Name______Date______
Literary Essay Outline
Essay Topic/Question:
I. Introductory Paragraph
A. Opening sentence (Hook-can be a scene or imagine statement; General Statement about character or character’s situation)
B. Narrow Focus Sentences (Should be a few sentences. Connect Hook or General Statement to essay topic/question. Here is where you introduce title of story and author)
C. Thesis Statement-last sentence in the introductory paragraph, something that can be proved, and should list your THREE reasons that answer the question:
Put It All Together:
II. Reason I
A. State Reason 1 (in a sentence; this become your topic sentence)
B. Give background info about character, story, OR situation that proves reason 1
C. Lead in sentence-(preface your evidence with a sentence)
D. Textual Evidence-(a quote from the text supporting your reason; give page number and who said it)
E. Analysis of Evidence-(give a well thought out explanation of why your evidence proves your thesis)
F. Closing Sentence (sum up this paragraph; use a transition word or phrase to indicate the end of the paragraph)
III. Reason II
A. State Reason 2 (in a sentence; this become your topic sentence)
B. Give background info about character, story, OR situation that proves reason 2
C. Lead in sentence-(preface your evidence with a sentence)
D. Textual Evidence-(a quote from the text supporting your reason; give page number and who said it)
E. Analysis of Evidence-(give a well thought out explanation of why your evidence proves your thesis)
F. Closing Sentence (sum up this paragraph; use a transition word or phrase to indicate the end of the paragraph)
IV. Reason III
A. State Reason 3 (in a sentence; this become your topic sentence)
B. Give background info about character, story, OR situation that proves reason 3
C. Lead in sentence-(preface your evidence with a sentence)
D. Textual Evidence-(a quote from the text supporting your reason; give page number and who said it)
E. Analysis of Evidence-(give a well thought out explanation of why your evidence proves your thesis)
F. Closing Sentence (sum up this paragraph; use a transition word or phrase to indicate the end of the paragraph)
V. Conclusion
A. Restate Thesis Statement (don’t repeat it, reword it)
B. Highlight/Revisit main points or REASONS from body paragraphs (DO NOT introduce anything new, you are summing it up)
C. Closing Sentence-(Close should broaden the focus as did the hook; connect topic to life (NOT YOURS), world, human nature in general; Strong, concise, memorable)
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