Phase 3: Building the Outline

 

In this phase of the essay, students are working off the outline which will incrementally turn into the paper itself. In order to do the work of building, you are asked to revisit the outline section by section and identify where all your sources will fit in. This is also an opportunity to identify any information gaps in your narrative.

 

 

Task 1. 

On your outline, write in where each of your sources will be used. Do you find that some areas are covered more than others? Identify which parts of your argument or claim needs further sources.

 

Task 2.

 

Find those sources. This phase of research is more focused. Check out sources used in articles and books that you already have. Usually you will find valuable sources in the reference page of some of the literature that you already have!

 

Task 3.

 

Start building further on your annotated bibliography. Begin reading the pretinent works more closely. Pull quotes that may be helful for your paper. You should aim to have at least one page of notes and quotes from each source in your outline.

Write your text here.

 

Tips and Hacks

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Back up each part or point of your essay with a source. This could be a strong quote that you integrate into your own ideas, paraphrasing an idea from your source, or simply refering to an entire text to make a point.

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Your annotated bibliography should serve as the foundation of your content. As you read more of your sources and engage more deeply with the ideas, write notes and quotes from each source that can later be used in the essay. The better your notes and quotes, the more you can simply begin to copy-paste in the first draft of the paper.

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Your outline should be detailed and each component of the essay should relate back to the main claim or research question.