Example Outline

The following guidelines apply to any paper, although the examples given here relate specifically to History 151, World Civ to 1500.

Generic Outline

I. Introduction

A. thesis: the main argument
B. subarguments
- 1. shape of the paper
- 2. how everything interconnects

II. Body

1. state the argument, in context of overall thesis
2. evidence, support, examples
3. tie off the argument

1. state the argument, in context of overall thesis and previous argument (transition)
2. evidence, support, examples
3. tie off the argument

1. state the argument, in context of overall thesis and previous argument (transition)
2. evidence, support, examples
3. tie off the argument

III. Conclusion

A. draw all the arguments together to show how they support the thesis
B. make some broader speculations about the significance of it all

Example

For the question How and why does civilization arise? Compare Mesopotamia, Egypt, China and India, a good outline would look like this:

Introduction

thesis: civilization a construct we use to look at urban societies, esp. those that arose around rivers
definition: civ a complex organization
1. versus hunter-gatherer, c. 10,000 BCE (Nisa), agricult. (c. 7,000-4,000 BCE). urban rev c. 6500-BCE
2. agricul base of surplus, city, specializ of labor, hierarchy (govt, religion), metal technology, writing, warfare, public works.
themes: how civs arise around rivers, yet end up with different cultural characteristics in environment, development, worldview.

Body

Environment
1. similarity: all four are river-valley civs (Tigris/Euphrates, Nile, Indus, Yellow) because water necessary for surplus in agric and for trade/travel.
2. rivers different: change vs continuity (T/E vs Nile).
3. not necessarily easy to establish: Indus and Yellow River civs, centralization a slow process.
Development
1. although each a civ, each developed differently because of different environment
2. Eg had greatest continuity because isolated, protected, stable (dynasties/kingdoms 3000-1100BCE); Meso the greatest change through invasion but greater diversity (Sumerians, Semites, Babylonians, 3500-600BCE). comp. timelines.
3. Indus: more like Eg, but shorter--produced one great long- lasting civ which disappeared to be replaced (Harappan, 2500-1500 BCE and Aryan, c 1000BCE-); China, more like Meso, emerged out of feudal structures--very regional (Shang, c 1800BCE; Chou, c. 1100BCE-).
Worldview
1. each distinctly different
2. use examples of religion and connect to environment.
3. Gilgamesh, Ma'at, Vedas, Shang ancestors: this world vs the next. Gilg wants more than harsh realities here; Ma'at represents continuity between this world and next; Vedas offer transcendence within and beyond this world; Shang oriented in this world and spirits of ancestors in this life.

Conclusion

Civs arose independent of ea other, share certain generic features, but ea environment and people produce unique characteristics as they reflect on their environment and find meaning in it.

Comments

It took me 10 minutes to invent it; however, in order for you to understand my ideas, it is more detailed than you need to be with yourself. Actually, a matrix would have worked well, to find where the comparisons work and don't work. If I had run out of time in writing it, I would have eliminated, or merged, the development paragraph into the environment one and gone straight for the environment-worldview connection. Notice also, how I narrowed worldview to religion for purposes of citing examples, particularly documents. Not all examples need to be used in all paragraphs equally, either; nor do you need to explain everything you know about every example society.

Altogether, what we are looking for is a balance between analytical statements and specific information. The first should control the second--that is, you do not need to include everything, but you should include what is relevant to your point and not anything irrelevant.

kjolly@hawaii.edu 1/29/98