Below

Outline Template:

Topic

Research Question

Thesis

Reason # 1 (topic sentence)

Supporting Evidence

Reason # 2 (topic sentence)

Supporting Evidence

Reason # 3 (topic sentence)

Supporting Evidence

(additional reasons as needed)

Opposing View

Rebuttal

References

List your sources here. You should have four sources from the Stevenson databases, and two sources from course materials. List the sources in alphabetical order and follow the APA Style Guide for correct formatting. See sections 9 and 10 in the Concise Guide to APA Style for help with formatting.

Outline Model and Template

Topic: Mandatory education beyond high school

Research Question: Should high school graduates now be required to attend at least 2 years of college or trade school?

Thesis: Two years of higher education beyond high school, college, or specialized training, should be mandatory for all U.S. high school graduates.

State Your Claim/Thesis: (Take a stand or position on the topic – this should be a revised version of your research question and tentative thesis. It needs to be something that can be argued.)

State the reasons supported by evidence for your claim:  Given the length of this paper, 3 reasons should be sufficient. If, however, you have additional strong reasons, you may include them. ​ Next, include examples of evidence from sources you will use to support each reason. Evidence may take any of the following forms: facts & statistics; authorities, information from people who are experts in their fields; examples, specific illustrations; anecdotes, brief stories; scenarios or what if situations found in your research; logical interpretations, explanations of how the reasons and evidence support your thesis – these are your thoughts, critical interpretation, and analysis.

Reason #1: Given modern technological advances, companies need a more skilled workforce. (This also becomes the topic sentence- these are my reasons based on my own on observations, experience, and reading)

Evidence: (ideas that should come from the research)

· Tech companies who must recruit skilled employees from other countries to meet their employment needs (author, year).

· Need for employees with specialized skills (author year)

Reason #2: Even graduates with a 2-year degree earn higher salaries.

Evidence:

· Statistics and studies conducted in recent years (author year)

· Examples from surveys (author year)

Reason #3: Higher education leads to improved quality of life.

Evidence:

· Provide statistics, surveys (author year)

· Anecdotal evidence

Reason #4 (optional): Follow examples above.

Opposing View: Explain objections to your point of view. (Remember, there is always more than one side in an argument!)

Reason for the opposing view: Higher education and training are costly. Who will pay for it?

Evidence and Source: Examples of the cost of tuition for 2-year degree and/or training programs.

Rebuttal: The cost to higher education will pay for itself in a more skilled workforce, increased productivity, less reliance on highly skilled immigrants, and higher paying jobs for American citizens. (Use evidence/ examples to support).

Conclusion: Restate the thesis, tie all claims together, and end with powerful persuasive statement.

References

List your sources here. You should have four sources from the Stevenson databases, and two sources from course materials. List the sources in alphabetical order and follow the APA Style Guide for correct formatting. See sections 9 and 10 in the Concise Guide to APA Style for help with formatting.

Sample: Research Paper - Sentence Outline

Topic

Mandatory education beyond high school

Research Question

Should high school graduates now be required to attend at least 2 years of college or trade school?

Claim (Thesis) Take a stand or position on the topic. This should be a revised version of your research question and tentative thesis. It needs to be something that can be argued. A good thesis should be: · Arguable · Clear · Specific Model thesis: Two years of education beyond high school, college or specialized training, should be mandatory for all U.S. high school graduates.

Evidence and Reasoning

State the reasons for your claim:  Given the length of this paper, 3 reasons should be sufficient. If, however, you have 4 reasons that are strong, you may use 4 reasons.​

Reason #1: One reason high school graduates entering the workforce need education beyond high school is that companies need more skilled workers to meet the growing challenges of technological and scientific advances. (This also becomes the topic sentence)

Evidence: (this should come from the research)

· Currently, tech companies have to recruit skilled employees from other countries to meet their employment needs (Smith, 2019).

· Need for employees with specialized skills in tech and science continues to grow (Taylor, 2018)

· Need for employees with critical thinking and problem solving skills (Vandal, 2020).

Reason #2: A second reason high school graduates should be required to obtain an advanced degree or skilled training beyond high school is the potential to earn higher salaries.

Evidence: (this should come from the research or anecdotal sources)

· Provide statistics and studies conducted in recent years (Wise, 2018)

· Examples from surveys (Bureau of labor Statistics, 2020)

· Anecdotal evidence (Vandal, 2020)

Reason #3: A final reason advanced learning should be required for high school graduates is that it often leads to an improved quality of life.

Evidence:

· Provide statistics, surveys (Wise, 2020 year)

· Greater job satisfaction (Wise, 2020)

· More opportunities for professional growth (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2020)

· More opportunities for personal growth (Vandal, 2020)

Reason #4 (optional): Follow examples above.

Opposing View : Explain objections to your point of view. (Remember, there is always more than one side in an argument!)

Reason for the opposing view: One common objection to making advanced education and training mandatory for all high school graduates is the cost for additional education beyond high school. The question most often asked is, “Who will pay for it”?

Evidence and Source: Examples of the cost of tuition for 2-year degree and/or training programs.

Rebuttal: The cost to higher education will pay for itself in a more skilled workforce, increased productivity, less reliance on highly skilled immigrants, and higher paying jobs for American citizens. (Use evidence/ examples to support).

Conclusion: Restate the thesis, tie all claims together, and end with powerful persuasive statement.

If one looks at the long-term benefits for individuals who acquire advanced degrees or skill training, it is obvious that a high school diploma is no longer enough to guarantee a well-trained workforce. Today’s high school graduates most often qualify only for minimum wage work with limited potential for advancement, professional or personal growth, or financial stability. The only way to ensure that we have a qualified workforce with the potential for professional and personal growth is to mandate that students obtain a minimum of two years advanced education beyond high school.

1	Sample: Research Paper - Sentence Outline | ed. M Vandal, Spring 2020