Argumentative Outline A Review
Outline is Necessary to the Essay’s Clarity It is the pattern, structure, and order of your essay. It keeps your thesis focused, relevant, and apparent. It keeps your thoughts organized, controlled, and well- thought out as it pertains to the thesis, opinion points, topic sentences, and commentary. It is 75% of the text, effort, and shape of the essay It shows you, the writer, if you are aligning your thoughts with the intended thesis through the formula. It must be correct or you essay won’t be.
What Does the Format of a Formal Outline Look Like PROMPT: THESIS: I. A. 1. B. 1 a II. and so forth.
What Does It Look Like with LABELS PROMPT: THESIS: I. INTRODUCTION—(Hook) A. Background information/definition 1. B. Thesis II. TS A. CD/RES. 1. EXP. 2. EX. 3. CM C. TRAN. SENT. …ETC.
A Note about the Example An example should not be research. It should be something that you think of that supports what you are trying to prove THROUGH your research. It does not have to be “true.” It can just be a metaphor, which is a figure of speech that represents what you are saying.
Example of Outline Format as it Applies to the Formula I. TS (Topic Sentence for 1st Opinion Point of the Thesis) CD (1st research evidence or claim) Explanation of your research or claim in your own words. What does that research mean? EXAMPLE—A case that clarifies your point CM-These will be sentences (a minimum of three) that will explain how your research and example proves the topic sentence AND the thesis. Stay on topic. CD (2nd research evidence or claim) TRANSISTIONAL SENTENCE—ties together ideas between paragraphs (furthermore, in addition, moreover, first, second, third, finally, again, also, and, besides, further, in the first place, last, likewise, next, then, too.) Example of Outline Format as it Applies to the Formula
Outline for Counterargument I. TS (Topic Sentence for Counterargument of the Thesis. However, some may say that. . . ) CD (1st research that disagrees with TS) Explanation of your research or claim in your own words. What does that research mean? This means. . . EXAMPLE—A case that clarifies your point of contradicting the counterargument. CM-These will be sentences (a minimum of three) that will explain how your research and example proves the topic sentence AND the thesis. Stay on topic. CD (2nd research that disagrees with evidence or claim) Explanation of your research or claim in your own words. What does that research mean? This means. . . TRANSISTIONAL SENTENCE—ties together ideas between paragraphs (furthermore, in addition, moreover, first, second, third, finally, again, also, and, besides, further, in the first place, last, likewise, next, then, too.) Outline for Counterargument
Conclusion—your lasting remarks I. TS (Restatement of your thesis in a different way that reflects the knowledge learned. ) Implication of the thesis—(Do this by explaining the importance of or the results of the thesis. Answering "who cares?" or "so what?" helps the reader realize the significance of the thesis. Clincher or final sentences. (The final sentence of the concluding paragraph and essay leaves the reader with a powerful thought that extends the two implication sentences. This sentence could be a famous quotation, twist on a common phrase, or strong words. Conclusion—your lasting remarks
Formal Outline Sentences The outline should be in complete sentence form. Although time-consuming, it will actually save time when you write your essay as the basics will be already created and written thereby alleviating any errors in structure. You can and should, however, add to the commentary to make it more understandable. Formal Outine Guidelines Formal Outline Sentences
Laborious. Painstaking. Lengthy Pay off in the long run Easy to identify if you are off topic Easy to identify errors in reasoning Easy to identify if your essay will be effective Easy to identify if you have left out any parts.
GO FORTH AND PRODUCE AN EXEMPLARY OUTLINE RESULTING IN AN EXEMPLARY CONTENT ESSAY