Editorial: Body Paragraph Formula
1. Topic Sentence
2. Examples/Support
· potentially 2-3 sentences
· will include your in-text citation
3. Explanation Why This Main Point Matters
4. Summation/Concluding Sentence
· this should transition into your next main idea
Topic: Racial Profiling
Stance: Against the Practice of Racial Profiling
Opposing Viewpoints:
1. Narrows Down a Search (could help find a suspect more quickly)
2. Justifiable as a Proactive Means to Protection (9/11, Patriot Act, Routine Traffic Stops Uncover Illegal Activity, etc.)
3. Statistics Show that It Works
Three Main Points:
1. It’s a Discriminatory Practice that is Illegal (The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled in a 1975 decision, United States v. Brignoni-Ponce)
2. Perpetuates Stereotypes Against Minorities
3. Could Stop Progress in a Search/Wastes Valuable Time (What happens if the racial profile is not accurate and time was wasted pursuing the wrong potential suspect?
Thesis: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Concession Statement:
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
1. Topic Sentence
Racial (or, Ethnic) Profiling perpetuates stereotypes against minorities—among both civilians and law officials.
2. Examples/Support
· potentially 2-3 sentences
· will include your in-text citation
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) contends that "five times as many whites use drugs as blacks, but the focus is on the color of the skin and erroneous data. This causes the law enforcement officials to look for certain types of individuals that fit the crime statistics that may or may not be accurate and the African-American, or any other person of color, is observed in a different light (www.aclu.com “Facts” par.2).
3. Explanation Why This Main Point Matters
America has to move forward to prove that we have made advancements in race relations. If the law continues to prejudge people, and this is an idea that is evidenced by all in the media, of course it will trickle down to the mentality of the masses.
4. Summation/Concluding Sentence
· this should transition into your next main idea
Just because a nation has been “doing something” for a long time, doesn’t make it right.
Here is the entire paragraph:
Racial (or, Ethnic) Profiling perpetuates stereotypes against minorities—among both civilians and law officials. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) contends that "five times as many whites use drugs as blacks, but the focus is on the color of the skin and erroneous data. This causes the law enforcement officials to look for certain types of individuals that fit the crime statistics that may or may not be accurate and the African-American, or any other person of color, is observed in a different light (www.aclu.com “Facts” par.2). America has to move forward to prove that we have made advancements in race relations. If the law continues to prejudge people, and this is an idea that is evidenced by all in the media, of course it will trickle down to the mentality of the masses. Just because a nation has been “doing something” for a long time, doesn’t make it right.