Pro-Con Paper OUTLINE

Critical Paper OUTLINE

Please note that while this outline may be used as a tool to help you write your outline you are STILL responsible for handing in a typed and properly formatted outline.

(Your outline is due: ______)

I. INTRODUCTION a. Introductory sentence (providing a personal connection, giving a definition, or including a startling statement) ______

b. Short summary of topic (note: your introduction need NOT include all four topics and it will most likely not be in this order) i. Who (is your author? Include relevant biographical information- limit 4 sentences) ______ii. What (are your two short stories? Name them both and provide brief summaries- no more than 2 sentences per story) ______iii. Similarities (how are your two short stories similar? Are you discussing plot, characters, conflict? Explain briefly) ______iv. Differences (how are your two short stories different? Are there any differences that are important to note? Why?) ______

c. Thesis (what is the MAIN point of your essay? Remember: it must be arguable AND should generally include “because”!) ______

II. BODY PARAGRAPH #1 (What is your first point? For example, how does one see Poe’s obsession with death in “The Masque of Red Death”? Any and all examples dealing with that story should be discussed in this paragraph.) a. Introductory sentence- (Without saying “this is my first example”, introduce this point clearly). ______b. Supporting evidence (two piece of evidences are listed; you may need more to support each point)

i. Piece of evidence #1 1. Introduction of quote/paraphrase ______2. Quote/paraphrase ______3. Citation ______4. Explanation/analysis ______

ii. Transition (How are these pieces of evidence connected?) ______

iii. Piece of evidence #2 1. Introduction of quote/paraphrase ______2. Quote/paraphrase ______3. Citation ______4. Explanation/analysis ______c. Concluding statement- (Summarize this paragraph; restate this point.) ______III. BODY PARAGRAPH #2 (Introduce another point. For example: One will note that Poe also hyperfocuses on death in the story “The Pit and the Pendulum”). a. Introductory sentence- (Without saying “this is my second example”, introduce this point clearly). ______b. Supporting evidence (two piece of evidences are listed; you may need more to support each point) i. Piece of evidence #1 1. Introduction of quote/paraphrase ______2. Quote/paraphrase ______3. Citation ______4. Explanation/analysis ______

ii. Transition (How are these pieces of evidence connected?) ______

iii. Piece of evidence #2 1. Introduction of quote/paraphrase ______2. Quote/paraphrase ______3. Citation ______4. Explanation/analysis ______

c. Concluding statement (Summarize this paragraph; restate point two. Use different words!) ______

IV. BODY PARAGRAPH #3 (Introduce your third point. My recommendation is to save the best for last! Example: It stands to reason that Edgar Allan Poe’s obsession with death may be rooted in his negative personal experiences with it.) a. Introductory sentence- (Without saying “this is my third example”, introduce this point clearly. Also remember to link your last body paragraph to this one. What is the connection?)

______

b. Supporting evidence (two pieces of evidence are listed; you may need more to support each point) i. Piece of evidence #1 1. Introduction of quote/paraphrase ______2. Quote/paraphrase ______3. Citation ______4. Explanation/analysis ______

ii. Transition (How are these pieces of evidence connected?) ______iii. Piece of evidence #2 1. Introduction of quote/paraphrase ______2. Quote/paraphrase ______3. Citation ______4. Explanation/analysis ______

c. Concluding statement (Summarize this paragraph; restate point three. Use different words!) ______

V. CONCLUSION a. Restated thesis (Tell me again but in different words!) ______b. Summarize main points (You may have more than three!) i. Paragraph #2 says ______ii. Paragraph #3 says ______iii. Paragraph #4 says ______c. Concluding thought (This is a lot like restating your thesis, but it really needs to hit your point home! Be creative, be strong, be bold!) ______