philosophy

(Adapted from) Outline Format for a Five-Paragraph Essay (or piece of writing)

Christine Bauer-Ramazani

____________________________________________ Title of Essay

I. Introduction:

A brief description of the topic (a description of what the problem is), and your thesis statement.

II. A more extended intro, with a roadmap of how you plan to argue for your thesis:

A. Background information (set up the context of the thesis or history or explanation you will be giving)

B. Thesis Statement: (Write the sentence in full. For example: “X argues that blah blah, but I am going to show that this is not entirely correct” OR “I am going to offer further reasons to agree with this” or “I am going to explain this thesis in more detail and argue that…” You can mention your THREE reasons/arguments/points here, or below, in C.

C. Roadmap: Explain HOW you are going to set out your essay: e.g. “First I will trace the history of…”, “then I will compare the main idea with”, “then I will show why my view is correct”

BODY:

II. _Argument number 1_______________________________________ (Main idea/aspect # 1)

A. ___________________________________ (Reason, example, argument evidence, reference - REAER)

1. ________________________________ (Example/detail)

2. ________________________________ (Example/detail)

III. __Argument number 2____________________________________ (Main idea/aspect # 2)

A. _________________________________ (Reason, example, argument evidence, reference - REAER)

1. ______________________________ (Example/detail)

2. ______________________________ (Example/detail)

IV. ___Argument number 3________________________________ (Main idea/aspect # 3)

A. _________________________________ (Reason, example, argument evidence, reference - REAER)

1. ______________________________ (Example/detail)

2. ______________________________ (Example/detail)

V. Opposing view _________________________________ (Description/ explanation of opposing view)

1. ______________________________ (Rebut – it’s false)

2. ______________________________ (OR: Concede, but it isn’t fatal)

VI. Conclusion

A. ______________________________________________________ (Restatement of the thesis/summary of aspects)

B. ___________________________________ (Outlook for the future/Recommendations)

© 2006 Christine Bauer-Ramazani, Saint Michael's College. Last updated: January 04, 2015