Ms. Nicoll History 2017 
 

Name: Yossi Moff Date: October 19, 2017

Essay Outline for ​8th Grade 

Part 2: Complete Sentences 
 

Political principles expressed in the

Constitution such as Federalism and
dual sovereignty, separation of powers
and checks and balances, and majority
Thesis Statement: 
rule and the protection of individual
rights were crucial values to be
expressed when America was
Introductory established.
Paragraph What you will say Body 1:  Federalism and Dual Sovereignty
Separation of powers and checks and
What you will say Body 2: 
balances
Majority rule and the protection of
What you will say Body 3: 
individual rights
Transition:  A few of the major principles were…
Federalism allowed for a strong central
Main Statement:  government, but dual sovereignty gave
the states some power as well.
Body Paragraph 1: Point 1:  Federalism
Federalism and Point 2:  Dual Sovereignty
Dual Sovereignty
Point 3:  Why they are good for America
The state and country powers were not
Transition:  the only place where powers were
separated.
Having separation of powers and checks
Main Statement:  and balances in place makes it so that
no one branch is too powerful.
Body Paragraph 2: Point 1:  Separation of powers
Separation of Point 2:  Checks and balances
powers and checks
and balances What is good about having them in
Point 3: 
place
Now that neither section of government
Transition: 
has too much power, a rule was put in

P. 1 
 
 
 
Ms. Nicoll History 2017 

place to ensure that minority rights

were ensured.
By having majority rule in place,
Main Statement: 
people’s individual rights are protected.
Body Paragraph 3: Point 1:  Majority rule
Majority rule and Point 2:  Protection of individual’s rights
the protection of
individual rights Why majority rule positively affects the
Point 3: 
protection of individual’s rights
Transition:  In conclusion…
While dual sovereignty, federalism,
separation of powers, and checks and
balances ensured that no one branch of
Thesis Restatement: 
government or institution had too
much power, the majority rule allowed
for the protection of individual rights.
What you said in Body 1:  Federalism and Dual Sovereignty
Conclusion
Paragraph Separation of powers and checks and
What you said in Body 2: 
balances
Majority rule and the protection of
What you said in Body 3: 
individual rights
All of these major principles and values
Summary:  were crucial to the establishment of
America and making it what it is today.
 

P. 2