Argument Essay Outline Template

Copy and paste this document into a new One Drive Word document. Fill out each bullet point
to the best of your ability regarding your topic. See Argument Essay Outline Filled Out Example
for reference to see what your filled out outline should look like. Submit your completed outline
to the Argument Essay Outline submission link by the due date and time given. Delete these
instructions.

Paragraph 1: Introduction
 Claim:
 Thesis statement (keep in mind the thesis statement should be ONE SENTENCE that
states your claim AND your supporting details):
 Hook:
 What background information do we need to know in order to understand the claim? Are
there definitions or key terms your audience needs to know?

Paragraph 2: Supporting Evidence Body Paragraph #1

 Topic Sentence (This sentence should present your first supporting detail):
 Explain your topic sentence.
 Works Cited citation for source #1:
 In-text citation for source #1:
 Explain evidence: How should we read or interpret the evidence you are providing? How
does this evidence prove your point? Can be opinion based and this part is 1-3 sentences.
 My additional ideas:

Paragraph 3: Supporting Evidence Body Paragraph #2

 Topic Sentence (This sentence should present your first supporting detail):
 Explain your topic sentence.
 Works Cited citation for source #2:
 In-text citation for source #2:
 Explain evidence: How should we read or interpret the evidence you are providing? How
does this evidence prove your point? Can be opinion based and this part is 1-3 sentences.
 My additional ideas:

(Optional) Paragraph 4: Supporting Evidence Body Paragraph #3

 Topic Sentence (This sentence should present your first supporting detail):
 Explain your topic sentence.
 Works Cited citation for source #3:
 In-text citation for source #3:
 Explain evidence: How should we read or interpret the evidence you are providing? How
does this evidence prove your point? Can be opinion based and this part is 1-3 sentences.
 My additional ideas:

Counterargument Paragraph: (Purpose: to anticipate your readers objections and make

yourself sound more objective, knowledgeable, and reasonable)
  Counterargument:
 Refutation:

Concluding paragraph The purpose of your conclusion should be to remind readers of your
argument and supporting evidence, tell readers why we should care about your paper, and make
it clear what readers should take away from the essay/your point? Do not introduce entirely new
ideas in your conclusion
 Restate your paper’s overall claim and supporting evidence:
 Your conclusion should not simply restate your intro paragraph. If this happens, it may
indicate that you have not done enough critical thinking (since you ended up right where
you started).
 I will leave my reader thinking by writing a
o question:
o suggestion:
o or reflection: