Essay

English 1301 Report Essay Outline

I. Introduce the topic of the essay.

A. Use a rhetorical tool, or several, to draw interest in the topic, possibly through a question, scenario, anecdote, series of facts, numbers, authoritative testimony, examples, or metaphors.

B. State a thesis on the ambivalently viewed issue that fairly assesses both sides’ perspectives on the SIRS topic, using the question formed in SIRS to help form the thesis.

II. Background according to history and topicality (recent relevance) should be established.

III. (-VI?)Carefully analyze subtopics from each perspective in a compare-and-contrast format that touches one subtopic at a time (such as ethics, economics, types of effects, and so on).

A. Define key terms.

B. Describe varying categories.

C. Present reasons and consequences for each side’s position.

D. Clarify any moral or technical dilemmas.

VII. . Conclude with a balanced summary of the divided positions on your topic.

NOTE: The following page shows a sample outline on a particular topic.

Report Essay Outline Sample

I. Introduction on the Topic of Globalization

A. Anecdote of Protests in Seattle against the World Bank

B. Thesis on Individual Intents versus Corporate Concern

II. Background and History

A. Rise of Large Multi-national Corporations

B. Corporations as Virtual Governments and Legal Entities

III. Problems in Law

A. Treating Companies as People

B. Treaties That Squelch Small Businesses

C. Buying Off Lawmakers

IV. Gross National Products vs. Private Concerns

A. Policing Corporations

B. Killing Small Businesses

C. Loss of Individual Privacy

V. Trends in Government.

A. Playing Dumb

B. Recognizing Problems

A. Containing the Business Beast

VI. Rights and Responsibilities

A. Apathy of Voters

B. Power Blocks and Campaigns

VII. Conclusion