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5/15/2011 1Essay Outlines

You create an outline (usually in your head) when you are planning your essay. For major essays, you must construct one on paper. Your outline includes:

Your main idea (thesis);

Your subordinate points (the main idea of each paragraph);

Your supporting details (the content of each paragraph)

▪ In your head, it might look something like this:


4

This is a sample

essay outline

See how the outline is

broken down into

categories.

The large roman

numerals represent

paragraphs (I, II, …)

The capital letters

represent arguments

within the paragraph

(A, B…)

The numbers

represent points

within the argument.

Before we

begin, create

a template for

your outline

so that you

can work on it

as we look at

each of its

parts.

Your template

should look

like this:

5/15/2011 Essay Outlines 5

Introduction

• Begin with an interesting anecdote, a quote, or statistic to get your reader’s interest. The last sentence of your introduction should be the thesis of your paper: ‘For very different and interesting reasons, three cartoon fathers have changed the face of television in this era’.

Conclusion

• Begin your conclusion with a re-stated thesis (not the same as in the original, but similar). Briefly summarize the most important attributes of your body paragraphs and end the essay the way you began: with an anecdote, quote, or interesting statistic: ‘After all, as Homer might say: ‘Marge, my dear, I learned absolutely nothing’.


• Works for the CIA.

• Captures Roger the alien.

• Shows respect for America.

• Displays low levels of intelligence.

Stan Smith



Works on a fishing boat.

Drinks Pawtucket Pete beer.

Travels with his dog Brian.

Fights a giant chicken frequently.

Peter Griffin

Works at the nuclear power plant.

Hates his neighbor Flanders.

Loves his wife Marge dearly.

Chokes his son Bart often


Homer

Simpson

Works

Captures

Shows

Displays

Works

Drinks

Travels

Fights

Works

Hates

Loves

Chokes


Stan

• WORKS FOR THE CIA.

• Interrogated terrorists.

• Made strong coffee.

• Blew up several weapons of mass destruction.

Peter

• TRAVELS WITH HIS DOG BRIAN

• Toured the Pawtucket Beer factory.

• Became police officers in a hillbilly community.

• Went into rehab together.

Homer

• HATES HIS NEIGHBOR FLANDERS.

• Flanders represents all the qualities Homer doesn’t possess.

• Sobriety • Lawfulness

• Honesty • Loyalty


Essay Outline


Chandler i

The All-Time Best

Superheroes

I. Introduction

II. Stan Smith

III. Peter Griffin

IV.Homer Simpson

V. Conclusion

Essay

Title

Notice how each

subordinate point is

indicated with an

UPPERCASE

ROMAN NUMERAL?

Step Two


Chandler i

Television Cartoon

DadsI. Introduction

Throughout television history, many characters have come and

gone, but few have the impact of Stan Smith, Peter Griffin, and

Homer Simpson.

II. Stan Smith

III. Peter Griffin

IV. Homer Simpson

V. Conclusion

TV dads like Stan Smith, Peter Griffin, and Homer Simpson

have stood the test of time and remain relevant and pure icons

in cartoon history.

Step Three


Chandler i

Television Cartoon Dads

I. Introduction

Throughout television history, many characters have come

and gone, but few have the impact of Stan Smith, Peter

Griffin, and Homer Simpson.

II. Stan Smith

A. Works for the CIA

B. Captures Roger the alien.

C. Shows respect for America

D. Displays low levels of intelligence

III. Peter Griffin

IV. Homer Simpson

V. Conclusion

TV dads like Stan Smith, Peter Griffin, and Homer Simpson

have stood the test of time and remain relevant and pure

icons in cartoon history.

Indent

Chandler i

Television Cartoon Dads

I. Introduction

Throughout television history, many characters have come

and gone, but few have the impact of Stan Smith, Peter

Griffin, and Homer Simpson.

II. Stan Smith

A. Works for the CIA1. Interrogated terrorists.

2. Made strong coffee.

3. Blew up several weapons of mass destruction.

B. Captures Roger the alien


D. Displays low levels of intelligence

III. Peter Griffin

IV. Homer Simpson

Indent

Indent

II. Stan Smith

A. Works for the CIA

1. Interrogated prisoners

2. Made strong coffee

3. Blew up weapons of mass destruction

a. Toxic nerve gas

b. Nuclear bomb

c. Roger’s wine cellar

B. Captures Roger the Alien


D. Displays low levels of intelligence.


IndentIn larger papers,

you may have to

further expand on

your expanded

supporting details.

III. Peter Griffin

A. Works on a fishing boat

B. Drinks Pawtucket Pete beer

C. Travels with his dog Brian

1. Toured the Pawtucket Beer factory.

2. Became police officers in a hillbilly

community.

3. Went into rehab together.

D. Fights a giant chicken frequently


IV. Homer Simpson

A. Works at the nuclear power plant

B. Hates his neighbor Flanders

1. Flanders represents all the qualities Homer

doesn’t possess.

a. Sobriety

b. Lawfulness

c. Honesty

d. Loyalty

C. Loves his wife Marge dearly

D. Chokes his son Bart often5/15/2011 Essay Outlines 21

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