Creating an Outline

Title/Topic I.Introductory Paragraph a.Get the reader’s interest b.Background information c.Problem or issue d.Thesis statement. II.Body Paragraph # 1 (argument 1) a.Supporting Evidence 1 (Evidence =facts, examples, quotations, or statistics that back it up or support the topic sentence of this paragraph.) b.Explain how your evidence supports the topic sentence c.Supporting Evidence 2*** d.Explain how this second piece of evidence supports the topic sentence. III.Body Paragraph #2 (argument 2) a.Supporting Evidence 1*** b.Explain how your evidence supports the topic sentence c.Supporting Evidence 2*** d.Explain how this second piece of evidence supports the topic sentence. IV.Body Paragraph #3 (Argument 3 - Most important supporting argument, you want to finish with a bang!) a.Supporting Evidence 1*** b.Explain how your evidence supports the topic sentence c.Supporting Evidence 2*** d.Explain how this second piece of evidence supports the topic sentence. V.Conclusion a.Now you will return to your attention-getter from the introduction b.Summary of the most important points c.Then end your essay with a powerful “So What?” statement that shows why the reader should care about this.

Introductory Paragraph a.How will you grab your readers interest?  Quotation  Question  Acknowledgment of an opinion opposite to the one you plan to take  Short narrative or anecdote  Interesting fact  Definition or explanation of a term relevant to your paper  Irony or paradox  Analogy. b.Background information c.Problem or issue d.Thesis statement.

Body Paragraphs You should have at least three body paragraphs. They follow the same format, but you should save the best argument for last to make sure you end your paper on a strong note. Each body paragraph should follow this format I.Body Paragraph a.Supporting Evidence 1*** b.Explain how your evidence supports the topic sentence c.Supporting Evidence 2*** d.Explain how this second piece of evidence supports the topic sentence. *** Evidence - facts, examples, quotations, or statistics that back it up or support the topic sentence of this paragraph.

Thesis: Charlotte Bronte employs insanity in Jane Eyre to exemplify not only the shortcomings of Victorian understandings of mental illness, but also to illustrate insanity as a power struggle and a form of rebellion for both Jane and Bertha. II. Lack of understanding of insanity, its causes and symptoms A.Immorality was attributed to insanity. B.As a result, people, particularly women who acted out were declared insane. C.People who wished to change Victorian norms would be considered to be acting out D.Thus anyone who challenged conventions would be declared insane.

Conclusion a.Now you will return to your attention- getter from the introduction b.Summary of the most important points c.Then end your essay with a powerful “So What?” statement that shows why the reader should care about this.