Outline for 4-Paragraph Essay

Main Point or Thesis of Essay: the many surprise of life
Bell word: surprise

Paragraph 1 -- Opening
Hook: You walk into a room and get surprise by a party for you
Comment on the hook: My experience with surprises
Comment on the hook: Jem and Scout’s experience with surprises
Thesis (with bell word) After this paragraph you may find a surprise in your life

Paragraph 2

TS (Main Idea, Topic, or Thesis) Jem and Scout’s big surprise
2 Echo words to be used: Astonishment Amazement

SD: One shot Finches
CM: The weapon the “boring dad” uses
CM: Didn’t teach his kids with the air rifles

SD: Atticus’ evasion
CM: Atticus said it’s no use lying to a kid and he lied
CM: After the mad dog shooting he didn’t want to talk about it

SD: Jem’s respect
CM: Jem said not to mention the shooting
CM: Said Atticus is a gentleman just like me

CS: Do you think Atticus made the right choice in not saying he was good with a gun

Paragraph 3

TS (Main Idea, Topic, or Thesis) Cross country
2 Echo words to be used: shocker disbelief

SD: 6th grade fall sports
CM: wanting to do cross country
CM: My dad doing cross country

SD: My dad work with music not running
CM: Won medals for meets
CM: Team captain in college

SD: Being a good coach
CM: Giving me advice
CM: Running penguin run with me

CS: Be ready to be surprised

Paragraph 4

Hook (the same as paragraph 1, or different) You walk into a room and get surprise by a party for you
Echo word (could be bell word) Surprise
Comment on the hook: It is good to be surprised
Comment on the hook: You can surprise people too
Re-statement, in slightly different words, of the thesis: Just make sure the surprise is a good one and not a surprise attack.