FINAL ESSAY

In this course we will take a systematic approach to build a social studies style, argumentative essay.  This five paragraph essay will be built, one paragraph at a time in each corresponding week.  The essay, resulting in your FINAL ESSAY, due weeks 5 will follow this corresponding schedule:

• Week #1: Paragraph #1 Due (Introduction Paragraph)

• Week #2: Paragraph #1 Edits and Paragraph #2 Due (Body Paragraph #1)…you will add this to your newly edited Paragraph #1

• Week #3: Paragraphs #1-2 Edits and Paragraph #3 Due (Body Paragraph #2)…you will add this to your newly edited Paragraph #1-2

• Week #4: Paragraphs #1-3 Edits and Paragraph #4 Due (Body Paragraph #3)…you will add this to your newly edited Paragraph #1-3

• Week #5: FINAL ESSAY DUE – Paragraphs #1-4 Edits and New Conclusion Paragraph

Expectations on the paper’s argument, and how to build the essay will be given in weekly feedback as the course proceeds. 

Please follow the following template for your essay:

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FINAL ESSAY QUESTION:

Analyze the achievements of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.  Explain their achievements and beliefs on how this country should be governed through the political parties they belonged to (or in Washington’s case, which one he believed in).  Finally, propose who was the better President and why? 

• To answer this question, please also outline the criteria you are using to argue which one is “better”
• Try to make your body paragraphs be centered on themes comparing them both, versus just writing one paragraph on one individually, another paragraph on the other, etc.

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Outline of the Five Paragraph (Rule of 3) Essay

Rule of 3 = The Essay Has 3 Main Points, Each Main Point Has 3 Supported Facts

Introductory Paragraph	Motivator (general interesting “related” statement) 2-3 More Sentences (getting more specific towards Thesis) Thesis Sentence (Outlines all 3 “points” of your essay and is an argumentative statement)
First Body Paragraph   SPECIFIC SUPPORT = Explanation, Analysis, Comparison, Definition, Example, Expanding, etc…	Topic Sentence (Point #1) Supporting Fact #1 Specific Support Sentence Supporting Fact #2 Specific Support Sentence Supporting Fact #3 Specific Support Sentence Transition Sentence To Next Paragraph And Point…
Second Body Paragraph	Topic Sentence (Point #2) Supporting Fact #1 Specific Support Sentence Supporting Fact #2 Specific Support Sentence Supporting Fact #3 Specific Support Sentence Transition Sentence To Next Paragraph And Point…
Third Body Paragraph	Topic Sentence (Point #3) Supporting Fact #1 Specific Support Sentence Supporting Fact #2 Specific Support Sentence Supporting Fact #3 Specific Support Sentence Transition Sentence To Next Paragraph And Point…
Concluding Paragraph	Reworded Thesis  2-3 More Sentences (moving away from thesis back to overall motivating statement of paper) Clincher (resembles opening motivating statement)