WRITING A PRELIMINARY OUTLINE

Sample preliminary outline

Johnny Johnson

Ms. Doe

English 12 – Period 1

11 March 2011

SAMPLE PRELIMINARY OUTLINE

Education: Why does it seem everyone is against it?


Thesis Statement: Poverty, segregation of minorities, and changes in

                             federal funding policies negatively affect education.

I. The schools from low-income communities lack revenues.

     A. Limited resources.

          1.

          2.

     B. Tough for students to get job.

          1.

          2.

II. Majority of poverty stricken schools consists of minorities.

     A. Minorities are majority

          1.

          2.

     B. Large achievement gap.

          1.

          2.

III. Education suffers due to changes in policies.

     A. The “No Child Left Behind Act”.

          1.

          2.

     B. Standards hard to develop and enforce.

          1.

          2.