English 9 Formal Writing Outline

Learning Targets:

I can write effective formal texts that work to persuade readers.

I can use drafting and organizing strategies while writing to generate
text.

Essay Outline Packet

1. Define your topic. Begin by thinking about an argument you would like to
make. Answer the following questions:
What is an issue relevant to me or my peers?
What is an issue relevant to my school/community/country?
What is something I would like to write about?
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Final Topic:
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Brainstorm Space:

Introductory Paragraph/Thesis: Write a good thesis that gives the main

point of your argument and also points to the how you are going to support
that argument.
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Paragraph I.
Topic sentence: what is this paragraph/section going to prove? Remember,
the first main argument is the least compelling.
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Main Points of Paragraph I. Include any supporting evidence you are going to
use
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Paragraph II.
Topic sentence: what is this paragraph/section going to prove? Remember,
the second main argument is more compelling than the first.

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Main Points of Paragraph II. Include any supporting evidence you are going
to use
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Paragraph III.
Topic sentence: what is this paragraph/section going to prove? Remember,
the last argument is most compelling of all.
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Main Points of Paragraph III. Include any supporting evidence you are going
to use
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Conclusion: Begin by restating the thesis. Change it but make sure that
you are re-iterating a point you have already made, not making a new
argument.
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Points you wish to include in your concluding paragraph. Remember, no new
information, just reminding the reader of what you have already argued.

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Jethro McGuilicuty
English 10-3
Mr. Kralt
January 27, 2208

Title is centered and follows the date

by two lines.

students name (fake, obviously)

class name
teachers name
date that paper is to be handed in

The information is singlespaced and in size 12

Times New Roman Font.

Great English Paper Title

This is where the essay would begin. Be sure that you indent your first paragraph. You
will continue to use only size 12 Times New Roman Font but you must make sure that the entire
essay is double spaced.

When you start your second paragraph there are more things to remember. Do not forget
to indent it, just as you did with the first one. Do not leave any sort of extra-large space between
the paragraphs; that is what the indentation was for. Definitely do not try to shrink or stretch the
margins. It makes the reader think either you do not have a lot to say and that you are trying to
hide the fact that you are shallow or that you have said too much and that you are pretending that
your essay is not wordy and boring. Continue to write with the format you have been using.
Other things that you do not need to include in formal essays and which are distracting to
the reader are cheap looking pictures that you find in clip art, those oversized banners that look
like they are from a Safeway flyer, word art, backgrounds, coloured fonts, and so on and so forth.
Basically, do not try to spice up your essay with gimmicky little extras that do nothing more than
distract the reader and cheapen your work.
Keep the format of your essays simple. They will look more professional, will be easier
to read, and will make the teacher a lot happier.

Paper Rubric
1
The paper has no clear sense of
purpose or central theme. The
reader must make inferences
based on sketchy or missing
details
Errors in spelling, punctuation,
capitalization, usage and
grammar and/or paragraphing
repeatedly distract the reader
and make text difficult to read.
Citations hardly attempted.
The writing lacks a clear sense of
direction.

3
The writer is beginning to
define the topic, even though
development is still basic or
general.

5
The paper is clear and focused. It
holds the readers attention.
Relevant support and details enrich
the central theme.

The writer shows reasonable

control over a limited range of
standard writing conventions.
Citations are attempted but
contain errors.

The writer demonstrates a good

grasp of standard writing
conventions. Citations in text and in
works cited free of errors.

The organizational structure is

strong enough to move the
reader through the text
without too much confusion.

Word Choice

The writer struggles with a

limited vocabulary.

The language is functional,

even if it lacks much energy.

Sentence Fluency

The reader has to practice quite

a bit in order to give this paper a
fair interpretive reading.

Voice

The writer seems uninvolved

with the topic and the audience.

The text hums along with a

steady beat, but tends to be
more businesslike than
musical.
The writer seems sincere, but
not fully engaged or involved.
The writing attempts formality
but is not compelling.

The organizational structure of this

paper enhances and showcases the
central idea or theme of the paper;
includes a satisfying introduction
and conclusion
Words convey the intended message
in a precise, interesting, and natural
way
The writing has an easy flow, rhythm
and cadence. Sentences are well
built.

Ideas

Conventions

Organization

The writer of this paper speaks

formally to the reader in a manner
that is individual, compelling,
engaging, and shows respect for the
audience.

/30
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