Example Outline Example Outline(This is an example of what a finished outline might look like when using the general outline format correctly.You can flag your supporting materials by indicating which supporting you have and highlighting them different colors in your outline.SourceQuoteDefinitionSta tI.Introduction
A. (Opening Device) I am sure all of you have visited a zoo and have observed the monkeys. You probably could not help watching them and observing their behavior. If you examined them for awhile, I am sure you noticed that they act a great deal like people. I had the opportunity to work last summer at the University of California’s Primate Center under Dr. Ruth Towler, one of America’s leading primate researchers. Some of what I learned made me realize that humans act a lot like primates. I would like to share some of the things I learned about primates while working at the Primate Center.
B.(Thesis Statement) Primates are social animals that live in stable social groups much like humans.
C.(Preview of Main Points) In order to explain how primates are much like humans,I will focus on three primary points: first, how primates are born into social groups; second, how primates utilize communication systems; and third, how primates recognize hierarchal structures within their groups.II.Body A.Primates are born into social groups.1.The size of the groups varies.
a)Dr. Margaret Smith, Director of Primate Behavior at Yale University, explained in an article published in The Smithsonian in1991: the size of the groups varies from 8 to 24 individuals depending on the species.
b)Statistics provided by Dr. Smith include howler monkeys (85%(statistic) had a group size of 12 to 15) and macaque monkeys(95% had a group size of 20 – 23).2.The groups work together.a)George Peters, a naturalist, noted in an article published in the National Geographic in March 1991 that the groups sleep together for protection, security and warmth.
b)Provide examples of howler monkeys traveling in groups to gather food.B.Primates use communication systems.
1.Primate sense are similar to humans.
a)Dr. Carl Hoffman, a researcher at the UC Berkeley Primate Center,explained in a personal interview conducted in April 1992:“Primates are one of the few species that use their senses like humans do… They actually see, tough, hear, smell and taste like we do”.
b)Show and explain visual aid of howler monkey using touch and smell.
2.Primates use forms of nonverbal communication that are similar to humans.
a)Explain Dr. Keith Fowler’s study of primates in East Africa that was published in Nature in 1998.b)Show and explain visual aid of macaque showing anger and sadness.
C.Primates recognize hierarchal structures within their groups.
1.Younger primate respect older primates.
a)Show and explain visual aids of macaque and howler monkeys.
b)These examples indicate the recognition of a hierarchy, which is defined by Random House Dictionary as “a system of persons or things ranked one above another
”.2.Females recognize a rigid structure within their groups.
a)Show and explain visual aid of South American Monkeys.
b)Refer to Dr. Carl Hoffman’s study that was published in Science in1987: of 11 primate groups studied, all of them, but most especially females, knew their place in the group.
3.Roving males are often outcasts from the groups.
a)Explain Dr. Ruth Towler’s study that was published in Nature in December 1991: numerous cases of young males being excluded from the groups.
b)Show and explain visual aid of roving males challenging the dominant male.
