190 ChApTEr 7 | reForM anD reaCtion | period Four 18 0 0 –1848Body paragraph: Main point (on political ideology)
A. Supporting point: Evidence and explanation for example 1 (such as
John C. Calhoun)B. Supporting point: Evidence and explanation for example 2 (such as
Lyman Beecher)To make your supporting statements more persuasive, use language that
evaluates:To show similarities
Like
Similar to
In the same way,To show differences
Even more important,
Less noteworthy was
The greatest example isBreaks in patterns become useful transitions to other categories, which you
will likely discover in your explanations of the evidence. For example, Lyman
Beecher’s argument—used twice—introduces a new factor to consider in the
development of social debates.
Even supporting categories may be evaluated to provide coherence to the
skeleton of your outline. What categories do you provide first? Last? By prioritiz-
ing your categories, you answer the language of the prompt “To what extent” and
assess the degree to which one factor influences a larger argument.
For example, your broad outline may appear this way:I. Introduction with thesis
II. Main point 1: Economic necessity
III. Main point 2: Sectional interests
IV. Main point 3: Political ideology
V. Conclusion
Such an organization suggests an essay that defends how and why political
ideology compares with the other two factors. If you save the best for last, then
political ideology is the most important. If you begin with your strongest point,
then you will explain why economic necessity is the most important.
Remember too that in a linear argument the working thesis culminates in
a final position that presents a strong statement of the thesis. There are natural
and logical progressions among the body paragraphs. In the example presented
above, you would present a clear rationale for why economic necessity is first,
sectional interests are second, and political ideology is last.08_STA_2012_ch7_169-190.indd 190 19/03/15 4:33 PM