What Is An Outline? An Outline Is Meant To Help You Establis

What Is An Outlinean Outline Is Meant To Help You Establish A Structu

An outline is meant to help you establish a structure for a paper you are going to write. It is a way for you to demonstrate the main argument (thesis), main points (topic sentences), and main pieces of evidence you are going to present in a paper before actually writing the paper. Additionally, one of the essential purposes of an outline is to clearly convey the connection between the thesis and each of the topic sentences.

Outline Structure

  • Introduction
  • Thesis: A statement of position and overview of points of argumentation go here.
  • Body Paragraph 1: Topic sentence goes here. Supporting evidence: A paraphrase or quote from one of your sources goes here, along with an in-text citation (to learn how to properly construct in-text citations, please see the following link: Explanation of the meaning of the supporting evidence. So what? A direct statement on how the supporting evidence does in fact support the claim made in the topic sentence.
  • Body Paragraph 2: Topic sentence goes here. Supporting evidence. Explanation. So what?
  • Body Paragraph 3: Topic sentence goes here. Supporting evidence. Explanation. So what?

This week your writing assignment will involve creating an outline for your Final Paper. Please review the instructions for this assignment very carefully and make note of the criteria needed (business situation involving law and ethics, description of two ethical theories that apply, description of two areas of law that apply, etc.).

It is also very important that you have an effective thesis statement. It should be one to two sentences and be located at the end of the opening paragraph in your Final Paper. Ideally, the thesis statement should make an arguable point, which you will examine and support in your essay. In addition, it presents an objective for your writing.

The Ashford Writing Center also provides information and a Thesis Generator to assist you. The following link also provides some excellent explanation and examples regarding thesis statements:

Paper For Above instruction

The purpose of this assignment is to help students develop a clear and cohesive outline for their final paper, which involves analyzing a business situation involving law and ethics. An effective outline serves as a blueprint for organizing ideas, arguments, and evidence, facilitating a logical flow in the final essay. To craft a comprehensive outline, students must first understand the core components—namely, the thesis statement, topic sentences for each paragraph, supporting evidence, and explanations—and how these elements connect to support the overall argument.

Structuring the outline begins with the introduction, where the thesis statement should succinctly present an arguable position related to the business scenario involving legal and ethical considerations. This thesis is crucial because it guides the development of supporting points and provides a clear objective for the paper. The thesis statement should be placed at the end of the introductory paragraph and should be one or two sentences long, enabling focus and clarity in subsequent discussions.

The body of the outline consists of several paragraphs, each centered around a specific topic sentence that advances a key point supporting the thesis. Each topic sentence should be followed by supporting evidence, such as paraphrased or direct quotes from credible sources, along with proper in-text citations. The evidence should serve to substantiate the topic sentence, which in turn supports the thesis. After presenting supporting evidence, the outline should include a clear explanation of how the evidence supports the claim made in the topic sentence—this connection is critical for building a cohesive argument.

Furthermore, the outline should specify areas of law relevant to the business situation, such as contract law, employment law, or intellectual property law, and describe how these legal frameworks impact the ethical considerations. Ethically, students are expected to examine two ethical theories—such as utilitarianism, deontology, virtue ethics, or ethical relativism—that inform decision-making in the scenario. By integrating law and ethics within each paragraph, students can demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of how legal requirements intersect with moral principles in real-world business contexts.

Creating a detailed outline not only clarifies the structure but also helps identify gaps in reasoning or evidence before beginning the actual writing process. This pre-writing step ensures that the final paper is coherent, logically organized, and persuasive. Students are encouraged to utilize available resources, including the Ashford Writing Center's Thesis Generator and guidance on crafting strong thesis statements, to enhance the quality of their outline and subsequent paper.

References

  • Beauchamp, T. L., & Childress, J. F. (2019). Principles of Biomedical Ethics (8th ed.). Oxford University Press.
  • Ferrell, O. C., Fraedrich, J., & Ferrell, L. (2019). Business Ethics: Ethical Decision Making & Cases (12th ed.). Cengage Learning.
  • Kant, I. (1785). Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals. Harper & Row.
  • Mill, J. S. (1863). Utilitarianism. Parker, Son, and Bourn.
  • Shaw, W. H. (2017). Business Ethics: A Texts and Cases (9th ed.). Cengage Learning.
  • Twomey, L., & Jennings, M. (2016). Legal Aspects of Business. Pearson.
  • Velasquez, M. (2015). Business Ethics: Concepts and Cases. Pearson.
  • Wells, A. (2020). Ethical Decision Making in Business. Routledge.
  • Wood, A. W. (2008). Business Law: Principles and Cases. Barron’s Educational Series.
  • Baumhart, R. (1961). Business Ethics: Selections from the Literature. Prentice-Hall.

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