Global Humanities and Social Change

Writing Assignment #1
Instructor: Kevin Hart
Fall, 2021

outline of a thesis-based analysis of a text

Instructions:
Create an outline of a thesis-based textual-analysis paper. Choose from one of the prompts
below. When creating the outline, please use the “outline template” at the end of this document.

Prompts:

1.) What, for Plato, is the right path to knowledge? What, for Plato, is the right use of knowledge?
Would Plato approve or disapprove of the ways that Oedipus pursues and applies knowledge?
Drawing on Plato’s understanding of epistemology, write a thesis-based outline in which
you examine the significance of Oedipus’ approaches to the acquisition of knowledge.

2.) According to Aristotle’s theory of tragedy, a tragic character should have a flaw, and as a result
of that flaw, or error in judgment, tragedy befalls the character. Does Oedipus have one such
flaw which brings about the tragedy of the play? If so, what is the flaw, or where does he err, and
why is that significant for our understanding of the text? Or, by contrast, is Oedipus not to blame
for what befalls him – and, if so, why is that significant? Write a thesis-based outline in which
you examine the significance of Oedipus’ flaws in character for our understanding of the
play.

3.) Genesis is a collection of stories emphasizing God’s relationship to people. In Genesis God is in
the world, interacting with people. These interactions signify some of the values of Genesis.
According to a scene or scenes in Genesis, what is desirable? What is the good life? What marks
success or failure? Write a thesis-based outline in which you identify and argue for the
significance of a value in Genesis. Possible themes or values: family, material wealth,
hospitality, offspring, marriage, trade….

4.) The world of Genesis is patriarchal. Yet women often play pivotal roles in events in the book.
They make critical decisions and exercise agency and make changes in their individual lives, in
the lives of their families, and in broader human affairs. What to make of the ambivalent role of
 women in Genesis? Write a thesis-based outline in which you examine the significance of
women’s roles in Genesis.

5.) In The Gospel of Mark, Jesus teaches in various ways. At times he teaches with parables. At
times he teaches by giving people explicit instructions. He teaches through example. He teaches
through miracle. And these are just some of the ways he teaches! What is the significance of
these varied techniques of instruction, of any one given method of instruction, or of one specific
instance of teaching? Write a thesis-based outline in which you examine the significance of
Jesus’ methods of teaching in The Gospel of Mark.

6.) Like the world of Genesis, the world of The Gospel of Mark is patriarchal. Yet women play
pivotal roles in this world. What is the significance of Jesus’ relationship to the women of the
book? What does Mark suggest about the roles that women might have to play in the new
spiritual movement centered on Jesus? Write a thesis-based outline in which you examine the
roles of women in The Gospel of Mark.

7.) A topic of your own choice. If you would like to develop your own topic and thesis for the
outline, please come talk to Kevin about it. The thesis must be an argumentative claim about the
significance of some element in one of the texts we’ve read in class thus far – but otherwise you
are free to develop a topic that interests you.

Outline Template.
To create your outline, please use this template. Simply write your responses beneath each
section, then submit the whole template in this outline format.

1.) Introduction
(in 1-2 sentences, state your thesis claim. Don’t write a paragraph. Just your thesis, in simple
language.)

2.) Subpoint/Topic Sentence #1

(In 1-2 sentences, state your subpoint or topic sentence. Remember, a subpoint is a reason
why the reader should agree with your thesis claim. In a completed paper, it will appear as a
topic sentence at the beginning of a body paragraph. It should be debatable, specific, and
significant, just like a thesis.) Provide subpoint/topic sentence here:

a. Provide textual Evidence.

(Copy out a quote from the text) Quote here:

i. Interpret your textual evidence.

1. (In 2-3 sentences, explain how the quote above supports your
claim in your subpoint #1.) Write explanation here:

2. (In 1-2 sentences, explain how the quote above supports your
overall thesis claim, as stated in your introduction.) Write
Explanation here:

3.) Subpoint/Topic Sentence #2

(In 1-2 sentences, state your subpoint or topic sentence. Remember, a subpoint is a reason
why the reader should agree with your thesis claim. In a completed paper, it will appear as a
topic sentence at the beginning of a body paragraph. It should be debatable, specific, and
significant.) Provide subpoint/topic sentence here:

b. Provide textual Evidence.

(Copy out a quote from the text) Quote here:

i. Interpret your textual evidence.

1. (In 2-3 sentences, explain how the quote above supports your
claim in your subpoint #2.) Write explanation here:

2. (In 1-2 sentences, explain how the quote above supports your
overall thesis claim, as stated in your introduction.) Write
Explanation here:

4.) Subpoint/Topic Sentence #3

(In 1-2 sentences, state your subpoint or topic sentence. Remember, a subpoint is a reason
why the reader should agree with your thesis claim. In a completed paper, it will appear as a
topic sentence at the beginning of a body paragraph. It should be debatable, specific, and
significant.) Provide subpoint/topic sentence here:

c. Provide textual Evidence.

(Copy out a quote from the text) Quote here:

i. Interpret your textual evidence.

1. (In 2-3 sentences, explain how the quote above supports your
claim in your subpoint #3.) Write explanation here:

2. (In 1-2 sentences, explain how the quote above supports your
overall thesis claim, as stated in your introduction.) Write
Explanation here:

5.) Conclusion
(In 3-4 new sentences, using new language, summarize your thesis and main points)