Name_________________________________ Date____________________ Period__________
Life of PI Argument essay
Your assignment: Decide which one of Pi’s stories is the true story: The one with the animals or
the one with the humans. In other words, is the story told throughout the novel the truth, or is
the second story, the one Pi tells to the investigators after they do not believe the story with
animals, the truth?
Steps:
1. Construct your claim (Either the story with the animals is the truth or the one with the humans is).

State your claim as a “not. . . but” statement (A year-round schedule for school is
not the best option for students, but a 10-month schedule is.)
2. Explain the counterclaim (the other side of the argument).


Include two examples for your counter claim
“Some may argue the story ________ is the truth, but such claims simply are not
correct.”
3. Refute the counterclaim by using logic and textual evidence.
4. Find evidence from the text to support your claim (events and quotations).
Special Notes:
 Your essay should include an effective introduction, body paragraphs (counterclaim and claim)
with specific examples from the story and explanations to how each supports the claim, and a
concluding paragraph with a punch statement.

Remember, the focus of the essay is your ARGUMENT, not a summary of events or explanations
about the context of quotations.

Remember, diction is important. Choose words that indicate confidence, that are more
“forceful”.

Use a third-person point-of-view and write about literature in the present tense.
Process:
1. Complete the prewriting for homework.
2. Compose a rough draft due 12/16
3. Self and peer edit.
4. Revise and compose a final draft, due 12/18---submitted to turnitin.com
Format Outline for Life of Pi Argument Essay
I.
Introduction
A. General statement which leads: Brief Summary/description of Story
B. Bridge to claim- the sentence that connects A to B
C. Thesis/Claim Statement—Make it a “not. . . but” statement (A year-round
schedule for school is not the best option for students, but a 10-month schedule
is.)
II.
The Counterclaim—
A. Acknowledge the other side
 Identification of counterclaim reasons (ie, “Some may argue the story ________
is the truth, but such claims simply are not correct.”)
B. Arguments against the counterclaims (rebuttal)—include two.
1. Argument one
a. identify the counterclaim
b. reasons why the claim is not valid
2. Argument two
a. identify the counterclaim
b. reasons why the claim is not valid
III.
Claim reason one
A. Topic/Main Idea—argument one to support your claim
B. Example from the story and quotation
C. Explanation of how the example supports the claim:
IV.
Claim reason two
A. Topic/Main Idea—argument two to support your claim
B. Example from the story:
C. Explanation of how the example supports the claim
V.
Conclusion
A. Restate claim/thesis
Final thoughts about the topic—add a statement that has “punch” here