First, read your partner’s THESIS STATEMENT ONLY. Then, BEFORE you read the outline, do these two things:
- Write out the thesis in your own words.
- List the points you would need to see proved in order to prove this thesis.
Now, read your classmate’s outline through twice and answer the following questions.
- Does the outline cover all the points you listed in step 2, above (the points you would need to see proved)? If not, which ones are missing?
- Compare your outline to your classmate’s. Which one has more information? Does either one need more information or less information?
- Point to at least one place in your classmate’s outline where you did not understand the point, or needed more information, or where something felt like it did not belong in the paper.
- Which outline, yours or your classmate’s, has more levels represented—that is, main points, secondary points, third-level points, and so on? Does either one need to show more or fewer levels?
- Does your outline have a similar organization to that of your classmate’s (for example, from problem to solution, cause to effect or vice versa, general to specific or vice versa, etc.)? If they seem to follow a very different organization, try rearranging yours to make it similar to your classmate’s. Which version of yours do you like better? After doing this can you suggest any changes in your classmate’s outline?
- Does either your paper or your classmate’s include a counter-argument—that is, a section that presents an opposing view and then tries to answer or rebut it? If either does not, would it help? Can you think of a possible counter-argument? If you cannot, this is a sign that the thesis may not be arguable. See What is a Thesis for more on creating an arguable thesis.
