Sample Outline

Share

Comparison/Contrast Essay Outline

I.                  INTRODUCTION

A.    BACKGROUND INFO: Name your two subjects.

B.     THESIS: State your purpose (to persuade or inform); if you are merely informing, declaring that intent is your thesis. If you are persuading (passing judgment), then you can have a limited thesis or a full thesis. A limited thesis declares your intent to persuade, but doesn't give away your opinion yet; that is saved for the Conclusion. A full thesis goes ahead and gives your opinion as to which subject is superior. Usually, a limited thesis at this point will help you to remain unbiased in the descriptive Main Body.

C.     PREVIEW: List your standards of comparison.

II.               MAIN BODY

A.    FIRST SUBJECT

1. FIRST STANDARD OF COMPARISON (1st body paragraph)

a.       TS (topic sentence)

b.      GE (general explanation)

c.       SE (specific example)

d.      CS (concluding sentence)

2. SECOND STANDARD OF COMPARISON (2nd body paragraph)

a.       TS (topic sentence)

b.      GE (general explanation)

c.       SE (specific example)

d.      CS (concluding sentence)

3. THIRD STANDARD OF COMPARISON (3rd body paragraph)

a.       TS (topic sentence)

b.      GE (general explanation)

c.       SE (specific example)

d.      CS (concluding sentence)

B.     SECOND SUBJECT

1. FIRST STANDARD OF COMPARISON (4th body paragraph)

a.       TS (topic sentence)

b.      GE (general explanation)

c.       SE (specific example)

d.      CS (concluding sentence)

2. SECOND STANDARD OF COMPARISON (5th body paragraph)

a.       TS (topic sentence)

b.      GE (general explanation)

c.       SE (specific example)

d.      CS (concluding sentence)

3. THIRD STANDARD OF COMPARISON (6th body paragraph)

a.       TS (topic sentence)

b.      GE (general explanation)

c.       SE (specific example)

d.      CS (concluding sentence)

III.             CONCLUSION

1. BOTH SUBJECTS--FIRST STANDARD OF COMPARISON
2. BOTH SUBJECTS--SECOND STANDARD OF COMPARISON
3. BOTH SUBJECTS--THIRD STANDARD OF COMPARISON
4. RESTATEMENT OR EXPANSION OF THESIS

Outline for a Classification Essay

This section presents a specific outline which you should use in writing your classification essay. You will be graded in large part on how well you conform your essay to this outline. Here are some of its main features:

It is modeled closely on the Three-Part Format outline which you have already studied and used. The most notable difference is that the Main Body paragraphs, which in that outline contained reasons, will now contain categories--ONE CATEGORY PER BODY PARAGRAPH.

If you have three categories, you will probably have an essay consisting of five paragraphs: an intro paragraph, three body paragraphs devoted to one category each, and a concluding paragraph. Each additional category would add an additional paragraph, so that with five categories you would probably have seven paragraphs.

The reason I use the word "probably" is that the number of paragraphs is not carved in stone. If one gets longer than about 3/4 of a page, I would start looking for a likely place to subdivide it--usually between the GE and the SE for a body paragraph, perhaps between a lengthy background segment and the thesis for an intro paragraph. The main rule of thumb is never start a new paragraph without knowing why you're doing so. Ask yourself what that reason is.

Your number of categories will be determined in large part by the nature of the topic you choose, but are controllable to some degree by various other means such as narrowing your topic, using disclaimers, and combining small similar categories into larger ones. To keep your essay length manageable, you should shoot for three to five categories. PLEASE DON'T HAVE ONLY TWO CATEGORIES. You should also remember that if you choose a larger number, you still need to develop each body paragraph fully, so in truth you are obligating yourself to a longer essay with each category you add. If you choose three categories, your essay length should be similar to that of the 1st essay with its three reasons: about three typed, double-spaced pages. It should be accordingly longer for four or five categories.

Here's the outline:

I.                   INTRODUCTION

A.    BACKGROUND INFO: Name your overall group to be classified.

B.     THESIS: State your Principle of Classification, and if needed add a sentence stating the purpose of your P of C.

C.    PREVIEW: List your categories. Any disclaimers should also be mentioned here.

II.                MAIN BODY

A.    1st CATEGORY

1. TOPIC SENTENCE (TS): Name your 1st category.
2. GENERAL EXPLANATION (GE): Describe the characteristics of the category. Sometimes these characteristics turn into something resembling subcategories, which simply mean you have a list of the same 3 or 4 characteristics which you discuss with each category in turn. This is a good way to ensure you have plenty to say about each category.
3. SPECIFIC EXAMPLE (SE): Tell a story about or describe an individual who is a member of this category. Given the type of topics I assign for this mode, by "individual" I almost always mean an actual person.
4. CONCLUDING SENTENCE (CS): End with a sentence simply reminding the reader that you're telling this story about this particular person because he/she is a typical member of the category you've been discussing.

B.     2nd CATEGORY

1.      TOPIC SENTENCE (TS

2.      GENERAL EXPLANATION (GE)

3.      SPECIFIC EXAMPLE (SE)

4.      CONCLUDING SENTENCE (CS)

C.    3rd CATEGORY

1.      TOPIC SENTENCE (TS

2.      GENERAL EXPLANATION (GE)

3.      SPECIFIC EXAMPLE (SE)

4.      CONCLUDING SENTENCE (CS)

D.    4th CATEGORY (If Necessary; should contain the same four elements)

E.     5th CATEGORY (If Necessary; also the same four elements)

III.             CONCLUSION

A.    SUMMARY OF CATEGORIES: Simply list the categories again as you did in the preview.

B.     RESTATEMENT OF THESIS: This may require only restating your P of C, or it may need also restating your purpose, along with revealing your final opinion in regards to this purpose.