Essay outline format - DOC

							Scarlet Letter Literary Criticism outline format
Directions: Use the format below to create the outline for your Scarlet
Letter essay. Each component of the outline should be completed in FULL
sentences. Your supporting details should be specific and properly cited in
MLA format (keep in mind, you cite quotes, paraphrases and summaries)

  I.     Introduction
         a. Hook (Briefly address your topic)
         b. Author and title of novel, author and title of criticism
         c. A brief one-sentence summary of Scarlet Letter
         d. A brief one or two sentence summary of critical artilcle
         e. Thesis (What are your proving?)
                i. Avenue one
               ii. Avenue two
              iii. Avenue three (optional)

  II.    Body One (Avenue one/Main reason 1) linked with THESIS
         STATEMENT (a clear topic sentence with a good transition)

         a. Evidence from the SL that supports your avenue, including MLA
            citation
                i. Reason why supporting detail emphasizes and reaffirms thesis
         b. Evidence from critical article that supports your avenue, including MLA
            citation
                i. Reason why supporting detail emphasizes and reaffirms thesis
         c. Supporting Detail Three (either another quote from SL or critical
            article), including MLA citation
                i. Reason why supporting detail emphasizes and reaffirms thesis
         d. A good concluding sentence that wraps up that one avenue

  III.   Body Two (Avenue two/Main reason 2) linked with THESIS
         STATEMENT (a clear topic sentence with a good transition)

         a. Evidence from the SL that supports your avenue, including MLA
            citation
                i. Reason why supporting detail emphasizes and reaffirms thesis
         b. Evidence from critical article that supports your avenue, including MLA
            citation
                i. Reason why supporting detail emphasizes and reaffirms thesis
         c. Supporting Detail Three (either another quote from SL or critical
            article), including MLA citation
                i. Reason why supporting detail emphasizes and reaffirms thesis
         d. A good concluding sentence that wraps up that one avenue

  IV.    Body Three (Avenue three/Main reason 3) linked with THESIS
         STATEMENT (a clear topic sentence with a good transition)
     a. Evidence from the SL that supports your avenue, including MLA
        citation
            i. Reason why supporting detail emphasizes and reaffirms thesis
     b. Evidence from critical article that supports your avenue, including MLA
        citation
            i. Reason why supporting detail emphasizes and reaffirms thesis
     c. Supporting Detail Three (either another quote from SL or critical
        article), including MLA citation
            i. Reason why supporting detail emphasizes and reaffirms thesis
     d. A good concluding sentence that wraps up that one avenue

V.   Conclusion –should work harder than your introduction!
     a. Restate thesis and avenues
     b. You are also saying why this important to think about or what the
        larger meaning might be.
     c. Explain what Hawthorne is suggesting about how this character or
        symbol functioned in the story.
     d. Explain how this character/symbol teaches the reader something
        important.
     e. Suggestion the “lesson” or question the reader is to consider through
        this example. Remember: you are not only summarizing, but
        synthesizing what it means and why it is important.


        Please remember a works cited page!