An attention grabbing hook to open your paper A preview of the main points of the paper Your thesis statement
For example, you may be writing a research paper about climate change on Mt. Hood in Portland, Oregon. Your thesis may focus on how the climate systems on Mt. Hood have been affected by climate change, specifically global warming and the effects of these changes. You may then create section headings like: The Geological Profile of Mt. Hood, The Climate Systems on Mt. Hood, The Recent Climate Changes on Mt. Hood via Global Warming, The Effect of Climate Change on the Local Economy, and The Effect of Climate Change on the Biology and Wildlife. Do not go overboard on section headings, as the annotated outline should be concise and to the point. Most annotated outlines are no longer than two to two and a half pages long, with double spaces between each section.
For example, under one section heading, The Geological Profile of Mt. Hood, you may include two paragraph headings: The Glaciers of Mt. Hood and The Forests of Mt. Hood.
For example, under one paragraph heading, The Glaciers of Mt. Hood, you may have this paragraph topic sentence: “The disappearing glaciers on Mt. Hood are clear examples of the effect of global warming on Oregon’s highest mountain. ”
For example, under the paragraph heading, The Glaciers of Mt. Hood, you may use one supporting example from a recent geological survey of the largest glacier on the mountain, Eliot Glacier, showing how the glacier is receding. You may then also use a recent geological survey of Palmer snowfields, which was downgraded from a glacier to a snowfield due to significant receding of the glacier. Your content summary can be one to two lines that explain how the supporting evidence connects back to your thesis. For example: “The drastic receding of Palmer Glacier and the continued receding of Eliot Glacier both show how the rises in the Earth’s temperature have caused substantial glacial melting and the loss of at least one key glacial body on the mountain. ” You should then include a closing sentence that transitions from one paragraph to the next paragraph. This will help you ensure your paper flows well and moves effectively from paragraph to paragraph and section to section.
A rephrasing of your thesis statement Concluding details A final line or clincher which reinforces your thesis
You should also note any research that may be useful as supporting evidence for your paragraph headings. Identifying this before you dive into the annotated outline will save you time, as you will not need to flip through your research as you put the outline together.
For example, your thesis statement for a paper on how the climate systems on Mt. Hood have been affected by climate change, specifically global warming and the effects of these changes may be: “Due to global warming, the local economy and the biology and wildlife of Mt. Hood are under threat and face possible extinction in the next fifty years. ” From this thesis, you may then create section headings that will back up your thesis, or your paper’s claim. For example: The Geological Profile of Mt. Hood, The Climate Systems on Mt. Hood, The Recent Climate Changes on Mt. Hood via Global Warming, The Effect of Climate Change on the Local Economy, and The Effect of Climate Change on the Biology and Wildlife.
INTRODUCTION Attention grabber/ “hook”: “Oregon’s highest peak, Mt. Hood is known for its pristine snow and icy blue glaciers. But the most well known volcano in the state is at risk of becoming barren and dry in the next fifty years due to global warming. ” Preview of main points: “This paper will look at how global warming is negatively affecting the biology and wildlife on Mt. Hood, as well as the local economy that thrives on ski resorts and winter sports. ” Thesis statement: “Due to global warming, the local economy and the biology and wildlife of Mt. Hood are under threat and face possible extinction in the next fifty years. ” SECTION HEADING 1: The Geological Profile of Mt. Hood Paragraph topic sentence: The Glaciers of Mt. Hood, “The disappearing glaciers on Mt. Hood are clear examples of the effect of global warming on Oregon’s highest mountain. ” Evidence/supporting point 1: Past receding of Palmer Glacier and downgrade to snow field, relevant quotations from sources. Evidence/supporting point 2: Current receding of Eliot Glacier, relevant quotations from sources. Content summary: “The drastic receding of Palmer Glacier and the continued receding of Eliot Glacier both show how the rises in the Earth’s temperature have caused substantial glacial melting and the loss of at least one key glacial body on the mountain. ” Closing sentence: “However, the glaciers of Mt. Hood are not the only threatened climate area on the mountain, as the biology and wildlife in the forests of Mt. Hood are also being drastically affected by rising temperatures. ” Paragraph topic sentence Evidence/supporting point 1 Evidence/supporting point 2 Content summary Closing sentence SECTION HEADING 2: The Climate Systems on Mt. Hood Paragraph topic sentence Evidence/supporting point 1 Evidence/supporting point 2 Content summary Closing sentence Paragraph topic sentence Evidence/supporting point 1 Evidence/supporting point 2 Content summary Closing sentence SECTION HEADING 3: The Recent Climate Changes on Mt. Hood via Global Warming Paragraph topic sentence Evidence/supporting point 1 Evidence/supporting point 2 Content summary Closing sentence Paragraph topic sentence Evidence/supporting point 1 Evidence/supporting point 2 Content summary Closing sentence SECTION HEADING 4: The Effect of Climate Change on the Local Economy Paragraph topic sentence Evidence/supporting point 1 Evidence/supporting point 2 Content summary Closing sentence Paragraph topic sentence Evidence/supporting point 1 Evidence/supporting point 2 Content summary Closing sentence SECTION HEADING 5: The Effect of Climate Change on the Biology and Wildlife Paragraph topic sentence Evidence/supporting point 1 Evidence/supporting point 2 Content summary Closing sentence Paragraph topic sentence Evidence/supporting point 1 Evidence/supporting point 2 Content summary Closing sentence CONCLUSION Rephrasing of thesis statement Concluding details on topic Final sentence/clincher
You should also note any research that may be useful as supporting evidence for your paragraph headings. Identifying this before you dive into the annotated outline will save you time, as you will not need to flip through your research as you put the outline together.
You will then need to use MLA style or APA style to create a citation for each reference. You will use these references in your annotated outline as supporting evidence for each section. [8] X Research source You can also include additional information for each reference. This can be one to two complete sentences that sum up the main ideas in the reference and how they relate to a main idea in your paper.
For example, your thesis statement for a paper on how the climate systems on Mt. Hood have been affected by climate change, specifically global warming and the effects of these changes may be: “Due to global warming, the local economy and the biology and wildlife of Mt. Hood are under threat and face possible extinction in the next fifty years. ” From this thesis, you may then create section headings that will back up your thesis, or your paper’s claim. For example: The Geological Profile of Mt. Hood, The Climate Systems on Mt. Hood, The Recent Climate Changes on Mt. Hood via Global Warming, The Effect of Climate Change on the Local Economy, and The Effect of Climate Change on the Biology and Wildlife.
INTRODUCTION Attention grabber/ “hook”: “Oregon’s highest peak, Mt. Hood is known for its pristine snow and icy blue glaciers. But the most well known volcano in the state is at risk of becoming barren and dry in the next fifty years due to global warming. ” Preview of main points: “This paper will look at how global warming is negatively affecting the biology and wildlife on Mt. Hood, as well as the local economy that thrives on ski resorts and winter sports. ” Thesis statement: “Due to global warming, the local economy and the biology and wildlife of Mt. Hood are under threat and face possible extinction in the next fifty years. ” SECTION HEADING 1: The Geological Profile of Mt. Hood Paragraph topic sentence: The Glaciers of Mt. Hood, “The disappearing glaciers on Mt. Hood are clear examples of the effect of global warming on Oregon’s highest mountain. ” Evidence/supporting point 1: Past receding of Palmer Glacier and downgrade to snow field, relevant quotations from reference. Reference: Pacific Northwest Regional Assessment Group, 1999, Impacts of Variability and Change: Pacific Northwest, JISAO Climate Impacts Group / NOAA. The PNW Regional Assessment Group looks at the history of Palmer Glacier and how its mass has shrunk over the past twenty years. This reference also explores how global warming contributed to the shrinkage of Palmer Glacier. Evidence/supporting point 2: Current receding of Eliot Glacier, relevant quotations from reference. Reference: National Assessment Synthesis Team / US Global Change Research Program, 2000, Climate Change Impacts on the United States: Potential Consequences of Climate Variability and Change, Cambridge University Press. This reference discusses how climate change is affecting the climate of the United States, including the affect on glaciers in the United States. Content summary: “The drastic receding of Palmer Glacier and the continued receding of Eliot Glacier both show how the rises in the Earth’s temperature have caused substantial glacial melting and the loss of at least one key glacial body on the mountain. ” Closing sentence: “However, the glaciers of Mt. Hood are not the only threatened climate area on the mountain, as the biology and wildlife in the forests of Mt. Hood are also being drastically affected by rising temperatures. ” Paragraph topic sentence Evidence/supporting point 1 Evidence/supporting point 2 Content summary Closing sentence SECTION HEADING 2: The Climate Systems on Mt. Hood Paragraph topic sentence Evidence/supporting point 1 Evidence/supporting point 2 Content summary Closing sentence Paragraph topic sentence Evidence/supporting point 1 Evidence/supporting point 2 Content summary Closing sentence SECTION HEADING 3: The Recent Climate Changes on Mt. Hood via Global Warming Paragraph topic sentence Evidence/supporting point 1 Evidence/supporting point 2 Content summary Closing sentence Paragraph topic sentence Evidence/supporting point 1 Evidence/supporting point 2 Content summary Closing sentence SECTION HEADING 4: The Effect of Climate Change on the Local Economy Paragraph topic sentence Evidence/supporting point 1 Evidence/supporting point 2 Content summary Closing sentence Paragraph topic sentence Evidence/supporting point 1 Evidence/supporting point 2 Content summary Closing sentence SECTION HEADING 5: The Effect of Climate Change on the Biology and Wildlife Paragraph topic sentence Evidence/supporting point 1 Evidence/supporting point 2 Content summary Closing sentence Paragraph topic sentence Evidence/supporting point 1 Evidence/supporting point 2 Content summary Closing sentence CONCLUSION Rephrasing of thesis statement Concluding details on topic Final sentence/clincher
