School Uniforms Essay

Introduction

A school uniforms essay outline will want to follow a basic outline structure, with an introduction, body, and conclusion.  The introduction should provide the argument.  Will the paper be pro school uniforms or against them?  Why?  Give some hint of the reasons in the introduction.  For the body, the outline should focus on each of those reasons, dedicating at least a paragraph to each one.  In the conclusion, reiterate the main points of the paper and wrap it up with a final thought.  Take a look at our template and example below.

School Uniforms Essay Outline Template

I. Introduction

a. The intro needs a hook—something to get the reader’s interest.

b. Follow the hook up with your argument and support it with a few brief ideas.

c. State your thesis—your main point and how you will prove it.

II. First Supporting Paragraph

a. This is where you can put your first main point.  Decide whether you want your best point to come first or last.  Usually, saving it for last has the most effect—so you might want to start the body of the paper off with your minor point and build up to the most convincing evidence.

b. Segue from this point to the next before leaving the paragraph.

III. Second Supporting Paragraph

a. Give the reader your next most important point and support it with relevant information.

b. Close out the paragraph by looking forward to the next point and preview it here or use a transition to pave the way for it.

IV. Third Supporting Paragraph

a. This will be your most important paragraph in terms of making a point:  save your strongest evidence for this paragraph so that your reader is really convinced.

b. Emphasize the argument here and lead your reader into the final concluding paragraph.

V. Conclusion

a. Restate the argument.

b. Restate the reasons (evidence) for the argument.

School Uniforms Essay Outline Example

I. Introduction

a. School is not about looks but studying.

b. That said, how a student dresses can impact how the student studies.

c. Fashion should not be the primary concern of the student, but it ends up becoming it when there is no dress code:  school uniforms should be welcomed.

II. First Supporting Paragraph

a. Without uniforms, students can feel pressured to fit in by focusing on fashion trends.

b. This distracts from actually doing school work.

c. Students who wear uniforms tend to do better academically (Bodine,  2003).  But this is far from the most important reason

III. Second Supporting Paragraph

a. School uniforms help students conform to the vision the school has for itself.

b. Conformity vs. individuality may seem like a problem for some, but students should be expected to conform when at their school and the uniform helps them to do that (Caruso, 1996).

c. Schools exist to shape the student:  they are not there to promote the individuality of the student.  The student’s individuality should be demonstrated in his academic performance—not in his dress.  

d. There is an even more important reason school uniforms are important, however.

IV. Third Supporting Paragraph

a. Finally, school uniforms improve school spirit and school pride (Murray, 1997).

b. Without school spirit and school pride, no school has a chance.

c. School uniforms give students a sense of belonging to their school. 

d. Uniforms give them a sense of dignity and respect, and help them to see that their school is a place that puts demands upon them.

e. Schools are places where students must learn to step up and realize that the world does not conform to them or care about their fashion tastes.

V. Conclusion

a. School uniforms help students focus on what matters—schooling rather than fashion.

b. School uniforms help students perform better academically, help them conform to the school’s vision, and promote school pride.

Conclusion

A school uniform essay outline can help you piece together your school uniform essay no matter what position you’re taking.  The outline example given above takes one side of the debate, but you could easily present the other side of the debate using the same outline.  Just plug in your ideas and present them for the reader by supporting the main points with the facts that will help to convince the reader that your argument is the best one.  Not everyone is going to agree, of course, so you could even add in a paragraph that addresses the contrary point of view.  When writing an argumentative essay, it is never a bad idea to acknowledge the other side of the debate by stating its views and then rebutting them.  This should come at the end of the essay, however—just before the conclusion but after you have made all your most important points.  Remember in your conclusion to restate your thesis and go over your main points once more:  that way you leave your reader with a succinct and to-the-point recap of what the essay has been all about.