Outline Template for an Argumentative Paper

This is for an essay with four main points that aren't depicting a chronological event and so seem to arrange best as a list in ascending order (least to most important). All the points must be important of course; it's just a matter of degree.

Ellipses are included within each paragraph because the number of examples you use will very much depend on what your topic for that paragraph is, how convincing the example is, and how much it would take to convince a reader. For example, if you were analyzing the language or diction used by a character in a novel, including several different examples of a recurring speaking habit would better illustrate that the pattern is representative of the character's behavior. If, on the other hand, you were talking about the significance of his or her suicide which is a huge part of the novel, you would likely have enough to say about the events surrounding that single event.

You'll note the template below also includes concluding sentences for each paragraph. These were added in not so much because every paragraph needs a formal conclusion, but rather to remind you how you should consistently be communicating to your readers why you're telling them what you're telling them.

Working Title (*optional here. You may want to wait until after your first draft)

Introductory Paragraph

• What do I need to say to set up my thesis?
• Thesis Statement (usually including a mention of the main points to come) =
  • _________________________
  • _________________________
  • _________________________

Transition (you don't have to write these out now but you should know what they'd roughly be)
Reason #4 = _________________________

• example + explication of how it supports topic sentence
• Concluding sentence on how (all) the example(s) support thesis

Transition
Reason #3 = _________________________

• example + explication of how it supports topic sentence
• Concluding sentence on how (all) the example(s) support thesis

Transition
Reason #2 = _________________________

• example + explication of how it supports topic sentence
• Concluding sentence on how (all) the example(s) support thesis

Transition
Reason #1 = _________________________

• example + explication of how it supports topic sentence
• Concluding sentence on how (all) the example(s) support thesis

Transition
Concluding Paragraph

• sum up what X number of reasons have illustrated re: thesis
• some thoughts on the implications of what you've just said or shown