Descriptive Essay Graphic Organizer

A descriptive essay paints a mental picture of a person, place, or thing with the help of concrete
and specific details that appeal to the senses – sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch.

What person, place, or thing will your paper describe?

What will be the thesis or main idea of your paper? (Remember, your thesis should be arguable.)

What is the purpose of your paper?

What method will you use to help you generate ideas (brainstorming, freewriting, sketching,
mapping, etc)? You will need additional paper on which to record your ideas.
To what senses will you appeal? Consider using such things as imagery – simile, metaphor, and
personification.

1. Examples of Senses

a. Sight Example –

b. Sound Example –

c. Smell Example –

d. Taste Example –

e. Touch Example –

2. Examples of Imagery

a. Simile Example –

b. Metaphor Example –

c. Personfication Example –

What sources of support will you consider?

 Compare and Contrast Essay Graphic Organizer

A compare and contrast essay considers two or more objects and draws attention to their
similarities. The contrast aspect of the essay focuses only on differences.

What is the first item to be compared? What is the second item to be compared?

What are the similarities?

What are the differences?

What will be the thesis or main idea of your paper? (Remember, your thesis should be arguable.)

What is the purpose of your paper?

What method will you use to help you generate ideas (brainstorming, freewriting, sketching,
mapping, etc)? You will need additional paper on which to record your ideas.

What sources of support will you consider?

 Cause and Effect Essay Graphic Organizer

A cause and effect essay is written to analyze the reasons for (causes) and/or the consequences of
(effects) an action, event, or decision.

Cause

Effect Effect Effect

Or

Effect

Cause Cause Cause

What will be the thesis or main idea of your paper? (Remember, your thesis should be arguable.)

What is the purpose of your paper?

What method will you use to help you generate ideas (brainstorming, freewriting, sketching,
mapping, etc)? You will need additional paper on which to record your ideas.

What sources of support will you consider?

 Argumentative Essay Graphic Organizer

An argumentative essay presents the PROS (support of argument) and the CONS (opposing
arguments) of an argumentative issue.

Introduction

a. How will you engage your readers?

b. Why should your readers be concerned with the issue?

c. How will you establish your ethos?

Background

a. Will you provide an overview of the issue?

b. Are there key terms or basic facts for which the readers should be familiar?

c. How will you clarify any misunderstandings?

Thesis

a. What is your stance on the issue?

b. How will you imply your stance without using I?

Points and Support of Argument

a. How will you establish a strong logos?

b. What evidence will you use to support your points?

c. How will you organize your evidence?

Refutation

a. How will you summarize your opponents’ arguments?

b. What evidence will you use to refute the opposing arguments?

Conclusion

a. How will you reaffirm your points?

b. How will you create a pathos?

c. What will be your call to action?