For help with idea progression and development in a Proposal Argument, Ethical Argument, or Cause and Effect Argument assignment, please see these outline examples from “Chapter 11” of The Well-Crafted Argument.
Textbook Reading: Week 4
Chapter 11: 6a
Outlining an Ethical
Argument
Many students avoid writing an outline for various
reasons; however, the benefits of writing a complete and well-organized outline
are significant. Reluctant students should remember that outlines can be
revised during the actual drafting of the essay. In addition, time spent on a
quality outline will be saved exponentially when drafting the essay itself.
I. Introduction
I.
Hook your audience. (Relate it to the topic
and thesis.)
II.
Identify the principle. (Give background/
context to help your audience. understand clearly the principle that will be
used.)
III.
State your thesis. (Makes a clear ethical
argument that is debatable.)
II. Several Body
Paragraphs (Many prefer for opposing viewpoints to be final body paragraph
before the conclusion; however, it can be included in any order in the body of
the essay.)
I.
Topic Sentence: Directly supports the thesis argument and clearly
identifies the topic of each individual body paragraph.
II.
Argument Development: Establish the belief system of the topic being argued
in the paragraph. Focus is on clearly
detailing the argument point(s) and then following the writer’s argument with
the evidence and then analysis sentences.
III.
Evidence: Opinions, example(s), fact(s) from correctly cited
quotes, paraphrases, and/or summaries that support your main point of the topic
sentence. (Must be in terms of the principle that you are using.)
IV.
Analysis: Your explanation of how the evidence supports the topic
sentence/thesis statement. (Avoid using first and second person pronouns in
your academic writing.)
V.
Summative Sentence: Restates the topic sentence in a new way and
transitions your ideas from one paragraph to the next. (Use appropriate
transitional words and sentences throughout your essay to help you essay flow
well for your reader.)
III. One or More Body
Paragraphs to Discuss Opposing Viewpoints
I.
Topic Sentence: Introduces opposing viewpoint(s).
II.
Refutation: Explanation of why you disagree. (Avoid first and
second person pronouns.)
III.
Development: of why you disagree and why your position is better than
the opposition.
IV.
Facts, examples, to support your disagreement—if applicable—of the
opposition.
V.
Summative Sentence: Wraps up the paragraph and refutation of the opposing
viewpoint and includes a transition into the conclusion paragraph.
IV. Conclusion
Paragraph
I.
Restates your thesis claim in a new way.
II.
Summarizes main points of your body
paragraphs.
III.
Leaves reader with final thought and/or call
to action.
The outline above has been modified from the
content in “Chapter 11: The Elements of Argument (Section 11-6: Ethical
Argument)” of LUC: White & Billings, The Well-Crafted Argument (2018).
Additional information for the clearest
outline and essay possible has been added to the original outline sample from
that textbook. Please follow the outline
layout above for the Ethical Argument Outline assignment in this ENGL101 course.
© J. Lynn H. Dick, 2019
For
Educational Purposes Only
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