| SAMPLE OUTLINE FOR RESEARCH | |
| Thesis Statement: An examination of the protagonists in Cather's O Pioneers, Song of the Lark, and My Antonia reveals the development of Cather's heroic ideal. | |
| I. About Cather's novels | |
| A. Her concern with pioneer life B. The symbolic importance of her heroines |
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| II. Characteristics of Cather's heroines | |
| A. Strength of will and purpose B. Independence from family and society C. Success in uniting European and American traditions |
|
| III. The heroine in O Pioneers | |
| A. Her sense of mission B. Fulfillment in devotion to the land C. Appreciation of Old World Culture |
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| IV. The Heroine of Song of the Lark | |
| A. Dedication to purpose B. Inspiration of culture and environment C. Fulfillment through mastery of art |
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| V. | The Heroine of My Antonia |
| A. Fulfillment in motherhood B. Victory over hardship and sacrifice C. Feeling for tradition |
|
| VI. | Cather's development |
| A. Change in
emphasis in her later work B. How this reflects her developing ideal |
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Click here for an analysis of this outline |
Rules of Form in Making a Topic Outline
Below is a sample outline which
demonstrates the MLA format that is used at PMHS.
**Please keep in mind that HTML and your browser
may not place the formatting of the outline true to MLA style. Therefore, it is wise
to refer to any MLA guide or to your English grammar book.**
Rules of Form in Making a Topic Outline
Place the title of your paper above the outline. Do not underline or Italicize your own title. It is not one of the numbered or lettered parts of the outline.
Place your thesis two lines below the title after the word "Thesis"
Keep your outline symmetrical meaning that all area of an outline should begin with the same part of speech and maintain parallel structure.
Capitalize only the first word of any part of an outline and proper nouns.
There must be at least two of ever part of an outline. If you have a I. you must have a II. If you have an A., you must have a B. etc.
Never place the words "Introduction," " Body," or "Conclusion," in an outline.
