FOrmat for the WCT
How to write the Essay
Introduction
Parts of an Introduction
Audience/Attention Grabber (what are some
types of audience grabbers?
History of the issue
Background of the issue
Your thesis statement which immediately tells the
reader the position your are taking on the topic
List the main points of your thesis in the thesis
statement
Example Thesis Statement
Therefore, I maintain that this bad economy
has been caused by the housing mortage
crises, individual excessive credit card debt,
and the current war in the Middle East.
POINT # 1
HOUSTING MORTAGE
CRISES
Introduce your first point with a topic sentence
Example: First of all, the current bad economy
began with the banks offering high interest
mortages to people whose income did not really
support a longterm mortage.
Several supporting sentences with examples
based on personal experience and/or quotations
from your articles.
Point # 2
Excessive Credit Card Debt
Transition smoothly from one point to the next
Example: Secondly, the current bad economy
was caused by individual American’s having
overspent using credit cards.
Several supporting sentences with examples
based on personal experience and/or quotations
from your articles.
POINT # 3
The War in the Middle East
In addition to American’s overspending, the
current bad economy is the result of the ongoing
war in the Middle East.
Several supporting sentences with examples
based on personal experience and/or quotations
from your articles.
Counter-Argument
(the Oppositions’s Side)
Example Topic Sentence for the CounterArgument: Some economists disagree and say
that the current bad economy is entirely due to
outsourcing to China.
Provide 2-3 of the opposition’s main points.
This section is typically much shorter, about one
paragraph
Rebuttal
(Your side the Refutes the
Opposition)
Although some economist’s say the bad
economy is entirely due to outsourcing from
China, it is not that simple....
Strongly refute the opposition’s side
Conclusion
Therefore, the evidence presented in this essay
prooves that the bad economy is the result of the
housing mortage crises, individual excessive
credit card debt, and the current war in the
Middle East. For more information on the current
economy, please read the Wall Street Journal.
(Restate your thesis statement)
(Do not introduce anything new)