The Main Idea

Worksheet Description

This worksheet is a structured outline template designed for detailed essay planning, featuring a segmented format to organize the main idea, supporting details, and arguments or evidence. The top section is reserved for writing the main idea, which is the essay’s thesis or central argument. Below the main idea, there are three columns for supporting details, with spaces beneath each to list arguments or evidence that substantiate these details. At the bottom, there is a section for the conclusion, where the arguments are synthesized and the main idea is reiterated.

The worksheet is instructing students on how to construct a well-organized argumentative essay. It emphasizes the importance of supporting a main idea with several detailed points, each backed by evidence or arguments. This process teaches students to think critically about how their evidence supports their claims and the overall thesis of the essay. It is a valuable tool for learning how to build a logical, coherent argument, a key skill in academic writing and critical thinking.