Organization Essay Help

Sample compare-and-contrast introduction w/thesis in bold

Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King are commonly thought of as heroes in the American struggle for racial equality. Lincoln freed the slaves during the Civil War, and Martin Luther King was a key figure in the Civil Rights movement that led to the desegregation of schools and businesses in the 1960s.  Both certainly believed that slavery was wrong, and both wanted to see African Americans treated as human beings. However, their fundamental attitudes toward race were actually very different.  Whereas Martin Luther King fully supported equality on all levels, Lincoln objected mainly to slavery, not to stereotypes or discrimination.

Outline of a sample paragraph:

Topic sentence: Both men learned about the problems of slavery in church, so they considered it an absolute evil, a sin against God.
•	Point about MLK’s religious ideas
•	Quote or paraphrase about MLK’s religious ideas
•	Explanation of the quote
•	Transition comparing the two
•	Point about Lincoln’s religious ideas
•	Quote or paraphrase about Lincoln’s religious ideas
•	Explanation of the quote
•	Concluding sentence connecting the two

Sample two-sentence topic sentence about a difference:
Martin Luther King always aimed to promote high ideals of love and justice, but Lincoln was more practical.  His first priority was to keep America united as one country and not to let the slave-owning South break away.

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Introducing Your Organization

Your introduction should give some basic background information on your organization and/or the specific project you will focus on. Where is this organization based?  Is it local, national, or international?  Where does it get its funding?  What is the purpose of your project?