Prewriting: Outlines
PURPOSE: Outlines help you organize your ideas and information before you begin to write.
should contain notes not sentences. All outlines are a "scaffold" for your writing; with essays,
they are designed to help you organize your ideas in order to make your position strong and
logical. Each paragraph should relate to the main idea and build on what has been written above.
Use such transition words or phrases as In the first place, * Moreover, * On the other hand, *
Finally, etc.
STYLE ~ WRITE DIRECTLY. Do not tell the reader what you're doing: just do it!
Weak: I am writing about.... The next reason I am going to give you... This paper is
going to be about...
Strong: There are many reasons why capital punishment should be banned.
RULES OF FORMAL WRITING:
No Contractions, Abbreviations, Parenthetical Information
Avoid I-Statements:
Weak: I think I have proved that capital punishment should be banned.
Strong: The evidence shows that capital punishment should be banned.
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Overview - Formal Outline for Persuasive Writing
I. Introduction - Short and Strong
Overview Sentence / Lead
Introduce specifics of the topic (brief)
State thesis or position of the essay
II. Body - 3 paragraphs
A. Body ¶ #1
Topic sentence: show relationship of paragraph to thesis
Details: examples, facts, quotes
Mini-conclusion: one sentence, tying paragraph back to thesis
B. Body ¶ #2
Topic sentence: show relationship of paragraph to thesis
Details: examples, facts, quotes
Mini-conclusion: one sentence, tying paragraph back to thesis
C. Body ¶ #3
Topic sentence: show relationship of paragraph to thesis
Details: examples, facts, quotes
Mini-conclusion: one sentence, tying paragraph back to thesis
III. Conclusion - Short, Strong & No New Information!
Reword thesis in an original or imaginative way - no repetition
Summarize power of your arguments / information
Personal last word: make the essay matter to the reader and to yourself
See Template on Back
Name ________________________
5-Paragraph Essay
Outline Form
Outline: Notes Only - No Sentences!
Introduction
___________________________________________________
Topic
___________________________________________________
Position/Thesis ___________________________________________________
Lead
Body ¶ #I:
___________________________________________________
Example #1
___________________________________________________
Example #2
___________________________________________________
Example #3 (opt) ___________________________________________________
REASON #1
Mini-Conclusion - tie evidence of paragraph back to thesis
Body ¶ #II:
___________________________________________________
Example #1
___________________________________________________
Example #2
___________________________________________________
Example #3 (opt) ___________________________________________________
REASON #2
Mini-Conclusion - tie evidence of paragraph back to thesis
Body ¶ #III:
___________________________________________________
Example #1
___________________________________________________
Example #2
___________________________________________________
Example #3 (opt) ___________________________________________________
REASON #3
Mini-Conclusion - tie evidence of paragraph back to thesis
Conclusion
Summary
Opinion
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
MIND MAPS
Mind maps are a different form of organizing your thoughts before writing and are
more visual. They work well in planning less structured writing like a story but
here's an example of a linear, controversy paper map:
Controversy Question:
Introduction
One Paragraph
Introduce Topic
Provide Background
Information
Frame the Controversy
State Two Positions
Position #A:
View 1:
Category 1 Facts
Category 2 Facts
Category 1 Facts
Category 2 Facts
One Paragraph
View 2:
One Paragraph
Position #B:
View 1:
Category 1 Facts
Category 2 Facts
Category 1 Facts
Category 2 Facts
One Paragraph
View 2:
One Paragraph
Conclusion
One Paragraph
Restate Controversy
& Take Position
Reference to best evidence
End with Personal
Response & Possible
Consequences for Future
Mind Map for Stories
Notes on setting, characters, plot, themes or impact of the story.
SETTING
TIME
ATMOSPHERE
CHARACTER
Description
Personality / Strengths/ Flaws
CHARACTER
Description
Personality / Strengths/ Flaws
Relationships
Relationships
Plot
CLIMACTIC EVENT
RISING ACTION
RESOLUTION
BEGINNING
IMPACT / THEME / PURPOSE
Map Outline for Journal Entries
Writer: _______________________
Date:
Date:
Date:
Date:
Date:
Date:
Notes for Writing:
Genre_______________________ Theme ______________________________
Style or Format ___________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
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_________________________________________________________________
Notes ____________________________________________________________
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Original Mind Map