English Composition

Assignment Prompt: Research Outline

Assignment Prompt: Research Outline

 

Overview

The research outline serves as a stepping-stone between the planning and  drafting phases of writing. This assignment gives you a chance to frame your future project, and put Toumlin’s method of argument into action, without having to make every element of the essay concrete. The research outline allows you to more proactively plan for a strong and solid essay, but also gives you the flexibility to change any elements that might require  revision, before they are fully formed.

 

Expectations

By providing a blueprint for your future essay, the research outline helps you to:

· Build an  organizational strategy for your essay

· Reinforce connections between the central  claim, reasons, warrants,  counter argument, and  evidence

· Determine what elements of the essay may require  revision

· Make structural, content, and organizational changes, in a manageable format 

Requirements

Length/Development: 

The outline must be written in complete sentences.  *There is a 300 word-minimum requirement for this assignment. If the word-minimum is not met, your assignment may be returned with no grade and a resubmission will be required.   

Organization :

The outline must include: a central  claim, three reasons, warrants, and paired  evidence. The outline should also include at least one  counterargument and one rebuttal. Without all of these components included, your work may be returned with no grade and a resubmission will be required. *You can add more categories, as you need them (but never less). For example, you may have 4 reasons, warrants, and supportive data for your  claim, rather than the minimum of 3.

Component	Content	Conditions
Intro	Main  Claim/ Thesis Statement	Top Tip: Use these three Strategies for  Thesis Structure: Simple, Straightforward, and Strong.
Body	1. Reason 1 1.1 Warrant 1 1.1.1  Evidence  1.1.2  Counterargument & Rebuttal (optional)	Top Tip:  Think about  transitions and other stylistic elements, as you build each element.  (Only one  counterargument and rebuttal is needed. Writers may choose where to place this.)
Body	2. Reason 2 2.1 Warrant 2 2.1.1.  Evidence 2.1.2.  Counterargument & Rebuttal (optional)	Top Tip: Consider the order you will use for these reasons/warrants. Are you going to start with your strongest point (reason 1), or end with it (reason 3)? (Only one  counterargument and rebuttal is needed. Writers may choose where to place this.)
Body	3. Reason 3 3.1 Warrant 3 3.1.1.  Evidence 3.1.2  Counterargument & Rebuttal (Required)	Top Tip: Don’t forget to directly address the  counterargument with a rebuttal. This is an essential element of argument writing.  (Only one  counterargument and rebuttal is needed. Writers may choose where to place this. Note: The last "body" paragraph is a suggestion.)

Document Formatting:  MLA formatting: Heading (name, assignment name, course name, date), original title, header (page numbers), line-spacing (single or double-spaced), 1”margins, and 12-point font size, Times New Roman or sans-serif font.

Genre / Style : Formal, numbered outline written using academic  language. All ideas should be shared in complete sentences. See  organization and example.  

Sources:  None formally needed for the purpose of documentation; however, you may want to note from “where” you found your  evidence. See example.

 

 

 

Last modified: Monday, June 6, 2022, 2:40 PM