Research Outline

Binder Section: Writing/Projects

Class Debates: Research Brief Outline

  1. I.                   Introduction
    1. Hook (Begin with an interesting or surprising fact, a direct quote, a question to pose to the audience, an interesting comparison, or an attention-grabbing story – all of which would relate to your debate topic): ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
    2. Bridge (If necessary, explain the meaning of the hook you chose and present the research/debate question to your audience): ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
    3. Thesis Statement (State your position in response to the research/debate question and make sure it is arguable, it answers the research question, it explains how or why you know the argument is strong, it can be supported with evidence, and it is a single sentence): ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

  1. II.                Body Paragraph 1: Present reason #1 why your position is correct.
    1. Topic Sentence (Insert main argument #1 from research brief): ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
    2. Evidence (Insert evidence from research brief to support the main argument): ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
    3. Commentary Sentence 1 (Insert explanation from research brief about the importance of the evidence just provided – HOW does this evidence explain WHY you are right???): ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
    4. More Evidence/More Commentary (Do you have more evidence and/or more commentary to add to support the main argument in this paragraph?  If so, do so here): ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
    5. e.      Summary Sentence (Briefly summarize the main point of this paragraph and transition to the next): ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 

 

  1. III.             Body Paragraph 2: Present reason #2 why your position is correct.
    1. Topic Sentence (Insert main argument #2 from research brief): ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
    2. Evidence (Insert evidence from research brief to support the main argument): ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
    3. Commentary Sentence 1 (Insert explanation from research brief about the importance of the evidence just provided – HOW does this evidence explain WHY you are right???): ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

  1. More Evidence/More Commentary (Do you have more evidence and/or more commentary to add to support the main argument in this paragraph?  If so, do so here): ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
  2. Summary Sentence (Briefly summarize the main point of this paragraph and transition to the next): ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

  1. IV.              Body Paragraph 3: Present one argument you expect the OTHER side to make and offer a counter-argument.
    1. Topic Sentence Part 1 (Insert main argument from research brief that supports the other side of the debate):

Example: Opponents may say that… ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

  1. Topic Sentence Part 2 (Tell your audience WHY the opponent’s argument is wrong):

Example: This argument is incorrect (or weak) because… ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

  1. Evidence (Insert evidence from research brief to support your counter-argument): ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

  1. Commentary Sentence (Insert explanation from research brief about the importance of the evidence just provided – HOW does this evidence explain WHY you are right AND your opponent is wrong???): ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
  2. More Evidence/More Commentary (Do you have more evidence and/or more commentary to add to support the main argument in this paragraph?  If so, do so here): ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
  3. Summary Sentence (Briefly summarize the main point of this paragraph and transition to the next): ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

  1. V.                 Body Paragraph 4: Present one more argument you expect the OTHER side to make and offer a counter-argument.
    1. Topic Sentence Part 1 (Insert main argument from research brief that supports the other side of the debate):

Example: Opponents may say that… ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

  1. Topic Sentence Part 2 (Tell your audience WHY the opponent’s argument is wrong):

Example: This argument is incorrect (or weak) because… ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

  1. Evidence (Insert evidence from research brief to support your counter-argument): ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
  2. Commentary Sentence (Insert explanation from research brief about the importance of the evidence just provided – HOW does this evidence explain WHY you are right AND your opponent is wrong???): ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
  3. More Evidence/More Commentary (Do you have more evidence and/or more commentary to add to support the main argument in this paragraph?  If so, do so here): ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
  4. Summary Sentence (Briefly summarize the main point of this paragraph and transition to the next): ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
  5. VI.              Conclusion
    1. Restate Thesis (using different words): ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
    2. Lesson Statement (What lesson do you want your audience to walk away understanding?):

Example: If my readers should walk away understanding one thing, it should be…

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