Essay Outline Template
I. INTRODUCTION
A. Background Information
1. General background information that grabs attention (reference)
2. More specific background information to lead into the thesis (reference)
B. Thesis statement
1. Topic
2. Outline your key points
II. BODY
A. Support Paragraph 1
1. Thesis statement
2. Supporting Ideas
B. Support Paragraph 2
1. Thesis statement
2. Supporting Ideas
C. Possible Support Paragraph 3
1. Thesis statement
2. Supporting Ideas
D. Maybe even another Support Paragraph 4 (or more)
1. Thesis statement
2. Supporting Ideas
III. CONCLUSION
A. Summarize/Review key points
B. Concluding thought
IV. REFERENCES (use APA or MLA format)
I. INTRODUCTION
A. Background Information
1. Many large business corporations are of international character. The same applies, indeed, to organizations that by their very nature are meant to incorporate people from different countries and as result from diverse backgrounds. As an example of such an organization we can set the Red Cross. So what is the Red Cross today?
2. Firstly, when we mention the organization we usually refer to a humanitarian movement helping residents all over the world to maintain good health and saving a great many lives. According to the recent data, the organization consists of approximately 97 million volunteers as well as self-devoted member staff. Apart from its major task to protect people’s health, the organization is also involved in propagating ideals of human’s equality and freedom. Through its thorough and hard work in the remotest corners of the world the Red Cross ensures respect and dignity for every human being regardless of his or her race (Bernett, 2005).
B. Thesis statement
1. From the above mentioned facts, it can be deduced that the Red Cross is truly an organization with ramified structure and cultural diversity. In this paper we are supposed to take a look at the problems that might arise as a direct result of the diversity in question. Furthermore, we are to approach the subject from different perspectives – from a perspective of a potential employee, a customer and a supplier. Each role will be examined in the light of the subject and to do so we are to go through some Red Cross sites providing full information on the organization, its activity and its member staff.
2. To start with, we have to state that the Red Cross does not hold back its international character. On the contrary, even at the first blush of the Red Cross cite (https://www.icrc.org/) we can testify that the organization emphasizes its work all around the world. This is seen from the abundance of geographical names, including the names of regions we the Red Cross volunteers carry out their help. It is seen from headlines like “migrants”, “international criminal jurisdiction”, “International review of the Red Cross”. However, it is made even more obvious from the title “Where we work” found at the front page of the site. The pictures shown at the site depicting Afghan, Ukrainian, Nigerian and other patients also contribute to the impression that the site has nothing to hide – it openly clarifies the Red Cross tasks and challenges.
II. BODY
A. Support Paragraph 1
1. There can be different kinds of presentation information. To share our opinion, the kind of presentation of information on the site in question is really helpful for a person who might be not so well read or versed into the current political and economic world situation as well as in the Red Cross history and present day work. In other words, not everybody can be expected to have necessary information at hand and without light being shed on the organization, they might be misled in making a wrong choice – in joining the organization whose structure and job they do not know.
2. From our point of view, the site we are analyzing is very available to everyone not only in terms of its accessibility in the Internet but in terms of its simplicity and clarity. Indeed, all kind of background information can be looked for on the site including information not even linked to the Red Cross but to the current news.
On the other hand, we believe that the site is not ideal in its portrayal of the Red Cross. There are few appeals to potential volunteers or employees. Indeed, appeals like “Donate now”, in our opinion, are too blunt and cannot be regarded as the most appropriate. Although there are heart-rending stories on the site, they are, in stark contrast to the most important (from the standpoint of the site) information, at the bottom of the page and can be easily overlooked. These little drawbacks, of course, are not meant to be set against the site’s advantages – availability, clarity and trustworthiness.
B. Support Paragraph 2
1. In the present paper we cannot restrict ourselves to analyzing just one site, so we are going to move on to another one - http://www.1we.com/web/show/id=82449/langid=42. What is the most noticeable thing here?
2. “Your support makes a world of difference!” “Help us to help others | Become a Donor” “Give us continuity | Become a Friend”. These are already catchwords! They might “hook” you or not, but there is no denying it. In our opinion stylistic devices used in the last two appeals – sentence parallelism and through it comparison of a donor with a friend – are very successful in their pragmatic effect. As a potential employee you want to reach out to the organization and really provide your help. Of course, we do not claim that it is not a subjective perception of the site, but, anyhow, thus has been our perception.
The site we have to state is very colorful in general – not through portrayal of many pictures but through its language. The site’s language is quite idiomatic and serves its main purpose – to attract potential volunteers to this great charity program. Even the name of the site “1We One world experience” already presupposes a pun and a word as well as signs play. What is more, does the name not grasp the international diversity of the organization the other way round? In other words, here we see emphasis being shifted – not diversity, not difference, but the organization’s unity and co-operation are accentuated. Is it misleading? Perhaps, but let us not jump at conclusions.
C. Possible Support Paragraph 3
1. To answer the last question posed we have to peruse the Red Cross principles. That is even more important for us because we are finally to approach the topic from the standpoint of a potential volunteer ourselves – and such a volunteer must know the principles of the organization he joins. Unfortunately, neither of the sites we have dealt with so far gives exhaustive information on the matter which can be thought as a drawback of both of the sites.
2. Among the overruling and major principles of the Red Cross can be enumerated voluntary service, impartiality, humanity, unity (!), independence (Forsythe, 2003) As we see: there is no contradiction, but one has to make a sort of research! Would an average volunteer be interested in the research? Would he, in other words, go through different sources? Is that, actually, really necessary or, perhaps, the main driving force of a volunteer must remain commitment and self-devotion? Unfortunately, these questions go beyond the scope of our work. However, before we draw a conclusion, we must comment on our personal view of the organization in the light of some new facts that we have gotten to know. Although, partially we have already shared our opinion by the way of writing, here goes a more obvious and clear position of the author expressed in verbalized form.
D. Possible Support Paragraph 4
1. To start with, the first impression of the Red Cross has been more than positive. According to sources and sites we have used, the Red Cross has really made its purpose to help people and that is undisputedly a great job. Charity, in fact, when it goes from the bottom of heart (and we have no reasons whatever to believe that the Red Cross charity is insincere or is pursued for the sake of financial benefits – the organization is voluntary, after all) has always made our world better and brighter.
2. Thus, being posed with a moral dilemma to join or not to join the Red Cross movement, the author of the present paper will answer that it would be his utmost pleasure to join the organization. Is there anything that puts the author off? The cultural diversity? No! That is not the case.
However, throughout the paper we have overlooked demands to a potential volunteer – must he be married? What kind of education must he have? The good news is that the Red Cross being a voluntary organization does not judge a person according to his marital status or education. As we have mentioned, commitment and self-devotion are more important, though, of course, education is always welcome. Needless to add that the Red Cross rules out all kind of discrimination as well.
Would the author become a customer of the Red Cross or its supplier? The positive impression made by the organization leaves no room for doubt that any person can trust the Red Cross and if he or she is in a difficult situation, the Red Cross will help if only it can reach out to the person. That is why the help should not be avoided. There is nothing shameful in accepting help – after all that is what it intended for.
As for contributing to the organization, the author would find it his honor to contribute to the Red Cross if he possibly can in any way. The most available way is, however, to become a volunteer and why not? The author hopes that by becoming one he will be able to help save many lives. And so will be able everybody of us. Our support can really make a world of difference!
III. CONCLUSION
References
Bennett, Angela (2005). The Geneva Convention: The Hidden Origins of the Red Cross. Sutton Publishing, Gloucestershire, England.
Forsythe (2003) "The International Committee of the Red Cross and International Humanitarian Law." Humanitäres Völkerrecht – Informationsschriften. The Journal of International Law of Peace and Armed Conflict. p. 64–77
International committee of the Red Cross https://www.icrc.org/
1We One world experience http://www.1we.com/web/show/id=82449/langid=42
