NAME:

ESSAY ORGANIZER

How is digital technology altering our relationships with

ourselves, others, and the world?

What is your position on this question? Eventually, we will work your position into a thesis statement.

______________________________________________________________________

What are three reasons to the question above?

Reason 1: _______________________________________________________________

Reason 2: _______________________________________________________________

Reason 3: _______________________________________________________________

Note: the order that these reasons appear in your essay are:
Second strongest reason in the first paragraph - hit them with a pretty strong reason out of the gate
Weakest reason in the middle paragraph - hide the ‘weakest’ here, a good reason, just not your BEST argument
Strongest reason in the last paragraph - end essay by leaving your reader with the MOST convincing argument.

Now, rank each reason by importance, 1 being the most important, and 3 the weakest.

Strongest Reason: Goes in Paragraph 3

______________________________________________________________________
Second Strongest Reason: Goes in Paragraph 1
______________________________________________________________________
Weakest Reason: Goes in Paragraph 2
______________________________________________________________________

Now, just in point form, create three supporting details to back up your reasons:

Second Strongest Reason: Goes in Paragraph 1

1. ____________________________________________________________________
2. ____________________________________________________________________
3. ____________________________________________________________________

Weakest Reason: Goes in Paragraph 2

1. ____________________________________________________________________
2. ____________________________________________________________________
3. ____________________________________________________________________

Strongest Reason: Goes in Paragraph 3

1. ____________________________________________________________________
2. ____________________________________________________________________
3. ____________________________________________________________________

Now shorten each of your three main reasons to fit into one sentence, this may take some
rewording. Also write them in the order that they will be spoken about in your essay:

Digital technology is __________________________________________________ because

 (Claim or position)

_______________________________ , _________________________________ , and

(2nd strongest reason) (weakest reason)

____________________________________ .
(strongest reason)

↑ That is your THESIS statement! ↑

Now, for each reason, create the topic and concluding sentence for that paragraph:

Second Strongest Reason: Goes in Paragraph 1

Topic Sentence:
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Concluding Sentence:
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Weakest Reason: Goes in Paragraph 2

Topic Sentence:
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Concluding Sentence:
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Strongest Reason: Goes in Paragraph 3

Topic Sentence:
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Concluding Sentence:
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Next in class, we will write the following:

Introduction Paragraph: Like a topic sentence, but for your whole essay. Introduce the topic of your
essay, but no specific details. Your THESIS statement should be the very last line or near end.
Conclusion Paragraph: Like a concluding sentence, but for your whole essay. Wrap up your argument,
but don’t introduce any new information. You should restate your thesis in new words at some point in
your conclusion paragraph.
ORDER OF YOUR ESSAY:
INTRODUCTION (WITH THESIS INSIDE)
REASON 2nd STRONGEST: FIRST PARAGRAPH
REASON WEAKEST: SECOND PARAGRAPH
REASON STRONGEST: THIRD PARAGRAPH
CONCLUSION PARAGRAPH