BUILDING THE QUALIFIED CLAIM
(Remember: the qualified claim = the stated or implied claim + my revision of the original
claim)
CLAIM PREWRITING
AP ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND COMPOSITION
Argument Essay Prewriting
THE STATED OR IMPLIED CLAIM IN THE
QUOTATION, PASSAGE, OR ISSUE
CLAIM QUALIFICATION
What specific parts of the given argument are
valid? What specific parts of the given
argument are invalid?
CHOOSING A SUBORDINATE CONJUNCTION
This subordinate conjunction will be used to
qualify the stated or implied claim.
SUBORDINATE CLAUSE
This is the subordinate conjunction and the
stated or implied claim from the quotation,
passage, or issue
TOPIC
This is the central issue the argument develops.
CHOOSING A CAUSAL VERB
UNIVERSAL IDEA
This is what is affected by the topic/central issue
the argument develops.
DIRECTIONS
These directions come from the list of 8 subject
areas to consider when writing an argument.
Add appropriate adjectives to the directions. Be
as specific as possible with the directions;
however, be sure that you can develop each
direction thoroughly in a paragraph.
FINAL QUALIFIED CLAIM
(This includes the subordinated stated or implied
claim + my revision of the original claim)
although, even if, even though, if, provided that, though, unless, where as, while
affects, begins, breeds, catalyzes, causes, concedes, concludes, creates, culminates, deduces, determines, develops, effects,
elucidates, engenders, evokes, facilitates, formulates, fosters, generates, impacts, infers, influences, initiates, patters, produces
proves, punctuates, signals, springs, supports, validates, provokes, incites, precipitates, instigates, forces, compels, results, conjures,
induces
CONCESSION/REFUTATION
The purpose of this section
is to agree with the original
stated or implied claim and
explain why using specific
evidence. Then, the
paragraph should
transition to your revised
claim.
TOPIC SENTENCE
This topic sentence
should agree with the
stated or implied
claim and include
directions for support.
SKETCH OF THIS
PARAGRAPH
SECOND STRONGEST
SUPPORT
This section is to develop
the second strongest
direction of your revised
claim. This section should
include 1) specific examples
that logically develop the
argument, 2) a direct
connection to the universal
idea, 3) concession and
refutation of this direction
as applicable
TOPIC SENTENCE
This topic sentence
should introduce your
second strongest
direction for support,
allude to the
examples you will
discuss, and connect
to the universal idea
from the thesis.
SKETCH OF THIS
PARAGRAPH
THIRD STRONGEST
SUPPORT
This section is to develop
the second strongest
direction of your revised
claim. This section should
include 1) specific examples
that logically develop the
argument, 2) a direct
connection to the universal
idea, 3) concession and
refutation of this direction
as applicable
TOPIC SENTENCE
This topic sentence
should introduce your
second strongest
direction for support,
allude to the
examples you will
discuss, and connect
to the universal idea
from the thesis.
SKETCH OF THIS
PARAGRAPH
STRONGEST SUPPORT
This section is to develop
the second strongest
direction of your revised
claim. This section should
include 1) specific examples
that logically develop the
argument, 2) a direct
connection to the universal
idea, 3) concession and
refutation of this direction
as applicable
TOPIC SENTENCE
This topic sentence
should introduce your
second strongest
direction for support,
allude to the
examples you will
discuss, and connect
to the universal idea
from the thesis.
SKETCH OF THIS
PARAGRAPH