ESSAY 3 rough outline
I. Introduction
1. Identify the writer and title of your chosen story.
2. What topics/themes from the story will you focus on in the essay (2-3 sentences)?
3. Thesis (specific): State your interpretation of how the writer explores your chosen topics/themes in the story. You can identify the literary approach you are using in your essay.
II. Body paragraphs (as many as needed; typically 3-4)
1. Topic sentence: What is the focus of this paragraph in relation to the thesis? What is its main point?
2. Quote from the chosen story (with in-text citation) as evidence of this main point?
3. Analysis: how does this quote support the thesis? Discuss specific details in the quote.
4. Quote or paraphrase from an academic source (with in-text citation).*
5. Explanation: how does this quote support the thesis?
6. How does this paragraph support the thesis?
*Note: When you first identify your secondary source, you should use the scholar’s full name and provide the title of the scholarly essay. However, after that, you should only use the scholar’s last name, and you do not need to keep naming the essay.
III. Conclusion
1. Reference the writer and the story.
2. Restate the thesis.