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THE OUTLINE!
An outline is the framework for an essay, display board, or speech. It is the next step in the
process after organizing your notes. Your outline will specify your main points and the
supporting details under each point, as well as the sources used for each detail. With a welldone outline, writing your essay becomes MUCH EASIER.!
!
Example Outline:!
!
Introduction!
• One of the most recognized jazz trumpeters in the world in the 1920s and 1930s.!
• “If anyone was Mr. Jazz, it was Louis Armstrong.” -- Duke Ellington!
• “No him, no me.” -- Dizzy Gillespie!
• Thesis: Armstrong created a revolution in jazz music by 1 making the trumpet a popular
instrument to play in jazz, 2 by introducing a new type of jazz called improvised jazz, and 3
by singing in a unique, new style.!
!
Topic 1!
Topic Sentence: Louis Armstrong made the trumpet a popular instrument in jazz. He
revealed a whole new style of jazz to trumpet players.!
1. Brought the soloist to the forefront.!
2. Recording many songs on his trumpet.!
3. Number of different jazz bands!
a. King Oliver’s Creole Jazz Band!
b. His own Hot Five and Hot Seven jazz bands!
4. Others began to use the trumpet for solos in jazz.!
!
Topic 2!
Topic Sentence: Louis Armstrong didn’t just pay great trumpet, he introduced a new type of
jazz called improvisation.!
2. Definition!
3. Example songs!
4. Significance to other musicians!
!
Topic 3!
Topic Sentence: Along with his talent and innovation on the trumpet, Louis Armstrong was a
great singer who introduced a style of singing called “scat”.!
1. Definition and example words!
2. Background (how started)!
3. Significance to other musicians and artists!
!
Conclusion!
• Restated Thesis: In this paper it has been shown how Louis Armstrong created a revolution
in jazz music by playing the trumpet, and introducing improvised jazz and scat singing.!
• Expanded comments and conclusion!
• Overall significance of the topic in history
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!
YOUR OUTLINE!
PARAGRAPH 1: INTRODUCTION!
The purpose of the introduction is to grab the attention of the audience, give them some brief
background on your topic, and state the thesis.!
!
Attention Grabber: !
There are FOUR ways to grab the attention of the audience. You can: ask a question, use
AND explain an interesting quote, cite an interesting fact, or tell a short (2-3 sentences) story
relating to the topic. USE THE SPACE BELOW TO WRITE YOUR ATTENTION GRABBER.!
!
______________________________________________________________________!
______________________________________________________________________!
______________________________________________________________________!
______________________________________________________________________!
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Background:!
After grabbing the audience’s attention, you should write 1-3 sentences that explain the time
and place of your topic, using your BACKGROUND NOTES. USE THE SPACE BELOW TO
WRITE YOUR BACKGROUND SENTENCES.!
!
______________________________________________________________________!
______________________________________________________________________!
______________________________________________________________________!
______________________________________________________________________!
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Thesis: !
Your thesis statement should be the last sentence in your introduction. USE THE SPACE
BELOW TO COPY YOUR THESIS HERE (from page 14).!
!
______________________________________________________________________!
______________________________________________________________________!
______________________________________________________________________!
______________________________________________________________________
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!
YOUR OUTLINE CONTINUED!
!
PARAGRAPH 2: BUILD-UP!
Each body paragraph will begin with a topic sentence based on your main point. Use your
BUILD-UP notes to describe what events led to your main event. Make sure to include enough
SUPPORTING DETAILS AND THEIR SOURCES. Evidence should always tie BACK TO
YOUR THESIS.!
!
Topic Sentence (MAIN POINT 1):!
______________________________________________________________________!
______________________________________________________________________!
______________________________________________________________________!
______________________________________________________________________!
Supporting Details:!
1.____________________________________________________________________!
______________________________________________________________________!
______________________________________________________________________!
_________________________________Source: ______________________________!
!
2.____________________________________________________________________!
______________________________________________________________________!
______________________________________________________________________!
_________________________________Source: ______________________________!
!
3.____________________________________________________________________!
______________________________________________________________________!
______________________________________________________________________!
_________________________________Source: ______________________________!
!
Transition Sentence:!
______________________________________________________________________!
______________________________________________________________________
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YOUR OUTLINE CONTINUED!
!
PARAGRAPH 3: MAIN EVENT!
!
Use your MAIN EVENT notes to describe what happened that showed LEADERSHIP. Make
sure to include enough SUPPORTING DETAILS AND THEIR SOURCES. Evidence should
always tie BACK TO YOUR THESIS.!
!
Topic Sentence (MAIN POINT 2):!
______________________________________________________________________!
______________________________________________________________________!
______________________________________________________________________!
______________________________________________________________________!
Supporting Details:!
1.____________________________________________________________________!
______________________________________________________________________!
______________________________________________________________________!
_________________________________Source: ______________________________!
!
2.____________________________________________________________________!
______________________________________________________________________!
______________________________________________________________________!
_________________________________Source: ______________________________!
!
3.____________________________________________________________________!
______________________________________________________________________!
______________________________________________________________________!
_________________________________Source: ______________________________!
!
Transition Sentence:!
______________________________________________________________________!
______________________________________________________________________
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!
YOUR OUTLINE CONTINUED!
!
PARAGRAPH 4: LEGACY/IMPACT!
Use your LEGACY/IMPACT notes to describe what happened after your main event. Make
sure to include enough SUPPORTING DETAILS AND THEIR SOURCES. Evidence should
always tie BACK TO YOUR THESIS.!
!
Topic Sentence (MAIN POINT 3):!
______________________________________________________________________!
______________________________________________________________________!
______________________________________________________________________!
______________________________________________________________________!
!
Supporting Details:!
1.____________________________________________________________________!
______________________________________________________________________!
______________________________________________________________________!
_________________________________Source: ______________________________!
!
2.____________________________________________________________________!
______________________________________________________________________!
______________________________________________________________________!
_________________________________Source: ______________________________!
!
3.____________________________________________________________________!
______________________________________________________________________!
______________________________________________________________________!
_________________________________Source: ______________________________!
!
Transition Sentence:!
______________________________________________________________________!
______________________________________________________________________
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!
PARAGRAPH 5: CONCLUSION!
The purpose of the conclusion is to wrap up your thoughts and remind the audience about your
main points. This is also the ONLY PLACE in this essay where you can voice your OPINION
on the topic.!
!
Restate Thesis: !
Begin your concluding sentence by putting your THESIS into DIFFERENT WORDS. No one
wants to read the same thing over and over! Paraphrase your own words.!
______________________________________________________________________!
______________________________________________________________________!
______________________________________________________________________!
______________________________________________________________________!
!
Restate Main Points:!
After you restate your thesis, you will remind the audience what your main points were. Just
like with the thesis, put your TOPIC SENTENCES into DIFFERENT WORDS. Paraphrase
yourself.!
!
Main Point 1:___________________________________________________________!
______________________________________________________________________!
Main Point 2:___________________________________________________________!
______________________________________________________________________ !
Main Point 3:___________________________________________________________!
______________________________________________________________________!
!
Final Thoughts/Opinions: !
You should always end your essay with some interesting thoughts or ideas on your topic to
keep them thinking. End with a statement about how your topic related to the theme of
LEADERSHIP and LEGACY.!
______________________________________________________________________!
______________________________________________________________________!
______________________________________________________________________!
______________________________________________________________________
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