For this essay, you will take a stand on a debatable issue—an issue that has two sides. You will use different kind of evidence—facts, examples, and/or expert opinion—to persuade your audience to accept your position on one of the following topics:
•    Teenager who commit serious crimes should (or should not) be tried as adults.
•    Citizens without criminal records should (or should not) be permitted to carry concealed weapons.
•    The minimum wage should (or should not) be raised.
•    Convicted felons should (or should not) lose the right to vote.
•    Public high schools should (or should not) be permitted to distribute condoms to students.

Follow the guidelines and examples from Chapter 16iinFocus on Writing to help you draft and structure your essay.  You must write this as a deductive argument—starting with a thesis that takes a position and supporting that thesis with specific evidence and analysis. You evidence will come from research that you conduct via the internet and/or library database. Be s

Effective essays will include:
?    A four to five sentence introduction paragraph that grabs reader interest and provides context for the argument.
?    A thesis that appears as the last sentence in the introduction
?    Topic sentences that appear clearly as the FIRST sentence of each body paragraph and topic sentences that address ONE main idea each
?    Appropriate supporting details in each paragraph
?    Sophisticated analysis of these details
?    A counter argument paragraph (we will discuss this more in class)
?    Transitions between ideas
?    A conclusion that answers the “so what?” or “who cares?” questions
The essay must be at least 3 full pages long (but no more than 4 pages) and be in proper MLA format: 12 pt, Times New Roman font; double-spaced; 1 inch margins all around the document; appropriate headers.
Expectations    Points Possible    Points Earned
Introduction is compelling and grabs the reader’s interest; it adequately establishes the context for the thesis. It is at least four sentences long.

.