Running head: THE BIG HAIRY PROBLEM WITH BIGFOOT OUTLINE The Big Hairy Problem with Bigfoot Outline Tom Abowd Bentley University October 7, 2017 1 THE BIG HAIRY PROBLEM WITH BIGFOOT OUTLINE 2 Abstract This outline serves as my current guide for my upcoming research paper. I am going to address the major arguments for and against Bigfoot’s existence. I plan to argue against Bigfoot’s existence by focusing on biology. I will state my opinion and reasons behind what I believe is true. THE BIG HAIRY PROBLEM WITH BIGFOOT OUTLINE 3 The Big Hairy Problem with Bigfoot Outline I. Exordium A. Could Bigfoot truly be out there? B. What has kept Bigfoot alive in the hearts of many despite the lack of evidence? C. “According to an Angus Reid opinion poll, 3 in 10 Americans believe Bigfoot ‘definitely’ or probably exists.” (Lewis, 2014) D. “It’s much easier to prove that something definitely exists than to prove that something definitely does not…that shred of possibility-however remote-fires up our imaginations.” (Lewis, 2014) II. Narratio A. The first sightings occurred as early as the 1830s and an abundance of sightings, occasional pictures, footprints, and media coverage keep the pursuit of Bigfoot alive. (Radford, 2002) B. “Lots of poor quality evidence does not add up to strong evidence, just as many cups of weak coffee cannot be combined into a strong cup of coffee.” (Radford, 2002) C. Thesis: From the dubious legend of Bigfoot’s origin to the big hairy problem of a lack of concrete biological evidence, hunting for Bigfoot is futile because there is no way such a creature could exist. III. Divisio A. This paragraph is necessary. It can act as a place holder for now. B. Simple sentences that list all of the points to come in the following essay. IV. Background Information A. B. 1958 beginning of legend via footprints at Wallace construction site in Bluff Creek California (The Birth of “Bigfoot”, 2004) 1. Jerry Crew found 16 by 7 inch footprints around his bulldozer at Wallace construction site, made a mold, took to the paper which introduced term “Bigfoot” (The Birth of “Bigfoot”, 2004) 2. After Ray Wallace’s death in 2002 his family admits he faked the tracks 3. Folkloric origin: lumberjacks, hunters, trappers, and construction workers were all known for telling stories of mythical monsters to mess with their coworkers. (example Eugene Shepard and the hodag) (Buhs, 2009, p.70, para. 1) 4. 1950s had many monster movies that may have influenced the creation of a legend that originated in California. Importance of 1967 Patterson Bob Gimlin Film taken at Bluff Creek. (Buhs, THE BIG HAIRY PROBLEM WITH BIGFOOT OUTLINE 4 2009, p.133-146) C. 1. First video evidence of Bigfoot and never proven fake 2. Questionable financial motive behind filmmakers 3. Uncanny similarity between True magazine drawing and subject of film 4. Bob Gimlin’s credibility What does Bigfoot look like? (Daegling, 2004, p.9, para.1) 1. Covered in hair 2. Massive frame 3. 7 to 12 feet tall 4. “It’s facial features are reminiscent of apes, ytet also vaguely human” 5. Foul odor 6. Bipedal (walks upright) 7. Walks away nonchalantly instead of running from humans 8. Walks “with a speed and fluidity of motion not seen in humans.” V. Confirmatio and Confutatio 1 A. Population Growth 1. There should be hundreds or thousands of Bigfoot roaming the earth due to reproduction 2. These large creatures should be easy to find or leave behind evidence B. Opposition/Rebuttal to Point 1 (Daegling, 2004, p.18) 1. “Bigfoot lives in a remote habitat that is generally inaccessible to people” 2. “Bigfoot has enhanced sensory capabilities that permit it to escape detection.” 3. “Bigfoot is rare therefore encounters are rare.” C. Refutation – In order for a species to survive it needs to reproduce, and if there are numerous Bigfoot families out there shouldn’t that make them easier to find. VI. Confirmatio and Confutatio 2 A. Advances in modern technology and science yet still no findings 1. Bigfoot hoaxes are easy to produce by utilizing low image quality 2. Improved photo/video capability to capture clearer images yet none exist 3. In the 60s, video cameras were expensive and not many people owned one today almost everyone owns a decent quality camera, smartphone, or video camera 4. Advances in science technology such as DNA testing yet still no hard evidence B. Opposition/Rebuttal to Point 2 1. Sightings occur at night and are brief 2. Hard to get close enough to a Bigfoot THE BIG HAIRY PROBLEM WITH BIGFOOT OUTLINE 5 3. C. Despite science improvements there is no Bigfoot DNA on file to compare to properly 4. Bigfoot has paranormal qualities that interfere with technology Refutation – With the increased ease of access to technology, information, the internet, and scientific technology the chances of Bigfoot to completely evade mankind for so long is highly unlikely if not impossible. VII. Confirmatio and Confutatio 3 A. No biological or fossil evidence 1. Fossil evidence for dinosaurs, mammoths, bears (although rare) 2. There should be ample DNA evidence 3. Hair and blood samples are always inconclusive (Radford, 2002, p.32) 4. Footprints are too clean and inconsistent with each other (Radford, 2002, p.31) 5. Bigfoot vocal recordings all differ and there is no consistency among them, often turn out to be coyote, wolf, bear, or human noises B. Opposition/Rebuttal to Point 3 1. Hard to find bear fossils, if there are a low number of bigfoot then they could easily go undetected for so long 2. Krantz: “I’ve talked to hunters, many game guides, conservation people, ecology students, and asked them how many remains of dead bears have you found that died a natural death? Over twenty years of inquiry my grand total of naturally dead bear bones found is zero!” (Loxton and Prothero, 2013, p.70, para. 2) 3. Bigfoot are believed to bury their dead C. Refutation – Inconstancies in sightings, hair, blood, and vocal samples along with a lack of fossils result in no concrete evidence to support the idea Bigfoot is real. VIII. Peroratio A. Thesis: From the dubious legend of Bigfoot’s origin to the big hairy problem of a lack of concrete biological evidence, hunting for Bigfoot is futile because there is no way such a creature could exist. B. Summary of points C. Denouement – “opening up”, meaning leave the reader thinking THE BIG HAIRY PROBLEM WITH BIGFOOT OUTLINE 6 References APA Buhs, J. B. (2009). Bigfoot: The life and times of a legend. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. Daegling, D. J. (2004). Bigfoot exposed :An anthropologist examines america's enduring legend. Walnut Creek, Calif.: Altamira Press. Lewis, K. (2014). Why We Believe. Scholastic Scope, 63(3), 9. Loxton, D., & Prothero, D. R. (2013). Abominable science!: origins of the yeti, nessie, and other famous cryptids. New York: Columbia University Press. Radford, B. (2002, Mar). Bigfoot at 50: Evaluating a half-century of bigfoot evidence. The Skeptical Inquirer, 26, 29-34. Retrieved from http://ezp.bentley.edu/login?url=https://search.proquest.com/docview/219381903?accountid =8576 The Birth of “Bigfoot”. (2004). Skeptic, 11(2), 102.
