Basic 5-Paragraph Essay Outline

I. Paragraph I—Introduce topic

A. First supportive idea

B. Second supportive idea

C. Third supportive idea

THESIS STATEMENT: [Formula: In this paper I will (verb). . . ] ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

II. Paragraph II—Introduce first supportive idea (A).

A. Topic Sentence

1. Evidence

2. Evidence

3. Evidence

B. Concluding Sentence

III. Paragraph III—Introduce second supportive idea (B).

A. Topic Sentence

1. Evidence

2. Evidence

3. Evidence

B. Concluding Sentence

IV. Paragraph IV—Introduce third supportive idea (C).

A. Topic Sentence

1. Evidence

2. Evidence

3. Evidence

B. Concluding Sentence

V. Paragraph V—Restate Thesis Statement

A. Recap three main supportive ideas

1. Recap first supportive idea

2. Recap second supportive idea

3. Recap third supportive idea

B. Overall Concluding Statement

ESSAY OUTLINE FORMAT

I. Opening paragraph___________________________________________________

1. Introductory sentence______________________________________________

a. First supportive statement___________________________________

b. Second supportive statement_________________________________

c. Third supportive statement___________________________________

2. THESIS STATEMENT____________________________________________

II. Second paragraph____________________________________________________

1. Introductory sentence addresses first supportive (a.) statement

__________________________________________________________

a. First piece of evidence________________________________________

b. Second piece of evidence______________________________________

c. Third piece of evidence_______________________________________

2. Concluding statement___________________________________________

III. Third paragraph_____________________________________________________

1. Introductory sentence addresses second supportive (b.) statement

____________________________________________________________

a. First piece of evidence________________________________________

b. Second piece of evidence______________________________________

c. Third piece of evidence_______________________________________

2. Concluding statement______________________________________________

IV. Fourth paragraph____________________________________________________

1. Introductory sentence addresses third supportive (c.) statement

____________________________________________________________

a. First piece of evidence________________________________________

b. Second piece of evidence______________________________________

c. Third piece of evidence________________________________________

2. Concluding statement______________________________________________

V. Concluding paragraph_________________________________________________

1. Introductory sentence restates the thesis

____________________________________________________________

2. Second sentence concludes points made in second paragraph

____________________________________________________________

3. Third sentence concludes points made in third paragraph

____________________________________________________________

4. Fourth sentence concludes points made in fourth paragraph

____________________________________________________________

5. Fifth sentence is final concluding statement

____________________________________________________________