ENGL 181/191 – Outline (Compare and Contrast Essay) Total points: _____/10
I-INTRODUCTION (2 pts.)
A. Introductory ideas (1 pt.):
HOOK/LEAD (0.5 pt.) (an interesting start with a quote/anecdote/rhetorical question/short story/
interesting fact/ statistics)
BACKGROUNG INFORMATION (0.5 pt.) (a brief definition or an explanation of the topic in general
terms to help the reader understand what your topic is about)
B. Thesis statement (1 pt.): Your thesis statement includes the topic and the two controlling ideas.
II- BODY (3 pts.)
Topic sentence 1 (1 pt.): A sentence that includes your topic and first controlling idea.
A. 1st Specific similarity (0.5 pt.): 1st similar point in note form (not in a sentence)
B. 2nd Specific similarity (0.5 pt.): 2nd similar point in note form (not in a sentence)
C. 3rd Specific similarity (0.5 pt.): 3rd similar point in note form (not in a sentence)
D. 4th Specific similarity (0.5 pt.): 4th similar point in note form (not in a sentence)
III- BODY (3 pts.)
Topic sentence 1 (1 pt.): A sentence that includes your topic and second controlling idea.
A. 1st Specific difference (0.5 pt.): 1st different point in note form (not in a sentence)
B. 2nd Specific difference (0.5 pt.): 2nd different point in note form (not in a sentence)
C. 3rd Specific difference (0.5 pt.): 3rd different point in note form (not in a sentence)
D. 4th Specific difference (0.5 pt.): 4th different point in note form (not in a sentence)
V- CONCLUSION (2 pts.)
A. Re-stated Thesis (1 pt.): A rephrased sentence of your thesis statement to summarize the similarities
and differences
B. Concluding ideas / Final Thoughts (1 pt.): Last sentence(s) to give the writer’s opinion about the
topic. It can explain why one of the subjects is better that the other or why they are equal of value.
Remember, the last words matter!
Note:

min. 0.5, max. 2 pts. will be deducted from the ‘Total Points’ in case of persistent problems in
conveying the message / in case of over length of the sentences which causes confusion