Outlining
The Narrative – Outline
Name:
Date:
Write the question or statement you are responding to here (use only in the case of an expository essay; (hint: you will be referring to a primary text for this style of essay in this class):
Write your controlling idea/topic sentence here (this is what your paper is about; in the case of the narrative, this sentence is the theme or central idea to your paper; in the case an expositive essay, this is your hypothesis of a response to the question above):
Write the name of the author and the name of the literary work here (if applicable – see above):
Your introductory paragraph must include the name of the author, the title of the story, and a brief preview, separated by commas, of your supporting topics in the case of the expository essay. As for a narrative essay, creatively express your exposition through the first few paragraphs.
Write your support for your thesis or thematic topics (in reference to the narrative essay, this can be a chronological order of events your protagonist faces) here:
A.
1.
2.
B.
1.
2.
C.
1.
2.
A, B, and C are your supporting topics; 1 and 2 are supporting details for those topics.
Write your concluding ideas here:
Expository essay: your concluding paragraph should reiterate your thesis and main points. Also, it should end in an engaging way; some ideas are: use a quote or other outside reference and explain its significance for your overall work; end with a call to action (persuasively invite your audience to share your point of view); end with an anecdotal example; end with a clever remark.
Narrative essay: your concluding paragraph(s) should move the story toward resolution. The story ends and the outcome of the problems encountered by your protagonist are solved or sufficiently explained as unsolved.