MD

Name: ________________________ Date: ________________________

ESL 202: The Argument Structure

“They say/I say”

A “they say/I say” statement looks something like this:

EXAMPLE:

“You believe that only family associations and power guarantee success, but I say that argument

(They say—the View Marker)

is flawed because hard work and a creative spirit can bring great success to a person’s life.

(I say—the Assessment Marker)

1. Consider a topic that you can think freely about and probably write an essay about without sourced information if you had to. Write down what you already know about the two sides of the issue.

Issue/Problem: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

For:	Against:

2. Take a position on your topic (for or against) and write a “They say/I say” argument ending with your position on the topic.

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. Explore your topic: Go to the Opposing Viewpoints database in our school library online (off-campus you have to sign in). Find two sources that provide some information on your topic. Write the Work Cited entry above the source, then paraphrase some information about the topic that you found in the source. For full credit, your reasons MUST be readable and comprehensible!

Work Cited Entry:

Paraphrased information:

Work Cited Entry:

Paraphrased information:

4. Fill in this outline for your practice essay. Use your own ideas but note places where you will use information from outside sources. You don’t need to use sources to support the entire essay. TWO CITATIONS will be enough:

I. Introduction

A. General Information/ background about the issue: ___________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

B. Thesis Statement (“they say/I say”): ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

II. Body

A. Opposing Argument: __________________________________________________________________

details: _______________________________________________________________

Writer’s response: _______________________________________________________________

details: ___________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

B. Opposing Argument: ___________________________________________________________________

details: ________________________________________________________________

Writer’s response: _________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________

details: ___________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

C. Opposing Argument: ___________________________________________________________________

details: ________________________________________________________________

Writer’s response: _______________________________________________________________

details: ___________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

III. Conclusion

Restate thesis: ________________________________________________________________

Summarize reasons: ________________________________________________________________

Recommendation/Prediction: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________