English outline

Essay #3 Problem-Solution Essay Preliminary Outline Assignment

Directions: Writing an outline is a helpful way to organize your ideas and your research. It also helps you avoid plagiarism. The outline below is just a sample. You can construct your outline any way that you choose. Feel free to use this model if it works for you. See the syllabus for the due date.

I. Introduction/thesis – this paragraph will begin broadly with a definition of the problem and its importance to our society and then will ultimately lead down to a broad discussion of the solution and the benefits of the solution to our society.

II. The Problem – this section will most likely span at least 2-3 paragraphs because you may want to offer some background on the problem (a brief history if necessary), some causes of the problem (be brief), and/or some effects of the problem (be brief).

THINK: where can you?

THINK: where can you use research here? Which sources best fit into THIS section of your essay???

III. The Solution – this section will span at least 2-3 paragraphs, possibly more, particularly if you address more than one solution. Remember, for every solution offered, you must explain HOW it will work – meaning, the effect of the solution (how will it solve or help the problem).

THINK: where can you use research here? Which sources best fit into THIS section of your essay???

IV. Conclusion – summarize important points and explain the “urgency” of this problem and the “urgency” of the need for solutions. Think of the ending as a “call to action.”

A Potential Outline

I. Intro/Thesis:

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

II. Problem:

a. Background/Cause of Problem 1: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

i. Research/Citations/Analysis of research (list possible sources/citations to use here):

1. ___________________________________ ( ).

2. ___________________________________ ( ).

3. ___________________________________ ( ).

b. Background/Cause of Problem 2: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

i. Research/Citations/Analysis of research (list possible sources/citations to use here):

1. ___________________________________ ( ).

2. ___________________________________ ( ).

3. ___________________________________ ( ).

c. Effect of Problem 1: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

i. Research/Citations/Analysis of research (list possible sources/citations to use here):

1. ___________________________________ ( ).

2. ___________________________________ ( ).

3. ___________________________________ ( ).

d. Effect of Problem 2: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

i. Research/Citations/Analysis of research (list possible sources/citations to use here):

1. ____________________________________( ).

2. ____________________________________( ).

3. ____________________________________( ).

III. Solution to Problem:

a. Solution 1: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

1. Effects of Solution 1 (how it will work/help):

a. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

i. (possible research if needed) _________________________________( ).

b. Solution 2: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

1. Effects of Solution 2 (how it will work/help):

a. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

i. (possible research if needed) __________________________________( ).

IV. Conclusion:

a. Quick Summary: _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

b. So What? (Why care?): _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

V. Works Cited:

a. Make sure that ANY source cited in the essay itself gets a citation in the Works Cited page, and make sure that any source in the Works Cited page is also cited in essay.

b. Make sure to list sources ALPHABETICALLY by author’s last name OR the first word of the source title if there is no author. DO NOT number or bullet point the citations.

c. Make sure to follow all MLA formatting rules.