SOCIAL STUDIES 9 IPP ESSAY OUTLINE

All essays written in Grade 9 will use a format that we call IPP. This format turns essay writing in
to a formula that makes it very easy to explore an issue and share your ideas. By the end of the
year, you should be able to write an award-winning essay in an hour and a half. Right now, as you
get used to the format, it may take you longer.

IPP stands for Identify the Issue Outline the

Perspectives and provide your Position with Evidence

IDENTIFY the ISSUE MUST INCLUDE:

1. What is the issue?

Length: 1 paragraph 2. What background information should
your reader know (facts, etc)?
3. Why is the issue important to look at?
4. Why is the issue complex?

EXPLORE the PERSPECTIVES MUST INCLUDE (FOR EACH PERSPECTIVE):

1. Who the perspective is (ie: the

government, environmentalists, specific
Length: 2 short paragraphs (1 paragraph for lobby groups, etc)
each perspective) 2. Evidence about what that perspective
believes about the issue

POSITION and EVIDENCE MUST INCLUDE:

5. A thesis statement that states your

Length: 2-3 paragraphs position (at the beginning of the section)
6. 3 arguments to support your position
7. Factual evidence to support each of your
arguments

Your conclusion (short paragraph) should restate the issue and its importance, as well as reiterate
your position and your three points.
 RULES FOR SOCIAL STUDIES ESSAYS

1. No using I, me, my, you, your, we, us. These are personal pronouns and are never
acceptable in an academic essay

2. Headings are appropriate, especially if they help you to organize your ideas

3. An MLA Works Cited list of references must be attached to the end of your essay in proper
format (unless it is an in-class essay)

4. Formatting below:

Name
Date
Class

Interesting Title

This is where your essay will be typed! The

first word in every paragraph will be indented. Make

sure that your work is double spaced before you hand

it in.

Page Number