Essay outline
amberguo
essayoutline.docxUse complete sentences in your outline. Develop and post the outline for your cause paper along with specific research that supports your points. You need two sources to support each cause you develop in the essay. YOU NEED TO FILL IN ALL OF THE BLANKS IN THIS ESSAY TEMPLATE.
Use only sources that are acceptable in this class. Check the syllabus if you have any questions on what kind of sources align with the level of this class. (only use sources with authors attached - no .coms or .orgs or wikipedias). If you post an outline with no support you will not be completing the assignment. If you post an outline with only two sources per body paragraph, you will be doing the minimum amount of work necessary to get a passing grade. After you've posted your outline, (OPTIONAL) help your partners research their topics. Each student that chooses to participate will be responsible for finding ONE SOURCE (complete with MLA) to aid two other students. Sometimes it's easier for someone on the outside to research your paper. I hope this will help you with the content of your final draft. I will not grade your responses, but I do appreciate your involvement in the class.
Below is an example that shows how much content I am expecting in the outline:
Use this shell to help you get started on your Cause Paper.
Before you write your paper, you MUST outline it first!!
The Final paper should be at least 3 pages long (typed, double-spaced, 12 pt, Times New Roman font, one inch margins, with numbered pages), 6 pages maximum.
Section 1: INTRODUCTION (about .5 of a page)
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a. Hook: Draw the reader’s attention in – stat, quote or anecdote. (4-6 sentences)
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a. Preview for the reader what will be covered in your paper
· What is the cause relationship you are examining?
· What did you already know about this topic, and why have you chosen to focus on this?
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a. Thesis: However, this is not a book report, and should not be presented like one (boooring).
· You will include your thesis statement. See below for examples.
· Last, but not least, your paper must answer the question: SO WHAT?!? IN other words, why is this topic/relationship important, and why should we care about the causes of this particular person, moment, condition, phenomenon?
Your thesis might look like the statements below:
1. Some of the predominant causes of a Martian expedition are ______________, __________ and _______.
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Section II: BODY PARAGRAPHS (about 2 pages)
Your body paragraphs will be about background information on your topic, explaining exactly how this topic depicts a cause and effect relationship, asserting each of the multiple causes that you are trying to convince the reader of, and then answering the question of “SO WHAT?” and proving why this topic and your findings are of importance. Your argument must be clear and logical, and you must use evidence from your research to prove your thesis.
I. Cause Identified (Body paragraph 1) Looking at your first cause.
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a. Topic sentence about this focal point (Who, what, where, when, why, and how are good places to get started)
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a. Evidence: what background info have you found out in your research? Example: about the history of oppression, or the history of addiction, or the history of ___________– cite your research throughout!
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i. Additional support
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i. Additional support
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a. Assertion that links back to your thesis (make connections)
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a. Transition into the next body paragraph
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II. Body Paragraph #2: Analyzing another important cause.
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a. Topic sentence about this focal point
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a. Evidence about cause A:
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i. Additional support – Research!!!
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i. Additional support
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a. Assertion that links back to your thesis (make connections)
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a. Transition into the next body paragraph
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III. Body Paragraph #3: Analyzing another important cause
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a. Topic sentence about this focal point
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a. Evidence about cause B
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i. Additional support
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i. Additional support
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i. Additional support
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a. Assertion that links back to your thesis
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a. Transition into the conclusion
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Conclusion(about 1/2 page)
Your conclusion will convince the reader of the significance of your findings, by answering the question of “SO WHAT?” and proving why this topic, and your research, is of importance. Your argument must be clear and logical, and you must use evidence from your research to prove your thesis.
I. CONCLUSION– SO WHAT?
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a. Reiterate your thesis (don’t restate it verbatim!)
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Reiterate your main ideas (A, B, C) and ensure that they have been presented cohesively and all link to the thesis! ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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a. Now go a step further and “But Why” it:
· Why is this thesis an important one to have proven? Why should we care? What could the insights into this topic offer to humanity in terms of understanding other people, events, conditions, phenomenon? How could it help us change the future, or better understand the past?
· End with a bang! Make your paper memorable! (never thank the audience for reading your paper, never end by saying “so you can clearly see that I proved my thesis through this paper” or anything silly like that)
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