Fact claim essay

The Fact Claim Essay makes a factual statement and supports the claim with facts.

In your essay, be sure to include reasons that support your position, and evidence that backs up your reasons.

Remember to cite your sources in MLA format: both in-text citations and a Works Cited section.

Follow the Fact Claim Essay Outline. Use topic sentences, transition words, and supporting details.

Remember it’s a college-level essay. Make sure your writing is free of most grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors.

Finally, check your word count. You must reach the minimum required number of words.

Your job is to persuade people to agree with you. That’s what an argument essay does. Go for it!

Topic

You must choose a topic from the topic list (see below)

Minimum Required Word Count

1,500 words

Introduction (Required Heading)

The first paragraph will state your topic and position. In English class, that’s called the thesis. It’s the overall point you’re trying to make.

The remainder of the first paragraph will summarize the reasons why your readers should agree with you. Start with your strongest, best reason. We call those points. Your points support your thesis.

The list of reasons in the first paragraph is called a roadmap or blueprint. Your reader can follow that guide through the rest of your essay.

If you want to put something else in your first paragraph, you can answer the question, “Why is this important?” It’s optional, but you can include one or two sentences that explain why the topic matters.

For many controversial topics, the reader already knows it’s important. Abortion, animal testing, the death penalty, gun control, immigrationreaders understand the importance. That’s why this last part is optional.

Now, after the first paragraph, write a number of body paragraphs.

2 Reason 1 (Required Heading)

The first sentence in each paragraph says what the paragraph is about. That’s called a topic sentence or key sentence.

Begin each topic sentence with a word or phrase that tells the reader you’re starting a new point. For example, first, second, furthermore, in addition to, etc. Those are called transition words.

The rest of the paragraph contains evidence that backs up your point. That’s called supporting detail. Depending on what you’re writing, supporting detail can include facts, statistics, quotes from experts, or even stories.

3 Reason 2 (Required Heading)

The first sentence is the topic sentence. It states the reason. Start the topic sentence with a transition word or phrase, then follow with your evidence.

4 Reason 3 (Required Heading)

Again, the first sentence is the topic sentence. Start the topic sentence with a transition word or phrase, then follow with the evidence.

And so on…

? Refute the Opposing View (Required Heading)

After the body paragraphs explaining why your reader should agree with you, include one or two paragraphs describing the reasons they do not agree with you, and explain why they’re wrong. That’s called overcoming objections or refuting the opposing view.

? Conclusion (Required Heading)

End your essay with a quick summary of the reasons why you’re right.

Works Cited

The Works Cited section comes after the last paragraph of your essay. In this section, list all the sources you included in your essay in correct MLA format. List the sources in alphabetical order based on the first word (or words) in the line.

Make sure each in-text citation matches an entry in Works Cited.