WORKING TOPIC OUTLINE--- SAMPLE #1
Thesis: In the novel, “The Color Purple” by Alice Walker, Celie realizes that sometimes it takes love and
encouragement from others for one to build up enough courage to leave the life they are living.
I.
Introduction
A. ----------
II.
Body Paragraphs
a. Throughout the novel Celie experiences multiple abusive relationships, including her
father and husband who she was forced to marry.
1. In the beginning of the novel Celie is raped by her father multiple times which
results in her having a daughter and a son. Both of her babies are sold by her
father immediately right after their born.
2. Celie protects her younger sister, Nettie, from her father by “laying herself
down” for him whenever he tries to rape them.
3. Eventually, Celies father forces her to marry and man who originally wants to
marry Nettie. He tells him that he could never have Nettie but can have Celie
even though she is stupid, “worn out”, and a liar.
b. Celie uses the love that Shug Avery, Sophia, and Nettie give to her to find the courage
and faith to leave her abusive husband and find a life of her own.
1. Shug Avery, who is a singer, comes to stay with Celie and Mr.___. This is
where Celies and Shug Avery’s relationship begin. Shug Avery and Celie create
a relationship and bond that cannot be broken.
2. Celies step son, Harpo, falls in love with a young girl by the name of Sophia at
his church. Hapro brings Sophia home because she pregnant. This is when
Celie and Sophia first lay eyes on each other. Sophia shows Celie how it’s okay
to fight back, even though men are supposed to be superior to women.
3. Through Shug Avery’s help, Celie finds the letters of her sister that mr.___ has
been hiding. Instead of writing to God, Celie now writes to her sister Nettie.
c. As the novel comes to an end, Celie finally finds the courage that was given to her
through her relationships with the women to leave her husband.
1. During a huge family dinner, which consist of both Shug Avery and Sophia,
Celie stands up to her husband.
2. After she leaves her husband, she then moves into the home of Shug Avery.
Here is where she starts her own business of making clothes and selling them.
3. Celie finally is reunited with her little sister who she had not seen over ten
years.