Outline Sample--Cause and Effect

(What do you want to prove?)  THESIS: _____________________________________

INTRODUCTION
 TO ASSERT YOUR CAUSAL ARGUMENT

1. "HOOK"
2. TRANSITIONAL CONTENT ABOUT TOPIC
3. THESIS: ASSERTION THAT A CAUSES B, C, AND D

BODY PARAGRAPH
 TO PRESENT EVIDENCE THAT A CAUSES B

1.  TOPIC SENTENCE asserting that A CAUSES B
2. Introduce the content of A and B
3. Paraphrase, summarize, or quote source material to defend your causal argument asserted in the topic sentence.
4. Explain how the source defended your point. 
• Analyze the source and its content.
5. A closing sentence that ties the paragraph assertion and proof together.  
• This closing sentence should reflect the paragraph’s topic sentence.

BODY PARAGRAPH
 TO PRESENT EVIDENCE THAT A CAUSES C

1. TOPIC SENTENCE asserting that A CAUSES C
2. Introduce the content of A and C
3. Paraphrase, summarize, or quote source material to defend your causal argument asserted in the topic sentence.
4. Explain how the source defended your point. 
• Analyze the source and its content.
5. A closing sentence that ties the paragraph assertion and proof together.  
• This closing sentence should reflect the paragraph’s topic sentence.

BODY PARAGRAPH
 TO PRESENT EVIDENCE THAT A CAUSES D

1. TOPIC SENTENCE asserting that A CAUSES D
2. Introduce the content of A and D
3. Paraphrase, summarize, or quote source material to defend your causal argument asserted in the topic sentence.
4. Explain how the source defended your point. 
• Analyze the source and its content.
5. A closing sentence that ties the paragraph assertion and proof together.  
• This closing sentence should reflect the paragraph’s topic sentence.

BODY PARAGRAPH
 TO REFUTE THE COUNTER-ARGUMENTS

1. TOPIC SENTENCE asserting that not everyone agrees with your cause and effect argument
• That A causes B      OR
• That A causes C      OR
• That A causes D
2. Introduce the counter-arguments to your causal assertions
• The counter-arguments in the counter-argument body paragraph need to focus on only one of your previous body paragraph assertions: A, B, or C
• Do not address all your arguments and their counter-arguments in one body paragraph.
• Each counter-argument—to one of your arguments—will be a paragraph unto itself.
• You can provide multiple sources on that counter-argument, but the whole paragraph will stay focused on that one counter-argument for A, B, or C.
3. Paraphrase, summarize, or quote source material to refute the counter-arguments
4. Locate additional, different support to defend your causal argument asserted in the thesis statement
5. Explain how the source defended your point. 
• Analyze the source and its content.
• If you have additional counter-argument sources that all relate to the same overall issue…
• You may have to go through steps 2-5 a few times to cover the counter-arguments for that one point.
• However, if each counter-argument is on completely different points, relating to your overall Thesis, you may have to end up with two or three counter-argument paragraphs.
6. Closing sentence that ties the paragraph assertion and proof together. 
• This closing sentence should reflect to the paragraph’s topic sentence.

CONCLUSION PARAGRAPH 
TO WRAP IT ALL UP AND ASSERT YOUR CAUSAL ARGUMENT

1. Topic sentence asserting the thesis statement—but in a new way.
2. Tie together all the main points from the essay…
• Consider your topic sentences from each body paragraph. 
• Your topic sentences should address the main points from the essay.
• Do not simply re-post the topic sentences.  Pull the main points together in a meaningful and assertive way to make sure that your readers are fully convinced of your overall thesis statement.
3. The closing sentence that leaves the reader with a feeling of closure and peace on the topic.

TITLE OF ESSAY

1. After you finish your whole essay…
• Re-read your conclusion paragraph. 
• Think of something catchy from the concluding paragraph that you could use as your title.
• Do not use the assignment name.
2. Your title needs to directly relate to the closing/conclusion paragraph. 
• A title provides a circular feeling for the readers. 
• The audience begins with your title, and after reading through all of your developmental paragraphs, they reach the conclusion that reminds them of what they started with—YOUR TITLE.