Argumentative Essay Organizer

Name: _________________________

Plot Map

1. 
   Identify the facts/information the author provided - Lost cities are places that were once well populated, but whose locations were later forgotten.
   
2. 
   Identify the examples the author provided - El Dorado is one example of a lost city.
   
3. 
   Did the author use an anecdote? Sir Walter Raleigh led an expedition to South America to find El Dorado and told people he succeeded even though he failed.
   
4. 
   What does the information help you understand about El Dorado? Although there are theories about the possibility of a lost city, no one knows for sure where the cities existed.
   

Explain that readers closely read anecdotes and examples to better understand key individuals, events or ideas that may be unfamiliar to them. Anecdotes and examples introduce, illustrate an elaborate on important information. They turn dry facts into lively discussions and information people want to read.

1. 
   Identify the facts/information the author provided- One theory is Atlantis was located off Europe in the Atlantic Ocean. Another theory is Atlantis may have existed on the island of Thera, in the Aegean Sea.
   
2. 
   Identify the examples the author provided- A massive earthquake could have devastated the island. Or, a volcanic eruption could have sank the island.
   
3. 
   What does the information help you understand about Atlantis?
   

Every single morning, you must wake up before the sun rises to start working. Every single day, no matter how tired you get, you must work the fields. Though you get to enjoy the fruits of your labor (quite literally) at mealtimes, the day’s work isn’t over until after the sun has set. If it is harvest season, you’re out there in the hot sun gathering the crops. And if it’s not harvest season, you probably still have the cows, sheep, chickens, and pigs to feed. In addition to feeding the animals, you must attend to them in other ways: milking them, shearing their wool, or gathering their eggs.

So if you think you’ll find rest and relaxation in farm life, think again.

Now let’s ask those four questions to determine the author’s point of view in the text.
1. What main idea is the author trying to convince readers to agree with?
In the second sentence, the author says, “However, running a successful farm is extremely challenging, requiring a lot hard work and perseverance.” This sentence directly states the author’s point of view.
The author’s point of view on the topic of farm life is that farm life is not relaxing but extremely challenging because it requires a lot of hard work and perseverance.
2. How does the author’s choice of words influence how readers think about the topic?
In the second sentence, the author uses the words challenging, hard work, and perseverance to describe farm life. These words have very different meanings from the word relaxing. This contrast leads readers to understand that farm life is the exact opposite of what they might think.
In the second paragraph, the author uses the phrases every single morning and every single day to emphasize to readers that work on a farm never ends.
3. How does the author’s choice of facts or examples influence how readers think about the topic?
In the second paragraph, the author shows how much hard work and perseverance farm life requires by providing numerous examples.
You have to wake up before sunrise.

You must work the fields every day, no matter how tired you get.

Your work in the fields isn’t over until after the sun is set.

During harvest, you must gather crops in the hot sun.

Throughout the year, you must feed cows, sheep, chickens, and pigs.

You also must tend to animals in other ways, such as by milking cows, shearing sheep, and gathering eggs from chickens.