Name/Date/Hour:
Introduction Paragraph
Introductory Sentence (attention-grabber):
Legislators should create a new law allowing eight-year-old children to smoke. (present as a ridiculous idea)
Background Information (about the topic):
For years, cigarette and alcohol companies, like Camel and Budweiser, have been creating advertisements that appeal to children.
Thesis (your answer to the focus question):
Cigarette and alcohol companies should not be allowed to target children through their advertising.
Body Paragraph #1
Point #1 (an arguable claim that supports your Thesis):
Children are drawn to advertisements that display cartoon characters, sports figures, and other similar images popular among young people.
Evidence #1a (research that proves/supports Point #1):
A recent study found that children of kindergarten age are as familiar with
Joe Camel, the logo of Camel brand cigarettes, as they are with Mickey
Mouse, the logo of the Disney television channel.
Warrant #1a (a statement that explains how Evidence #1a supports Point #1):
If children become familiar with a cartoon character like Joe Camel who represents a cigarette brand, isn’t it likely that children will also become familiar with cigarettes?
Evidence #1b (research that proves/supports Point #1):
Alcoholic beverage companies use advertisements containing music, language, sports heroes, cartoon figures, beach parties, and other images that appeal to young people.
Warrant #1b (a statement that explains how Evidence #1b supports Point #1):
If children see many of the things they like in alcohol advertisements on television – cool music, beach parties, and their favorite sports heroes – there’s a frightening possibility that children will associate being “cool” with drinking alcohol.
Transition Sentence #1 (completes Body Paragraph #1 and leads into Body Paragraph #2):
The evil, of course, is not the advertisements themselves. No, the worry is that this country’s future generations will grow up with a desire to consume products that are unhealthy and life-threatening.

Body Paragraph #4
Counterpoint A (an arguable claim that refutes/opposes your Thesis):
Some critics argue that advertising does not influence children, so cigarette and alcohol companies should be allowed to advertise in any way that they want.
Rebuttal A (an arguable claim that disproves Counterpoint #1):
This line of thinking is completely false. Children are often unaware of an advertiser’s intentions, but they are keenly aware a product’s appeal.
Evidence A (research that proves/supports Rebuttal A):
A study by Roy F. Fox found that most children have little or no understanding of advertisements' persuasive intentions, thus making them highly vulnerable to commercial claims and appeals.
Warrant A (a statement that explains how Evidence A supports Rebuttal A):
In other words, children do not typically view a commercial as a manipulative and persuasive media tool aimed at attracting them, their parents, and their parents’ money. Rather, they see commercials as innocent and informative, making them the perfect targets for stealthy advertisers.
Transition Sentence A (completes Body Paragraph #4 and leads into Conclusion Paragraph):
Because of their age and innocence, children will not begin to see the negative side of advertising until they’re much older. To protect their innocence, the public, private businesses, the media, and the government must do more to regulate the advertising industry that preys upon the young people of this country.