ENG 112 outline of midterm

Assignment 1:  Mid-Term Exam Outline

Due by 11:59 pm on Wednesday of week 5.

This assignment is to assist you in developing an effective argument essay.  For this assignment, you will develop a two-page outline (one sheet back and front) and a Works Cited that you will take with you to the Testing Center so that you can work from them as you write the midterm exam.

NOTE: You may not take a rough draft of the essay or copies of the articles with you to the Testing Center; therefore, please include in your outline all paraphrases or quotations from your sources that you believe you may need in writing your midterm. However, please note that your outline should not be more than two pages, because you will only be allowed to have one sheet (filled out back and front) at the testing center or for ProctorU, if you use that option for the exam.

Directions 

1. Develop a formal topic sentence outline.  (Review the information on Outlines in the General Resources link.) Include the following in your outline:

1. Write the prompt at the top of the outline:   Will allowing guns on college campuses make them safer? 
2. Provide a clear thesis statement that responds to the prompt.
3. Provide topic sentencesfor each body paragraph that offer arguments that support the thesis (NOTE: you need at least THREE body paragraphs)
4. Include an opposing argument (remember to develop a rebuttal for this point in your essay)Include supporting evidence under each topic sentence (in the form of a quotation, paraphrase, or summary that you plan to use to support the point you are making). Be sure to cite from at least FOUR of the assigned sources. (See Purdue University'sOnlineWriting Lab handout onQuoting, Paraphrasing, and Summarizing if you need help.)
5. Include MLA-formatted in-text citations for each quote/paraphrase.
6. Add your works cited page to the outline.  Refer to the Owl at Purdue site if you need help. 

Purpose

This assignment requires you to organize your thesis and supporting evidence prior to writing a paper.  Creating a thesis and an outline enables you to clarify and collate your thoughts, strengthen and structure your argument, gather support for your argument, and cite your sources.