As I have emphasized, expository writing at this level must
have an open organizational scheme capable of dealing with the complexities of
the kind of analysis we have been performing. Instead of shoehorning our ideas into a static and generally
unforgiving structure, we need to think of the GOALS of each part or section of
our essay and then organize them accordingly. This exercise intends to have you test the organizational
structure of your essay to make sure it is responsive to the LOGIC of your
thesis and not simply a structure searching for appropriate ideas (think of a
Christmas tree waiting for ornamentation).
Using the logic of your THESIS as a guide, fill out the rest
of this form:
Section One (Introduction).
Contextualizing claims (not your thesis, but the ideas that
need to be established BEFORE you introduce your main claim):
#1
#2
#3
Etc.
Section Two (The Body; the most elaborate and
detailed section of the essay)
Supportive Point #1:
How does this point relate to your thesis, i.e. what does it
contribute to your overall analysis?
Supportive Point #2:
How does this point relate to your thesis, i.e. what does it
contribute to your overall analysis?
Supportive Point #3:
How does this point relate to your thesis, i.e. what does it
contribute to your overall analysis?
Supportive Point #4:
How does this point relate to your thesis, i.e. what does it
contribute to your overall analysis?
Supportive Point #5:
How does this point relate to your thesis, i.e. what does it
contribute to your overall analysis?
Supportive Point #6:
How does this point relate to your thesis, i.e. what does it
contribute to your overall analysis?
Etc.
Section Three (The conclusion):
What might we say about your thesis that has not already
been said?
How might we anticipate the next set of BIG IDEAS related to
your thesis?
How might we apply your analysis to another relevant set of
topics?
