The document provides a template for outlining an essay, including a refined thesis statement. The template includes sections for an introduction with thesis, three body paragraphs with topic sentences and supporting points/evidence, and a conclusion. Notes provide guidance on developing a thesis statement that limits the scope of the essay and can be supported over 1500-2000 words. A rubric assesses the blueprint and refined thesis on knowledge, thinking, communication, and application.

1. Blueprint and Refined Thesis Template
IntroductionLead
Refined Thesis Statement
Three Supporting Arguments (Your Blueprint)
BodyTopic sentence: Your topic sentence will consist of your
Thesis and supporting argument. You must write out the entire
topic sentence, as it would appear in your actual essay.POINT
PROOF: Specific example, cite an example (quotations
from primary or secondary sources found here)
COMMENT: Explain how example (quotation) is relevant
to your argument
POINT
PROOF: Specific example, cite an example (quotations
from primary or secondary sources found here)
COMMENT: Explain how example (quotations) is relevant
to your argument
Concluding Statement (try and link points made in paragraph
back to thesis)
Topic sentence: Your topic sentence will consist of your Thesis
and supporting argument. You must write out the entire topic
sentence, as it would appear in your actual essay.
1. POINT
PROOF: Specific example, cite an example (quotations
from primary or secondary sources found here)
COMMENT: Explain how example (quotations) is relevant
to your argument
POINT
PROOF: Specific example, cite an example (quotations
from primary or secondary sources found here)
COMMENT: Explain how example (quotations) is relevant
to your argument
Concluding Statement (try and link points made in paragraph
back to thesis)
Topic sentence: Your topic sentence will consist of your Thesis

2. and supporting argument. You must write out the entire topic
sentence, as it would appear in your actual essay.
1. POINT
PROOF: Specific example, cite an example (quotations
from primary or secondary sources found here)
COMMENT: Explain how example (quotations) is relevant
to your argument
POINT
PROOF: Specific example, cite an example (quotations
from primary or secondary sources found here)
COMMENT: Explain how example (quotations) is relevant
to your argument
Concluding Statement (try and link points made in paragraph
back to thesis)
CONCLUSIONRestatement of thesis
Review the key point (from your blueprint)
Clincher/universality/recommendation/prediction, etc. end with
a thought provoking idea related to the topic in a general and
broad sense (similar to lead).
NOTES: Blueprint and Thesis Information
A Blueprint is essentially your working thesis and your
brainstorming put into a detailed plan of your essay. By this
point in the course you have created a working thesis you
believe you can work with for your essay. The working
thesis states what you want to say to your readers for your
purposes. It is a unified, logical statement that limits your
gathering of material, for it states what ideas you are going to
develop. You have brainstormed how you will support this

3. thesis. You will have written details that develop the working
thesis. This should result in main points that will be developed
in paragraphs.
Once you have your main points you may do the following:
1. Work on the order of your paragraphs.
2. Think about how you want to develop your essay - what
method of development will you use?
3. Think about transitions between your paragraphs - how can
you link your points to provide unity?
4. Outline your possible support
5. Keep examining your working thesis! There are three reasons
why you should change it:
1. You find new information that changes your opinion
2. You discover a different approach to the topic
3. You need to redefine the 'what', the 'why' or the 'who' of the
writing problem.
Remember: You are essentially producing a pre-writing plan for
your essay!
At the end of this process, refine your thesis. This thesis that
you submit is what you will use for your final essay. Remember
that the final essay is 1500-2000 words and therefore you need a
thesis statement that can support that length.
Thesis
Here is an example of a working thesis:
The Canadian fishing industry is in trouble. Inexpensive imports
are reducing the demand for Canadian fish. Fewer fishermen are
fishing each year, and the crops are low.
This thesis limits and directs the writer’s process. The student
writer now understood what he was doing. He was going to
explain his opinion that the industry is in trouble, and develop
the ideas expressed by the three statements: imports are
reducing demand, fewer fishermen are fishing, and the crops are
low.
Remember that your thesis states what you are going to say in
your essay and it controls the piece of writing. It sets your

4. limits. It forces you to state what you are going to say in your
essay. It needs to be specific and it needs to clarify your
parameters. It cannot take the form of questions.
Example
Example: My car has had all scheduled maintenance and rust
inspections and has been driven and used in a normal fashion,
yet it is rusting away. Contributing to the body and paint job is
a good advertisement for both the dealer and the rust protection
company.
These four ideas have to be developed and thus, they control the
writing. You would use only material that expands on these four
statements.
· my car has had all scheduled maintenance and rust inspections
· my car has been driven and used in a normal fashion
· my car is rusting away
· contributing to the body and paint job is a good advertisement
for both the dealer and the rust protections company
Here is a similar template to the one that you used for your
literary seminar. You will use this template to prepare your
Blueprint for your Literary Essay.
Assignment 1
Complete the Blueprint and submit your work to thedropbox.
You must now prepare a Blueprint with a refined thesis for your
literary essay. Please use the template provided. It is similar to
the template you used for your literary seminar but there may be
a few minor differences. The refined thesis you submit in this
activity will be the one you use for your final essay. Please
make sure you have gone over all the information provided to
you in the content area carefully. As well, look at the rubric
below to see what criteria will be used to assess your Blueprint
and refined thesis.

5. Tip: It is always best to be familiar with the criteria used to
assess your assignment before starting.
Here is a similar template to the one that you used for your
literary seminar. You will use this template to prepare your
Blueprint for your Literary Essay.
Did You Know?
Rubrics improve communication between students and teachers?
Rubrics unravel the mystery of grading by laying out the
specific criteria clearly and objectively. When the criteria are
laid out, research shows that students perform to a higher level!
Joyce Kasman Valenza
[email protected]
Rubric
The following chart indicates the areas of achievement that will
be the focus of this assignment.
Blueprint and Refined Thesis
Categories
Level 1
(50 - 59%)
Level 2
(60 - 69%)
Level 3
(70 - 79%)
Level 4
(80 - 100%)
Knowledge/ Understanding
-uses the blue print and refined thesis to locate and select
information to fully and effectively support ideas for writing
WR1.03
-blueprint and Refined Thesis demonstrate limited
understanding of criteria
-blueprint and Refined Thesis demonstrate some understanding
of criteria

6. -blueprint and Refined Thesis demonstrate a considerable
understanding of criteria
-blueprint and Refined Thesis demonstrate a high degree
understanding of criteria
Thinking
-blue print and refined thesis analyzes primary and secondary
sources for relevant information
RL1.06
-blueprint and Refined Thesis assess usefulness of primary and
secondary sources with limited effectiveness
-blueprint and Refined Thesis assess usefulness of primary and
secondary sources with some effectiveness
-blueprint and Refined Thesis assess usefulness of primary and
secondary sources with considerable effectiveness
-blueprint and Refined Thesis assess usefulness of primary and
secondary sources with a high degree of effectiveness
Communication
-uses the blue print and refined thesis to identify, sort, and
order main ideas and supporting details for writing tasks
WR1.04
-blueprint and Refined Thesis organize ideas and information
with limited effectiveness
-blueprint and Refined Thesis organize ideas and information
with some effectiveness
-blueprint and Refined Thesis organize ideas and information
with considerable effectiveness
-blueprint and Refined Thesis organize ideas and information
with a high degree of effectiveness
Application
-synthesize information from diverse sources
RL1.04
-blueprint and Refined Thesis demonstrates limited synthesis of
ideas and diverse sources
-blueprint and Refined Thesis demonstrates some synthesis of
ideas and diverse sources
-blueprint and Refined Thesis demonstrates considerable

7. synthesis of ideas and diverse sources
-blueprint and Refined Thesis demonstrates a high degree of
synthesis of ideas and diverse sources
Note: A student whose achievement is below Level 1 (50%) has
not met the expectations for this assignment or activity.