Write an essay outlines about Guns on Campus.
1. Before you begin your outline, review the information on Outlines in the General Resources link and carefully review the Midterm Outline Checklist
2. Develop a formal topic sentence outline.
3. Include the following in your outline:
a. Write the prompt at the top of the outline: Will allowing guns on college campuses make them safer?
b. Provide a clear thesis statement that responds to the prompt.
c. Provide topic sentencesfor each body paragraph that offer arguments that support the thesis (NOTE: you need at least THREE body paragraphs)
d. Include an opposing argument (remember to develop a rebuttal for this point in your essay)Include supporting evidence under each topic sentence (in the form of a quotation, paraphrase, or summary that you plan to use to support the point you are making). Be sure to cite from at least FOUR of the assigned sources. (See Purdue University'sOnlineWriting Lab handout onQuoting, Paraphrasing, and Summarizing if you need help.)
e. Include MLA-formatted in-text citations for each quote/paraphrase.
f. Add your works cited page to the outline.
Outline Checklist:
My feedback on your midterm outlines will refer you to this list, so please review it carefully before you begin your outline.
Please make sure your outline includes ALL of the following elements:
1.) Your outline must be NOT MORE THAN 2 typed pages, including the works cited. This is an important testing center rule!!!!
2.) Remember, at least FIVE paragraphs are required in a standard academic essay: introduction, 3 body paragraphs, conclusion.
3.) A refutation is a required component of the assignment, and should provide a clear counter-argument to the opposition. Please make sure that your refutation doesn't give too much credit to the opposition.
4.) Make sure you have developed a strong thesis statement that contains a clear and arguable point. Remember that your thesis must directly address BOTH parts of the essay prompt.
The thesis should be the last sentence in the introduction. This website is an excellent resource for writing thesis statements: https://daphne.palomar.edu/handbook/thesis.htm
5.) Make sure your topic sentences contain clear and arguable supporting points. Remember that the topic sentence is like a tiny thesis statement for the paragraph. The topic sentences should offer clear, specific arguments that prove the thesis statement. Topic sentences should be ONE complete sentence each -- I can't offer feedback on fragments or phrases or incomplete thoughts. (This link is amazing: https://arts.uottawa.ca/writingcentre/en/hypergrammar/writingparagraphs -- click on "Writing Topic Sentences".)
6.) To meet the source requirement, you must cite from at least FOUR of the assigned readings for this unit in your essay. You may not take copies of the articles with you to the Testing Center; therefore please include in your outline all paraphrases or quotations from your sources that you believe you may need in writing your midterm. TIP: I would not recommend including more than 2 quotes/paraphrases per paragraph, as that may overwhelm your reader with evidence.
8.) Make sure you include correct parenthetical in-text citations in MLA format. Make sure you put the period AFTER the citation, like "this" (Chiles).
9.) Make sure you include a works cited page that is in correct MLA format. Your works cited list should be alphabetized by author's last name. Make sure you spell each author's name correctly!
10.) VERY IMPORTANT: I will not give credit for outline submissions that look like a rough draft!!! No full paragraphs allowed! See #11:
11.) Midterm Outline Format:
Your midterm outline should follow the format below. Please CLEARLY IDENTIFY your thesis statement and topic sentences. NOTE: I've placed the refutation in Part C, but you can put it in A or B too. Your thesis and topic sentences should each be ONE COMPLETE SENTENCE. But please note that NO FULL PARAGRAPHS should appear in your outline.
I. Introduction
A. Thesis: main argument
II. Body
A. Topic sentence: argument #1 that supports thesis
1. Supporting evidence, citation
2. Supporting evidence, citation
B. Topic sentence: argument #2 that supports thesis
1. Supporting evidence, citation
2. Supporting evidence, citation
C. Topic sentence: argument #3 that supports thesis
1. Refutation.
2. Supporting evidence, citation
3. Supporting evidence, citation
III. Conclusion
A. Conclusion reached
IV. Works Cited.