Whether you think that you can,
or that you can’t,
you are usually right.
-Henry Ford
Take Cornell Notes. The
exercises will be numbered. As we
do them, write down your answers.
I’ll collect the notes next class.
Outline Exercises for MP # 4
These exercises are based on outlines that were
actually submitted for Major Paper # 4.
Remember that outlines should be
developed inductively, by grouping and
organizing the materials that you want to include
in a paper.
These exercises are intended to show you
your objective in developing an outline. In other
words, these exercises involve the logical
relationships that are reflected in a good outline.
 An outline should indicate the basic
structure (skeleton) of your paper.
 That means that examples (details)
should not be in the outline.
 Subdivisions in an outline should
all be the same type of thing. In other
words, the sections of an outline
should group all the items that logically
belong together.
# 1. What is wrong with the following as an outline for Major Paper 5?
I. Introduction: Thesis: Carol S. Dweck has done a lot of
studies on how children learn and retain information but
some of her research may be biased.
II. Some of Dweck’s Ideas
A. Praising your Child
B. Fixed and growth mindsets
III. Glenn’s ideas about Dweck and adult growth mindset
IV. Disagreeing with Dweck when she states that she
loves everything
V. Conclusion
#1
 Glenn is basically a reporter. His biases do not
need a section of their own. You should be able
to express them in your introduction, conclusion,
or in the words or phrases that you use as his
voice markers.
 In “Disagreeing with Dweck (“IV”), the writer
simply stole my idea, expressed in class. In
other words, this writer plagiarized.
 Where in the paper will the supporting and
opposing studies about Dweck’s work be
located?
# 2. What is wrong with the following as an outline for Major Paper 5?
I. Introduction
II. Supporting studies
A. Elementary examples
B. College examples
III. Unsupported studies
IV. Positive Outcomes
A. Negative feedback
V. Conclusion
#2
 No summary of Dweck’s ideas?
 What are “unsupported studies”?
 An “A” without a “B”?
 How can “Negative feedback” be a
subdivision of “Positive Outcomes”?
# 3. What is wrong with the following as an outline for Major Paper 5?
I. Intro (Thesis: Ms. Dweck believes that
preconceived beliefs about how smart you are
can affect your behavior and how well you do
in school.)
II. Praising children for their intelligence
A. The three outcomes.
III. Study in New Haven
IV. Other studies
V.Conclusion
#3
 The thesis (“Ms. Dweck believes that
preconceived beliefs about how smart you
are can affect your behavior and how well
you do in school.”) is basically a simple
statement of fact.
 An “A” without a “B” [There are no
subdivisions of a Roman number.]
 Why is “Study in New Haven” separated
from “Other studies”?
# 4.
1. How well does the outline fit the assignment?
2. What is the problem with the thesis and logic of the following
outline?
I. Intro/Thesis- When it comes to academic
performance or regular behavior of an
individual, it is safe to say your mindset plays a
huge role in the two factors.
II. Mindsets
A. “Growth” Mindsets
B. “Fixed” Mindsets
III. University of Michigan Study (disagree with
Dweck)
IV. Conclusion
#4
 “In the two factors” is confusing.
 There is no place in the outline for
supporters of Dweck.
 The thesis implies that the writer agrees
with Dweck, but the last item in the body of
the paper presents the opposing
argument.
# 5. What is wrong with the following as an outline for Major Paper 5?
I. Introduction/Thesis: Dweck has studied intelligence
and performed several studies to test thinking, some of
which are questionable while others are worth pursuing.
II. Information about Dweck – fixed and malleable
intelligence
III. Praising children can backfire
A. Krakovsky
B. Bronson
IV. Challenging Studies
A. University College London
B. University of Michigan
C. Temple University
V. Conclusion
#5
 Could “III. Praising children can backfire”
also be a “Challenging Study”?
 Organizing sections by sources is better
than nothing, but organizing this material
by the nature of the objections would
surely reflect a more thoughtful writer.
# 6. What is wrong with the following as an outline for Major Paper 5?
I. Intro & Thesis- Dweck’s theory on “fixed” and “growth”
mindsets is good and is well supported by her research
and the research of others.
II. Fixed/Growth
III. Backing Studies
A. Dweck’s studies with academics
B. Joshua Aronson’s study with college students
IV. Dweck’s study on middle schoolers
V. Conclusion
#6
 Why is “IV. Dweck’s study on middle
schoolers” where it is?
 Where will the opposing viewpoints be
put?
# 7. What is wrong with the following as an outline for Major Paper 5?
(“Bronson Article” refers to an additional source.)
I. Intro and thesis
II. Dweck’s views on praise
III. Dweck’s study on fifth graders
IV. Opposing studies
A. Temple University Study
B. University of Michigan Study
V. Bronson Article
A. Thomas
B. Experiment
VI. Conclusion
#7
 “II” and “III” should be an “A” and a “B”
under “II Dweck’s ideas.”
 There are no supporting studies?
 “V Bronson Article” refers to an additional
source, but such sources should not
simply be tacked onto the essay.” The
information from it should be put (or
distributed) where it logically belongs –
“supporting” or “opposing.”