Philosophy outline

Outline Template

Thesis Statement: [Consult the document titled “Thesis Statement Checklist.”]

1. Introduction.

   1. Thesis Statement

   2. Explanation of why the thesis statement is interesting and important. Why would it matter whether or not your thesis statement is true?

   3. Pieces of supporting evidence for your thesis statement.

      1. Supporting claim (1)

      2. Supporting claim (2)

      3. Supporting claim (3)

      4. [You might have additional bits of supporting evidence as well. These should all be stated in similar fashion.]

   4. What is the most compelling reason why someone might disagree with your thesis? [Anticipate the strongest objection to your view.]

   5. What is the most important refutation of that objection?

2. Supporting claim (1) [This functions here as its own thesis statement for this section of the paper.]

   1. Supporting evidence (a)

      1. You might include here: textual support, citation of secondary literature, examples from current events or popular culture, etc. In each case, you need to provide a supporting argument that explains why the evidence (a) that you put forward really is evidence for claim (1).

   2. Supporting evidence (b)

      1. Repeat the same process that you did for 2a.

   3. Supporting evidence (c )

   4. Supporting evidence (d-? and so on)

3. Supporting claim (2)

   1. Supporting evidence (a)

   2. Supporting evidence (b)

   3. Supporting evidence (c )

   4. Supporting evidence (d-? and so on)

4. Supporting claim (3)

   1. Supporting evidence (a)

   2. Supporting evidence (b)

   3. Supporting evidence (c )

   4. Supporting evidence (d-? and so on)

5. Perhaps you have a claim (4), perhaps you don’t. You will adjust your outline length accordingly.

6. Compelling objection (1) [Anticipate the strongest objections(s) that someone might raise to your Thesis Statement. State that objection as charitably as possible.]

   1. Supporting evidence (a) [Here you will provide the best evidence for the objection and explain why it does indeed support the objection and potentially disprove your thesis statement.]

   2. Supporting evidence (b)

   3. Supporting evidence (c )

   4. Supporting evidence (d-? and so on)

7. Compelling objection (2) [If there is another important objection to be considered, raise it here and repeat the process in section 6.]

8. Refutation of Compelling Objection (1) [Here, you will argue that CO1 is false.]

   1. Supporting evidence (a)

   2. Supporting evidence (b)

   3. Supporting evidence (c )

   4. Supporting evidence (d-? and so on)

9. Conclusion

   1. [Summarize the main points of each section in the paper.]

   2. [Explain why it is that no one can accept the various arguments you have made, and yet doubt the truth of your thesis.]

   3. [Explain what you have contributed to the philosophical understanding of your chosen topic. Why does it matter that [your thesis statement here]?