The Issues EssayRule # 1 The longer your essay is, the better your chances will be for a high score—I know, I know, that sounds like you should be “wordy,” but that's not it.

Rule # 2 Be organized—think linearly—and build your argument.

Rule # 3 Use concrete examples, and avoid vague, “emotional” qualifiers.

e.g. The company's policy was ridiculous.vs. The company's vacation policy discriminated against parents

with new born children, and offered extra vacation time to only the highest paid middle managers. [Then add a sentence here to clarify the comment about the “discrimination.”]

Rule # 3 Use good transitions.

Rule # 4 Use a good variety of sentence lengths—incorporate coordinating and subordinating conjunctions, and vary your sentence structures.

The Issues Essay

“In any business or other organization, it is better to have managers with strong leadership skills than managers with expertise and work experience in a particular field.”

Discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the opinion stated above. Support your views with reasons and/or examples from your own experience, observations, or reading.

Brainstorm for reasons for a stance

“In any business or other organization, it is better to have managers with strong leadership skills than managers with expertise and work experience in a particular field.”

Discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the opinion stated above. Support your views with reasons and/or examples from your own experience, observations, or reading.

1—Where am I leaning on this iussue?2—What reasons do I have to support that stance?

The Issues Essay

The issue of _____topic paraphrased_________ is a controversial one. On the one hand _________A_____________. On the other hand ____________B______________. However, in the final analysis, the most compelling view suggests that _________A rephrased___________________.

“In any business or other organization, it is better to have managers with strong leadership skills than managers with expertise and work experience in a particular field.”

Discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the opinion stated above. Support your views with reasons and/or examples from your own experience, observations, or reading.

The Issues Essay

The issue of whether managers having leadership skills is better for a company than having managers with experience is a debateable one. On the one hand it is better to have managers with strong leadership skills. On the other hand managers with expertise and work experience in a particular field may be of more value to a company. However, in the final analysis, the most compelling view suggests that leadership abilities can be of more value to an organization.

“In any business or other organization, it is better to have managers with strong leadership skills than managers with expertise and work experience in a particular field.”

Discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the opinion stated above. Support your views with reasons and/or examples from your own experience, observations, or reading.

The Issues Essay

The issue of _____topic paraphrased_________ is a controversial one. On the one hand _________A_____________. On the other hand ____________B______________. However, in the final analysis, the most compelling view suggests that _________A rephrased___________________.

“Employees should not be asked to provide formal evaluations of their supervisor because they have little basis for judging or even understanding their supervisor’s performance.”

Discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the opinion stated above. Support your views with reasons and/or examples from your own experience, observations, or reading.

The Issues Essay

The issue of _____topic paraphrased_________ is a controversial one. On the one hand _________A_____________. On the other hand ____________B______________. However, in the final analysis, the most compelling view suggests that _________A rephrased___________________.

“Although many people object to advertisements and solicitations that intrude into their lives through such means as the telephone, the Internet, and television, companies and organizations must have the right to contact potential customers and donors whenever and however they wish.”

Discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the opinion stated above. Support your views with reasons and/or examples from your own experience, observations, or reading.

The Issues Essay

The issue of whether companies and organizations must have the right to contact potential customers and donors whenever and however they wish is a controversial one. On the one hand Consumers should have the right to privacy and the ability to choose. . . . . On the other hand companies need to be able to contact their potential customer base in the most effective manner. However, in the final analysis, the most compelling view suggests that the rights of the consumer outweigh the needs of companies because a happy consumer will be a better consumer…….

“Although many people object to advertisements and solicitations that intrude into their lives through such means as the telephone, the Internet, and television, companies and organizations must have the right to contact potential customers and donors whenever and however they wish.”

The Issues Essay

Support paragraph #1One reason for this is___________R1____________. (back this up now with a minimum of three examples, or three explanations.)

“Although many people object to advertisements and solicitations that intrude into their lives through such means as the telephone, the Internet, and television, companies and organizations must have the right to contact potential customers and donors whenever and however they wish.”

Discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the opinion stated above. Support your views with reasons and/or examples from your own experience, observations, or reading.

The Issues Essay

Support Paragraph #2Another reason why this stance may be accurate is__________R2______________. (back this up now with a minimum of three explanatory sentences.)

“Although many people object to advertisements and solicitations that intrude into their lives through such means as the telephone, the Internet, and television, companies and organizations must have the right to contact potential customers and donors whenever and however they wish.”

Discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the opinion stated above. Support your views with reasons and/or examples from your own experience, observations, or reading.

The Issues Essay

Support Paragraph #3Perhaps the most compelling reason is______R3________. (back this up now with a minimum of three explanatory sentences.)

“Although many people object to advertisements and solicitations that intrude into their lives through such means as the telephone, the Internet, and television, companies and organizations must have the right to contact potential customers and donors whenever and however they wish.”

Discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the opinion stated above. Support your views with reasons and/or examples from your own experience, observations, or reading.

The Issues Essay

For all of these reasons______A rephrased again________.[R1 rephrased]. [R2 rephrased]. [R3 rephrased]. [One final point to ponder or poetic thought that ties it all together.]

“Although many people object to advertisements and solicitations that intrude into their lives through such means as the telephone, the Internet, and television, companies and organizations must have the right to contact potential customers and donors whenever and however they wish.”

Discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the opinion stated above. Support your views with reasons and/or examples from your own experience, observations, or reading.

The Issues Essay Template—as a whole

The issue of the ______________ is a controversial one. On the one hand______A (the stance you'll be taking)___. On the other hand _____B______________. However, in the final analysis, the most compelling view suggests that _________A rephrased___________________.

One reason for this is___________R1____________. (back this up now with a minimum of three examples, or three explanations.)

Another reason why this stance may be accurate is__________R2______________. (back this up now with a minimum of three explanatory sentences.)

Perhaps the most compelling reason is______R3________. (back this up now with a minimum of three explanatory sentences.)

For all of these reasons______A rephrased again________.[R1 rephrased]. [R2 rephrased]. [R3 rephrased]. [One final point to ponder or poetic thought that ties it all together.]

The Issues Essay

Now proofread and make sure

it flows.

Vary Sentence Structure and length

Telemarketers intrude in my life. The internet has become even worse. The average consumer can stand only so much. Everyone is tired of it. The telemarketers and advertizers and spammers aren't showing any signs of stopping.

Vary Sentence Structure and length

Telemarketers intrude in my life. The internet has become even worse. The average consumer can stand only so much. Everyone is tired of it. The telemarketers and advertizers and spammers aren't showing any signs of stopping.

No doubt, telemarketers intrude in everyone's life. The internet has become even worse, blocking web pages with pop-ups, and even illicitly downloading “spybots” to our PCs. The average consumer can stand only so much. Though everyone is clearly tired of it, telemarketers, advertizers, and spammers aren't showing any signs of stopping.

TRANSITION “STRINGS”

Transitional chains, to use in separating sections of a paragraph which is arranged linearly:

first... second... third...generally... furthermore... finallyin the first place... also... lastlyin the first place... pursuing this further... finallyto be sure... additionally... lastlyin the first place... just in the same way... finallybasically... similarly... as well

TRANSITIONS--“OPENERS”

For opening a paragraph initially or for general use:

admittedlyassuredlycertainlygrantedno doubtnobody deniesobviously (be very careful with this one)of courseto be suretrueundoubtedlyunquestionablygenerally speakingin generalat this levelin this situation

TRANSITIONS--“CONTINUERS”

For continuing a common line of reasoning:

consequentlyclearly, thenfurthermoreadditionallyandin additionmoreoverbecausebesides thatin the same wayfollowing this furtheralsopursuing this furtherin the light of the... it is easy to see that