POSITION, REASON & FACTSSupporting arguments and examples

POSITION…. REASONS….FACTS Your position is your opinion – stated in

your thesis. Reasons support your position (or

argument). Select the three best reasons that support

the argument.Make sure your reasons can be supported

with facts. Facts support your reasons.

Facts should be supported by research or be commonly accepted as true.

SUPPORTING ARGUMENTS AND EVIDENCE

Presented in the body of the essay Elaborate on your reasons Researched to make sure your reasons

are reasonable and reliable Organize arguments to create drama

Use the Nestorian Order – arranging arguments from weakest to strongest.

POSITION STATEMENT

Reasons

Facts

ESSENTIAL QUESTION

Why do I need facts to support my reasons?

TRANSITIONSFinding the glue between the paragraphs

TRANSITIONAL WORDS

Showing Time Showing Place Showing Importance

At last Above First

Next Here Last

Eventually Beyond Mainly

Meanwhile Behind More important

Then Next to Then

Thereafter Inside To begin with

Comparing Ideas Contrasting Ideas Sowing Cause and Effect

Also Although As a result

And But Because

Another However Therefore

Moreover Instead Since

Similarly On the other hand So that

Too Nevertheless consequently

TRANSITIONS Transitional words help show the order of

importance in your paragraph. Always start paragraphs in the body of your

paper with transitional sentences.

________________________________________________________________________________________________. Part of the forest could be saved, and earthmovers could dig out a pond. The grassy part on the north could remain as a field for soccer or baseball. Making the land into a park would also help protect the environment. Nobody would be able to dump junk or car tires there anymore or carve graffiti into the trees. A park would both preserve and protect the environment.

TRANSITIONS

______________________________________________________________________. Gym classes and sports teams could use the field on the north side. Science classes could study the plants, trees, and insects in the wooded spots. In addition, any clubs in the school would be able to hold events in the picnic areas. Belmer Junior High would be a better place if students had a park next door. The most important reason to create a new park is that the whole city would benefit. Currently, there are no parks on the west side of town, but there are plenty of houses. A park would give all those people somewhere to go for recreation. A new subdivision or a new strip mall would just make the west side overcrowded.

TRANSITIONS

_______________________________________________________________. However, a subdivision or a strip mall would cost even more. If a hundred new families moved in, the city would have to add on to the schools. If a strip mall were built, the city would have to widen the roads. Those projects would cost a lot more than creating a park.

ESSENTIAL QUESTION

Why are transitional sentences important in a persuasive essay?