Question

Which of the following elements did you include in your outline? Check all of the boxes that apply.

an introduction with a clear thesis that states my claim

a reason that supports my claim for each of the body paragraphs

evidential support for each reason in the form of facts, statistics, or examples

a counterclaim, if one can be argued, that is a valid objection to my claim

a conclusion that reinforces my claim

Answer 1

I don’t have your outline here, so I can’t check the boxes yet. If you paste the outline (or describe its parts), I’ll mark which items are present. To help you check it quickly yourself, here’s how to recognize each element:

- an introduction with a clear thesis that states my claim — look for a brief opening that ends with one sentence stating your main claim or stance.
- a reason that supports my claim for each of the body paragraphs — each body paragraph should begin with a topic sentence that gives a distinct supporting reason.
- evidential support for each reason in the form of facts, statistics, or examples — under each reason, there should be at least one fact, stat, quote, or concrete example tied to that reason.
- a counterclaim, if one can be argued, that is a valid objection to my claim — check for a paragraph (or a sentence) that presents an opposing view and then (ideally) responds to it.
- a conclusion that reinforces my claim — the closing should restate the thesis or main claim and summarize the main reasons, possibly with a final insight or call to action.

Paste your outline and I’ll check the boxes for you and suggest fixes if anything’s missing.