Extended Essay Skeleton Outline Template
Note – this is a generic template and may not be suitable for your particular topic
Introduction (usually written last):
· You will be able to write an introduction if you can make the following statements/claims about your paper:
o Indicate why the topic is interesting, important or worthy of study
o Some background information to put your topic in context
o Indication of how your topic has been focused to something that is manageable within 4000 words
o Clear and precise research question (though not necessarily in question form)
o A clear concluding thesis statement and argument (response to the research question)
· For your outline, you should be able to:
o State your research question (it may change slightly in draft stage): ______
o Roughly write your thesis statement/argument (it may change slightly) ______
Body:
· It is here where you will craft and support your argument. For the EE, you may decide to divide the paper into multiple parts or sections.
· Each part should have a clear focus; each paragraph within each part should have a purpose, make a point, and be supported by research.
· For your outline you should be able to:
o Distinguish the order in which you will make your argument:
§ Part One:______
§ Part Two: ______
§ Part Three: ______
§ Part Four: ______
Part One will likely be methodology and justification for the approach you’ve taken for your research (ie – sources, data collection etc..)
Part Two/Three/Four will present your case, support it with data/research and will present counter-arguments and shoot them down.
o Within each part, you should be able to state the following (Note: This is a simplistic model for what your final product should be):
§ Part One:
· Paragraph One:
o Argument: ______
o Supporting Research and Source: ______
· Paragraph Two:
o Argument: ______
o Supporting Research and Source: ______
· Paragraph Three:
o Argument: ______
o Supporting Research and Source: ______
§ Part Two:
· Paragraph One:
o Argument: ______
o Supporting Research and Source: ______
· Paragraph Two:
o Argument: ______
o Supporting Research and Source: ______
· Paragraph Three:
o Argument: ______
o Supporting Research and Source: ______
§ Part Three:
· Paragraph One:
o Argument: ______
o Supporting Research and Source: ______
· Paragraph Two:
o Argument: ______
o Supporting Research and Source: ______
· Paragraph Three:
o Argument: ______
o Supporting Research and Source: ______
§ Part Four:
· Paragraph One:
o Argument: ______
o Supporting Research and Source: ______
· Paragraph Two:
o Argument: ______
o Supporting Research and Source: ______
· Paragraph Three:
o Argument: ______
o Supporting Research and Source: ______
· Analysis and Conclusion: Here you will bring together your research, restate what you’ve outlined in your body and systematically present your finding that supports your thesis.
· To conclude you should be able to:
o Clearly state the conclusion of your work
o This conclusion should directly relate to the research question and be substantiated by the evidence presented
o Indicate issues, unresolved questions and new questions that have emerged from research
· For your outline, you should be able to state:
o Key arguments or information that contributes to your research question
o Demonstrate how it all ties together to prove your thesis. In other words:
§ what is the point of your essay: ______
§ What key research do you have to support this: ______
§ What can you deduce as a result of writing this paper (ie: your insight, discovery, argument): ______
§ What kinds of new questions arise from your work/research? ______