NROC Developmental English Foundations

Creating an Outline for an Analysis Essay

Learning Objective:

Outline a multi-paragraph analysis essay.

LESSON
Just as outlining helps you organize and record information that you hear and read, outlining helps you organize information and plan your writing when you are preparing to write an essayA short piece of writing that focuses on at least one main idea. Some essays are also focused on the author's unique point of view, making them personal or autobiographical, while others are focused on a particular literary, scientific, or political subject. , as well. Depending on the style of essay, the contentThe text in a writing that includes facts, thoughts, and ideas. The information that forms the body of the work. and the format of the outlineA preliminary plan for a piece of a writing, often in the form of a list. It should include a topic, audience, purpose, thesis statement, and main and supporting points. may vary, but all outlines contain the same basic elements.

In this lesson, you will learn how to develop an outline for an analysis essayA written evaluation of a topic, such as an article, piece of art, person’s life, etc. An analysis essay may include a summary of the subject, but is mostly used to evaluate and discuss: Is it good? Is it bad? Is it poorly written? Was the author misguided or very accurate?, which is a type of essay that demonstrates your exploration of an articleA non-fiction, often informative writing that forms a part of a publication, such as a magazine or newspaper., piece of art, person's life, and other topicsThe subject of a reading. . While you may summarize the topic at hand to provide context, an analysisTo analyze is to make a thoughtful and detailed study of something. An analysis is the end result of analyzing. is not a summaryA brief restatement of an author’s main idea and major supporting details. Summaries are factual and should be written in the third-person with an objective point of view.. Rather it is your evaluationTo make a judgment about the quality of something. For example, you can evaluate an essay by examining the accuracy of the information or the strength of the arguments. of the topic. Is it good? Is it bad? Is it poorly written? Was the authorA person who wrote a text. misguided or very accurate? Your instructor wants to know what your opinionPoint of view that shows a personal belief or bias and cannot be proven to be completely true. is, but you cannot stay in the realm of opinion. Instead, you must back up your opinion with evidenceFacts, statistics, or expert testimony that supports a claim.. This might consist of referring to passagesA short portion of a writing taken from a larger source, such as a book, article, speech, or poem. or presenting an expertSomeone who is very knowledgeable about a topic. opinion. Regardless of what opinion you take and how you might support it, outlining is an excellent technique to develop your ideas before you begin writing. You can also use your outline as you write to be sure that you stay on track.

Outlines can be useful at different stages of the writing processA series of steps that guides a writer through the process of gathering ideas, outlining, writing, and revising an essay, article, or story.. Some writers find it most useful to begin with an outline; this allows them to make sure they have all the information they need before they write a rough draftThe first version of a writing that will undergo rewriting, additions, and editing before it becomes the final draft.. These writers also find outlining useful because it helps them organize and develop the ideas for their writing. Other writers may prefer to use outlining as part of the revisionThe process of making changes to a work by editing and proofreading it to improve, correct, and increase clarity. process. These writers may wish to write a rough draft, and then organize the ideas from the draft into an outline as part of revising their writing.

Both tactics work when you are writing an analysis. If you are not sure what you want to say, writing the outline first may help you refine your ideas so you have a solid understanding of what you are going to write about. If you already know what you are going to write—for example, if you are writing about a topic of which you already have formed a strong opinion—it may be helpful to write a draft, and then outline the ideas as a way of creating a sound structure for your essay. You can also outline both before and after you write.

No matter when in the writing process you develop your outline, it will require you to organize your essay and see how it all relates. A good outline will also reveal any holes that you still have in your essay. Use the following outline as a guide for your own analysis essay; however, keep in mind that your essay may have more or fewer paragraphsA selection of a writing that is made up of sentences formed around one main point. Paragraphs are set apart by a new line and sometimes indentation., depending upon the scope of your topic.

Introduction
1. Hook
2. Background
3. Thesis
Body Paragraphs
1. Body Paragraph 1
  1. Main idea
  2. Evidence
  3. Analysis
  4. Link
2. Body Paragraph 2
  1. Main idea
  2. Evidence
  3. Analysis
  4. Link
3. Body Paragraph 3
  1. Main idea
  2. Evidence
  3. Analysis
  4. Link
Conclusion
1. Synthesis
2. Final impression

You can see that the above outline uses the MEAL conceptAn acronym that describes a method of organizing the paragraphs in an essay. Under this plan, each paragraph should have a Main point, Evidence, Analysis, and a Link to the next paragraph. to develop the body paragraphs of the essay. When developing body paragraphs, you may use more than one piece of evidence or analysis; your MEAL concept may actually be MEAEAEAL or MEEEAL or another combination of the MEAL elements of main idea, evidence, analysis, and link.

+ PRACTICAL APPLICATION+ EXAMPLE

Here is an example of an outline for a multi-paragraph analysis essay that analyzes the documentary film Supersize Me.

Introduction
1. Hook: According to Société Générale, McDonald's serves one percent of the world's population every day.
2. Background: For one month in 2003, Morgan Spurlock was regularly counted among that number. The filmmaker went on a 30-day, McDonald's-only diet and produced the documentary Supersize Me to showcase the dangers of fast food.
3. Background: The film received a lot of attention, and Spurlock became famous.
4. Thesis: Morgan Spurlock's intentions don’t matter because the film sends an important message that will help prevent obesity.
Body Paragraphs
1. Body Paragraph 1
  1. Main idea: Spurlock made the film as a prank to get attention.
  2. Evidence: He created rules that set up an outrageous situation.
  3. Analysis: The rules are too drastic for real life—no one eats the way Spurlock did.
  4. Evidence: Not surprisingly, Spurlock gained weight and almost suffered kidney failure.
  5. Link: The drama paid off: Supersize Me was a hit at the Sundance Film Festival and made Spurlock famous.
2. Body Paragraph 2
  1. Main idea: Spurlock made the film to boost his career.
  2. Evidence: Spurlock's face, voice, words, and experience are front and center throughout the film.
  3. Evidence: The changes he undergoes are shocking, and make him even more central to the film.
  4. Analysis: As the face of the film, Spurlock is the main focus of every film review.
  5. Analysis: Spurlock must have known that his choice to make himself the star would boost his career more than if he were simply the filmmaker whose name appeared only in the credits.
  6. Analysis/Link: The attention-getting, career-boosting prank was a success; without Supersize Me, Spurlock never would have been given his own show on the HBO cable network.
3. Body Paragraph 3
  1. Main idea: Even if he did gain fame, Spurlock's goal was to help people by educating them about how fast food contributes to obesity in America.
  2. Evidence: The film supports this; the opening scene, statistics about obesity and health, and multiple interviews show that Spurlock's main goal is to educate people, not just to get attention.
  3. Evidence: Spurlock provides statistics to educate people (more than 400,000 obesity-related deaths per year, one in four Americans eats fast food every day, and McDonald's owns almost half of the fast-food market in the United States).
  4. Evidence: Spurlock shows that as McDonald's keeps getting more powerful, Americans keep getting heavier and sicker.
  5. Analysis: This truth is shocking; if Spurlock does try to shock people, the shock is meant to emphasize the connection between McDonald's and the rapid increase in American obesity.
Conclusion
1. Main idea: It does not matter whether Spurlock's intentions were selfish, because the film did educate people about the dramatic health risks of a fast-food diet.
2. Summary: The shocking truth is that obesity is a deadly and preventable health epidemic.
3. Summary: As the star, Spurlock used the fame from Supersize Me to boost his career.
4. Synthesis: This does not mean that the film was just an attention-getting prank.
5. Synthesis: Spurlock used himself in the experiment to help people relate to the fatal effects of a fast-food diet.
6. Synthesis: People learn more from a personal connection than from statistics; by gaining weight and hurting his health, Spurlock helped people see how they endanger their own health.

+ YOUR TURN

Use the model to outline an analysis essay that analyzes an aspect of a book, movie, poem, or song. An analysis essay might discuss a work of art, literature, or music. Here are some possible topics for an analysis essay.

Whether the popularity of a particular book or movie is justified—is this book or movie as good as everyone says it is?
The role of special effects in a given movie—do the special effects enhance or detract from the quality of the movie and from the viewer’s experience?
Think of the protagonist of a book or movie, and write about an aspect of the characterization. For example, is the protagonist true to life? Does the protagonist undergo a transformation?
Is there a character in a book or movie with whom you particularly identify? What about this character makes this character one to whom you relate so well? How did the author or director achieve that effect?
Think of a work of music that you enjoy or dislike. What do you enjoy about this music? What do you dislike? How did the musician and composer create the effects that you enjoy or dislike?

Using one of the topics provided, create an outline that you could use to write an analysis essay.

First, on what topic will you write your analysis essay?

Sample Answer

Now, create the outline, including an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

Sample Answer

Introduction
1. Hook: Going from rags to riches is the great American dream; we want to believe that a person from the humblest background could rise to great wealth and power.
2. Background: In F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel The Great Gatsby, Jay Gatsby is a college dropout and part-time janitor who reinvents himself as a celebrity millionaire in order to impress Daisy Buchanan.
3. Background: Gatsby and Daisy were in love years before, when Gatsby was a young military officer.
4. Background: Daisy promises to be true to Gatsby when he goes to fight in World War I, but instead she marries the wealthy Tom Buchanan.
5. Background: Determined to win Daisy back, Gatsby becomes rich, buys a mansion near the Buchanan's home, and tries to attract Daisy's attention with lavish parties.
6. Background: Gatsby finds that the world of luxury and wealth has a dark side, and he comes to a predictably tragic end.
7. Thesis: The love affair between Jay Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan in The Great Gatsby reveals the tragedy of the American dream.
Body Paragraphs
1. Body Paragraph 1
  1. Main idea: Gatsby's love for Daisy is his version of the American dream.
  2. Evidence: Gatsby loves Daisy because she is beautiful and has high social standing.
  3. Evidence: Gatsby is from a poor family of a lower social class
  4. Analysis: Daisy is a symbol of everything Gatsby wants—she is wealthy, lives in luxury, and is powerful in society—but he does not know the real Daisy, who is selfish and shallow.
  5. Analysis: Gatsby stays true to his dream of Daisy, but he never loves the real woman; he loves his dream of who Daisy is.
  6. Analysis: Gatsby clings to his fantasy and never lets himself see the truth about Daisy.
  7. Link: This blindness leads to his downfall.
2. Body Paragraph 2
  1. Main idea: Gatsby's love for Daisy is doomed from the beginning.
  2. Evidence: When they meet, Gatsby is so desperate to win Daisy's love that he lies to Daisy about who he is.
  3. Analysis: Gatsby is sure Daisy would never love someone like him, but his lying prevents Daisy from knowing him or loving him in a real way.
  4. Analysis: Sadly, Gatsby is right; Daisy would never love a poor man, and so in order to achieve his American dream, he has to lie. His dream is more important to him than the truth.
  5. Link: Love built on lies cannot last.
3. Body Paragraph 3
  1. Main idea: If only Gatsby let himself know the truth, he would know that Daisy is not worth loving.
  2. Evidence: After they fall in love, Daisy promises she will wait for Gatsby, but then she marries Tom while Gatsby is away.
  3. Analysis: Gatsby should have known from this experience that Daisy only cares about Daisy. She might say nice words, but if there is any trouble, she will betray Gatsby and save herself.
  4. Evidence: When Tom is unfaithful, Daisy stays with him and overlooks the affairs.
  5. Analysis: Daisy does not love Tom. Her pride is hurt by his affairs, but she will stay with him forever because he is rich and powerful and will give her the life she wants. Money is more important to her than love.
  6. Analysis: Real love requires people to care about each other and sacrifice for each other, but Daisy is not capable of that kind of love.
  7. Link: Daisy's inability to love contributes to Gatsby's tragic death when she lets him take the blame for killing Tom's mistress Myrtle in a hit-and-run accident, and Myrtle's husband kills Gatsby in revenge.
Conclusion
1. Main idea: With its emphasis on the superficial over what is real—on money and social standing instead of truth and love—the doomed love affair between Gatsby and Daisy shows the danger of the American dream.
2. Summary: The American dream is focused on getting rich, not on being good, honest, loyal, or loving.
3. Summary: Gatsby's narrow focus on wealth and social standing makes him blind to what is really important.
4. Summary: Gatsby does not see that the affair with Daisy is not love and that they are attracted to each other for superficial and selfish reasons.
5. Synthesis: Gatsby's blindness to who Daisy really is makes him protect her, even if it means taking the blame for killing Myrtle, but Daisy is not capable of the same kind of sacrifice.
6. Summary: Daisy's selfishness and her unwillingness to take responsibility for her actions cause Gatsby's death.
7. Synthesis: Their love affair shows that focusing on the superficial not only makes real love impossible, but also can result in tragedy.

+ METACOGNITIVE QUESTION