EN12 Guidelines for Outlining

Follow this format. Due on Friday in my pigeonhole. Word-processed, font 10-12. Considered a major requirement.

Title. (Choose a title that includes the topic and hints at your argument. Avoid vague titles; add subtitles if this will
make your title more specific. Don’t all-caps or enclose title in quotation marks.)

Introduction. (One to two paragraphs written inductively, meaning the sentences must build up to the last, clinching
sentence which is your thesis statement. This will ease the reader into your thesis. Insert in-text citation of sources to
establish an academic tone. Avoid trite generalities, statements of common knowledge; begin strong with unusual
data, or data that will strongly support your thesis at the end of the introduction.)

Research Question (Optional). (Convert your thesis statement into a question which will be answered by I, II, III.)

I. Major supporting argument to the thesis #1. (This will be the topic sentence of the first part of your
argument. Cast it in an argumentative statement, meaning don’t just state a fact. This statement must
directly develop, extend, or elucidate the thesis.)
a. Cited source #1 (a quotation, paraphrase, or summary in MLA in-text citation format)
b. Cited source #2 (a quotation, paraphrase, or summary in MLA in-text citation format)
c. Cited source #3 (a quotation, paraphrase, or summary in MLA in-text citation format)

II. Major supporting argument to the thesis #2. (This will be the topic sentence of the second part of your
argument. Cast it in an argumentative statement, meaning don’t just state a fact. This statement must
directly develop, extend, or elucidate the thesis.)
a. Cited source #1 (a quotation, paraphrase, or summary in MLA in-text citation format)
b. Cited source #2 (a quotation, paraphrase, or summary in MLA in-text citation format)
c. Cited source #3 (a quotation, paraphrase, or summary in MLA in-text citation format)

III. Major supporting argument to the thesis #3. (This will be the topic sentence of the third part of your
argument. Cast it in an argumentative statement, meaning don’t just state a fact. This statement must
directly develop, extend, or elucidate the thesis.)
a. Cited source #1 (a quotation, paraphrase, or summary in MLA in-text citation format)
b. Cited source #2 (a quotation, paraphrase, or summary in MLA in-text citation format)
c. Cited source #3 (a quotation, paraphrase, or summary in MLA in-text citation format)

Works Cited. (In MLA bibliographic format. Include only sources that you actually included in the outline. Minimum
of 10 sources; more is expected for broader topics, or topics that are known to have lots of research material.)

Works Consulted (Optional). (In MLA bibliographic format. For sources that you did not cite but helped you arrive at
some points in your paper. Maximum of 5 sources, or generally speaking must be fewer than Works Cited.)

Other guidelines:
1. You may of course still add sources that didn’t appear in your notefile.
2. You can have 3-5 major supporting arguments to the thesis, that is, up to parts IV and V.
3. Cited sources (a, b, c) can be more than three, of course.
4. You can add more levels to the outline if you feel like it’s necessary for you, i.e.:
I. Major supporting argument
1. Topic 1
a. Source 1
b. Source 2
2. Topic 2
a. Source 1
b. Source 2

5. Remember to use non-sexist langua

6. As much as possible, write long and complex sentences instead of short and simple ones.