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From Canadian History Portal - HCO

Essay Writing → Start → Outline → Intro → Paragraphs → Template → Proofreading →→ Checklist → → I. Founders Topics → II. Settlers Topics → III. New Nation Topics

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Essay Outlines

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An essay outline is an important first step in the writing process. It leads you to conduct some preliminary research into your topic. You then think about your topic, develop a thesis/argument, and begin deciding how your essay should be structured. A number of questions will occur to you: what evidence should I bring into my essay? How should I structure the points of my essay? What is relevant to my thesis? You need to find the answers to these questions on your own. Ask your teacher for help, but if you have not done some background research and given some thought to your topic there is little the teacher can do to help you.

The outline is a safe way for you to play with ideas. Come up with main points for your essay based on your research. Have a dialogue with yourself about the best way to structure your essay and your evidence. Once you write the outline you are not bound to it. What it does do, however, is give you some indication of how you will proceed with your topic. By the time you are done your essay you may find that the final produce bears only a slight resemblance to the original outline. Below you will find a sample outline, along with a fictional bibliography.

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Sample Outline

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Essay Title: Causes of the War of 1812

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Thesis: Several factors caused the War of 1812: Native issues in the western territories, the Napoleonic Wars, the Chesapeake Affair, and the influence of the War Hawks in Congress. Of these causes, the War Hawks are the most important since they used the other factors as an excuse to go to war with Britain.

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Point #1: Native Issues in the Western Territories

• Outline background to Native issues in Ohio Valley

• Pontiac, Little Turtle, Battle of Fallen Timbers

• Who was Tecumseh? What is he trying to do? Why?

• What does the American government think of Tecumseh and his confederacy?

• Why does Tecumseh want the British to help him?

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Point #2: The Napoleonic Wars

• What were they?

• British policy towards France during the war

• French policy towards Britain during the war

• Impact of these policies on the United States

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Point #3: The Chesapeake Affair

• Explain what this was

• Why are sailors leaving British navy

• Impressment – what was it, how did it affect the US

• US arguments against impressment

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Point #4: War Hawks

• Who were they – explain background of 1-2 important War Hawks
• Influence in Congress – how did they become so powerful
• Weakness of President Madison

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Bibliography

Craig, Gerald, Upper Canada, 1791-1821 (Toronto: McClelland and Stewart, 1969).

Johnson, J.K., History of Upper Canada 1791-1867 (Toronto: Fitzhenry and Whiteside, 1978)

Surtees, Robert, “The War of 1812 in Upper Canada: The Native Role.” The Beaver (October, 2002): 34-43.

Wilson, Bruce, The War of 1812: Causes and Consequences (New York: Routledge Press, 1991).

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Essay Writing → Start → Outline → Intro → Paragraphs → Template → Proofreading →→ Checklist → → I. Founders Topics → II. Settlers Topics → III. New Nation Topics

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