Step 1: Identify the thesis
Thesis: The concepts of environmental racism and environmental justice are more important than ever for understanding Katrina, specifically, and, generally, the situation of poor people and people of color around the nation with respect to health and the environment.
Step 2: List main points
Here are the labels I’ve given to the sections (the writing on the right, next to the brackets, in the handwritten example below).
Env Racism an important concept
We must understand environmental impacts on poor African Americans
Env Racism/Env Justice perspective is useful
Influential elements downplay this perspective
Essential to apply this perspective to Katrina and in general
Step 3: Describe relationship of each main point to thesis
Explains topic and why ignored
Gives thesis human dimension
Support for thesis
Shows why thesis matters
Restate thesis
Step 4: Summarize each paragraph
I’ve scanned a handwritten version so you can see what it looks like while it’s being created. Scroll down for a more readable, typed version.