14 Sep Research Outline Assignment Prompt: Research Outline
The outline must be written in complete sentences. *There is a 300 word-minimum requirement for this assignment.
The outline must include: a central claim, three reasons, warrants, and paired evidence. The outline should also include at least one counterargument and one rebuttal.
ENG102_MH_V5 | Writing Assignment 4: Research Outline
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Assignment Prompt: Research Outline Assignment Prompt: Research Outline
Overview
The research outline serves as a stepping-stone between the planning and drafting phases of writing. This assignment gives you a chance to frame your future project, and put Toumlin’s method of argument into action, without having to make every element of the essay concrete. The research outline allows you to more proactively plan for a strong and solid essay, but also gives you the flexibility to change any elements that might require revision, before they are fully formed.
Expectations
By providing a blueprint for your future essay, the research outline helps you to:
Build an organizational strategy for your essay
Reinforce connections between the central claim, reasons, warrants, counter argument, and evidence
Determine what elements of the essay may require revision
Make structural, content, and organizational changes, in a manageable format
Requirements
Length/Development:
The outline must be written in complete sentences. *There is a 300 word-minimum requirement for this assignment. If the word-minimum is not met, your assignment may be returned with no grade and a resubmission will be required.
Organization:
The outline must include: a central claim, three reasons, warrants, and paired evidence. The outline should also include at least one counterargument and one rebuttal. Without all of these components included, your work may be returned with no grade and a resubmission will be required.
*You can add more categories, as you need them (but never less). For example, you may have 4 reasons, warrants, and supportive data for your claim, rather than the minimum of 3.
Component Content Conditions
Intro Main Claim/Thesis Statement
Top Tip: Use these three Strategies for Thesis Structure: Simple, Straightforward, and Strong.
Body
1. Reason 1
1.1 Warrant 1
1.1.1 Evidence
1.1.2 Counterargument & Rebuttal (optional)
Top Tip: Think about transitions and other stylistic elements, as you build each element.
(Only one counterargument and rebuttal is needed. Writers may choose where to place this.)
Body
2. Reason 2
2.1 Warrant 2
2.1.1. Evidence
2.1.2. Counterargument & Rebuttal (optional)
Top Tip: Consider the order you will use for these reasons/warrants. Are you going to start with your strongest point (reason 1), or end with it (reason 3)?
(Only one counterargument and rebuttal is needed. Writers may choose where to place this.)
Body
3. Reason 3
3.1 Warrant 3
3.1.1. Evidence
3.1.2 Counterargument & Rebuttal (Required)
Top Tip: Don’t forget to directly address the counterargument with a rebuttal. This is an essential element of argument writing.
(Only one counterargument and rebuttal is needed. Writers may choose where to place this. Note: The last "body" paragraph is a suggestion.)
Document Formatting: MLA formatting: Heading (name, assignment name, course name, date), original title, header (page numbers), line-spacing (single or double-spaced), 1” margins, and 12-point font size, Times New Roman or sans-serif font.
Genre/Style: Formal, numbered outline written using academic language. All ideas should be shared in complete sentences. See organization and example.
Sources: None formally needed for the purpose of documentation; however, you may want to note from “where” you found your evidence. See example.
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ENG102_MH_V5 | Writing Assignment 4: Research Outline
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Example: Color-Coded Research Outline Last Name 1
First Name Last Name
English Composition II
Research Outline
2 October 2021
Student Mental Health Essay Outline
Central Claim or Thesis: Elementary school students’ mental health was negatively affected by online schooling during the COVID-19
pandemic, and schools and parents must work together to make the mental health of these students a priority. (1)
Reason 1: Elementary school students’ mental health was negatively affected by online schooling during the COVID-19
pandemic due to these students being forced to learn in isolation in the home and subsequently missing out on the social
interaction that is so vital to positive mental health.(2)
1.1. Warrant 1: The social interaction in elementary school involves playing in the classroom and outside of the classroom,
such as at recess and in physical education. This play allows students to benefit mentally from positive interactions with
friends and from regular exercise.(3)
1.1.1. Evidence: According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, interacting in regular play with peers, typically
occurring at school, promotes positive mental health for school-age children. Children who engage in such peer play
are three times more resilient in the face of adversity than their peers who are homeschooled.(4)
Reason 2: Elementary school students’ mental health was also negatively affected by online schooling during the COVID-19
pandemic because these students weren’t able to get immediate support from their teacher.(2)
2.1. Warrant 2: Many elementary school students didn’t have a parent or caregiver with them throughout their online
school day to supplement the lack of live teacher support, leaving them feeling alone and unimportant.(3)
2.1.1. Evidence: Per the National Education Association, 8 out of 10 elementary age children did not have access to
a parent or caregiver to support them throughout their online school day. This lack of support often led to depression
in these children. (4)
Reason 3: Schools and parents must work together to make the mental health of these students a priority so they can learn how
to cope with hardships later in life and learn to reach out for help with their mental help in times of crisis.(2)
3.1. Warrant 3: Building such skills and knowledge for elementary school students, as well as an infrastructure for future
elementary school students, will lead to a lessening of the mental health crisis in the United States.(3)
3.1.1. Evidence: Swedish schools have an impressive track record with teaching mental health curriculum and
providing robust mental health services for their students. In turn, Swedish students report suffering from depression
and anxiety two times less than American students. (4)
3.1.2. Rebuttal & Counterargument: While on average public schools in the United States have less access
to funding than Swedish public schools for student mental health services, the difference in funding can be
made up by federal grants available thanks to COVID-relief packages.(5)
1. Central Claim or Thesis
2. Reasons
3. Warrants
4. Evidence
5. Rebuttal & Counterargument
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ENG102_MH_V5 | Writing Assignment 4: Research Outline
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Grading Guide: Research Outline ENG 102 Rubric: Research Outline
Grading Requirement: 300 words
Points
0-1
Points
2
Points
3
Thesis (Main Claim)
(10%)
Main point Reasons for arguing
The thesis is missing one or more of the three necessary elements: the main point, the reasons for arguing, and what the audience should see.
The thesis adequately expresses the main point, the reasons for arguing, and what the audience should see.
The thesis articulately expresses the main point, the reasons for arguing, and what the audience should see.
Reason, Warrant, Evidence 1
(20%) This section is missing one or more of the three necessary elements: the reason and/or warrant, and/or evidence.
This section adequately expresses the reason, warrant, evidence.
This section articulately and fully expresses the reason, warrant, and evidence.
Reason, Warrant, Evidence 2 (20%) This section is missing one or more of
the three necessary elements: the reason and/or warrant, and/or evidence.
This section adequately expresses the reason, warrant, evidence.
This section articulately and fully expresses the reason, warrant, and evidence.
Reason, Warrant, Evidence 3
(20%) This section is missing one or more of the three necessary elements: the reason and/or warrant, and/or evidence.
This section adequately expresses the reason, warrant, evidence.
This section articulately and fully expresses the reason, warrant, and evidence.
Counterargument and Rebuttal
(10%)
At least one counterargument and rebuttal is required.
At least one counterargument and/or rebuttal may or may not be present.
At least one counterargument and/or rebuttal may or may not be present.
At least one well-articulated counterargument and rebuttal logically supports the writer’s argument.
Language and Style (10%)
Word Choice and Vocabulary: Including stylistic considerations such as redundancy, repetition, awkwardness, audience awareness, and tone.
Overall, the writer’s use of language and style lacks development.
Overall, the writer’s use of language and style is proficient. Overall, the writer’s use of
language and style is excellent.
Mechanics, Grammar, Punctuation (5%)
Comma errors, comma splices, apostrophe errors, capitalization errors, semicolon errors, colon errors, typos/misspellings
Use Comp
