Comparison-Contrast Extended Draft Outline Template
Please complete this template according to the one narrowed, single topic you wish to write about. We began exploring topics in discussion this week, and the topic y
...
Comparison-Contrast Extended Draft Outline Template
Please complete this template according to the one narrowed, single topic you wish to write about. We began exploring topics in discussion this week, and the topic you choose for this assignment should arise from that discussion and should adhere to one of the writing prompts noted in the lesson and in discussion.
I. RHETORICAL ANALYSIS
Note: This section is for prewriting purposes only. When you write your full comparison/contrast essay for Week 4, next week, you will not include the material from this Rhetorical Analysis section. Rather, for Week 4, you will draw only from Sections I, III, and IV of this document (the introduction paragraph, the body outline, and the conclusion paragraph). Part II, here, simply asks you to consider your writing situation before you write your essay.
Use this section analyze your rhetorical situation of writer, purpose, and reader by responding to the two following prompts as explained below.
• Identify personal and larger contexts, such as why it’s important to you to compare/contrast these two items, how comparing/contrasting these items impacts the immediate world around you and possibly even larger venues, like your state, your country, the world.
[Write your response here in at least three complete sentences.]
• Identify your audience and discuss why your audience will be and should be interested in reading your essay. What need are you filling for the reader? What about this essay will enrich the reader’s life? What will your reader enjoy? Are there elements of your topic and approach that may bore or even offend a reader? How will you handle this? Do new ideas for details and approaches arise when you perform this audience analysis? Which ideas, and how will you use them?
[Write your response here in at least 5-7 complete sentences.]
*Remember: Everything above is pre-thinking. You will not include the above material in your Week 4 essay. Everything below will represent the contents of the essay you fully compose in Week 4.
Now, you will plan your comparison/contrast essay by writing your introduction paragraph, outlining the body paragraphs, and writing your conclusion paragraph. Everything that you write below will be further developed into your full comparison/contrast essay in Week 4.
II. INTRODUCTION PARAGRAPH FOR YOUR COMPARISON/CONTRAST ESSAY
In this section of the outline, draft a possible introductory paragraph for your comparison/contrast essay. Remember that the introduction paragraph should engage the reader, offer some overview of your topic, and end in a thesis statement. Your thesis statement should be clear, focused, and narrow in scope and should express a specific comparison/contrast approach.
[Insert full introduction paragraph, with attention-grabber, introduction of main ideas, and thesis statement here.]
III. THE OUTLINE
Using specific details, create a brief outline of at least three points, stating whether your outline is in blocked or point-by-point style, and using your sub-categories to fill in rich details and analysis.
[Here, note whether you are using item-by-item style or point-by-point style and why (see the Week 3 Lesson to fully understand the differences). You must compose at least 2 complete sentences for this section.]
I. [Note your first main point in a complete sentence. Be sure this point supports your choice of blocked or point-by-point style- i.e., is this a point about how your two items are similar in a specific way? Or is it a point in which you’ll be addressing just one of your two items?]
A. [Based on your topic sentence above, list three sentences of support, being as detailed, engaging, and energetic as possible, making your reader see the relevance and importance of these ideas and images. “A.” here will be your first sentence of support for your topic sentence “I”]
B. [Follow the same instructions as above, but now please write your second support item for this paragraph.]
C. [Follow the same instructions as above, but now please write your second support item for this paragraph.]
II. [Note your second main point in a complete sentence. Be sure this point supports your choice of blocked or point-by-point style- i.e., is this a point about how your two items are similar in a specific way? Or is it a point in which you’ll be addressing just one of your two items?]
A. [Based on your topic sentence above, list three sentences of support, being as detailed, engaging, and energetic as possible, making your reader see the relevance and importance of these ideas and images. “A” here will be your first sentence of support for your topic sentence “I”]
B. [Follow the same instructions as above, but now please write your second support item for this paragraph.]
C. [Follow the same instructions as above, but now please write your second support item for this paragraph.]
III. [Note your third main point in a complete sentence. Be sure this point supports your choice of blocked or point-by-point style- i.e., is this a point about how your two items are similar in a specific way? Or is it a point in which you’ll be addressing just one of your two items?]
A. [Based on your topic sentence above, list three sentences of support, being as detailed, engaging, and energetic as possible, making your reader see the relevance and importance of these ideas and images. “A” here will be your first sentence of support for your topic sentence “I”]
B. [Follow the same instructions as above, but now please write your second support item for this paragraph.]
C. [Follow the same instructions as above, but now please write your second support item for this paragraph.]
IV. CONCLUSION
In this section of the outline, draft a possible concluding paragraph. Your conclusion should summarize the overall findings and link to your purpose with a restatement of the thesis.
[Insert full conclusion paragraph, with transition, reiteration of overall point without restating the thesis word for word, and a look to the bigger picture, to leave your reader thinking about larger and/or future and/or personal implications.]
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