Please attach this checklist to the last page of your essay.
Essential Components of Your Essay
1. Introductory paragraph. Your first paragraph should set the context for the issue that you shall discuss and should state as clearly as possible the position that you wish to defend. Use this paragraph to generate interest in your topic.
2. Case for your position. This shall usually begin with the second paragraph, and will usually consist of 1-2 paragraphs. What evidence can you provide for your view? What are the reasons you hold your view? Spell this out as clearly as you can. Try to employ premises that you believe any reasonable person ought to accept.
3. Objection(s) to your view. What do you believe to be the strongest objection to your view? Why might someone else not agree with your view as presented above? Spell this objection out as fully as you can in one full paragraph. Be sure to employ neutral language and to present a serious objection in its best possible light. But also, be sure to make it clear that you are presenting an objection to your view. For example, prefacing your paragraph with words such as "However, some might argue to the contrary that…" may do this quite well.
4. Response to objection(s). Why do you believe that the objections presented above are not sufficient to persuade you to change your mind concerning your issue? What are the flaws in the objection that you addressed above? These questions should be addressed in a separate paragraph as well.
5. Concluding paragraph. You should also include a concluding paragraph that restates the position that you are arguing for and summarizes the main points of your essay.
6. Proofread! This is a very important component of your essay. Read your paper to someone or have them read it. Do your ideas make sense? Does your wording make sense? Clarity is of high importance in an essay such as this. Try to write so that any intelligent person could understand what you are saying.