This document is an essay organizer for a persuasive essay arguing that the Pittsburgh Steelers are the best team in the NFL. It provides prompts and questions to help the writer outline their essay, including choosing three topics to support the thesis that the Steelers are dominant. The topics chosen are: 1) The Steelers have the best defense in the NFL, 2) They have had some of the best coaches in the NFL, and 3) They have the third most players in the football hall of fame. The organizer then provides sections for the writer to plan each paragraph, including introducing the topics, listing evidence, and transitioning between ideas.
1. ESSAY ORGANIZER Submit by Email Print Form
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Your Name Justin Bengel
Your Topic Why the Steelers are the best team in the NFL
Type of Essay
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Persuasive / Argumentative Compare / Contrast Cause / Effect Definition
Informational Interview Descriptive Evaluation Literary Analysis
Division and Classification Narrative Other
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Thesis Statement
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I believe that... The Pittsburgh Steelers are the most dominant team in the AFC North, and all of the NFL.
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 Has had some of the best Topic
Best Defense in NFL 3rd most hall of famers
1 2 coaches in NFL 3
Are your topics different?
Are your topics interesting?
By discussing these topics, will you be able to prove your thesis true?
2. Topic 1 Best Defense in NFL
What is a good sentence to The Pittsburgh Steelers are the best team overall in the NFL for many different
introduce this topic to your reasons. The number one reason to support my statement is their amazingly agile
reader? and aggressive defense.
Is your language at a high-level?
On this great defense that the Steelers have acquired in the last 5 to 6 years, they have had
Support #1 numerous pro bowlers. Last year the Steelers had only 3 players elected to the pro bowl, each of
which were part of their state of the art defense. Troy Polamalu, James Harrison, and James
Farrior were the players elected. Polamalu had 7 total interceptions last year, tieing for 2nd overall
in the NFL last season. James Harrison was 4th overall for sacks with 16.5. And James Farrior
was 6th in overall tackles last season.
Source http://www.nfl.com/stats/player?seasonId=2008&seasonType=&Submit=Go
Is your language at a high-level?
Troy Polamalu had seven total interceptions last season, tieing for second overall in the NFL. He
Support #2 has also had 438 tackles in his career as a safety. James Harrison was ranked fourth last season in
sacks with sixteen in-a-half overall. He has 314 total tackles, and seven forced fumbles in two
consecutive seasons. And the big man, Casey Hampton has 258 total tackles, a very high number
for a defensive lineman.
Source http://www.nfl.com/stats/player?seasonId=2008&seasonType=&Submit=Go
Is your language at a high-level?
My last reasoning for why their defense is so dominant is not only their individual player
Support #3 statistics, but their team stats. The Steelers defense only allowed an average of thirteen points per
game. They only allowed 237.2 total yards, 156.9 passing yards, and about eighty average running
yards against any and every team they faced.
Source http://www.nfl.com/stats/team?seasonId=2008&seasonType=&Submit=Go
Is your language at a high-level?
What is a good sentence to The Steelers are also great not only for their defense, but they have also had
transition into the next some of the best coaching staff over the years leading them to 6 total
paragraph? Transition word help Superbowls, 4 of which were with one coach.
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
What is a good sentence to
introduce this topic to your
reader?
Is your language at a high-level?
Support #1
Source
Is your language at a high-level?
Support #2
Source
Is your language at a high-level?
Support #3
Source
Is your language at a high-level?
What is a good sentence to
transition into the next
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 is a good sentence to
introduce this topic to your
reader?
Is your language at a high-level?
Support #1
Source
Is your language at a high-level?
Support #2
Source
Is your language at a high-level?
Support #3
Source
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
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
your thesis
- Provide insider details that
would help your reader better
understand your topic, but not
information you are discussing in
your support.
Is your language at a high-level?
Why should your reader care?
Complete this sentence..
It is important that you read
this essay because...
Is your language at a high-level?
Thesis Statement
(paste the one you already
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
a fresh, new way
Is your language at a high-level?
Summarize /
Reflect / Give Final
thoughts on Topic 1
Is your language at a high-level? Did you summarize AND provide a final thought?
Summarize /
Reflect / Give Final
thoughts on Topic 2
Is your language at a high-level? Did you summarize AND provide a final thought?
Summarize /
Reflect / Give Final
thoughts on Topic 3
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