Outlining Guide*

 

*truly a guide to help you format your paper -- not a concrete formula for every paper

 

  • Intro Paragraph (tell ‘em what you’re gonna tell ‘em)

 

  • Topic background/context

 

  • Thesis Statement

 

  • Body Paragraph 1 - Supporting Idea/Claim 1 (tell ‘em)

 

  • Transition

 

  • Topic sentence

 

  • Evidence/Quotes

 

  • Analyze

 

  • Interpret

 

  • Evidence/Quotes

 

  • Analyze

 

  • Interpret

 

  • Concluding sentence

 

  • Body Paragraph 2 - Supporting Idea/Claim 2 (tell ‘em)

 

  • Transition

 

  • Topic sentence

 

  • Evidence/Quotes

 

  • Analyze

 

  • Interpret

 

  • Evidence/Quotes

 

  • Analyze

 

  • Interpret

 

  • Concluding sentence

 

  • Body Paragraph 3 - Supporting Idea/Claim 3 (tell ‘em)

 

  • Transition

 

  • Topic sentence

 

  • Evidence/Quotes

 

  • Analyze

 

  • Interpret

 

  • Evidence/Quotes

 

  • Analyze

 

  • Interpret

 

  • Concluding sentence

 

  • Conclusion (tell ‘em what you told ‘em)

 

  • Restated thesis
  • Summary of claims and evidence and how they supported the thesis

 

  • So what? Why does it matter? Implications, next steps, relevance, etc.