Name: ____________________________________________ Hour: ____ Date: _________________
Sample Essay Activity
After reading both essays, go back and mark the following:
1. Draw a star on top of the sentence that includes the writer’s claim.
2. Underline the writer’s reasons that she believes her claim is true.
3. Highlight or use a colored pencil to underline everything that should be
considered evidence.
4. Circle any sentences that include the opponent’s counterclaim.
5. Draw a rectangle around any transitional words or phrases.
Transition Words:
Transition words and phrases help smooth the flow of your argument. Here are a few to
help get you moving again.
For example,
Most convincingly,
In addition,
Yet another
example...
Indeed,
Furthermore,
Another key point...
In a similar way,
In fact,
Similarly,
The truth is...
Finally,
Also,
Consequently,
As a consequence,
With this in mind,
Take, for instance, the
case of...
Equally important is...
Additionally,
For instance,
Next,
Not only...but also...
Surely,
Moreover,