Sophomore Honors English
Mrs. Blounts
A Streetcar Named Desire & Summer at the Lake
Analytical Essay—Character Comparison
OUTLINE GUIDELINES/TEMPLATE
Remember that your complete, full-sentence outline is due on Wednesday, April 3; it must
be in our shared folder in Google Drive by classtime (I will give you feedback there).
Before you write your outline, you must figure out what each body paragraph will be about.
Here are a few ways of organizing your body paragraphs in a comparative essay:
o Craft three sub-arguments that involve both subjects; include evidence related to
both subjects in each paragraph
o Craft each body paragraph around one subject only
o Craft one body paragraph around each subject, then a third one that brings the two
together (just be sure you are not simply repeating what you’ve already said in the
first two paragraphs)
Note that your essay may have anywhere from 3-5 body paragraphs; the above numbers are
just an example. Ultimately, these decisions really depend on your particular argument. No
matter what, though, an outline will be key to getting these ideas organized! Also see the tips
on pages 10-11 in the Literary Analysis Packet.
Please be sure that your outline:
 Includes a basic introduction (no conclusion necessary)
 Includes at least 3 body paragraphs
 Follows the template below
 Has full sentences for each component. Some may need more than one sentence
(especially your analysis). This should NOT be comprised of words/phrases.
 Is neatly formatted, typed, and put into our shared Google Drive folder.
Grammar and punctuation is not of the utmost importance, but the more clearly it is
written, the easier it will be for me to give you feedback, and for you to translate it into a
rough draft.
I.
Introduction
A. Introduction to your topic (ie, general summary of the play/intro to theme
and characters)
B. Sub-argument #1
C. Sub-argument #2
D. Sub-argument #3 (if you have more than 3 sub-arguments, include those, of
course!)
E. Thesis statement
(over…)
II.
Body Paragraph #1
A. Sub-argument #1 (Topic Sentence)
B. Evidence
1. Quotation #1 (include page #)
2. Quotation #2 (include page #)
Include as many quotations as you think may be useful to your subargument!
C. Analysis
1. Interpretation of the evidence and what it is showing
2. Explanation of how the evidence ties back to your thesis
Do this for each quotation that you include under B!
(III-V…same format as II with separate Sub-arguments)