The Moths by Helena Viramontes

Formal Outline for Essay Two: Classical Scheme of Argumentation

 

Follow this outline sentence by sentence when you write Essay Two. Be sure to lead up to your argumentative thesis in the introduction and begin each body paragraph (Section III-VI) with a topic sentence that refers back to a subtopic stated or suggested in the thesis.

Essay Two must include all parts of this outline. Part VII may be divided into two paragraphs if you prefer to separate the concession and the refutation, so you may have 8 or 9 paragraphs.

 

  1. Introduction (3-4 sentences)
  2. Introduce topic: State the author and title of the short story (in quotation marks)

and topic to capture the readers’ attention.

  1. Add more information about the topic to suggest the significance of the work.
  2. State thesis: Narrow topic more specifically and state your claim and suggest four

subtopics

 

  1. Expository paragraph: This paragraph demonstrates your expertise on

this topic and identifies terms or explains pertinent background information. (Ethical appeal) (5-7 Sentences) Refer to the links to Native American websites or Sherman Alexie’s website posted in Canvas or the introduction to the story by the editor of our anthology David Pike. You may want to present a personal anecdote that explains another aspect of your expertise related to this story. Use MLA style to cite any source that you include.

  1. State the topic: What kind of background information will you describe?

B.

C.

D.

E-F. Relate this information to your thesis.

 

III. Confirmation Section: Four paragraph body developing the evidence to support your            thesis. Include one or two quotes in each body paragraph.

Subtopic One (See alternate arrangement with only one quote in paragraph V and VI.

You may include either one or two quotes in each paragraph of the confirmation   section as long as you develop the paragraph with 7 or more sentences.

  1. Topic Sentence: State the topic of this paragraph and your claim about it.
  2. Elaborate on the topic
  3. Introduce a quote and state it. Use quotation marks and punctuate in MLA style!
  4. Explain your interpretation of the quote. Analyze its significance to your thesis!
  5. Introduce next quote and state it.
  6. Discuss the quote. Do not simply paraphrase or restate it: analyze it. Do not use the

words of the quote to discuss it.

  1. Transition to the next paragraph: close this paragraph and introduce the next.

 

  1. Confirmation Section: Subtopic Two
  2. Topic Sentence: State the topic of this paragraph and your claim about it.
  3. Elaborate on the topic
  4. Introduce a quote and state it. Use quotation marks and punctuate in MLA style!
  5. Explain your interpretation of the quote.
  6. Introduce next quote and state it.
  7. Discuss the quote by explaining how it supports your topic sentence.
  8. Transition to the next paragraph

 

  1. Confirmation Section: Subtopic Three
  2. Topic Sentence: Introduce the topic of this paragraph and your claim about it.
  3. Elaborate on the topic
  4. Introduce a quote and its context in the story and state it.
  5. Explain your interpretation of the quote.
  6. Continue to discuss the quote by analyzing a particular word choice in the passage.
  7. Discuss the symbolic aspect of the passage.
  8. Transition to the next paragraph

 

  1. Confirmation Section: Subtopic Four
  2. A. Topic Sentence: Introduce the topic of this paragraph and your claim about it.
  3. Elaborate on the topic
  4. Introduce a quote and its context in the story and state it.
  5. Explain its significance to your interpretation.
  6. Continue to discuss the quote by analyzing a particular word choice or

 punctuation mark or the sentence structure in the passage.

  1. Discuss the ramifications of the passage.
  2. Transition to the next paragraph

 

VII. Concession and Refutation (You may decide to divide this section into two             paragraphs by explaining an alternative interpretation of this story and its merits         in this paragraph; then, explaining its flaws in the next.)

  1. Topic sentence: Acknowledge a strong opposing view to your thesis
  2. Explain the appeal of this position and introduce a quote to explain it.
  3. Discuss the quote.
  4. Juxtapose this position to your position on the topic.
  5. Reemphasize why your interpretation is more appealing than your opponent’s.
  6. You may discuss another opposing argument or close with more explanation in

defense of your thesis.

 

VIII. Conclusion

  1. Restate (do not simply repeat) your thesis with a bolder claim.

B.-C. Add a message to leave a memorable question or message in your reader’s mind.