Outlines

Outline (Structural Suggestions)

Purpose of this handout:

This handout will provide students with a general overview of an outline (page 2) as well as links to step-by-step outline construction (page 1).  Please take note of what will be expected in your outline by reviewing the content below.

Outline title page

1.      Outline Introduction

2.     Outline Body-paragraphs

3.     Outline Conclusion

Outline bibliographic full-source citations (Works Cited, References, or Bibliography)

You will also want to see THIS HANDOUT for a step-by-step explanation as to what goes where (outline full visual).

Reminders:

Proposal Argument: Topic Sentences

Creating a Correct Title for Your Writing

Creating a Great Essay Title

Outline (General Concepts)

Outlines will vary depending on the exact goal of the piece, but every outline should contain the following elements:

I.       Introduction: Eliminate all 1^st and 2^nd person pronoun usage throughout the essay

A.    Interest-catcher that relates to your thesis (HOOK)

B.     Transitional Sentence(s) that connect(s) your interest-catcher to your thesis through use of background statements, intriguing concepts, or relating the issue on a personal level for the reader

C.     Your thesis, which identifies the topic and reveals the central claim you are making about the issue (Remember to consider the type of essay when you develop your thesis: Proposal thesis makes a proposal in the form of an argument, Ethical thesis connects to an ethical principle that will be argued about the topic, and Cause and Effect thesis must argue a cause/effect relationship.)

II.     Several Body Paragraphs with Supporting Points that support the claim you have made in your thesis. Eliminate all 1^st and 2^nd person pronoun usage throughout the essay (Writing Paragraphs in an Argument)

A.    Topic sentence introducing the focus of the paragraph’s main topic and sub-point of the thesis in a clear way (Sentence Starters for Argument Essay Paragraphs)

B.     Explanation as to why this sub-point is important to your argument  (Using Ethos, Logos, and Pathos)

C.     Specific example(s), facts(s), etc. that support the argument point for this paragraph: you only use the source content to defend and develop your argument point—do not use source material to make your argument.  You need to make your argument logically, and then the source material is used to lend credibility to what you were arguing.  YOU lead the writing.  Do not let the sources lead the writing. (Signs of Trouble--Letting Sources Lead Instead of Follow Your Writing) Use properly cited quotes, paraphrases, or summaries.Try to use paraphrased source content instead of quotes.

D.    Remember to use transitions to move from one logical point to the next throughout the body-paragraph: lead your readers, do not jump over logical transitions. (Source Sandwich: Introduce, Quote, Evaluate)

E.     Your explanation and analysis of example(s) provided above that defended your argument

F.      Summative sentence to wrap up the point of the body-paragraph—it needs to reflect back to the topic sentence of the body-paragraph. Remember to provide transitions for your reader when possible in the last sentence—to your next point—but the main purpose of the final sentence is to wrap-up the body-paragraph.

III.  Body Paragraph(s) Discussing Opposition Eliminate all 1^st and 2^nd person pronoun usage throughout the essay (Opposition to your argument could also be addressed before your supporting points. There are other possibilities for organization of the opposition to your argument, but it takes great care to make the flow of thoughts understandable to the reader, so we will start with this structure for our class writings.) COUNTER-ARGUMENT Body-Paragraphs

A.    Topic sentence identifying opposing viewpoint(s) of your argument (proposal argument, ethical argument, or causal argument) (Sentence Starters for Argument Essay Paragraphs)

B.     Explanation as to why you disagree (Using Ethos, Logos, and Pathos)

C.     Remember to use transitions to move from one logical point to the next throughout the body-paragraph: lead your readers, do not jump over logical transitions. (Source Sandwich: Introduce, Quote, Evaluate)

D.    Examples, facts, etc. that support your reason for disagreement: you only use the source content to defend and develop your argument point—do not use source material to make your argument.  You need to make your argument logically, and then the source material is used to lend credibility to what you were arguing.  YOU lead the writing.  Do not let the sources lead the writing. (Signs of Trouble--Letting Sources Lead Instead of Follow Your Writing)

E.     Summative sentence to wrap up the point of the body-paragraph—it needs to reflect back to the topic sentence of the body-paragraph

IV.  Conclusion: Eliminate all 1^st and 2^nd person pronoun usage throughout the essay (Writing Conclusions)

A.    Reiterates your thesis in different words: approach your thesis from a new angle to grab the reader

B.     Sums up what you talked about in your body paragraphs: focus on the points you asserted in the topic sentence of each of the body-paragraphs

C.     Drives home any final thoughts or call for action: be sure to make a final sentence that gives the reader something to think about after they have finished reading your paper, and create your title for the essay from the point made in this final sentence of the essay so that the essay title and the last sentence of the essay reflect each other

Remember that this is a rough guide for every essay.