ELI100 1

Tremblay

Templates for Writing the Outline of a Critical Essay

In this document, you will find two different templates for writing a critical essay outline. You may
decide to adopt one or the other, according to your preference. Remember that these templates
are to guide you in your writing process and may be adapted if need be.

Critical Essay Type I

Introduction

______________________________________________________________________
Original source (author, article)

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________
Broad description of the original work (type of essay, topic, thesis, etc.)

______________________________________________________________________
Your thesis (why you agree and/or disagree with the author)

______________________________________________________________________
Overall structure of your essay (first, then, finally)

Summary of the Original Work

______________________________________________________________________
Reformulation of the authors thesis

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________
Main idea #1 and supporting information (no details)

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________
Main idea #2 and supporting information (no details)

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________
Main idea #3 and supporting information (no details)
ELI100 2
Tremblay

Your Critique/Evaluation

______________________________________________________________________
Reformulation of your thesis

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________
Main ideas/arguments you agree with

______________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________
Main ideas/arguments you find problematic

Conclusion

_____________________________________________________________________
Recapitulation on the authors main ideas/arguments (brief)

_____________________________________________________________________
Recapitulation on what you agree with, what you find problematic, and why

_____________________________________________________________________
Concluding sentence (let the reader think - concluding strategies GL p. 161)
ELI100 3
Tremblay

Critical Essay Type 2

Introduction

______________________________________________________________________
Original source (author, article)

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________
Broad description of the original work (type of essay, topic, thesis, etc.)

______________________________________________________________________
Your thesis (why you agree and/or disagree with the author)

______________________________________________________________________
Overall structure of your essay (first, then, finally)

Main Idea #1

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________
Authors main idea #1 and supporting information (no details)

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________
Argument for/against the authors main idea #1 and supporting information

Main Idea #2

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________
Authors main idea #2 and supporting information (no details)

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________
Argument for/against the authors main idea #2 and supporting information
ELI100 4
Tremblay

Main Idea #3

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________
Authors main idea #3 and supporting information (no details)

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________
Argument for/against the authors main idea #3 and supporting information

Conclusion

______________________________________________________________________
Reformulation of your thesis

______________________________________________________________________
Recapitulation on what you agree with, what you find problematic, and why (brief)

_____________________________________________________________________
Concluding sentence (let the reader think - concluding strategies GL p. 161)