Drug Abuse
TOPIC AND SENTENCE OUTLINES
A formal outline is a kind of graphic scheme of the logic of your paper. Two main types of outlines are used: 1) The topic outline
, and 2) the sentence outline
. The advantage of the topic outline, besi des its brevity, is that its parallel structure reveals the logic you will follow in your paper. The advantage of a sentence outline is that it helps you make sure you become sufficiently specific about your subject, rather than simply generalizing. Regardless of what ty pe of outline you choose, you will need to have enough major headings to develop your topic fully within the boundaries established by your thesis statement.
Note the following examples of topic and s entence outlines using the same thesis and subject matter.
(Check with your instructor about spacing.)
Thesis: The abuse of alcohol and drugs can affect a person economically, psychologically, and physically.
Topic Outline
:
I. Economical effects
(Main idea)
A. Alcohol
(Sub-idea)
1. Cost of alcohol purchases
(Detail of A)
2. Cost of DUIs
(Detail of A)
B. Drugs
(Sub-point)
1. Cost of drug purchases
(Detail of B)
2. Cost of drug arrest
(Detail of B)
II. Psychological effects
A. Alcohol
1. Mental impairment
2. Mental addiction
B. Drugs
1. Mental impairment
2. Mental addiction
III. Physical effects
A. Alcohol
1. Liver disease
2. Alcohol poisoning
B. Drugs
1. Brain damage
2. Drug overdose
2
Sentence Outline
I. Alcohol and drug abuse can affect one economically.
A. The cost of alcohol abuse is high and getting higher.
1. The costs of DUIs can be enormous.
2. Alcohol costs are always rising because of rising production costs as well as state and local taxes.
B. The cost of drug abuse can be high.
1. Even the arrest for the possession of a minute amount of drugs can result in high bail and court cost.
2. The cost of drugs fluctuates drastically according to the
A formal outline is a kind of graphic scheme of the logic of your paper. Two main types of outlines are used: 1) The topic outline
, and 2) the sentence outline
. The advantage of the topic outline, besi des its brevity, is that its parallel structure reveals the logic you will follow in your paper. The advantage of a sentence outline is that it helps you make sure you become sufficiently specific about your subject, rather than simply generalizing. Regardless of what ty pe of outline you choose, you will need to have enough major headings to develop your topic fully within the boundaries established by your thesis statement.
Note the following examples of topic and s entence outlines using the same thesis and subject matter.
(Check with your instructor about spacing.)
Thesis: The abuse of alcohol and drugs can affect a person economically, psychologically, and physically.
Topic Outline
:
I. Economical effects
(Main idea)
A. Alcohol
(Sub-idea)
1. Cost of alcohol purchases
(Detail of A)
2. Cost of DUIs
(Detail of A)
B. Drugs
(Sub-point)
1. Cost of drug purchases
(Detail of B)
2. Cost of drug arrest
(Detail of B)
II. Psychological effects
A. Alcohol
1. Mental impairment
2. Mental addiction
B. Drugs
1. Mental impairment
2. Mental addiction
III. Physical effects
A. Alcohol
1. Liver disease
2. Alcohol poisoning
B. Drugs
1. Brain damage
2. Drug overdose
2
Sentence Outline
I. Alcohol and drug abuse can affect one economically.
A. The cost of alcohol abuse is high and getting higher.
1. The costs of DUIs can be enormous.
2. Alcohol costs are always rising because of rising production costs as well as state and local taxes.
B. The cost of drug abuse can be high.
1. Even the arrest for the possession of a minute amount of drugs can result in high bail and court cost.
2. The cost of drugs fluctuates drastically according to the