INFORMATIVE ESSAY OUTLINE

Essay Outline Worksheet

Name:__________________

Date:___________________

Topic: (the title or the topic of your essay):_____________________________

I. Introductory Paragraph

A. Opening Statement: How will you first bring the reader into your essay? What will you say to
introduce what your essay is about? Think of this as a handshake with the reader.

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What else will you say to introduce your ideas?

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C. _________________________________________________________________________________

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Thesis Statement: What is the main idea of your essay? THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT SENTENCE OF
YOUR ENTIRE ESSAY, SO WORD IT CAREFULLY!!!!!!!!

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II. Body Paragraph #1

A. Topic Sentence: What will this paragraph be about?

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B. Evidence: What specific facts or ideas are you bringing into play here? Be sure to include your full
quotes and page numbers for each quote like this: (pg. #).

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C. Concluding Sentence: How will you connect this paragraph back to your thesis? Write a sentence
which explains how the evidence above proves your thesis statement.

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III. Body Paragraph #2

A. Topic Sentence: What will this paragraph be about?

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B. Evidence: What specific facts or ideas are you bringing into play here? Be sure to include your full
quotes and page numbers for each quote like this: (pg. #).

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C. Concluding Sentence: How will you connect this paragraph back to your thesis? Write a sentence
which explains how the evidence above proves your thesis statement.

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IV. Body Paragraph #3

A. Topic Sentence: What will this paragraph be about?

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B. Evidence: What specific facts or ideas are you bringing into play here? Be sure to include your full
quotes and page numbers for each quote like this: (pg. #).

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C. Concluding Sentence: How will you connect this paragraph back to your thesis? Write a sentence
which explains how the evidence above proves your thesis statement.

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IV. Body Paragraph #4? (optional, worth up to 20 bonus points)

A. Topic Sentence: What will this paragraph be about?

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B. Evidence: What specific facts or ideas are you bringing into play here? Be sure to include your full
quotes and page numbers for each quote like this: (pg. #).

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C. Concluding Sentence: How will you connect this paragraph back to your thesis? Write a sentence
which explains how the evidence above proves your thesis statement.

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V. Concluding Paragraph

A. Summative OR “So-What?” Statement: (reconnection to Thesis Statement):

So-What version: If everything I’ve said is true, so what? What’s the point of all this?

Summative version: How can I sum it all up? Restate thesis in light of what you have proven.

THIS SHOULD BE THE MIRROR IMAGE OF YOUR THESIS STATEMENT. WORD IT CAREFULLY!

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Supporting Sentences:

If this is a Summative paragraph, recap the points of your essay.

If this is a So-What paragraphs, add the appropriate sentences that further your statement.

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Closing Sentence: This is the final sentence of your essay, which naturally ends your discussion of the
topic.

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Notes: (use this space to jot down any further notes you have on your essay):