Sample Outline

This is a sample outline. You do not have to follow it, or you may follow parts but not all of it, but most of the papers I observed seemed like they could benefit from a greater organizational strategy.  

Outline Template:

First Paragraph Block:

            *Introductory Hook

*Necessary background info (introduce book, time period, critical lens)

*Thesis statement (2 sentences, should include topics and cultural observation)

            *Forecast Sentence (transitions to next paragraph)

Second Paragraph Block:

*Topic Sentence (mini-thesis statement for the paragraph)

            *Paragraph 2 should summarize your scene and introduce your characters
            *Paragraph 2 should also set up cultural context for your scene (discuss Victorian England)

            *Forecast Sentence

Third Paragraph Block:

*Topic Sentence (mini-thesis statement for the paragraph)

            *Supporting background information/contextual details for your first quote from your scene from the book. Should be murder weapon quote that comes early in the scene.

            *Quote #1 from Book 1 (set up/contextualize/integrate)

            *Analyze Quote #1

            *Quote #2

            *Analyze Quote #2 from Book 2 (set up/contextualize/integrate)

*Analyze how all these quotes support your thesis, tie in to cultural context/analyze culture

*Quote #3, from outside critical source….

*[Continue as above]

            *Forecast Sentence

Fourth Paragraph Block:
           *Repeat 3rd paragraph strategy, but you should be further along in your scene by now. Do this for as many paragraphs as needed, moving slowly through the scene.

            

Final Paragraph Block

            *Conclusion: Re-instate your thesis statement in different words. Summarize what has been accomplished in the essay. Close with a compelling hook. Remember not to bring in any new arguments, instead focus on reminding your reader of what has already been accomplished, in an interesting way and making an ultimate observation about culture. You could, if you wanted, tie in the Victorian culture to our culture to close with a compelling hook.

WORKS CITED PAGE

            *Follow MLA style exactly, as explained in AWR.