Name:____________________________

Period:__________

Prompt Number: _________

Essay and Research Paper General Outline

Complete the outline to help you write your essay or research paper. Follow the instructions for each part of the outline.

Topic Sentence:

Identify the item/source/what you are talking about in your paper	Verb (choose one)	Finish the thought-reword your writing prompt
	Illustrates that, shows that, describes that, explains that, entices the reader to, teaches us that, proves that, etc.

Write your introduction’s topic sentence here: ____________________________________________________________

Body: Supporting Details - Write 2 or more sentences to explain how your topic sentence (above) relates to people in general. You should be narrowing your paper’s focus toward what your thesis statement will be at the end of the introduction.

Supporting Detail #1

Supporting Detail #2

Thesis Statement- End your introduction with your thesis statement. This is the central theme for your paper and should be a very carefully worded sentence that gives readers your argument and intention for the rest of your paper.

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Body Paragraph #1

Topic Sentence-IDENTIFY, VERB, FINISH MAIN IDEA:
Supporting Detail #1	Supporting Detail #2	Supporting Detail #3

Step 5: Conclusion-Topic Sentence restates your thesis in a NEW way. You need 3-4 supporting sentences that address/summarize what you said in your body paragraphs (the main points). You final sentence needs to leave the reader satisfied with your analysis by giving the reader one final thought and wrapping up your main argument/point.

**Please note: your conclusion SHOULD NOT be the same as your introduction or body paragraphs and you should restate your points in new ways.

Restate your thesis: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Restate your topic sentences:

1)__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2)__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3)__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Write ONE sentence to conclude your paper:

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