Complete questions 4, 5, and 6 questions at the bottom of the document Outline Template: Persuasive COM/170 Version 7 1 University of Phoenix Material Outline Template Persuasive Part I – Thesis Statement Copy and paste the thesis statement you submitted with this week’s thesis statement worksheet into the box below: Your thesis statement: Complete an outline for your final essay using one of the templates below or developing a logical plan of organization of your own. Part II – Overview Persuasive essays typically follow an organizational pattern that presents one area at a time of support for your position on your topic. Your outline should consist of at least three main points, or three means of support for your position on your topic, in order to solidly back your thesis statement. Note that a good persuasive writer will try to anticipate opposing positions on his/her topic and provide effective counter arguments to them through thorough support. This support can be in the form of details, facts, and/or examples. Part III – Template Template: Use the template below to organize your ideas for your persuasive essay. An example follows the template. I. First main point (your topic sentence introducing your first item of support for your position) A. Supporting detail or example 1. Subdetails 2. Subdetails B. Supporting detail or example 1. Subdetails 2. Subdetails: II. Second main point (your topic sentence introducing your second item of support for your position) A. Supporting detail or example 1. Subdetails 2. Subdetails B. Supporting detail or example 1. Subdetails 2. Subdetails III. Third main point (your topic sentence introducing your third item of support for your position) A. Supporting detail or example 1. Subdetails 2. Subdetails B. Supporting detail or example 1. Subdetails 2. Subdetails Example using template: Thesis statement: The increase in random acts of violence as a result weak gun control laws makes it clear that Americans should not be permitted to own firearms for personal use. I. Laws that keep weapons out of private citizens’ hands and homes would lower incidents of public violence. A. Violence in schools that could have been avoided with a lack of accessibility to guns 1. Columbine 2. Virginia Tech B. Violence in public spaces that could have been avoided with a lack of accessibility to guns 1. Movie theater in Aurora, CO 2. Salon in Seal Beach, CA II. Restrictions on gun ownership is heavily backed by a portion of American citizens and several major organizations. A. Percentage of Americans who favor restrictions 1. Keeping guns out of the hands of mentally ill people 2. Keeping guns out of the hands of children B. Organizations that endorse restrictions 1. The Brady Campaign 2. The Coalition to Stop Gun Violence III. Laws that restrict gun ownership would save both human lives and government funds. A. Human lives lost due to civilian gun ownership 1. Statistic on deaths due to gun violenc.

1. Complete questions 4, 5, and 6 questions at the bottom of the
document
Outline Template: Persuasive
COM/170 Version 7
1
University of Phoenix Material
Outline Template
Persuasive
Part I – Thesis Statement
Copy and paste the thesis statement you submitted with this
week’s thesis statement worksheet into the box below:
Your thesis statement:
Complete an outline for your final essay using one of the
templates below or developing a logical plan of organization of
your own.
Part II – Overview
Persuasive essays typically follow an organizational pattern that
presents one area at a time of support for your position on your
topic. Your outline should consist of at least three main points,
or three means of support for your position on your topic, in
order to solidly back your thesis statement. Note that a good

2. persuasive writer will try to anticipate opposing positions on
his/her topic and provide effective counter arguments to them
through thorough support. This support can be in the form of
details, facts, and/or examples.
Part III – Template
Template: Use the template below to organize your ideas for
your persuasive essay. An example follows the template.
I.
First main point (your topic sentence introducing your first item
of support for your position)
A.
Supporting detail or example
1.
Subdetails
2.
Subdetails
B.
Supporting detail or example
1.
Subdetails
2.
Subdetails:
II.
Second main point (your topic sentence introducing your second
item of support for your position)
A.
Supporting detail or example
1.
Subdetails
2.
Subdetails

3. B.
Supporting detail or example
1.
Subdetails
2.
Subdetails
III.
Third main point (your topic sentence introducing your third
item of support for your position)
A.
Supporting detail or example
1.
Subdetails
2.
Subdetails
B.
Supporting detail or example
1.
Subdetails
2.
Subdetails
Example using template:
Thesis statement: The increase in random acts of violence as a
result weak gun control laws makes it clear that Americans
should not be permitted to own firearms for personal use.
I.
Laws that keep weapons out of private citizens’ hands and
homes would lower incidents of public violence.
A.
Violence in schools that could have been avoided with a lack of
accessibility to guns

4. 1.
Columbine
2.
Virginia Tech
B.
Violence in public spaces that could have been avoided with a
lack of accessibility to guns
1.
Movie theater in Aurora, CO
2.
Salon in Seal Beach, CA
II.
Restrictions on gun ownership is heavily backed by a portion of
American citizens and several major organizations.
A.
Percentage of Americans who favor restrictions
1.
Keeping guns out of the hands of mentally ill people
2.
Keeping guns out of the hands of children
B.
Organizations that endorse restrictions
1.
The Brady Campaign
2.
The Coalition to Stop Gun Violence
III.
Laws that restrict gun ownership would save both human lives
and government funds.
A.
Human lives lost due to civilian gun ownership
1.
Statistic on deaths due to gun violence
2.
Statistic on injuries due to gun violence
B.

5. Funds lost as a result of gun violence
1.
Injured parties cared for by public funds
2.
Funds to incarcerate perpetrators of gun violence
NOTE: Feel free to create your own logical pattern by adding
points, supporting details, or subdetails.
Copyright © 2015 by University of Phoenix. All rights reserved.
Outline Template: Comparison and Contrast
COM/170 Version 7
1
University of Phoenix Material
Outline Template
Comparison and Contrast
Part I – Thesis Statement
Copy and paste the thesis statement you submitted with this
week’s thesis statement worksheet into the box below:
Your thesis statement:
Complete an outline for your final essay using one of the
templates below or developing a logical plan of organization of
your own.
Part II – Overview
Comparison and contrast essays typically follow one of two
organization patterns or some variation on them. In a point by
point pattern, you will list each point of comparison separately.
You will include specific details for each point and cover it
thoroughly before moving on to the next point of comparison.

6. For example, using this method you would compare cats to dogs
in three separate ways – ease of care, expense, and
accommodations. In the block (or subject by subject) pattern,
you will cover each item you are comparing separately. You
will include all of the points of comparison for that item before
moving on to the other item you are comparing and contrasting
it to. For example, using this method you would discuss how
you care for cats, the related expenses to owning a cat, and the
accommodations necessary for a cat, and then you would do the
same in a separate section for dogs. Thus one will have three
more concise sections, while the other has two more detailed
sections.
Part III – Templates
ChooseONE of the two templates listed to use for your response
to this assignment.
First template:Use the template below for a point-by-point
comparison and contrast format. An example follows the
template.
I.
First main point (your topic sentence introducing a point of
comparison or contrast)
A.
Supporting details addressing the first subject
1.
Subdetails about the first subject
2. Subdetails about the first subject
B.
Supporting details addressing your second subject
1.
Subdetails about the second subject
2. Subdetails about the second subject
II.
Second main point (your topic sentence introducing a point of

7. comparison or contrast)
A.
Supporting details addressing your first subject
1.
Subdetails about the first subject
2. Subdetails about the first subject
B.
Supporting details addressing your second subject
1.
Subdetails about the second subject
2. Subdetails about the second subject
III.
Third main point (your topic sentence introducing a point of
comparison or contrast)
A.
Supporting details addressing the first subject
1.
Subdetails about the first subject
2. Subdetails about the first subject
B.
Supporting details addressing the second subject
1.
Subdetails about the second subject
2. Subdetails about the second subject
Example using first template:
Thesis Statement: Owning a house and renting an apartment
both offer advantages but differ in cost, decorating options, and
conveniences.
I. Expenses for homeownership
A.

8. Maintenance of the home, insurance, and taxes
1.
Repairs
2.
Insurance.
3. Property taxes.
B.
Expenses for apartment renters
1.
No maintenance expenses
2.
Renter insurance is cheaper
3. No direct property taxes
II.
Home owners have options for decorating and personalizing the
living space
A.
Limited only by budget constraints
1.
Remodeling and painting
2.
Landscaping
B.
Renters usually cannot make physical changes
1.
Paint
2.
Common grounds
III.
Home owner and renter conveniences
A.
The benefits of owning a home and limits
1.
Privacy
2.
Local regulations

9. B.
Renters’ benefits
1.
Easy to move
2.
Amenities like swimming pools and exercise facilities
Second template: Use the template below for a subject-by-
subject comparison. An example follows the template.
I.
First main point (your topic sentence addressing your first
subject)
A.
Supporting details about the first subject
1.
Subdetails
2.
Subdetails
B.
Supporting details about the first subject
1.
Subdetails
2.
Subdetails
C. Supporting details about the first subject
1.
Subdetails
2.
Subdetails
II. Second main point (your topic sentence addressing your
second subject)
A.

10. Supporting details about the second subject
1.
Subdetails
2.
Subdetails
B.
Supporting details about the second subject
1.
Subdetails
2.
Subdetails
C. Supporting details about the second subject
1.
Subdetails
2.
Subdetails
Example using second template:
Thesis statement: Owning a house and renting an apartment
both come with advantages and disadvantages.
Introduction
I. Homeowners’ advantages and disadvantages
A. Flexibility in decorating and landscaping
1. Remodeling and painting
2. Privacy

11. B. Additional Expenses
1. Maintenance
2. Taxes and insurance
II. Renting advantages and disadvantages.
A.
Financial advantages
1.
Paid utilities
2.
Cheaper insurance policies and no property taxes
B.
Renters’ flexibility and conveniences
1.
More freedom to change residences
2.
Access to amenities like swimming pools and exercise facilities
C. Disadvantages to renting.
1. Decorating
2. Equity
NOTE: Feel free to create your own logical pattern by adding
points, supporting details, subdetails, or by combining the two
patterns in some way.
Copyright © 2015 by University of Phoenix. All rights reserved.
Outline Template: Cause and Effect
COM/170 Version 7
1
University of Phoenix Material
Outline Template

12. Cause and Effect
Part I – Thesis Statement
Copy and paste the thesis statement you submitted with this
week’s thesis statement worksheet into the box below:
Your thesis statement:
Complete an outline for your final essay using one of the
templates below or developing a logical plan of organization of
your own.
Part II – Overview
Cause and effect essays typically follow one of two
organizational patterns or some variation of them. The first
pattern requires you to separate the causes and effects and list
them one by one with relevant details. For example, you might
discuss how smoking causes damage to your body and can result
in disease, how smoking causes social alienation and can result
in social discord, and how smoking causes you to spend a great
deal of money on the habit and can result in financial
difficulties. The second pattern asks you to discuss all of the
causes, then all of the effects, and then the relationship between
the two. For example, you would discuss how smoking causes
damage to your body, social alienation, and unneeded spending,
and then discuss how this can result in disease, social discord,
and financial difficulties.
Part III – Templates
Templates: Choose ONE of the two templates listed to use for
your response to this assignment.
First template: Use the template below to organize your ideas
for your cause and effect essay by listing each cause and effect
separately. An example follows the template.
I.

13. First cause and effect
A.
Supporting detail
1. Subdetails (optional)
2. Subdetails (optional)
B.
Supporting detail
1. Subdetails (optional)
2. Subdetails (optional)
II.
Second cause and effect
A.
Supporting detail
1. Subdetails (optional)

14. 2. Subdetails (optional)
B.
Supporting detail
1. Subdetails (optional)
2. Subdetails (optional)
III.
Third cause and effect
A.
Supporting detail
1. Subdetails (optional)
2. Subdetails (optional)
B.
Supporting detail

15. 1. Subdetails (optional)
2. Subdetails (optional)
Example using template:
Thesis Statement:Cell phones have become more popular
because they promote interaction with friends and family,
provide easy access to information and assistance, and offer
entertainment opportunities.
I.
Promote more interaction with family and friends
A.
Phone is always available
B.
Texting convenient for quick messages
II.
Easy access to information and assistance
A.
Internet access
B.
Navigation
III.
Entertainment

16. A.
Games
B.
Social media
Second template: Use the template below to organize your ideas
for your cause and effect essay by listing the causes and effects
separately, and then discussing the relationship between the
two. An example follows the template.
I.
Explanation of cause(s)
A.
Supporting detail
1. Subdetails (optional)
2. Subdetails (optional)
B.
Supporting detail
1. Subdetails (optional)

17. 2. Subdetails (optional)
II.
Explanation of effect(s)
A.
Supporting detail
1. Subdetails (optional)
2. Subdetails (optional)
B.
Supporting detail
1. Subdetails (optional)
2. Subdetails (optional)
III.
Explanation of relationship between causes(s) and effect(s)
A.
Supporting detail

18. 1. Subdetails (optional)
2. Subdetails (optional)
B.
Supporting detail
1. Subdetails (optional)
2. Subdetails (optional)
Example using template:
Thesis Statement:Cell phones promote open communication
with friends and family, easy access to information and
assistance, and a variety of entertainment opportunities, which
has had both positive and negative effects on our daily
interactions.
I. Cell phones promote open interaction, access to information,
and entertainment opportunities.
A. Texting and emailing from a phone allows us to keep in
contact with loved ones more easily.
B. Connection to the internet allows us to access information
and answer questions almost immediately.
C. Instant access to a variety of videos, games, and other apps
whenever we need them

19. II. The increasingly open interaction cell phones have caused
has resulted in both greater communication and information
exchange and a weakening in basic social skills.
A. Instant connection between individuals all around the world
B. A wealth of information has become available at our
fingertips.
C. Our heads are too buried in our cell phones to interact
properly face-to-face.
III. Although cell phones have connected us in many new and
amazing ways, we need to be careful to use them appropriately
and in moderation.
A. Be sure to disconnect for a portion of your day
B. Avoid being sucked into the internet as your only means of
communication and information – keep the traditional means
alive.
NOTE: Feel free to use your own variation on this outline
format to meet the needs of your topic. For example, your topic
may require you to discuss a single cause first, followed by the
effects, or you may wish to discuss an effect first and then
possible causes.
Copyright © 2015 by University of Phoenix. All rights reserved.