes delicious smoothies, it can have
a variety of tastes, and it can actually fill you up. I hope that you found this speech informative
and that you will consider adding more bananas into your day-to-day life. Thank you for listening.
Are there any questions?

30. Read over your argument and change anything
that sounds awkward or that doesn’t flow
well.
You’re done!
Next step is the self-assessment.