Name: _______________________________________________________
Rough Draft Outline: Persuasive Argument (Prep)
This outline takes you through how to set up your five paragraphs. You will want to rough draft on
notebook paper before you write your final draft in your project packet! 
Introduction: Paragraph #1

Summarize “The Great Imagination Heist” in 1-2 sentences. Keep it brief. Remember, a
summary does not have a lot of specific detail; it is only a general overview of the main idea.
You can look at your SOAPStone for some help if you need it.

Include the author of the article’s position on the subject matter. Make sure this is very clear,
since this is what your paper will be based off of.

You must have a thesis statement that addresses your position.
Here is an example thesis statement:
“I believe that people who abuse animals should not be given the maximum legal penalty of jail time
because other penalties like mandatory probation or counseling might be more effective.”
Once you have a thesis statement that addresses your position and one concrete reason to support
your position, you can begin your body paragraphs.
First Body Paragraph: Paragraph #2

State your topic sentence. Here’s a template:
I believe _________________________________________________________________because
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________.
Remember, a topic sentence is very general. It has no supporting details or rhetorical devices in it.

Support your opinion.
Which appeal do you want to use to support your opinion?
Write it here: ________________________ (ethos, pathos, or logos)
Look at your chart where we wrote down the rhetorical devices that create each appeal. Whatever
appeal you chose, you may only use the rhetorical devices for that appeal to build your support for
your reason.
Which rhetorical device do you want to use to help you create the appeal you chose?
Write it here: __________________________________.
Second Body Paragraph: Paragraph #3

State your topic sentence. Here’s a template:
I believe __________________________________________________________________because
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________.
Remember, a topic sentence is very general. It has no supporting details or rhetorical devices in it.

Support your opinion.
Which appeal do you want to use to support your opinion? (It should be different from your first
paragraph!)
Write it here: ________________________ (ethos, pathos, or logos)
Look at your chart where we wrote down the rhetorical devices that create each appeal. Whatever
appeal you chose, you may only use the rhetorical devices for that appeal to build your support for
your reason.
Which rhetorical device do you want to use to help you create the appeal you chose?
Write it here: __________________________________.
Concession/Counterargument (This should be within your second body paragraph!)
Every good persuasive piece of writing acknowledges the other side, so make sure you include a
concession and counterargument at some point in your paper. An ideal place would be at the end of
body paragraph #2, but you may choose to do it elsewhere if it makes sense with the flow of your
paper.
Ask yourself the following questions to develop your concession:


Who would object to this argument?
What are the other side’s concerns or reasons for disagreeing?
Ask yourself the following questions to develop your counterargument:


What can I say as a response to those objections?
How can I restate my argument in a way that sounds logical and reasonable to the other side?
Conclusion: Paragraph #4

Restate your opinion. (Check your thesis to make sure you are restating the same position you
started with at the beginning of your paper.)

Recommend some sort of action for your audience. What should an audience member do?
You must have a call to action!