FINISHING THE ESSAY…

Opposing Views & Rebuttals

Conclusions

Copy the definitions for the following terms: (on page 12 of

your packet) • Opposing View – Tell why other people

might disagree with your argument and/or identify possible problems or concerns people might have.

• Rebuttal – Respond to the concerns of the other side. Give a solution for possible problems and explain why your position is still the best choice.

• Call to Action – In the conclusion, tell your reader what you want him or her to DO after reading your essay.

Writing an Opposing View/Rebuttal

•Write one paragraph that addresses arguments of people who would disagree with you.

–Explain why people might disagree–Give evidence and examples to prove

them wrong.–Use the same format as a supporting

paragraph.

Example Paragraph• Prompt: Should Channel One be a part of the school

day or should it be removed?

Some people say that Channel One is a waste of class time because it takes away from learning. However, in reality, we are learning. I have recently learned about the elections, the war, and even the cost of college. Channel One tells us a lot about what is going on in the world. In addition, it gives us pop quizzes to answer to make sure that we are listening. Even people who don’t pay attention to most of the broadcast will often try to answer the quiz question. Truly, we can learn a lot from Channel One.

Example Paragraph• Prompt: Should Channel One be a part of the school

day or should it be removed?

Some people say that Channel One is a waste of class time because it takes away from learning. However, in reality, we are learning. I have recently learned about the elections, the war, and even the cost of college. Channel One tells us a lot about what is going on in the world. In addition, it gives us pop quizzes to answer to make sure that we are listening. Even people who don’t pay attention to most of the broadcast will often try to answer the quiz question. Truly, we can learn a lot from Channel One.

More Examples of an O.V./Rebuttal

Prompt: Should middle school be year-round or traditional schedule?

• Even though traditional school seems like forever during the school year, the long three-month break in the summer is important to students.

• Many people think of year-round schools as "no summer." Actually, with year-round school, many districts still have at least two full weeks off during the summer, and some even up to four weeks off.

• Although it would be nice to have more breaks during the school year, a year-round schedule would be disappointing to students and their parents who want to pursue other interests or go on extended vacations.

ALMOST THERE…THE CONCLUSION

Your conclusion should do FOUR things:1. Touch Back

-Restate your main idea (use different words).2. Look Forward

-Call to Action (Tell your read what to DO now).3. Get to the HEART

-Explain WHY they should take action.4. Zing the Reader

-End with a final bold statement.

Conclusion Example

Overall, Channel One does not help students. Few students listen to it, it uses valuable class time, and most people are not interested in the stories. In the future, we should replace Channel One with a more effective way to educate students about world events. Our time is precious; let’s not waste it.

Conclusion Example

Overall, Channel One does not help students. Few students listen to it, it uses valuable class time, and most people are not interested in the stories. In the future, we should replace Channel One with a more effective way to educate students about world events. Our time is precious; let’s not waste it.