Hints for Developing Support
for Argument/Persuasion Essays

1)  Make sure that each paragraph presents ONE reason in support of the position.

            e.g.  I support _______ because ________________________ .

            e.g.  I support continuing funding for the space program because it helps our economy.

2)  Examine closely what each Primary Support (REASON) is asking you to support.  Then list your Secondary Supports.

e.g.  Primary Support:  I support continuing funding for the space program because it helps the economy.

You ask:  What support do I have for the assertion that space exploration helps our economy?  What evidence is there in support of the assertion that space exploration helps the economy.  In what ways does it help the economy?

                        Ways this is true--  (Secondary Supports)

                                    1) it provides jobs

                                    2) it stimulates innovation  in products

                                    3) it helps America be a leader in exporting technology around the world

3) For each Secondary Support you list, find some specific, detailed support to back it up.        
Sometimes it helps to prompt this "downshifting" to detail with these transition words:  for instance, for example, specifically, one example comes from, in fact.

            e.g. Secondary support with detail:

One way the space program helps the economy is by providing jobs.  For instance, NASA alone employs thousands of workers in Texas and Florida, and this does not even count all the jobs provided by space contractors all over the country.

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