W.9-10.1

Choose a TOPIC

Identify your CLAIM

Define TASK: What are you writing?

Define PURPOSE: Why you are writing? What effect do you want your writing to have?

Define AUDIENCE: Who are you trying to persuade?

Gather evidence from a wide variety of sources to support your claim.

Anticipate and address readers' potential expectations, biases, and misunderstandings.

Do not ignore information that contradicts or opposes your position.

VALID: based on fact or provable

RELEVANT: directly related to your claim

SUFFICIENT: enough evidence to support your claim

Evaluate your evidence.

Review all points that support your claim & consider their impact on your intended audience.

Start with your least important point and build to your most persuasive point.

Indicate where you will address counterarguments.

Introduce your claim using precise wording to accurately states your ideas on the topic.

Distinguish your claim from alternate claims (counterclaims).

Make clear the relationship between the supporting evidence and the claim made at the beginning of your essay.

Anticipate the audience's knowledge of the topic and likely concerns. Strive to be fair, pointing out the strengths and limitations of your evidence. Do the same as your address counterclaims.

Provide a strong concluding statement that supports and summarizes your argument.