ENGL 1301 Fall 2021

Outline Worksheet

Introduction

a. List your rhetorical devices:

b. Title of your article and names of your authors:

c. Thesis statement: should include a summary of the article’s argument, the rhetorical devices you
will analyze, and whether or not you think the devices make the article’s argument more or less
effective (1-2 sentences):

Body

 Topic sentence for body paragraph #1 (rhetorical device should be clearly identified)

 List pieces of evidence from your article that support rhetorical device #1

Evidence 1:

Evidence 2:

 Provide your analysis for each piece of evidence. In other words, how does your evidence
support the main idea for body paragraph #1? (2+ sentences per piece of evidence)

 Concluding sentence for body paragraph #1 (should summarize the paragraph and
connect your analysis back to your thesis)
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 Topic sentence for body paragraph #2 (rhetorical device should be clearly identified)

 List pieces of evidence from your article that support rhetorical device #2

Evidence 1:

Evidence 2:

 Provide your analysis for each piece of evidence. In other words, how does your evidence
support the main idea for body paragraph #2? (2+ sentences per piece of evidence)

 Concluding sentence for body paragraph #2 (should summarize the paragraph and
connect your analysis back to your thesis)

 Topic sentence for body paragraph #3 (rhetorical device should be clearly identified)

 List pieces of evidence from your article that support rhetorical device #3

Evidence 1:

Evidence 2:
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 Provide your analysis for each piece of evidence. In other words, how does your evidence
support the main idea for body paragraph #3? (2+ sentences per piece of evidence)

 Concluding sentence for body paragraph #3 (should summarize the paragraph and
connect your analysis back to your thesis)

 Topic sentence for body paragraph #4 (rhetorical device should be clearly identified)

 List pieces of evidence from your article that support rhetorical device #4

Evidence 1:

Evidence 2:

 Provide your analysis for each piece of evidence. In other words, how does your evidence
support the main idea for body paragraph #4? (2+ sentences per piece of evidence)
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 Concluding sentence for body paragraph #4 (should summarize the paragraph and
connect your analysis back to your thesis)

Conclusion

a. Describe (1-2 sentences) your conclusion based on your reading of the article and how the rhetorical
devices used contribute to the effectiveness of the article

b. Describe (1 sentence) why your conclusion is important or significant. What can we learn from this
author’s use of rhetoric?

Critique Your Outline and Make a Plan for Revision

Respond to the following questions. Each of your responses should be at least 4 sentences.

1. Were you able to fill out all of the sections of the reverse outline worksheet? Where do you have trouble
providing content in the worksheet? What is your plan for generating content for those sections?

2. Do the main ideas/topic sentences for each of your body paragraphs connect to the thesis of your paper?
Would a reader have an easy time recognizing that connection? If not, what can you do to make that
connection clearer?

3. Does each body paragraph provide evidence from your article? If not, what can you do to strengthen the
evidentiary burden of those body paragraphs?

4. Does each body paragraph provide clear and detailed analysis, demonstrating how the evidence used
supports the main idea? If not, what can you do to strengthen the explanation that demonstrates how the
evidence supports the main idea?

5. Does your conclusion remind your reader of your overall thesis and explain the “big picture” of your
analysis of the rhetoric used in your article? If not, what can you do to address these reader expectations?