Supporting Your OpinionBy Michelle Skowbo

What holds a tree in place?

Roots hold a tree in place.

Let’s compare a tree to an essay.

The broadest part of a tree is the trunk.

The broadest part of an essay is the thesis statement.

For example: Stores should not give away free bags.

A tree trunk is supported by roots. These can be big and small.

What supports a thesis statement?

We use reasons to support a thesis statement.

For example: People will be more likely to reuse bags if they have to pay for new ones.

This is a broad reason. We could use it as a topic sentence for a body paragraph.

What should we put in the rest of our body paragraph?

When we write a body paragraph, we need a topic sentence, explanation, and evidence. If we have all of these parts, we will have a strong body paragraph that will support our thesis statement.

Let’s look at an example.

The primary reason in favor of the grocery bag law is that people will be more likely to reuse bags if they have to pay for new ones. (This is my paragraph topic)

The law will be a good motivator. (This is my explanation)

Before the law was in place, I owned reusable bags, but I frequently forgot them. Even if I remembered them when I was walking out the door, I would say to myself, “Oh well, I’m in a hurry. I’ll just get bags from the store.” Now, even if I’m sitting in my car when I remember, I will go back to the house and get them. I also try harder to keep one bag in my car. (This is my evidence. I am giving a personal example.)

Let’s see everything together.

The primary reason in favor of the grocery bag law is that people will be more likely to reuse bags if they have to pay for new ones. The law will be a good motivator. Before the law was in place, I owned reusable bags, but I frequently forgot them. Even if I remembered them when I was walking out the door, I would say to myself, “Oh well, I’m in a hurry. I’ll just get bags from the store.” Now, even if I’m sitting in my car when I remember, I will go back to the house and get them. I also try harder to keep one bag in my car. If the law encourages me to be more conscientious, it will do the same for other city residents.

What kind of evidence can we use?

I used a personal example.

You can also use stories from news programs, newspapers, and other reliable sources.

You can also use statistics and other facts. Remember to cite your sources!

The Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL) has an excellent description of evidence:

https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/685/05/

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Works CitedBaker, Jack, Brizee Allen, and Elizabeth Angeli. "Welcome to the Purdue OWL." Purdue OWL: Essay Writing. The Purdue Online

Writing Lab, 10 Mar. 2013. Web. 24 Feb. 2017.

Chiacca, Kristen. Cherry Blossom Tree in Geneva. 2010. Flickr. Web. 23 Feb. 2017.

<https://www.flickr.com/photos/news10nbc/4763668301>.

Clker-Free-Vector-Images. Tree-branches-root-trunk-planting-23903. Digital image. Free Vector Graphic:

Tree-Branches-Root-Trunk-Planting. Pixabay, 2 Apr. 2012. Web. 23 Feb. 2017. <https://pixabay.com/en/tree-branches-root-trunk-planting-23903/>.