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Sample Outline
The following is a sample outline
one might write of an essay comparing the logical and rhetorical
effectiveness of two contrasting texts. The Roman numerals refer
to paragraphs ("I" is paragraph one, "II"
is paragraph two, and so on).The bullets refer to points to be
covered within that paragraph.
I. Introduction
(150 words)
II. Personal
Experience -- Collier's personal experience connects with
audience.(200 words)
- example of Collier's use of guardian experience
- why personal experience is rhetorically
strong (speaks to lay audience)
- counterarguments to accusations of personal
exp. being a hasty generalization
- Fuentes' lack of personal experience in
j. crime weakens her persuasiveness
III. Good
Reasoning--Collier's argument rests on good reasoning overall
(200 words)
- Collier's "different juveniles need
different system"--explain why this is sound.
- Collier's "adult crime deserves adult
time"--explain why this is sound.
- examples of Fuentes' poor causal
reasoning
- adults don't necessarily reject youth
due to having social security
- adults don't necessarily resent youth
because of job competition
- zero tolerance policy is result, not
cause, of increased j. violence
- that adults think poorly of youth
is not cause of increased j. violence
IV. Statistics
-- Collier uses statistics in straightforward, easy to understand
way (200 words)
- examples of Colliers' straightforward
use of statistics
- examples of Fuentes' unclear, contradictory
use of statistics (making issue fuzzy)
- why manipulation of statistics endangers
truth
- comparison of statistics with actual Dept
of Justice source
V. Authority
-- Collier has authority from working in legal process (200
words)
- explanation of Collier's authority (judge,
gaurdian, law school background)
- why authority is important for convincing
the audience
- counterargument to accusation of Collier's
bias from authority (judges choose justice)
- why Fuentes' background makes her lose
authority through partiality to children
VI. Conclusion (50
words)
- brief summary of main points (importance
of personal experience, causal fallacies, use of statistics,
credibility)
- the need to guard against biases and predispositions
when judging issues
- tendencies to overlook evidence b/c of
personal emotion; advice on overcoming it
- memorable one-line quotation from supreme
court justice about need to adjust laws to fit the changing
people
Notice
how each of the headers and bullets makes the point in a condensed,
brief way. Also, each bulleted point develops the focus (in bold)
of that paragraph. The four topics announced in the thesis are
carried through in each paragraph. Finally, the entire outline
fits on one page.
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