First Draft Worksheet

Instructions: Copy and paste the following text into a document or create a document that contains the same information.
Using your essay in response to the unit's writing prompt, complete the following steps to improve your essay.
Introduction
1. Insert your introductory paragraph with your central claim. Include any revisions your instructor asked you to make.
I depart,that, as I slew my best lover for the good of Rome, I have the same dagger for myself, when it shall please my
country to need my death - Marcus Junius Brutus
Marcus Junius Brutus, one of the noblest Romans would die if needed to save Rome and the people of Rome. In the play
Julius Caesar, he had a decision between his loyalty to the Roman Republic and his loyalty to his friend. As one of the
conspirators he killed Julius Caesar for the people of fear of him becoming a dictator. Although he killed him, Brutus was a
patriot because felt the people in Rome and the country itself had more importance than Caesar.
Idea Development
2. Write the body and conclusion of your argument in the space below.
To protect Rome, Brutus had to murder his best friend, Julius Caesar.
Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more. Had you rather Caesar were living and die all slaves, than that Caesar
were dead- Act 3 Scene 2
Although, Brutus could be considered as a betrayer, he did whats best for the people. If Caesar was king, he had a vision that
the futures for the people of Rome were slaves. He decided that Caesars ambition led to his death. Brutus collaborated with
people whose interest was not what best for Rome and used manipulative methods to persuade the crowd he was right.
However, to get the job done by killing Caesar he knew it would take more than one person and so he called in a group of
conspirators. If Brutus did not do it, it would signal Romes downfall. After he killed Caesar, he used manipulative methods in
his speech to convince the crowd that his action was right
Brutus is a patriot because he thought Caesar would become a dictator and lead to the fall of Rome
Even though Caesar had already wielded power over Rome, accepting the crown would make no difference. He refused to take
the crown in order to not look eager in front of his fellow Romans. Caesar did not want praises or honor, he just wanted to be
in charge of all that power. Brutus knew what he was up to and he made up his mind to slay him. Brutus spares Marc Antony
because he knew he is innocent. Our course will seem too bloody, Caius Cassius. To cut the head off and then hack the limbs,
Like wrath in death and envy afterwards; For Antony is but a limb of Caesar: Let us be sacrificers, but not butchers, Caius.

This explains that Brutus must kill Caesar to save Rome, but they cannot kill people like Marc Antony or they will look like
killers in front of their country. Brutus spares Antony because he knew that he did nothing wrong. If they kept killing people
who sided with Caesar, there would be nothing to gain from that. This shows that Brutus is not a cold blood murderer.
Even though in some instances, Brutus may look like a betrayer, but instead he has done many deeds and saved Rome from its
downfall from a dictator, Julius Caesar.
3. Highlight each part of your body paragraphs as follows:
o Green = Claim
o Yellow = Counterclaim
o Red = Refuted counterclaim
4. Based on your highlighting, what are the areas of your argument that need development?
Refuted counterclaims need to be more descriptive and have more information
5. Incorporate two direct quotations from the text of Julius Caesar to better support your claim. Paste the examples below.
Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more. Had you rather Caesar were living and die all slaves, than that Caesar
were dead- Act 3 Scene 2
Our course will seem too bloody, Caius Cassius. To cut the head off and then hack the limbs, Like wrath in death and envy
afterwards; For Antony is but a limb of Caesar: Let us be sacrificers, but not butchers, Caius.
6. Write sentences that introduce the relevancy of these quotations, and use a colon before each quotation. Paste these sentences
below.
In Act 3 Scene 2, Brutuss line, Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more. Had you rather Caesar were living
and die all slaves, than that Caesar were dead informs the people of Rome that he would do anything for his country, even
killing his best friend.
Our course will seem too bloody, Caius Cassius. To cut the head off and then hack the limbs, Like wrath in death and envy
afterwards; For Antony is but a limb of Caesar: Let us be sacrificers, but not butchers, Caius. This explains that Brutus must
kill Caesar to save Rome, but they cannot kill people like Marc Antony or they will look like killers in front of their country
Organization

7. Paste all of your revised body paragraphs and conclusion in the space below. Bold the transitions. Remember, transitions are
used between examples and between examples and explanations.
To protect Rome, Brutus had to murder his best friend, Julius Caesar.
Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more. Had you rather Caesar were living and die all slaves, than that Caesar were
dead- Act 3 Scene 2
Although, Brutus could be considered as a betrayer, he did whats best for the people. If Caesar was king, he had a vision that the
futures for the people of Rome were slaves. He decided that Caesars ambition led to his death. Brutus collaborated with people whose
interest was not what best for Rome and used manipulative methods to persuade the crowd he was right. However, to get the job done
by killing Caesar he knew it would take more than one person and so he called in a group of conspirators. If Brutus did not do it, it
would signal Romes downfall. After he killed Caesar, he used manipulative methods in his speech to convince the crowd that his
action was right
Brutus is a patriot because he thought Caesar would become a dictator and lead to the fall of Rome
Even though Caesar had already wielded power over Rome, accepting the crown would make no difference. He refused to take the
crown in order to not look eager in front of his fellow Romans. Caesar did not want praises or honor, he just wanted to be in charge of
all that power. Brutus knew what he was up to and he made up his mind to slay him. Brutus spares Marc Antony because he knew he
is innocent. Our course will seem too bloody, Caius Cassius. To cut the head off and then hack the limbs, Like wrath in death and envy
afterwards; For Antony is but a limb of Caesar: Let us be sacrificers, but not butchers, Caius. This explains that Brutus must kill
Caesar to save Rome, but they cannot kill people like Marc Antony or they will look like killers in front of their country. Brutus spares
Antony because he knew that he did nothing wrong. If they kept killing people who sided with Caesar, there would be nothing to
gain from that. This shows that Brutus is not a cold blood murderer.
Even though in some instances, Brutus may look like a betrayer, but instead he has done many deeds and saved Rome from its
downfall from a brutal dictator, Julius Caesar.

8. Identify what you have done to create a cohesive argument throughout this essay, especially in your conclusion.
I have sorted out the reasons why Brutus is a patriot and refuted how he was a betrayer. Organization was a key to make the
sentences flow into each other. In order to do that, I needed to find the right transitions for this essay.
9. Identify three areas where you can further improve this argument. Make these revisions and past the improved essay below.

I could elaborate on the topic more on Brutuss patriotic side. I should add in more quotes. I could explain his flaws
and refute them better.

To protect Rome, Brutus had to murder his best friend, Julius Caesar.
Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more. Had you rather Caesar were living and die all slaves, than
that Caesar were dead- Act 3 Scene 2
Although, Brutus could be considered as a betrayer, he did whats best for the people. If Caesar was king, he had a
vision that the futures for the people of Rome were slaves. He decided that Caesars ambition led to his death.
Caesar was full of superstitions and overconfidence. Brutus collaborated with people whose interest was not what
best for Rome and used manipulative methods to persuade the crowd he was right. However, to get the job done by
killing Caesar he knew it would take more than one person and so he called in a group of conspirators. If Brutus did
not do it, it would signal Romes downfall. After he killed Caesar, he used manipulative methods in his speech to
convince the crowd that his action was right
Brutus is a patriot because he thought Caesar would become a dictator and lead to the fall of Rome. Even though
Caesar had already wielded power over Rome, accepting the crown would make no difference. He refused to take
the crown in order to not look eager in front of his fellow Romans. Caesar did not want praises or honor, he just
wanted to be in charge of all that power. Brutus knew what he was up to and he made up his mind to slay him.
Brutus spares Marc Antony because he knew he is innocent. Our course will seem too bloody, Caius Cassius. To cut
the head off and then hack the limbs, Like wrath in death and envy afterwards; For Antony is but a limb of Caesar:
Let us be sacrificers, but not butchers, Caius. This explains that Brutus must kill Caesar to save Rome, but they
cannot kill people like Marc Antony or they will look like killers in front of their country. Brutus spares Antony because
he knew that he did nothing wrong. If they kept killing people who sided with Caesar, there would be nothing to gain
from that. This shows that Brutus is not a cold blood murderer.
Even though in some instances, Brutus may look like a betrayer, but instead he has done many great deeds which
saved Rome from its downfall from a brutal dictator, Julius Caesar.