Five Minute Essay: Complete the following outline (just jot down ideas; do not use complete sentences yet) before you draft in order to find focus and ensure your ideas and paragraphs are developed and/or before you revise in order to refine and develop your essay. If you cannot fill in every line, then go back and review your choices.

Topic: Analyzing Jean M. Twenge’s ethos, author of Generation Me: Why Today’s Young Americans Are More Confident, Assertive, Entitled – And More Miserable Than Ever Before

Claim/assertion—why significant: ­­­­­­­­­I think that Jean M. Twenge is a credible source because of the data that she presents in her text. She has conducted many studies and includes studies that have been published well before the time that she was born.

I. Introduction

Thesis statement (topic plus claim/assertion): Author of Generation Me: Why Today’s Young Americans Are More Confident, Assertive, Entitled – And More Miserable Than Ever Before, Twenge’s research on generations is the focal point of her presentations and the courses she has taught at San Diego State University, Case Western Reserve University, Gustavus Adolphus College, the University of Michigan and the University of Chicago.

II. Body Paragraph One

Topic Sentence (topic and claim) Twenge’s ethos as an author

Example/story She has written Generation Me: Why Today’s Young Americans Are More Confident, Assertive, Entitled – And More Miserable Than Ever Before.

Explanation/significance/connection to thesis Provide a summary of one of two books.

III. Body Paragraph Two

Topic Sentence (topic and claim) Twenge’s ethos as a writer

Example/story She has written The Narcissism Epidemic: The Age of Entitlement with W. Keith Campbell.

Explanation/significance/connection to thesis Provide a summary of one of two books.

IV. Body Paragraph Three

Topic Sentence (topic and claim) Twenge’s ethos as a speaker

Example/story Twenge travels the country discussing her research she has gathered about Generation Me.

Explanation/significance/connection to thesis Include a client testimony and analysis of it

V. Body Paragraph Four (and so on)

Topic Sentence (topic and claim) Twenge’s ethos as a professor

Example/story Where she teaches and what she has taught

Explanation/significance/connection to thesis Include any academic articles she has written

VI. Conclusion

One powerful/important point or statement