Outline

Remembering my schooling, I am preparing the following outline which my teachers assured me would help one organize his thoughts before starting to write, for you. I never found an outline necessary. (Rush Limbaugh left college because he refused to prepare outlines, which are an anathema to an orderly mind.)

I. Every violent death is a tragedy.

A. It's irrelevant that the victim was black
B. It's equally unimportant that the shooter was Hispanic*
C. The media's repeatedly calling the victim "unarmed" is deliberately prejudicial

II. Someone is dead, possibly as a result of misbehavior on the part of another person.

A. Such a death must be met with appropriate punishment
B. No judgment can be rendered until all the facts can be ascertained
C. Public demonstrations do nothing to further justice; a trial will be necessary

III. Should a neighborhood watch participant be permitted to carry a loaded weapon?

A. Traditionally, watchers are instructed not to engage potential wrong-doers
B. Who initiated the confrontation?
C. Is arms control an issue here? Is it ever?

You now have enough to write an article about the Martin/Zimmerman* affair. Be sure to begin with a clever attention grabbing statement or story, and end with a summarizing conclusion.

Don't forget to follow the trial.

*Please see correction. Unexpected name.