Your essay should include a minimum of seven (7) paragraphs.
1. Introductionintroduces your topic/issue and state your claim/assertion about the issue (thesis)
2. Background and Preliminary Informationprovides information to inform the audience about the issue
3. Supporting Evidence for Ethos/Ethical Appealestablishes your credibility about the issue. In other words, show why the audience should believe what you are proposing in your assertion. What is your experience or knowledge?
4. Supporting Evidence for Logos/Logical Appealexplain what universal facts exist about your issue/topic. For example, explain how your issue/topic relate to money (almost everything does), health, or current laws.
5. Supporting Evidence for Pathos/Emotional Appealconnect to audience-based beliefs or values. For instance, provide information that would appeal to the audiences emotions.
6. Opposing Argument and RefutationBriefly summarize the most significant counter-argument about the issue by using transitions such as Although some supporters believe that.. The refutation part of your paragraph actually shows why the opponents are incorrect. Be sure to include the refutation.
7. Conclusionremind the audience of your claim/assertion you stated in the introduction. You may briefly restate your main points here.