Total Possible Score: 12.00 Outlines an Introduction that Contains a Thesis Statement Total: 0.50 Distinguished - Expertly outlines the topic and includes a well developed thesis sentence. Outlines the Environmental Challenge and the Different Interests (e.g., BP, local businesses, animals that rely upon habitat, etc.) Who/That are Affected by the BP Oil Spill. Total: 1.75 Distinguished - Fully outlines the environmental challenges and the different interests affected by the BP oil spill. The outline is clearly supported with scholarly sources. Outlines Identification and Description of Relevant Value Systems Total: 1.75 Distinguished - Outline fully identifies and describes relevant value systems. Outlines Environmental Justice Issues Total: 1.75 Distinguished - Fully outlines environmental justice issues. Outlines a Persuasive Argument that Answers what Could have been Done, what Should have Been Done, and What She/He Would Have Done, Using the Concepts Discussed in Class Total: 1.75 Distinguished - Fully outlines a persuasive argument that indicates what could have been done, what should have been done and what you would have done. Uses concepts discussed in class. Outlines a Conclusion that Summarizes the Paper Total: 0.50 Distinguished - Provides a fully outlined conclusion that summarizes the paper. The conclusion clearly relates to the thesis statements. Written Communication: Control of Syntax and Mechanics Total: 1.50 Distinguished - Displays meticulous comprehension and organization of syntax and mechanics, such as spelling and grammar. Written work contains no errors, and is very easy to understand. APA Formatting Total: 0.25 Distinguished - Accurately uses APA formatting consistently throughout the paper, title page, reference page . Page Requirement Total: 0.25 Distinguished - The paper meets the specific page requirement stipulated in the assignment description. Resource Requirement Total: 2.00 Distinguished - Uses more than the required number of scholarly sources, providing compelling evidence to support ideas. All sources on the reference page are used and cited correctly within the body of the assignment. 1 Created July 2015 for the Writing Center OUTLINE What is an outline? An outline is meant to help you establish a structure for a paper you are going to write. It is a way for you to demonstrate the main argument (thesis), main points (topic sentences), and main pieces of evidence you are going to present in a paper before actually writing the paper. Additionally, one of the essential purposes of an outline is to clearly convey the connection between the thesis and each of the topic sentences. Outline Structure I. Introduction A. Thesis: A statement of position and overview of points of argumentation go here. II. Body Paragraph 1: Topic sentence goes here. A. Supporting evidence: A paraphrase or quote from one of your sources goes here, along with an in-text citation (to learn how to ...

1. Total Possible Score: 12.00
Outlines an Introduction that Contains a Thesis Statement
Total: 0.50
Distinguished - Expertly outlines the topic and includes a well
developed thesis sentence.
Outlines the Environmental Challenge and the Different
Interests (e.g., BP, local businesses, animals that rely upon
habitat, etc.) Who/That are Affected by the BP Oil Spill.
Total: 1.75
Distinguished - Fully outlines the environmental challenges and
the different interests affected by the BP oil spill. The outline is
clearly supported with scholarly sources.
Outlines Identification and Description of Relevant Value
Systems
Total: 1.75
Distinguished - Outline fully identifies and describes relevant
value systems.
Outlines Environmental Justice Issues
Total: 1.75
Distinguished - Fully outlines environmental justice issues.
Outlines a Persuasive Argument that Answers what Could have
been Done, what Should have Been Done, and What She/He
Would Have Done, Using the Concepts Discussed in Class
Total: 1.75
Distinguished - Fully outlines a persuasive argument that
indicates what could have been done, what should have been
done and what you would have done. Uses concepts discussed in
class.
Outlines a Conclusion that Summarizes the Paper
Total: 0.50
Distinguished - Provides a fully outlined conclusion that
summarizes the paper. The conclusion clearly relates to the
thesis statements.
Written Communication: Control of Syntax and Mechanics

2. Total: 1.50
Distinguished - Displays meticulous comprehension and
organization of syntax and mechanics, such as spelling and
grammar. Written work contains no errors, and is very easy to
understand.
APA Formatting
Total: 0.25
Distinguished - Accurately uses APA formatting consistently
throughout the paper, title page,
reference page
. Page Requirement
Total: 0.25
Distinguished - The paper meets the specific page requirement
stipulated in the assignment description.
Resource Requirement
Total: 2.00
Distinguished - Uses more than the required number of
scholarly sources, providing compelling evidence to support
ideas. All sources on the reference page are used and cited
correctly within the body of the assignment.
1
Created July 2015 for the Writing Center
OUTLINE

3. What is an outline?
An outline is meant to help you establish a structure for a paper
you are going to write. It is a way for you
to demonstrate the main argument (thesis), main points (topic
sentences), and main pieces of evidence
you are going to present in a paper before actually writing the
paper.
Additionally, one of the essential purposes of an outline is to
clearly convey the connection between the
thesis and each of the topic sentences.
Outline Structure
I. Introduction
A. Thesis: A statement of position and overview of points of
argumentation go here.
II. Body Paragraph 1: Topic sentence goes here.
A. Supporting evidence: A paraphrase or quote from one of your
sources goes here, along
with an in-text citation (to learn how to properly construct in-
text citations, please see the
following link: https://awc.ashford.edu/cd-in-text-citation-
guide.html).
1. Explanation of the meaning of the supporting evidence.

4. 2. So what? A direct statement on how the supporting evidence
does in fact support
the claim made in the topic sentence.
III. Body Paragraph 2: Topic sentence goes here.
A. Supporting evidence
1. Explanation.
2. So what?
B. Supporting evidence
1. Explanation.
2. So what?
IV. Body Paragraph 3: Topic sentence goes here.
A. Supporting evidence
1. Explanation.
2. So what?
Sample Outline: Argumentative Paper on Obesity and
Government Intervention
I. Introduction
A. Thesis: An individual’s weight should be a governmental

5. concern because the medical
costs associated with weight-related issues cost taxpayer
money, retailers of unhealthy
food need to be regulated, and children need to have better
options for diet and exercise
made available to them.
II. Body Paragraph 1: The medical cost associated with weight-
related issues has significantly
contributed to individual taxes.
https://awc.ashford.edu/cd-in-text-citation-guide.html
2
Created July 2015 for the Writing Center
A. Supporting evidence: “…the costs of obesity arising from
individuals’ poor nutritional
choices are borne by society as a whole through taxes, lost
productivity, and an
overburdened healthcare system. In 2008, the medical costs
associated with obesity and
obesity-related illnesses totaled US $147 billion in the United
States” (Franck, Grandi, &
Eisenberg, 2013, p. 1951).

6. 1. Explanation: This quote demonstrates not only the connection
between obesity,
medical costs, and increased taxes, but also shows the exact
dollar number
costs from a fairly recent year.
2. So what? This quote supports the claim that weight-related
medical issues
contribute to increased taxes for all taxpayers by explaining the
connection and
demonstrating the high dollar costs to show that this is a current
problem
affecting a government process (taxation) and therefore could
appropriately be
addressed by government intervention.
III. Body Paragraph 2: Another reason that weight should be
considered a governmental issue is
that the market for unhealthy food in America has overtaken the
general food market and the
government needs to actively curb the incentives to frequent
these establishments.
A. Supporting Evidence: “[M]eals are increasingly being
consumed outside the home, and
these meals tend to be higher in fat. A literal fat tax…

7. theoretically would encourage
individuals to opt for low-fat or nonfat alternatives” (Franck et
al., 2013, p. 1950).
1. Explanation: This quote alludes to many of the main
problems with fast food
consumption and explains what a fat tax would attempt to do to
curb the
consumption of junk food.
2. So what? Showing that a fat tax would be able to curb
overconsumption of
obesity-causing fast food demonstrates the need for the
government to impose
such a thing.
IV. Body Paragraph 3: Finally, the government is responsible
for ensuring that children have
access to healthy food and exercise while in school.
A. Supporting Evidence: A connection between Michelle
Obama’s “Let’s Move!” campaign
and a reduction in overall childhood obesity across America has
been demonstrated
(Tucker, 2013, p. 1).
1. Explanation: This information shows the effectiveness of
government-backed

8. programs, with “Let’s Move!” as the specific example.
2. So what? Demonstrating the effectiveness of “Let’s Move!”
campaign supports
the concept of government involvement in school food and
exercise initiatives to
help curb childhood obesity and provide children with the
foundation for
establishing healthy habits.
References
Franck, C., Grandi, S., & Eisenberg, M. (2013). Taxing Junk
Food to Counter Obesity. American Journal
of Public Health. 103.11, DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2013.301279
Tucker, C. (2013). Q&A with first lady Michelle Obama: How
the Let’s Move! Campaign is changing the
way kids eat, move. Nation’s Health. 43.9. Retrieved from
nationshealth.com