Writing Assignment : Essay Outline
Essay Outline
General Instructions and Deadlines
Assignment Overview
The final draft of your essay outline, along with all supporting work (prewriting notes), is due via the Submit Assignment button (which uploads it to TurnItIn and the course digital dropbox) . Please upload a single document containing all of your work.
There is no word count requirement for your essay outline.
Step 1: Prewriting
An essay usually consists of more than one paragraph. Typically, a short essay contains at least five paragraphs: an introduction, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Your first step is to decide the topic and the type of essay you would like to write. You may write a narrative essay, an illustration easy, a process essay, a descriptive essay, a compare and contrast essay, or a cause or effect essay on a topic of your choice. This week’s reading has a nice list of topic ideas in each style. You must narrow your topic so that you can address it adequately in a five-paragraph essay.
Once you have a topic, spend about 10 minutes gathering your thoughts about it. Ask yourself:
· What is the main point of the essay? This will be your thesis.
· What are three important points you can use to support your thesis?
Step 2: Planning
Consider the material you gathered in your prewriting, and create an outline for your essay. Organize your ideas in a logical manner, such as chronologically, spatially, or by order of importance. You can use the following template:
First paragraph: Introduction. The last sentence should be your thesis.
Second paragraph: First supporting point of the thesis as a topic sentence
Detail 1
Detail 2
Detail 3
Third paragraph: The second supporting point of the thesis as a topic
Detail 1
Detail 2
Detail 3
Fourth paragraph: Third supporting point of the thesis as a topic
Detail 1
Detail 2
Detail 3
Fifth paragraph: Conclusion. It should restate the thesis.
Rubric
WRI 0105 - Essay Outline Final Rubric, Week 8
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WRI 0105 - Essay Outline Final Rubric, Week 8
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Criteria
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Ratings
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Pts
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This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeFormat
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8 pts
Exemplary
The outline employs the correct format, and indentations are used properly. All required elements of the outline are present.
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6 pts
Sufficient
The outline shows the correct format, but indentations are inconsistent or not used properly. All required elements of the outline are present.
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4 pts
Insufficient
The outline resembles the correct format, but proper indentations are not used. Most required elements of the outline are present.
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2 pts
In Need of Work
The outline has serious errors and does not use the correct format. Many required elements of the outline are omitted.
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8 pts
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This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeTitle
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8 pts
Exemplary
The title is original, creative, and pertinent to the topic.
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6 pts
Sufficient
The title is original and pertinent to the topic.
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4 pts
Insufficient
The title shows little originality or creativity and/or does not pertain to the topic.
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2 pts
In Need of Work
The title needs serious work, as it has no relation to the topic.
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8 pts
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This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeThesis
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8 pts
Exemplary
The thesis is extremely clear, relevant, and insightful and uses strong language. The thesis includes a significant point, which makes the reader want to find out more.
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6 pts
Sufficient
The thesis is clear and relevant but may not reflect depth of thinking. The thesis includes a point but could be altered and made more significant so that the reader wants to continue.
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4 pts
Insufficient
The thesis is somewhat clear but may not be relevant or demonstrate depth of thinking. The thesis includes an unremarkable point and needs some work.
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2 pts
In Need of Work
The thesis is not clear and lacks organization, relevancy, and insight. The point is unimaginative or too obvious and needs to be rewritten.
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8 pts
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This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeSupport
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8 pts
Exemplary
The outline contains a series of events that are fresh, interesting, imaginative, and in a logical chronological order.
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6 pts
Sufficient
The outline contains a sufficient series of events that are fresh, interesting, and in a chronological order.
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4 pts
Insufficient
The outline includes a weak series of events that are somewhat interesting and in a chronological order.
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2 pts
In Need of Work
The outline includes an insufficient and/or inappropriate series of events that are too predictable and may lack a chronological order.
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8 pts
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This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeBody Topic Sentences
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8 pts
Exemplary
Each body topic sentence contains a clear topic sentence that focuses each paragraph around one point.
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6 pts
Sufficient
Some body topic sentences don't contain a clear topic sentence or might not have as strong a topic sentence as is needed.
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4 pts
Insufficient
Many of the body topic sentences are missing essential details to make the paragraph interesting.
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2 pts
In Need of Work
Many of the body topic sentences do not contain a solid and interesting topic sentence.
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8 pts
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This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeConclusion
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8 pts
Exemplary
The outline moves to a conclusion that artfully repeats the point of the narrative.
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6 pts
Sufficient
The outline provides a conclusion that simply repeats the point of the narrative.
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4 pts
Insufficient
The outline provides a conclusion that may not repeat the point of the narrative.
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2 pts
In Need of Work
The outline may provide a conclusion that is unrelated to the point of the narrative.
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8 pts
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This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeMechanics
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2 pts
Exemplary
The outline exhibits excellent use of spelling, punctuation, grammar, and format.
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1 pts
Sufficient
The outline exhibits errors in spelling, punctuation, grammar, and/or formatting.
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Tango
WritingAssignmentOutline.docx
