Academic Literary Essay Outline

One to two statements regarding the significance of the issue you will examine (can include a quote or meaningful
question). This is a general statement. Don’t mention your text yet. Adapt as needed for a shorter essay.
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Introduce the author, work and the issues examined (One sentence).

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Mapping statement: Outline your three arguments/controlling ideas (in point form) Arguments must appear in the
same order in body paragraphs!

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Thesis Statement (One sentence) Remember: The topic/issue plus YOUR opinion on it makes it arguable

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Sentence 1- Topic sentence for argument #1

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Sentence 2- First point/detail about your first argument

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Sentence 3- Quotation to support point/detail #1 (a proof, which can also be paraphrased from the text) incl. pg. #
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Sentence 4- Analysis (how the proof relates to your 1st point and thesis / why it’s important etc.)
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Sentence 5- Second point/detail about your first argument

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Sentence 6- Quotation to support point/detail #2 (a proof, which can also be paraphrased from the text) incl. pg. #
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Sentence 7- Analysis (how this proof relates to your 2nd point and thesis / why it’s important etc.)
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Sentence 8- Point/detail #3 about your first argument

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Sentence 9- Quotation to support point/detail #3 (a proof, which can also be paraphrased from the text) incl. pg. #
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Sentence 10- Analysis (how this proof relates to your 3rd point and thesis / why it’s important etc.)
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Sentence 11- Concluding sentence (or two) of the paragraph: Tie-up your argument by relating to thesis, then using
a transition phrase to link your next argument.
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Sentence 12- Topic sentence for argument #2 (new body paragraph)

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Sentence 13- First point/detail

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Sentence 14- Quotation to support point/detail #1

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Sentence 15- Analysis

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Sentence 16- Second point/detail

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Sentence 17- Quotation to support point/detail #2
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Sentence 18- Analysis

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Sentence 19- Point/detail #3

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Sentence 20- Quotation to support point/detail #3

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Sentence 21- Analysis

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Sentence 22- Concluding sentence of the paragraph:

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Sentence 23- Topic sentence for argument #3 (new body paragraph)

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Sentence 24- First point/detail

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Sentence 25- Quotation to support point/detail #1

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Sentence 26- Analysis

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Sentence 27- Second point/detail
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Sentence 28- Quotation to support point/detail #2

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Sentence 29- Analysis

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Sentence 30- Point/detail #3

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Sentence 31- Quotation to support point/detail #3

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Sentence 32- Analysis

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Sentence 33- Concluding sentence of the paragraph:

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Concluding Paragraph: restate your thesis statement using different words
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Sum up your arguments (briefly restate the three areas that you have discussed)
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End with a general statement regarding the issues examined

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