Essay Outline
Introductory Paragraph (funnel par.)
 General statement about the topic, grab the reader’s attention (2-3sentences)
Many individuals allow fear to take control of their lives; this can create anguish. In fact, numerous
people are manipulated by others who play with their nightmares. The Chrysalids contain many prime
examples about how terror can lead to your demise.
 Narrow the focus, get more specific (mention author and text, 2-3 sentences)
John Wyndham proposes that today’s tactics are much like the village of Waknuk’s. Joseph Strorm
uses many of our government’s methods in order to gain the town’s cooperation. He does so by tampering
with their emotions and mind-set.
 Thesis (your argument, what your body pars. will prove or show)
The Chrysalids suggests that our society—past and present—uses fear to manipulate those who do not share
the same beliefs.
 Three main ideas (the body paragraph previews/sneak peaks) (optional, not a must)
Joseph had convinced Waknuk that deviations are demons that thrive off of humanity’s sufferings and only
do harm to our world. Neighbours are tortured and abused in order to obtain information and tribulation is a
huge, discouraging shadow which stalks its citizens.
Body Par. #1
 Topic sentence
The ‘norm’ is the only thing acceptable in Waknuk, impurities are exiled to the Fringes due to fear.
Argument and supporting details (assertions, claims, explorations, examples, quotations, analysis of
quotations, explanations, details, etc. Do not forget transitional words within your body paragraph and
between your body paragraphs)
People are unable to see past small imperfections and will result in harsh measurements to rid of their
troubles. Additionally, those who do not share the same feelings towards these ‘deviations’ are not accepted
in the community. A huge example of this is between the Wender family. Their daughter - Sophie, does not
follow the ‘true image’ for she has six –instead of five—toes on each of her feet. Because of this oddity, she
is hidden from society under the keen watch of her parents. If Sophie were to be discovered, her life would
immediately turn upside down – and it did the minute her family decided to flee from discriminating eyes.
They were caught and Sophie was mutilated, her parents not heard of again. Tossed into the Fringes, she was
left to defend herself. All of this an act of terror of the unknown for Sophie was not to scale with ‘God’s
image’. Another example is when Joseph Strorm – the dictator figure in the book, sets out to destroy his own
children when he discovers that they are mentally deviant. David and Petra Strorm along with their cousin
Rosalind and companions Michael, Rachel, Sally, Anne, Katherine and Mark are all able to telepathically
interact with one another. Due to this, even though both David and Petra are his flesh and blood Joseph still
has no remorse when perusing them because they are ‘ominous blasphemies’. Joseph has lived with both
children for their entire life and knows that they are not malicious monsters, but chooses hatred over
acceptance because that’s what he was raised with; fear against those who do not meet with certain
standards. He has grown up a bigot and died with the same mentality.
Closing sentence (relate par. to thesis)
Joseph Strorm – like today’s tyrants, was able to convince Waknuk that imperfections are adulterations and
hell-sent through manipulating the community’s apprehensions.
Body Par. #2
 Topic sentence
In Waknuk, neighbours turn on neighbours if there is evidence that they are – or hiding, a blasphemy.
Argument and supporting details (assertions, claims, explorations, examples, quotations, analysis of
quotations, explanations, details, etc. Do not forget transitional words within your body paragraph and
between you body paragraphs)
Katherine and Sally had grown up with the same people who had kidnapped due to the suspicion that they
were impure. Katherine had been given the penance of torture until she had grown unconscious where as
Sally tried to avoid the abuse and came clean about her secret. Through fear, the citizens had resulted in
depredations and through fear Sally had talked. Even though it was one common reason which supported
each of their actions, there was a different motive behind them. Sally had been frightened that she would
have to undergo the cruelty Katherine had endured and so she caved. Society had mistreated Katherine
because of the terror Joseph had put into them. This case was something that was mind-blowing to everyone:
demons that had no physical disparities, but mental ones. The contemplation that there could be deviants and
they wouldn’t even know it scared the people of Waknuk. It had also given them a more vicious obligation;
to destroy all of the mental profanities in order to hinder their reproduction and study them for future
reference. They put no thought to their actions, just the raw emotion of terror.
Closing sentence (relate par. to thesis)
This proves that people—even if you have known them your whole life—can transform into fearful beings
due to their outlook on life.
Body Par. #3
 Topic sentence
Tribulation is the base in which everyone’s fears spring from.
Argument and supporting details (assertions, claims, explorations, examples, quotations, analysis of
quotations, explanations, details, etc. Do not forget transitional words within your body paragraph and
between you body paragraphs)
Take Old Jacob as an example, grumbling on and on about the subject like a mad man (pg. 87). His crops
had all been deviational and he felt as though worse was to come. Jacob had mentioned that this was the
dawn of another precipice of tribulation. His worries mimicked the majority of Waknuk which grew fearful
at the mention of ‘God’s wrath’. This terror was the key in controlling the community. Through preaching
The Book of Repentance and The Bible, Joseph was able to gain Waknuk’s faith. He gave them reason to
believe that those with imperfections are demons and strange occurrences meant the threat of Tribulation.
Through religion not only is Joseph able to manipulate his society, but our world is also influenced by it.
Many beliefs send preachers out in order to try and convert others. They use fear and hope to their advantage
to draw people into their faith.
Closing sentence (relate par. to thesis)
This proves that not only can fear drive others away, but it may also bring people with the same beliefs
closer together.
Concluding Paragraph (you don’t have to start with your thesis, you can have one or two sentences before
you restate and summarize)
Thesis
The Chrysalids implies that society uses fear in order to influence those of different faiths.
Summarize three main points
The community tries to turn our ‘normal’ into ‘perfection’, making us believe there is only one way to look
and act. The government creates different opinions for people that can turn into quarrels and even war.
Additionally, religion plays a role in our environment for it effects the entire population.
General Statement (end with a flourish; make your reader think: this essay is the shizz-nizzle-bam-bizzle)
Fear may possess many manipulative traits but we must remember that our own opinions are just as
powerful. Even though tragedies occur all the time, we have to be able to stand tall and stand by our beliefs
instead of allowing them to morph. Culture may have a hard grip on us, but each and every one of us posses
the ability to break free.
This essay outline suggests that all essays are ALWAYS 5 paragraphs. This is incorrect; in senior level
classes, and most definitely in university, you will be writing essays that are much longer than 5 paragraphs.
Once you have finished your essay, leave it for a few days, then return to it and PROOFREAD it. Look for
minor stylistic errors, grammar challenges, coherence, etc.)
Don’t forget to read over the “Additional Support Material” page available on your class wiki.