Back to the Future - Sixties Research Paper - Formal Outline - Follow Jay's Steps for Sgt. Pepper's

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967): 

It was twenty years ago today
Sgt. Pepper taught the band to play
They've been going in and out of style
But they're guaranteed to raise a smile
So may I introduce to you
The act you've known for all these years
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band

Estimados Estudiantes,

Are you having fun yet?  Is everything GROOVY?

Here we go.  Below I provide you with a step-by-step guide to create your Sixties Outline.

• Jay’s Note: There is no one official way to create an outline – here I combine multiple strategies to help yo bring together the parts of your essay
• Your Goal: To use your outline to see how your writing fits together
• Jay’s Sample: To model a sixties outline for you, I imagined how I would develop an essay about the Beatles’ historic Sgt. Peppers album - The Greatest Ever? ( see below )

1. Begin with a THESIS at the top of your page:

• Answer a question, like ONE of these these:

+   Why is your sixties subject important/interesting?

+   How did your sixties subject change the world?

+   What did you learn from your sixties subject that will help you understand the world today?

• Please use your SENTENCE SKILLS in your THESIS - coordination, subordination, semicolons with conjunctive adverbs – impress your readers with your writing ability!

Here some examples of sixties thesis statements of the top of my head:

• Pele was a soccer superstar, but more importantly, he was the champion of his people.
• Although the miniskirt was very short, it’s impact on our society was very large – it symbolized Women’s Liberation.
• The Women’s Movement of the sixties paved the way for young women like us to succeed in today’s world.
• Mohammed Ali was seen as a fierce boxer inside the ring; however, his true courage was displayed outside the ring.

Type your Thesis at the top of the page.  Like this:

THESIS: Sgt. Peppers may not have been the best Beatles album, but the music changed the world.

2. List your Headings with Roman Numerals – For this paper I suggest FIVE:

• Jay’s Note: This is a DRAFT of your OUTLINE – I will ask you to add more detail later!
• I will ask you to ADD stuff, DELETE stuff, and CHANGE stuff – to make it better!

1. Intro – Quote Sandwich
2. Summary of Research Article
3. Cause and Effect Paragraph (Use Jay’s Double-Sided Journal)
4. Compare and Contrast Paragraph
5. Conclusion – Share what you have learned

3. For each heading, provide 2-3 subheadings – begins those like this: a., b., c….

• Jay’s Note: Use your Canvas Assignment instructions for help – most often, I create steps for you to follow in your writing – they work here!
• For your convenience, I will provide you a cut-out guideline in class: CHECKLIST: Constructing a Formal Outline
• Jay’s Tip: Try to keep your headings and subheading short – a few words – but it is no crime if you want to go longer.

Here is completed my Sgt. Pepper’s Outline:

THESIS: Sgt. Peppers may not have been the best Beatles album, but the music changed the world.

I. Intro - Quote Sandwich

a. Background – Summer of Love

b. Quote – “It was Twenty Years Ago Today…”

c. Analysis/reflection – New identity + New lyrics + New technology = Musical Revolution}

d. THESIS

II. Summary of Research Article – “Sgt. Pepper: A Psychodelic Masterpiece”

a. Author’s main idea – Beatles’ Finest Achievement

b. Point #1 - First Concept Album

c. Point #2 - Alter Ego

d. Example - “Day in the Life”

e. Conclusion – Changed the way we listen to music

III. Cause and Effect Support – Dreaming the Beatles

a. Summary - The Beatles in the Studio

b.  Paraphrase – The Beatles weren’t through; they were just beginning

c.  Quote – “We are living in the album culture that Pepper created.”

d.  Reflection  – Greatest Album Ever – They promised a masterpiece; they delivered

IIII.  Compare and Contrast – The Beatles and One Direction

a. Style/ The Look – Boy Bands vs. Boy Bands

b. Music – Genius vs. Cute

c. Impact – Forever Come and Go

V. Reflection

a. My reason for selecting this topic – Sgt Peppers 50^th year anniversary

b. What I learned – The Genius of the Beatles

c. What I want to know more of – More innovative bands

I hope this helps

Here is what you do now:

1. Submit your outline on Canvas Assignments}

2. Print out your outline for inclusion in your project binder.

This is going to be great.  You will see.

Paz,

JL