Outline Format

Example prompt: Should the school day start one hour later?

Thesis: The school day should start one hour later because of the health benefits that students
would receive.

Body Para 1
Topic Sentence
Students would receive mental health benefits from the later start time
Evidence
-Significantly lowered risk of depression
-increased ability to learn with extra hour of sleep every night
Explanation
-later start time means more sleep
-students probably will not stay up later b/c homework time starts after dinner

Body Para 2
Topic Sentence
Physical health benefits for students
Evidence
Decreased risk of obesity, heart problems for people who wake up at sunrise (study)
Explanation
-Students often have to wake up before sunrise during the winter to make the bus
-Change in time = ability to enjoy these health benefits by waking up later

(Note: this thesis is an example of an open thesis. A closed thesis might read “The school day
should start one hour later because of the mental and physical health benefits that students would
receive.”)