MLA Research Outline

Everything should be in MLA format.

An MLA outline looks like this:

The Setup12pt. Times New Roman

Double Spaced

1” Margins

MLA Heading at Top-Left

Title is Centered

Everything else is aligned to the left

Step 1: Thesis

Type Thesis:

Then type the thesis statement for your paper

Jose Jones

Mr. Pandit / Period 8

English 2

9 December 2010

Not Cyber Suicide, Cyber Homicide

Thesis Statement: The viewers of this online tragedy must be held accountable because they could have prevented it,

were unsympathetic to Biggs’ needs, are thus accomplices to murder.

Roman NumeralsEach paragraph is indicated with a Roman

numeral:I =1 VIII =8II =2 IX =9III =3 X =10IV =4 XI =11V =5 XII =12VI =6 XIII =13VII =7 XIV =14

Jose Jones

Mr. Pandit / Period 8

English 2

9 December 2010

Not Cyber Suicide, Cyber Homicide

Thesis Statement: The viewers of this online tragedy must be held accountable because they could have prevented it, were

unsympathetic to Biggs’ needs, are thus accomplices to murder.

I. Introduction

Capital LettersThe first level of detail in every paragraph is

indicated by a Capital Letter

Press the [TAB] key ONCE to indent the Capital Letter

You should have a minimum of three letters in the paragraph

For any information you use from a source MUST be followed by a parenthetical citation!

Jose Jones

Mr. Pandit / Period 8

English 2

9 December 2010

Not Cyber Suicide, Cyber Homicide

Thesis Statement: The viewers of this online tragedy must be held accountable because they could have prevented it, were

unsympathetic to Biggs’ needs, are thus accomplices to murder.

I. Introduction

A. Did you know that suicide rates are climbing each year? (Census 681).

B. Abraham Biggs not only committed suicide, he did it in front of a live “cyber-audience” through via his webcam.

C. Thousands watched

1. The site had over 100,000 visitors that day (Smith 173).

D. Police entered the room and people started posting “cyber-slang” (McKnight 85).

1. LOL (Laugh Out Loud)

2. OMG (Oh My God)

NumbersNumbers add further detail

to the Letters

They are the second level of detail in each paragraph

Press the [TAB] key twice to indent

Jose Jones

Mr. Pandit / Period 8

English 2

9 December 2010

Not Cyber Suicide, Cyber Homicide

Thesis Statement: The viewers of this online tragedy must be held accountable because they could have prevented it, were

unsympathetic to Biggs’ needs, are thus accomplices to murder.

I. Introduction

A. Did you know that suicide rates are climbing each year?

B. Abraham Biggs not only committed suicide, he did it in front of a live “cyber-audience” through via his webcam.

C. Thousands watched

1. The site had over 100,000 visitors that day

D. Police entered the room and people started posting “cyber-slang”

1. LOL (Laugh Out Loud)

2. OMG (Oh My God)

E. Thesis Statement

1. suicide prevention

2. viewers were unsympathetic to his needs

II. Suicide Prevention

A. For weeks, Biggs had been posting his feelings about his life on his online blog

B. “I’m tired of being a failure,” said Biggs.

1. “I want to end my life, I am tired of people always telling me that they do not like me.

I am tired of trying to be decent.” (Depner 86)

C. Biggs had threatened to commit suicide online very recently

D. His family and readers of his blog were very aware of his Bipolar disorder

1. A disorder that can trigger violent mood swings if left untreated. (MayoClinic)

2. If Biggs had taken his medication regularly the entire situation would have been different.

E. The warning signs were everywhere, yet somehow, everyone except Biggs is presumed innocent.

III. Unsympathetic to Biggs’ needs

A. The viewers should have called a suicide prevention team to report the case

B. Could have called his house to warn his family

C. Could have called the police.

D. Could have notified the webmaster of the site

E. At the very least, viewer could have begged him not to do it.

F. Biggs’ threats were a cry for help which no one answered.

Works CitedType the words “Works Cited” and center it

Left-align everything else

Type up your Bibliography Cards in Alphabetical order according to the author’s last name

Use a HANGING INDENT for each source.

Standard MLA format12pt Times New RomanDouble Spaced1” Margins