English 100: University Writing

Revised Research Essay Outline Assignment Template

Potential Research Paper Title:

Introduction:

A) Provide an idea for a lead that will hook your reader (an anecdote, quote, set a scene, an analogy, a
case study, direct statement):

B) Thesis statement

a. What is your topic?

b. What is your controlling idea?

c. What are your main supporting points?

d. Write your thesis statement:

Body Paragraph 1:

A) Developing the paragraph topic sentence:

• What is the main supporting point (controlling idea) that this paragraph will develop?

• How does it relate/connect to your thesis and overall argument?

• Write out a topic sentence for this paragraph that answers the above questions:

B) Developing the main supporting point.

• How will you develop/expand on the main supporting point of this paragraph?

(ex. Topic sentence: Cats are more independent than dogs. Limiting subpoint: Cats can be left
unattended for longer periods of time than dogs)

 Write out one or more subpoints here that develop this main (controlling) idea:
 C) What research source/s will you use to support your points in this paragraph?
 Insert the evidence here, including the author and text (evidence = direct quotation,
summary, paraphrase, data or statistics) * you can have more than one piece of evidence
in a paragraph

D) Briefly explain the usefulness of this evidence for your point/s:

E) Wrapping up: Summary/transition sentence.

 What is the key argument you are making in this paragraph?

• How does it relate to your next main point in the following paragraph?

 Write a summary/ transition sentence for this paragraph that answers the two
questions above.

Repeat the above process for paragraphs two and three.

Conclusion:

A) Rewrite your thesis in a different way than in your introduction:

B) Write a 1-2 sentence summary of your main points and overall argument:

C) Write 1-2 sentences explaining the message or idea that you want to leave with your readers
(a call to action, an urge to do further research on the topic—make a lasting impression on
your reader, tell them to do something or to think about something in a different way):