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[Dino and Coop singing]

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TEEAC.

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Sounds intriguing… what could it possibly stand for?

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Tigers educate eager antelopes constantly? [Tiger teaching two antelopes]

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…Aw.

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How nice of those tiger teachers…

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Or maybe…try eating eggs and cantaloupe! [Plate of cantaloupe and bowl of eggs]

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…Though maybe not together…

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Okay, fine, it doesn't stand for either of those.

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So…what's a TEEAC outline all about?

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Well, we use a TEEAC outline to write argumentative papers. [Coop pointing at a blackboard]

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It includes five steps, one for each letter, starting with "T" for "Thesis." [Dino pointing at a blackboard]

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The thesis is really the foundation of your paper. [Jenga block at the bottom of the pile with 'thesis' on it]

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You'll need it to be super sturdy if you want to build a strong argument. [Argument block on top]

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And sure, you could try to write a paper based on a slippery, weak thesis, but don't be surprised

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if the whole thing collapses in a pile of goo. [Paper turns into goo]

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And be warned: gooey papers don't tend to get very good grades. [Fail stamp]

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A good thesis should do three things: tell us the topic of your paper…

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…state your opinion on the topic…

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…and give a few reasons why you hold this opinion.

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If you can pull off all three, your paper is much more likely to stand tall and strong… [A house]

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…rather than collapse the first time a bird lands on it. [Bird lands on the shed and it collapses]

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One you've got your thesis down, the other parts of TEEAC are a breeze.

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After our thesis comes the first "E": "Explain."

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Having a strong thesis is fine and dandy, but to convince other people you're right, [Someone carrying a suitcase that says 'reasons']

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you've gotta explain the reasons you believe in your thesis, like a lawyer arguing in court.

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Luckily you won't need to do this under the watchful gaze of any judges. [Man holding up the briefcase in court]

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Those weird robes and scary gavels can be surprisingly intimidating.

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Next up is "E" number two: "Evidence."

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All those explanations you had didn't just come out of nowhere…or at least, we hope [Man searching in a bin]

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they didn't.

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So now's your chance to show your readers all the facts that brought you to your – obviously [Man carrying heavy box labelled 'evidence']

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correct – opinion.

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After that comes "A": "Argument."

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Even though you might be right about your thesis, there might be people who think differently

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from you.

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Rather than try to hide these people in boxes––because most people don't like being shoved into boxes––in [The man puts a box over the arguing woman's head]

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the A stage we discuss their opposing arguments in our very own paper.

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That might seem like a recipe for disaster for your thesis, but that's why we finish

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with "C": "Counter-argument."

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Just because people might disagree, doesn't mean they're right.

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Now's your chance to counter-argue all those different opinions and show how you were right

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all along.

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We didn't doubt you for a second. [Judge says great job]

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Follow the TEEAC outline, and you'll be convincing readers in no time.

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As for us?

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We're going to go start a charter school where tigers teach antelopes, and every meal is [Antelopes and tiger in a classroom]

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eggs and cantaloupe.

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Sounds like a solid business plan! [Kid looks grossed out]

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