"Organ Sales Will Save Lives"

Pages 92-96 in The Norton Field Guide

Introduction paragraph

In the intro paragraph the author gives some background information on the subject. In her case, the subject is the buying and selling of human organs.

Your introduction paragraph

Your introduction paragraph should also give some background, only in your case it will be about the chapter (or chapters) from The Things They Carried or another book that you're writing about.

Inquiry Question

The sample essay contains the inquiry question, "So why are we standing in the way?" (This is in reference to organ sales).

Thesis

The author then goes on to answer her inquiry question with her thesis, "Governments should not ban the sale of human organs; they should regulate it. Lives should not be wasted; they should be saved."

Your thesis

Your thesis will also appear at the end of your introduction paragraph and answer your inquiry question.

The big difference is your question will revolve around a topic related to the story (or stories) that you're writing about.

The body paragraphs in the "Organ Sales Will Save Lives" essay begin with claims about a specific point the author is making.

- "Dialysis is harsh, expensive, and, worst of all, only temporary."- "Kidney transplantation, on the other hand, is the closest thing to a cure that anyone could hope for."- "But those hoping for a new kidney have high hopes indeed."

Body paragraphs

Your body paragraphs

Your body paragraphs will also begin with claims.

Your claims will need to work directly towards making your point and proving your thesis.

The sample essay works gradually because the author had much more space to work with than you do.

Examples

The body paragraphs in the "Organ Sales Will Save Lives" essay make extensive use of examples to prove the writer's point.

"With the sales of organs outlawed in almost every country, the number of living donors willing to part with a kidney for free is small."

"A kidney from a living donor can last over twice as long."

Your examples

You also want to use examples. Only you will have just two sources.

1 - The chapter (or chapters) you chose from The Things They Carried or another book.

2 - A credible outside source (perhaps something you found through google from a newspaper's website, not a blog or wikipedia).

Your examples (continued)

Your examples will illustrate the point you're making with your claim.

Your examples (continued)

Then you will want to follow up the quote or description with an explanation of how the quote or description supports and illustrates your claim. It may seem obvious to you, but it's not always that way to the reader.

So you're making a quote sandwich:ClaimQuote (or example, description, etc.)Explanation

Anticipating Objections

In the last paragraph on page 95, the author considers possible objections.

"Critics fear that controlling the lawful sale of organs would be too difficult..."

Anticipating Objections (continued)You'll also want to take a paragraph (the one before your conclusion) to consider possible objections to your thesis.

You want to make sure to spell out the argument (or arguments) someone might use to counter you.

You can (but are not obligated to) refute or accommodate this counterargument in this same paragraph.

Conclusion

The conclusion paragraph in the "Organ Sales Will Save Lives" essay explains the importance of the topic in the "real world."

"In matters of life and death, our stances on moral issues must be reevaluated. If legalized and regulated, the sale of human organs would save lives."

Your conclusion

You want to explain the importance of your topic in the "real world" and possibly briefly restate your argument.

There is no need to make any new points in the conclusion, you just want to help the reader leave your essay remembering your topic and understanding why it is important.