The Bell Jar Essay 1 Outline
I. INTRODUCTION
A. Historical Background
- Women Role in 1950s
B. Summary of Esther
C. Introduction of main points
- Esther experience at magazine
- Feminine Mystique: Media Influence on Women’s Role
- Influence of other characters
D. Thesis Statement
- Esther’s pressure on herself to choose between being a housewife or a working woman or something else to make her happy is fueled by the media and other women around her.
II. BODY 1: ESTHER’S PERSONAL EXPERIENCE
A. Experience at magazine
- Quote
- Analysis of quote and relations to thesis
- Quote #2
- Analysis
B. Concluding Sentences
III. BODY 2: FEMININE MYSTIQUE
A. Examination and summary of the feminine mystique
B. Quote about portrayal of American Housewife
- Analysis of quote
IV. BODY 3: OTHER CHARACTERS AND THEIR INFLUENCE ON ESTHER
A. Background of Doreen
B. Quote of Doreen and her influence
- Analysis
C. Background of Jay Cee
D. Quote of Jay Cee and how she helps Esther in her career
- Analysis
E. Show the difference between Jay Cee and Doreen and how it puts Esther in two minds
VI. CONCLUSION
A. Restatement of thesis: The people and media around her influence her uncertainty of her role as a woman and leads her to pressure herself
B. Recap of Esther’s Experience
C. Recap of Feminine Mystique analysis
D. Recap of surrounding character influences and how it adds to her self-pressure
Hi Dinesh, your thesis is an interesting claim and fairly arguable. Nice work! Also, your outline is well-organized, but it is a bit vague. The portion of your outline in which you mention which characters you will describe is fine, but the first part where you describe the influence of the media on Esther is not fully developed. This is a good start, however. As you are writing your draft, I want you to keep in mind that this entire essay should be making an argument, *your* argument. Imagine that your reader would disagree with your overall claim, and each paragraph should be devoted to convincing them of your thesis using analysis of the text and logical argumentation.
LW