Essay Outline & Paragraph Example

Essay Outline

I. Thesis – This is where you introduce the topic of the essay and make a clear statement of what your argument will be.

II. Paragraph 1 topic sentence – This sentence identifies what your first paragraph will be about

A. Context – Background information on the topic for paragraph 1

B. Evidence – Provide examples/evidence that supports your topic sentence

C. Analysis – Explanation of why this topic is important and how the evidence supports your argument.

I. Answers the questions “SO WHAT?”

II. THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PIECE OF YOUR PARAGRAPH!

D. Concluding sentence – This sentence wraps up this paragraph providing a final summary of why the information in this paragraph is important.

E. Transition sentence – Introduces the next topic you will write on in paragraph 2

V. Concluding statement – This sentence will tie all the topics of your essay together and end your essay supporting your thesis statement.

PARAGRAPH EXAMPLE USING CAUSES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION

One of the greatest causes of the America Revolution was the American colonies being taxed on goods such as tea and stamps without having their own representation in British Parliament. For many years prior to the war, British Parliament placed many taxes on the colonists without their consent. The colonists did not have any representatives in Parliament meaning they were completely under British control without having any input on the rules that were placed upon them. For example, Great Britain passed the Tea Act in 1773 that required the colonists to pay an additional tax on all their tea. While the tax was not high, colonists did not have say in passing the tax. This created resentment between the colonists and Great Britain and in response, the Sons of Liberty expressed their frustration by dumping tea shipments into Boston Harbor in an event known as the Boston Tea Party. This is significant because it demonstrates how colonists were willing to take extreme measures against taxes that they did not get to have input with. Another example of unfair taxation on the American colonies leading to revolution were the Declaratory Acts of 1766 which gave Great Britain the power to make laws and raise taxes in all cases whatsoever without input from the colonies. This helped cause the American Revolution because it favored the rights of Great Britain over the colonies to such an extent that the colonies felt oppressed. This feeling of oppression and living under a tyrannical king, incentivized patriots to fight for their rights to be heard in parliament. Lastly, the Stamp Act of 1765 pushed the colonies to begin the American Revolution by taxing all paper documents such as legal documents, wills, newspapers, and playing cards. Paper is an everyday commodity which colonists used to demonstrate their individuality and by taxing paper, Great Britain was asserting its dominance over every aspect of colonial life. With this level of intrusion into the life of colonists, individuals felt justified in fighting for their independence from Great Britain. As more taxes were passed without colonists having representation in Parliament, tensions continued to rise until the Founding Fathers wrote the Declaration of Independence creating the United States of America. Parliament did not only pass taxes on the colonists without their consent, they also passed intolerable acts designed to keep control over the colonists.

NOTES:

· EACH SECTION OF YOUR PARAGRAPH CAN BE MORE THAN ONE SENTENCE

· For example: You can have 2-3 sentences of context/background informatioN

· MORE ANALYSIS IS BETTER THAN ANYTHING ELSE! Great analysis is what can turn a B paper into an A paper.

· NO FIRST OR SECOND PERSON! (I, me, we, us, you, etc.)

NO QUESTIONS

· NO CONTRACTIONS! (Don’t, wouldn’t, can’t, etc.)

NO EXCLAMATION MARKS