1. ESSAY ORGANIZER Submit by Email Print Form
SAVE TO YOUR COMPUTER BEFORE TYPING-COMPLETE USING ADOBE READER-SAVE OFTEN
Your Name Tiffany Meade
Your Topic Why dogs are better than cats
Type of Essay
Persuasive / Argumentative Compare / Contrast Cause / Effect Definition
Informational Interview Descriptive Evaluation Literary Analysis
Division and Classification Narrative Other
BRAINSTORMING
Link to your Mindmap http://www.mindmeister.com/maps/show/29391516
OR
Free Mind Map Site
Attach your Mindmap illustration file here Mind Meister
Thesis Statement
Need help?
I believe that... cats are more preferable than dogs.
Is your thesis narrowly focused?
READ THIS BEFORE MOVING ON
Did you complete the thesis checklist?
Is your language at a high-level?
Your Subtopics
Topic Topic Topic what other people think
Dogs cats
1 2 3 about cats and dogs.
Are your topics different?
Are your topics interesting?
By discussing these topics, will you be able to prove your thesis true?

2. Topic 1 Dogs
What is a good sentence to
introduce this topic to your The favorable things about dogs.
reader?
Is your language at a high-level?
The first good thing is that when you walk your the dog and you are getting exercise. So if you
Support #1
feel like walking and don't want to go by yourself you could have a dog to walk with you.
Source
Is your language at a high-level?
The second nice thing is that they will guard you from any strangers that they think might hurt
Support #2 you. They will protect you from burglars if they break into your house they will probably bark
until they go away.
Source
Is your language at a high-level?
The final good thing is that the little dogs might come sit on your lap if they think you feel sad.
Support #3
The bigger dogs might come sit right next to you when they think you don't feel alright.
Source
Is your language at a high-level?
What is a good sentence to
transition into the next Certainly those are a few reasons why dogs are awesome to have around.
paragraph? Transition word help
Is your language at a high-level?
QUICK PARAGRAPH CHECKLIST
Is the information arranged from less important to most important?
Does every sentence help support your topic?
Does this information get you a step closer to proving your thesis?
Do you provide sentences of different lengths and complexities in this paragraph?

3. Topic 2 Cats
What is a good sentence to
introduce this topic to your These are the reasons why cats are better.
reader?
Is your language at a high-level?
Support #1 The first reason is that when you pick them up they are lighter and don't feel as heavy as dogs.
Source
Is your language at a high-level?
The second reason is that they are mostly independent. They might come around you sometimes if
Support #2
they want to be fed or if they just want to be petted.
Source
Is your language at a high-level?
The third reason is that they don't meow a whole lot unless it probably sees another cat or they
Support #3
are hungry or they want something else.
Source
Is your language at a high-level?
What is a good sentence to
transition into the next Above all those are the few reasons why cats are better.
paragraph? Transition word help
Is your language at a high-level?
QUICK PARAGRAPH CHECKLIST
Is the information arranged from less important to most important?
Does every sentence help support your topic?
Does this information get you a step closer to proving your thesis?
Do you provide sentences of different lengths and complexities in this paragraph?

4. Topic 3 What other people think about cats and dogs.
What is a good sentence to
introduce this topic to your These are some things people said about dogs and cats.
reader?
Is your language at a high-level?
The first is why cats are better than dogs and they said cats don't drool but some people say they
Support #1 can but it all depends on the type of breed you get. Maybe they have a history of doing that and
people gave them to a pet shop and they may tell you they do.
Source http://www.rateitall.com/t-22964-why-cats-are-better-than-dogs.aspx
Is your language at a high-level?
The second is why people like dogs over cats and they said dogs will give you unconditional love
Support #2 but a cat would make you pay for every mistake you make. Not all cats make you pay for every
mistake but they may ignore you for a little bit but not that long because they still care for you.
Source http://clipmarks.com/clipmark/9624DCDE-58A3-4EA8-821D-EC5BB5893EA9/
Is your language at a high-level?
The final one is why people think cats are better than dogs and they said cats never attack
Support #3 unsuspecting people. They might be a little bit scared of them at first but they might hide until
they get used to seeing that person coming over.
Source http://www.rateitall.com/t-22964-why-cats-are-better-than-dogs.aspx
Is your language at a high-level?
QUICK PARAGRAPH CHECKLIST
Is the information arranged from less important to most important?
Does every sentence help support your topic?
Does this information get you a step closer to proving your thesis?
Do you provide sentences of different lengths and complexities in this paragraph?

5. Introduction Paragraph
Need help?
Ask yourself
How can I get my reader's attention?
Imagine your reader knows nothing about your topic. What background information could I give my reader about my
topic?
Why should the reader care to know this information?
What is it you are trying to prove?
Attention Getter
Why do you think cats are better than dogs?
Need help?
What was your attention getter? A Question A Quick Story An Interesting Fact A Quote
A Shocking Statistic An Unusual Statement Other
Background Information
- Introduce your topic, but not
The question is do you think cats are better than dogs. They might be better in
your thesis
some ways and sometimes not so good to have around. You may think dogs
- Provide insider details that
are better than cats but if you have both they are kind of interesting to have
would help your reader better
around.
understand your topic, but not
information you are discussing in
your support.
Is your language at a high-level?
Why should your reader care?
you may not think cats are better than dogs but you should hear some of the
Complete this sentence..
reasons why and some of what other people think. You may disagree with some of
it.
It is important that you read
this essay because...
Is your language at a high-level?
Thesis Statement
(paste the one you already I believe that cats are more preferable than dogs.
wrote on page 1)
QUICK PARAGRAPH CHECKLIST
Did you avoid referring to yourself or your reader directly?
Would you want to read your paper after reading your introduction?

6. Conclusion Paragraph
Need help?
A conclusion should...
Include a brief summary of the paper's main points. Evoke a vivid image
Suggest results or consequences Wrap it all up for your reader
Leave a lasting impression
Restate your thesis in
In conclusion I assume that cats are way better than dogs.
a fresh, new way
Is your language at a high-level?
Summarize / I do think dogs are good to have around but they are also bad but they do stay around you
Reflect / Give Final more than cats. One more good thing about them is that you can leave them outside all
thoughts on Topic 1 night but they will probably bark most of the night.
Is your language at a high-level? Did you summarize AND provide a final thought?
Summarize /
I believe that cats are better than dogs though. One last thing is that they don't sit there at
Reflect / Give Final
the dinner table and beg.
thoughts on Topic 2
Is your language at a high-level? Did you summarize AND provide a final thought?
Summarize / I think some of what the other people said are true but not all of it i don't think.The last
Reflect / Give Final thing people said about cats is They are more effective than the rodent exterminators.
thoughts on Topic 3 Another thing they said about dogs was they will try understanding you by tilting their
head but cats will ignore you and go take a nap.
Is your language at a high-level? Did you summarize AND provide a final thought?
Final Thought
-Contains vivid language
-Compound or Complex sentence
-Leave a lasting impression
-Sums up your essay in one
incredible sentence
Is your language at a high-level?
QUICK PARAGRAPH CHECKLIST
Did you avoid referring to yourself or your reader directly?
Did you feel your conclusion leaves the reader satisfied and impressed?

7. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Copy and Paste your citations you created using Easybib.
-MLA Format
Citations
in
Alphabetical
Order
Paragraph Organization- Read to see where your sentences go in your essay.
Paragraph 1- Introduction Paragraph 3 - Body Paragraph 2 Paragraph 5 - Conclusion
- Attention Getter - Topic Introduction - Thesis Restatement
- Background Information - Support 1 - Summarize/Reflect/Final - Topic 1
- Why should we care sentence - Support 2 - Summarize/Reflect/Final - Topic 2
- Thesis Statement - Support 3 - Summarize/Reflect/Final - Topic 3
- Transition - Strong Final Thought
Paragraph 2 - Body Paragraph 1
Paragraph 4 - Body Paragraph 3 Final page - Bibliography
- Topic Introduction - On a new page
- Support 1 - Topic Introduction - Titled - Bibliography
- Support 2 - Support 1 - Use citations created from Easybib
- Support 3 - Support 2 - MLA Format
- Transition - Support 3 - Alphabetized
Before you submit checklist
Is your paper in Time New Roman font? Do you proofread at least 3 times?
Do you use 12 pt font? Has someone other than you read this paper?
Do you use double space? Did I put everything in my own words to avoid plagiarism?
Do I spell everything correctly? Have I done my best?
Did I check all punctuation and capitalization?
Did I rid my essay of unnecessary qualifiers like "Really" "Just" "Sort of" "Like" and "So"
Do you get rid of BABY WORDS and use a thesaurus to enhance your language? mrdaley@mrdaley.com