Step One: Gathering Your Evidence
Revisit your notes, graphic organizers, and worksheets from the play. Write key points of evidence in the chart below. What did Brutus do and say that shows him to be a patriot? What did he do and say that makes him a betrayer? Then, decide what claim you will make.

Place your evidence from the play in the correct spaces.
Evidence for Brutus as a Patriot Evidence for Brutus as a Betrayer

Step Two: Writing Your Claim
Complete the following sentence: I plan to prove that...

Cross out "I plan to prove that." What remains is your clearly stated position.

Complete the following sentence: This matters because...

Cross out "This matters because." What remains is your purpose for writing.

Combine these two thoughts into one coherent sentence; this is your claim.

Your finalized claim:

Step Three: Identifying the Counterclaim
Complete the following sentence: My claim states that...

Cross out "My claim states that." What remains is your clearly stated position.

Complete the following sentence: Some may disagree with me because...

Cross out "Some may disagree with me because." What remains is the opposition's point of view.

Combine these two thoughts into one coherent sentence; this is the counterclaim.

Your finalized counterclaim:

Step Four: Planning Your Introduction
In this section of the organizer, you will plan your own introduction based on the prompt in the lesson. You may refer to the sample introduction from the lesson if needed.

Using the claim and counterclaim you have developed in steps 2 and 3, plan your introduction below.

Hook:

Bridge:

Counterclaim:

Bridge with transition:

Claim:

Step Five: Writing Your Introduction
Copy and paste your sentences from the plan in step four into paragraph format here. Read your completed paragraph to yourself and add transitions and domain-specific words to make your introductory paragraph flow from one idea to the next.