Final Source Check and Formal Outline
On Dec. 1st and 2nd, you will submit your formal outline and your complete set of source cards for your
Graduation Project paper. The format for the formal outline is given below. You will use complete
sentences, but not more than one for each letter or Roman numeral.
This is an outline of each topic you will discuss in your paper; it is not your paper in its entirety, and it is
not structured according to how many paragraphs you must devote to each topic. You will have to
include MUCH more elaboration in your paper, and you get to decide how many paragraphs you will use
for each topic.
You should, however, write this outline as though it were binding. While I won’t prevent you from
changing it, you want to know exactly what your claims, evidence, warrants, counterclaims, and bits of
elaboration are, what sources you will use and when, and in what order you will present it all before you
sit down to draft your paper. Trust me; this will make your life easier when it really counts!
The third counterclaim is optional, as indicated by the highlighting.
I. Introduction
a. Thesis statement [give the WHOLE thing!]
II. Claim 1: write the WHOLE thing.
a. Evidence 1: in one sentence, explain this evidence.
i. As lower case Roman numerals, list EACH source you will use to support Evidence 1.
ii. Use as many lower-case Roman numerals as necessary.
b. Warrant 1: In one sentence, explain why or how the data supports the claim.
i. As lower case Roman numerals, give, in one sentence each, any elaboration you will include.
ii. Use as many lower-case Roman numerals as necessary
c. Evidence 2: in one sentence, explain this evidence.
i. As lower case Roman numerals, list EACH source you will use to support Evidence 2.
ii. Use as many lower-case Roman numerals as necessary.
d. Warrant 2: In one sentence, explain why or how the data supports the claim.
i. As lower case Roman numerals, give, in one sentence each, any elaboration you will include.
ii. Use as many lower-case Roman numerals as necessary
e. Counterclaim 1: In one sentence, summarize the counterclaim
i. As lower case Roman numerals, list EACH source you will use to support Counterclaim 1
ii. Use as many lower-case Roman numerals as necessary
f. Warrant for Counterclaim 1: In one sentence, explain why or how counterclaim data supports
counterclaim.
i. As lower case Roman numerals, give, in one sentence each, any elaboration you will include.
ii. Use as many lower-case Roman numerals as necessary.
g. Rebuttal 1: in one sentence, tell why you disagree with Counterclaim 1
i. As lower case Roman numerals, give, in one sentence each, any elaboration you will include.
ii. Use as many lower-case Roman numerals as necessary
III. Claim 2: write the WHOLE thing.
a. Evidence 1: in one sentence, explain this evidence.
i. As lower case Roman numerals, list EACH source you will use to support Evidence 1.
ii. Use as many lower-case Roman numerals as necessary.
b. Warrant 1: In one sentence, explain why or how the data supports the claim.
i. As lower case Roman numerals, give, in one sentence each, any elaboration you will include.
ii. Use as many lower-case Roman numerals as necessary
c. Evidence 2: in one sentence, explain this evidence.
i. As lower case Roman numerals, list EACH source you will use to support Evidence 2.
ii. Use as many lower-case Roman numerals as necessary.
d. Warrant 2: In one sentence, explain why or how the data supports the claim.
i. As lower case Roman numerals, give, in one sentence each, any elaboration you will include.
ii. Use as many lower-case Roman numerals as necessary
e. Counterclaim 1: In one sentence, summarize the counterclaim
i. As lower case Roman numerals, list EACH source you will use to support Counterclaim 1
ii. Use as many lower-case Roman numerals as necessary
f. Warrant for Counterclaim 1: In one sentence, explain why or how counterclaim data supports
counterclaim.
i. As lower case Roman numerals, give, in one sentence each, any elaboration you will include.
ii. Use as many lower-case Roman numerals as necessary.
g. Rebuttal 1: in one sentence, tell why you disagree with Counterclaim 1
i. As lower case Roman numerals, give, in one sentence each, any elaboration you will include.
ii. Use as many lower-case Roman numerals as necessary
IV. Claim 3: write the WHOLE thing.
a. Evidence 1: in one sentence, explain this evidence.
i. As lower case Roman numerals, list EACH source you will use to support Evidence 1.
ii. Use as many lower-case Roman numerals as necessary.
b. Warrant 1: In one sentence, explain why or how the data supports the claim.
i. As lower case Roman numerals, give, in one sentence each, any elaboration you will include.
ii. Use as many lower-case Roman numerals as necessary
c. Evidence 2: in one sentence, explain this evidence.
i. As lower case Roman numerals, list EACH source you will use to support Evidence 2.
ii. Use as many lower-case Roman numerals as necessary.
d. Warrant 2: In one sentence, explain why or how the data supports the claim.
i. As lower case Roman numerals, give, in one sentence each, any elaboration you will include.
ii. Use as many lower-case Roman numerals as necessary
e. Counterclaim 1: In one sentence, summarize the counterclaim
i. As lower case Roman numerals, list EACH source you will use to support Counterclaim 1
ii. Use as many lower-case Roman numerals as necessary
f. Warrant for Counterclaim 1: In one sentence, explain why or how counterclaim data supports
counterclaim.
i. As lower case Roman numerals, give, in one sentence each, any elaboration you will include.
ii. Use as many lower-case Roman numerals as necessary.
g. Rebuttal 1: in one sentence, tell why you disagree with Counterclaim 1
i. As lower case Roman numerals, give, in one sentence each, any elaboration you will include.
ii. Use as many lower-case Roman numerals as necessary
V. Conclusion
a. Write one sentence that mentions the long-term significance of what you’ve just written.
Final Source Check
With your formal outline, you will also turn in all fifteen sources. Please follow these instructions.
If instructions are not followed, ten points will be deducted.
Place the final version of your thesis on the top card.
Beneath the thesis, please place your primary source, clearly labeled and highlighted on
the front.
Beneath the primary source, please place your non-internet source, clearly labeled and
highlighted on the front.
Beneath the non-internet source, please place all sources that support your
counterargument, clearly labeled and highlighted on the front.
Beneath the counterargument source, please place all other sources. These do not need to
be labeled.