Topic: Which "monster" was the most dangerous to Odysseus?
Working Thesis Statement: (To emphasize the point you will be demonstrating, try to use a term like "because" in your thesis.)
Circe was the most dangerous "monster" Odysseys met during his adventures because she was clever, lonely and she had both physical beauty and inner charms.
Outline for Odyssey Paper
The outline will establish a logical order of ideas and the overall structure of your essay. It will, in a snapshot, give your reader a sense of your argument’s purpose and how you will move from idea to idea in your paper. When developing the thesis and the outline, you may discover “gaps” in your essay and be forced to do a little more research, but this is a good thing.
To figure out the main ideas and sections of you argument as you construct your outline, look closely at your thesis. If it's a good thesis, it will tell you how to pattern your essay.
I like students to develop outlines by writing Topics Sentences for each of your Body Paragraphs: (These should be complete sentences that show BOTH the main point of the paragraph and how one point will transition into the next.)
Thesis: Circe was the most dangerous "monster" Odysseys met during his adventures because she was clever, lonely and she had both physical beauty and inner charms.
Introduction Idea Danger came to Odysseus in many forms. Physical dangers perhaps most memorable. But the goddess Circe... (end intro with thesis)
I. Circe was a clever goddess who knew how to create magic potions and seduce men.
II. In addition to being clever, she was dangerous because she craved company.
III. With her beauty she could trick most men into accepting her potions; with her inner charms she was able to win over even the shrewdest and most heroic.
Conclusion Idea Circe may not be the most violent "monster", but her subtle nature makes her the most deadly.