OUTLINE
Research Paper Outline
English 2332, Book/Film Comparison
Either on your computer or on loose leaf paper, fill out the following. Label each section (i.e. “Introduction”, “Par 1”, etc. Then, number your sentences (i.e. 1, 2, 3, 4…). Fill in whatever information the number is asking you for. This does not have to be in paragraph format—just write sentences that correspond to the information being asked.
Introduction:
1. Lead-In [Gets audience hooked on the general “topic” or “theme” of the work (Love? War?) but does not provide any specific detail about the actual book or film.
2. Thesis [Mentions titles, authors, directors and links those works to the theme or topic you brought up in the lead-in. It also contains evaluative key words (brilliantly, effectively, entertaining, etc.).
3. Synopsis [In 1-3 sentences, you provide the “gist” of the main plot of the story(ies), as well as provide a context for who the characters are; in other words, these sentences tell us what the story is about and who it revolves around.]
4. Transition [Links the introduction to whatever the first body paragraph is about.]
BODY PAR 1:
1. Topic Statement [Clearly spells out (without saying “I am going to talk about” or “this paragraph will discuss” the ONE topic of this particular paragraph. For this paper, par. 1 should be a comparison of the characters in the book to the actors on the screen if you are doing “Iliad” but may differ if you are doing “Symposium”.
2. Proof 1, 2, 3. You need at least 3 sentences that give examples (or “proof”) of the statement you have made in your topic. For example, if your topic statement says something about the actors adequately fulfilling their roles on the screen, then you’d give at least 3 examples of this (main actors then supporting cast), including quotes from your reviews to back up your evaluation. You may have more than 3 sentences, but you do need at least 3 examples AND at least 3 quotes from your sources worked in to those examples.
[For the purposes of this outline, list “2., 3., 4.” And an example next to each number.
5. Transition to that wraps up this topic and transitions to the next.
BODY PAR 2:
This paragraph contains the same elements as body 1. Number your paper 1-5, and list the topic statement, 3 “proofs”, and a transition. Remember that you need quotes to back up your “proofs”, as well as adequate discussion. If you are writing about “Iliad”, then this paragraph might compare the setting of the story to the props and cinematography of the film.
BODY PAR 3:
Same as other body paragraphs. List your topic, 3 proofs, and a transition. If you are writing about “Iliad”, this paragraph may discuss the themes of the story and what elements cause a shift of those themes as it is put onto film.
Conclusion: [Do not start with “in conclusion”.]
1. Gives a one sentence overview/synopsis of the essay, including a re-mentioning of the titles, author, and director.
2. Re-establishes the goal of the film and if the goal was reached (to entertain, to reinvent, to make a literal interpretation, etc.) and its value as a piece of art.
3. Discusses the audience of the film (who’d enjoy it?) and what the critics thought of the film.
4. Establishes the connection of the book and film.
5. Sums up the social commentary, or the message, of the works.
6. A good idea is to end with a tie-in to your lead-in or title to bring your essay full circle.
Symposium & Hedwig: Because your pairing is not a literal interpretation but a creative one, you will be organizing your paper differently. I have found that the best organizational pattern is to choose 3 speeches from “Symposium” and show how “Hedwig” takes inspiration (through character, music, plot, theme, etc.) from those speeches. However, you can still fill out this outline according to that organizational pattern.
NOTE: Although body paragraphs 1, 2, and 3 ask for 3 “proofs” or discussion points, this does not mean that your paragraph is limited to that amount of sentences. While it is true that a paragraph must contain at least 5 sentences to be “complete” and that most college essays follow a 5 paragraph, 5 sentence per paragraph format, this is a RESEARCH PAPER and therefore should be longer. Each body paragraph should be approximately 7-10 sentences. Paragraphs should be balanced in length (you shouldn’t have a 5 sentence paragraph followed by a 10 sentence one… they should all look about the same length).
English 2332, Book/Film Comparison
Either on your computer or on loose leaf paper, fill out the following. Label each section (i.e. “Introduction”, “Par 1”, etc. Then, number your sentences (i.e. 1, 2, 3, 4…). Fill in whatever information the number is asking you for. This does not have to be in paragraph format—just write sentences that correspond to the information being asked.
Introduction:
1. Lead-In [Gets audience hooked on the general “topic” or “theme” of the work (Love? War?) but does not provide any specific detail about the actual book or film.
2. Thesis [Mentions titles, authors, directors and links those works to the theme or topic you brought up in the lead-in. It also contains evaluative key words (brilliantly, effectively, entertaining, etc.).
3. Synopsis [In 1-3 sentences, you provide the “gist” of the main plot of the story(ies), as well as provide a context for who the characters are; in other words, these sentences tell us what the story is about and who it revolves around.]
4. Transition [Links the introduction to whatever the first body paragraph is about.]
BODY PAR 1:
1. Topic Statement [Clearly spells out (without saying “I am going to talk about” or “this paragraph will discuss” the ONE topic of this particular paragraph. For this paper, par. 1 should be a comparison of the characters in the book to the actors on the screen if you are doing “Iliad” but may differ if you are doing “Symposium”.
2. Proof 1, 2, 3. You need at least 3 sentences that give examples (or “proof”) of the statement you have made in your topic. For example, if your topic statement says something about the actors adequately fulfilling their roles on the screen, then you’d give at least 3 examples of this (main actors then supporting cast), including quotes from your reviews to back up your evaluation. You may have more than 3 sentences, but you do need at least 3 examples AND at least 3 quotes from your sources worked in to those examples.
[For the purposes of this outline, list “2., 3., 4.” And an example next to each number.
5. Transition to that wraps up this topic and transitions to the next.
BODY PAR 2:
This paragraph contains the same elements as body 1. Number your paper 1-5, and list the topic statement, 3 “proofs”, and a transition. Remember that you need quotes to back up your “proofs”, as well as adequate discussion. If you are writing about “Iliad”, then this paragraph might compare the setting of the story to the props and cinematography of the film.
BODY PAR 3:
Same as other body paragraphs. List your topic, 3 proofs, and a transition. If you are writing about “Iliad”, this paragraph may discuss the themes of the story and what elements cause a shift of those themes as it is put onto film.
Conclusion: [Do not start with “in conclusion”.]
1. Gives a one sentence overview/synopsis of the essay, including a re-mentioning of the titles, author, and director.
2. Re-establishes the goal of the film and if the goal was reached (to entertain, to reinvent, to make a literal interpretation, etc.) and its value as a piece of art.
3. Discusses the audience of the film (who’d enjoy it?) and what the critics thought of the film.
4. Establishes the connection of the book and film.
5. Sums up the social commentary, or the message, of the works.
6. A good idea is to end with a tie-in to your lead-in or title to bring your essay full circle.
Symposium & Hedwig: Because your pairing is not a literal interpretation but a creative one, you will be organizing your paper differently. I have found that the best organizational pattern is to choose 3 speeches from “Symposium” and show how “Hedwig” takes inspiration (through character, music, plot, theme, etc.) from those speeches. However, you can still fill out this outline according to that organizational pattern.
NOTE: Although body paragraphs 1, 2, and 3 ask for 3 “proofs” or discussion points, this does not mean that your paragraph is limited to that amount of sentences. While it is true that a paragraph must contain at least 5 sentences to be “complete” and that most college essays follow a 5 paragraph, 5 sentence per paragraph format, this is a RESEARCH PAPER and therefore should be longer. Each body paragraph should be approximately 7-10 sentences. Paragraphs should be balanced in length (you shouldn’t have a 5 sentence paragraph followed by a 10 sentence one… they should all look about the same length).
