English C.

Outlining: a Critical Blueprint

Strong academic writing has a clear structure. Start by drafting an outline to help you stay on track.

Sample Outline:

· Intro Paragraph

Hook

Context

Thesis

· Body Paragraph (repeat as needed)

Topic Sentence

Concrete Detail

Analysis

Transition Sentence

· Conclusion

Summary

Significance

No architect would construct a building without a detailed floor plan; why would anyone attempt to write an essay without an outline?

Body Paragraphs

Purpose

The body paragraphs in your essay supportthe main idea in your thesis statement bybreaking it down into smaller ideas or subtopics. Ideas in your paragraphs should relate back tothe thesis statement.

Essay

· Introduction &Thesis Statement

Body Paragraph 1_____________

Body Paragraph 2_____________

Body Paragraph 3_____________

Body Paragraph 4_____________

Body Paragraph 5_____________

Body Paragraphs

Form

Most paragraphs contain between five to ten sentences. The first line of a paragraph is usually indented (begin a few spaces to the right of the margin) to show that there is a new

paragraph.

Indent :

________________________ . ____________________. _________________. _________________________. ____________________________. ____________________. ______________________. ______________________________.

Key Features

Body paragraphs should should containsome of the following features.

· A Topic Sentence

· Supporting Sentences

· A Concluding Sentence

· Unity, coherence, order

1.1.1. State a topic sentence that reflects the argument of the thesis statement

1.1.2. Introduce supporting details and evidence

1.1.3. Explain evidence

1.1.4. Discuss significance

1.1.5. Draw a conclusion

Topic sentence

In academic essay , topic sentences usually appear at the beginning of a body paragraph. Because a topic sentence encapsulates the idea of your body paragraph ,it introduces to your audience what the paragraph will be about . It should reflect or advance the argument of your thesis statement .

Supporting Details

Following the topic sentence are sentences that introduce your supporting evidence . Evidence may include a useful or informative sentence from a book ,a journal article ,or another source that supports the argument of the paper. It may also include an example draw from first-hand observation of personal experience.

Explanation

Clarify the information you provided with your quote or example . Explain what the quote means in a concise manner .Provide necessary details to develop your example as evidence.

Significance

Discuss the significance of the quote/example to the argument of the paper.

Conclusion /Transition

As the discussion of evidence draws to a close, you should draw on the evidence and explanation to reach a conclusion: a new understanding of the thesis. This conclusion may set up the transition to the next paragraphs

Structuring Body Paragraphs

Body Paragraph #1

(a)Topic Sentence to state main idea

(b)Concrete detail or ‘evidence’ to support main idea

(c)Analysis of this evidence

(d) Concrete detail

(e) Analysis

(f)Transition Sentence to relate body paragraph back to your thesis or to connect to the next body paragraph

HOW IS THE BODY PARAGRAPH DIFFERENT? •

Of the three paragraphs--introductory, body and concluding-- the body is probably the

most difficult to write. WHY?

Because . . .

• This is where you actually have to use reason and logic.

•In other words, if you don’t think before writing, you will more than likely either

• repeat yourself

• go off topic

•or not write enough.

•(Errors which more than likely will cause you to fail.)

As a result,

Writing body paragraphs takes more planning and time than the introductory or concluding paragraph.

Before you write a body paragraph, you need to make sure . . .

•That you have adequate and specific examples.

Or

•A short story to back up or illustrate your thinking.

And

• A well organized paragraph, making sure that your ideas are in the right order.

Concluding Sentence

. Definition and Purpose

A concluding sentence is the last sentence in a paragraph. A conclusion can

remind the reader of the main points of a paragraph and/or leave the reader with

something to think about in relation to the

topic

Transitional Sentences

· Don’t end with analysis...doing so may make your body paragraphs seem like separate, disconnected ideas.

· In order for body paragraphs to work together, transitional sentences are necessary!

· Effective transitional sentences connect your analysis back to the thesis.

Concluding Sentence

Body Paragraph

An important factor in learning a foreign language has to do with the concept of intrinsic versus extrinsic motivation. When we do something for the “fun of it” or because we enjoy it, that is called intrinsic motivation. Extrinsic motivation, on the other hand, is when we do something for the purpose of receiving some kind of external reward such as money, time off from work, etc. Many education experts believe that intrinsic motivation is more powerful when it comes to helping students retain what they’ve learned. The question and challenge for teachers today is, “How can we help our students become intrinsically motivated in what we are teaching?”

This concluding sentence tries to leave a final thought with the reader by asking a question.

This is the format for the body paragraph which should include about 5 to 10 sentences and be of about 100 words in length.

a. Topic sentence: one sentence

b. Supporting idea: two sentence

c. Supporting idea: two sentence

d. Supporting idea: two sentence

e.Closing sentence:one sentence