Billy Ray Lewis

Question

Professor Lewis

English 102

25 February 2021

Outline

Broad Subject: Morality

Specific Topic: Shiftlet’s distorted sense of morality

Thesis Statement: In Flannery O’Connor’s “The Life You Save May Be

Your Own,” Shiftlet, a mean-spirited loner with distorted morals,

abandons an innocent girl who has been victimized by her mental and

physical limitations.

Supporting Points:

1. Shiftlet’s calculating nature

2. Shiftlet’s plans of escape

3. Shiftlet’s abandonment of the young girl

Supporting Statements:

1. Shiftlet portrays himself as a man of honesty, but his selfish concern

for himself reveals his calculating nature.

2. Although Shiftlet pretends to be interested in Lucynell, he

strategically plots his escape from her.

3. Leaving nothing to chance, Shiftlet ultimately abandons

Lucynel without her mother's knowledge.

Concluding Statement: Shiftlet is a deceitful drifter who remains true

to his character, further victimizing a young girl who is mentally and

physically incapable of preventing what is happening to her.

Title: Flannery O'Connor's "The Life You Save May Be Your Own"

Mode of Development (type of writing): Character Analysis
5 paragraphs

Answer 1

I. Introduction
A. Introduce the broad topic of morality
B. Provide background information on Flannery O’Connor and the short story “The Life You Save May Be Your Own”
C. Present thesis statement outlining Shiftlet’s distorted sense of morality

II. Shiftlet’s calculating nature
A. Discuss how Shiftlet portrays himself as honest but reveals his selfish concerns
B. Provide examples from the text demonstrating Shiftlet’s calculating nature

III. Shiftlet’s plans of escape
A. Examine Shiftlet’s feigned interest in Lucynell as a means to an end
B. Analyze how Shiftlet strategically plans his escape from his responsibilities

IV. Shiftlet’s abandonment of the young girl
A. Describe how Shiftlet leaves nothing to chance in his abandonment of Lucynell
B. Discuss the impact of Shiftlet’s abandonment on Lucynell and her mother

V. Conclusion
A. Summarize Shiftlet’s deceitful nature and victimization of Lucynell
B. Reiterate thesis statement and overall analysis of Shiftlet’s distorted sense of morality
C. End with a closing statement on the consequences of Shiftlet’s actions in “The Life You Save May Be Your Own”