Essay Outline Worksheet

 

You have been asked to write an essay.  You must explain the topic as clearly as possible in order to convince your reader that your opinion about the topic is correct. Remember!  Good essay writing has the following characteristics:

·         Clear, detailed, and convincing explanations or examples of your thesis statement.

·         A well-ordered structure, including the use of transitional phrases and introductory and concluding statements.

·         Lively language and words carefully chosen to promote your ideas.

 

Use the Outline Worksheet to complete an outline for your essay below.  You should not plan the actual words you intend to use in your essay here.  Sometimes, though, if you think of a useful phrase, it can be useful to jot it down here.  Overall, this outline should be used to organize your ideas in a clear and logical format.

 

A.  Introductory Paragraph 

 

General introductory remarks about the subject and why it is interesting and important to you and to the reader.  In this case, you are writing about people who helped Melba survive the harrowing ordeal of integrating Central High School.  Perhaps you want to write a sentence or two about how everyone relies on others to help get them through difficult times.  Or perhaps you want to include a sentence or two about the Little Rock Nine in general.  You could write about how they helped move the Civil Rights Movement forward.  The choices are many and varied.

 

 

 

 

T.A.G. (Title, Author, Genre) statement and general description of the text you will be discussing.  Write a few sentences describing the book we just read, in order to give your reader some background.

 

 

 

 

 

Thesis statement:  this is very important!  You need to write a sentence which clearly states what you are going to show, demonstrate, or prove in your essay.

 

 

Quick intro. to the three examples will use to prove or explain your thesis:

 

1.

 

2.

 

3.

 

Transition sentence leading your reader into the body of the essay

 

 

B.  Body Paragraph #1

 

First reason/example for your thesis:

 

 

Complete & clear detailed example, with many specific details of this example of help Melba received.  Who helped her?  How did they help?  How did that help change Melba? 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

C.  Body Paragraph #2

 

Second reason/example for your thesis:

 

Complete & clear detailed example, with many specific details of this example of help Melba received.  Who helped her?  How did they help?  How did that help change Melba? 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

D.  Body Paragraph #3

 

Third reason/example for your thesis:

 

Complete & clear detailed example, with many specific details of this example of help Melba received.  Who helped her?  How did they help?  How did that help change Melba? 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

E.  Concluding Paragraph

 

General introductory sentence guiding the reader into the conclusion

 

 

Quick review of all three reasons and how they helped Melba.

 

1.

 

2.

 

3.

 

General concluding remarks about your subject:  try to return to those first couple of sentences where you began your essay.