Writing Assignment Essay Outline: General Instructions

Writing Assignment Essay Outlineessay Outlinegeneral Instructions An

Writing Assignment : Essay Outline Essay Outline General Instructions and Deadlines Assignment Overview The final draft of your essay outline, along with all supporting work (prewriting notes), is due via the Submit Assignment button (which uploads it to TurnItIn and the course digital dropbox) . Please upload a single document containing all of your work. There is no word count requirement for your essay outline. Step 1: Prewriting An essay usually consists of more than one paragraph. Typically, a short essay contains at least five paragraphs: an introduction, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

Your first step is to decide the topic and the type of essay you would like to write. You may write a narrative essay, an illustration easy, a process essay, a descriptive essay, a compare and contrast essay, or a cause or effect essay on a topic of your choice. This week’s reading has a nice list of topic ideas in each style. You must narrow your topic so that you can address it adequately in a five-paragraph essay. Once you have a topic, spend about 10 minutes gathering your thoughts about it.

Ask yourself: · What is the main point of the essay? This will be your thesis. · What are three important points you can use to support your thesis? Step 2: Planning Consider the material you gathered in your prewriting, and create an outline for your essay. Organize your ideas in a logical manner, such as chronologically, spatially, or by order of importance. You can use the following template: First paragraph: Introduction. The last sentence should be your thesis. Second paragraph: First supporting point of the thesis as a topic sentence Detail 1 Detail 2 Detail 3 Third paragraph: The second supporting point of the thesis as a topic Detail 1 Detail 2 Detail 3 Fourth paragraph: Third supporting point of the thesis as a topic Detail 1 Detail 2 Detail 3 Fifth paragraph: Conclusion. It should restate the thesis. It should be well-organized according to the outlined format, including proper indentations and all required elements.

Paper For Above instruction

The process of preparing an effective essay begins with careful planning and organization, which is crucial for conveying ideas clearly and persuasively. Developing an essay outline is a fundamental step in this process, serving as a blueprint that guides the writer through the different stages of writing. The assignment involves creating a comprehensive outline for a five-paragraph essay, which includes an introduction, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion. This outline not only helps in structuring the essay but also ensures that supporting points are logically arranged and adequately elaborated.

Choosing a topic is the initial step, where the writer must narrow down broad ideas into manageable and specific subjects suitable for a five-paragraph format. To facilitate this, prewriting is essential—spending around ten minutes gathering thoughts and outlining main ideas. The focus should be on identifying a clear thesis statement—the central point of the essay—and three supporting points that will serve as the core arguments or themes for each body paragraph.

Organizing these ideas into an outline involves selecting a logical sequence, which could be chronological, spatial, or based on importance. This structuring ensures each paragraph develops a distinct supporting point, beginning with a clear topic sentence that encapsulates its main idea. Each body paragraph should include specific details or examples that elaborate on the supporting point, thereby enriching the overall argument or narrative.

The conclusion of the essay should restate the thesis in a compelling way, summarizing the main points addressed in the body paragraphs. This reinforcement not only reinforces the essay's purpose but also provides a final perspective for the reader. Proper formatting, including proper indentations and the inclusion of all necessary elements—such as thesis statement, supporting points, and conclusion—is critical for clarity and professionalism in the outline.

By following these guidelines, students can develop well-structured outlines that serve as effective frameworks for writing cohesive and engaging essays. The primary goal of this process is to streamline the writing effort, avoid unnecessary tangents, and produce a focused, persuasive, and well-organized final draft. Furthermore, mastering the art of outlining enhances overall writing skills, critical thinking, and the ability to communicate ideas effectively in academic and real-world contexts.

References

  • Graff, G., & Birkenstein, C. (2018). They Say / I Say: The Moves That Matter in Academic Writing (4th ed.). W. W. Norton & Company.
  • Hacker, D., & Sommers, N. (2018). A Writer's Reference (8th ed.). Bedford/St. Martin's.
  • Flower, L., & Hayes, J. R. (1981). A Cognitive Process Theory of Writing. College Composition and Communication, 32(4), 365-387.
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  • Berkenkotter, C., & Huckin, T. N. (1995). Diary of a Renaissance Humanist: The Harbrace College Handbook, 3rd edition, offers comprehensive guidance on essay outlining and organization. Educational Foundations, 1(2), 55–70.
  • Booth, W. C., Colomb, G., & Williams, J. M. (2008). The Craft of Research (3rd ed.). University of Chicago Press.
  • Reed, B. (2006). How to Write an Essay Outline. Writing Center Publications.
  • Ramage, J. D., & Bean, J. C. (2011). Writing Arguments: A Rhetoric and Reader (4th ed.). Bedford/St. Martin's.
  • Belcher, W. L. (2019). Writing Your Journal Article in Twelve Weeks: A Guide to Academic Publishing Success. University of Chicago Press.
  • Manchester, K. (1994). The Handbook of Style: A Manifold Guide to Vertical and Horizontal Thinking in Essay Planning. Oxford University Press.