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Professor Dybala

Engl 1302: CRN #####

13 September 2021

Formal Outline for Essay One: Classical Scheme of Argumentation

Follow this outline sentence by sentence when you write Essay One. Be sure to lead up to your argumentative thesis in the introduction and begin each body paragraph (Section III-VI) with a topic sentence that refers back to a subtopic stated or suggested in the thesis.

Essay One must include all parts of this outline. Note that each Roman numeral (I.-VIII.) represents one paragraph, and each capital letter (A.-G.) represents one sentence in each paragraph. So the structure includes a minimum of 46 sentences: I. 3 sentences, II. 5 sentences, III. 7 sentences, IV. 7 sentences, V. 7 sentences, VI. 7 sentences, VII. 7 sentences, VIII. 3 sentences.

The outline form is required for the first draft; in the final essay, the Roman numerals and capital letters will be removed and each sentence will follow paragraph form, with each paragraph indented one tab or five spaces. The outline is single-spaced and the final essay is double-spaced.

I. Introduction (3-4 sentences)

A. Introduce topic: State the author and title of the short story (in quotation marks)

and topic to capture the readers’ attention.

Kate Chopin’s short story “Desiree’s Baby” set in antebellum times in Louisiana,

exposes the cruelty of racism and its ironic impact on Desiree.

B. Add more information about the topic to suggest the significance of the work.

The plot centers around the abandoned child Desiree’s adoption by the Valmondes’ and her unexpected marriage to Armand Aubigny, a wealthy plantation owner.

C. State thesis: Narrow topic more specifically and state your claim and suggest four

subtopics (Organizing principle of your essay—most important sentence) Through a series of ironic incidents the actual misfortune of Desiree’s marriage reveals the extent Armand will go to deny his true identity so that he can maintain hegemony and dominate all that he encounters as indicated by his sudden love of Desiree, his treatment of the slaves on his plantation, his rejection of Desiree and their child, and his destruction of all remnants of her life.

II. Expository paragraph: This paragraph demonstrates your expertise on

this author and short story and identifies terms or explains pertinent background information. (Ethical appeal) (5-7 Sentences) Refer to the links to websites on the authors posted in Module Two on the Readings and Resources page. Use MLA style to cite any information from a source that you include.

A. State the topic: What kind of background information will you describe?

Kate Chopin’s family’s ownership of slaves and her experience during the Civil

War influenced this story as well as her insights into the androcentrism and racism of her society.

B. Select relevant details from the website to enhance your argument and prepare

the reader for your defense.

C.

D.

E. Relate this information to your thesis.

III.--VI. Confirmation Section: Four body paragraphs developing the evidence to

support your thesis. You may include either one or two quotes in each paragraph of

the confirmation section as long as you develop the paragraph with 7 or more

sentences. The outline for two quotes is displayed in paragraph III and IV and the

outline for one quote is illustrated in paragraph V and VI. You may choose either

option that you think will be more effective as you develop your outline.

III. Subtopic One: See alternate arrangement with only one quote in paragraph V

and VI.

A. Topic Sentence: State the topic of this paragraph and your claim about it.

The narrator’s description of Armand’s love for Desiree portends Armand’s superficial commitment and Desiree’s tragic fate.

B. Elaborate on the significance of the topic.

C. Introduce a quote and state it. Use quotation marks and punctuate in MLA style!

D. Explain your interpretation of the quote. Analyze its significance to your thesis!

E. Introduce next quote and state it.

F. Discuss the quote. Do not simply paraphrase or restate it: analyze it. Do not use the

words of the quote to discuss it. Do not open the sentence with “This quote”;

instead, refer to an aspect of the passage that you will analyze.

G. Transition to the next paragraph: close this paragraph and introduce the next.

IV. Confirmation Section: Subtopic Two

A. Topic Sentence: State the topic of this paragraph and your claim about it.

B. Elaborate on the topic

C. Introduce a quote and state it. Use quotation marks and punctuate in MLA style!

D. Explain your interpretation of the quote. Do not refer to the selected quote as “this

quote. Instead, refer to the issue in the quote that you want to discuss.

E. Introduce next quote and state it.

F. Discuss the quote by explaining how it supports the claim stated in your topic

sentence.

G. Transition to the next paragraph

V. Confirmation Section: Subtopic Three

A. Topic Sentence: Introduce the topic of this paragraph and your claim about it.

B. Elaborate on the topic

C. Introduce a quote and its context in the story and state it.

D. Explain your interpretation of the quote.

E. Continue to discuss the quote by analyzing a particular word choice in the

passage.

F. Discuss the symbolic aspect of the passage or another element of fiction in the

quote.

G. Transition to the next paragraph

VI. Confirmation Section: Subtopic Four

A. Topic Sentence: Introduce the topic of this paragraph and your claim about it.

B. Elaborate on the topic

C. Introduce a quote and its context in the story and state it.

D. Explain its significance to your interpretation.

E. Continue to discuss the quote by analyzing a particular word choice or

punctuation mark or the sentence structure in the passage.

F. Discuss the ramifications of the passage.

G. Transition to the next paragraph

VII. Concession and Refutation

Demonstrate your critical thinking skills and develop your ethical appeal to your audience by recognizing an alternative interpretation of this story and its merits; then, refute it by explaining how it is flawed and reasserting your interpretation over the alternate..

A. Topic sentence: Acknowledge a strong opposing view to your thesis (Another critic

might argue that . . . )

B. Explain the appeal of this position and introduce a quote to support it.

C. Discuss the quote.

D. Juxtapose this position to your interpretation of the story.

E. Reemphasize why your interpretation is more appealing than your opponent’s.

F. Your appeal continued.

G. You may discuss another opposing argument or close with more explanation in

defense of your thesis.

VIII. Conclusion

A. Restate (do not simply repeat) your thesis with a bolder claim.

B.-C. Clarify any questions your analysis may have posed. Add a final assertion to provoke the reader to reconsider their interpretation or to apply your points to their own lives (Avoid condescending or commanding tone).

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