Outlining an Essay
Outlining an Essay
An outline is a plan for the paper that will help you organize and structure your ideas in a way that effectively communicates them to your reader and supports your thesis statement.
Two kinds of outline
Informal Outline- you simply jot down your thesis statement, what the introduction will discuss, what you’ll say in the body of your paper, and what you want to include in the conclusion.
Formal Outline- numbered and lettered headings and subheadings. This will help you to demonstrate the relationships between ideas, facts, and information within the paper.
ESSAY OUTLINE SAMPLE TEMPLATE
I. Introduction
Get the reader's attention – ask a leading question; relay something enticing about the subject in a manner that commands attention. You could start with a related quote, alluring description, or narrative.
Thesis Statement
State the thesis – what you are going to discuss. You could state the causes and effects to be discussed; comparison of subject X and subject Y; your position on the issue; your proposal if applicable; and the main points that will develop your argument.
II. Body
1. First Point, Topic sentence, Explanation
a. Supporting evidence (examples, facts, theories, statistics, quoted authorities, details, reasons, etc.)
b. Supporting evidence
c. (Conclusion and lead-in)
2. Second Point
a. Support
b. Support
c. optional
3. Third Point
a. Support
b. Support
c. optional
III. Conclusion
Summarize your thesis and how your evidence supports your points. Re-emphasize your thesis in a fresh way, showing how you have achieved your purpose. You may wish to appeal to the reader to see how you have come to a logical conclusion, or make a memorable final statement.
An outline is a plan for the paper that will help you organize and structure your ideas in a way that effectively communicates them to your reader and supports your thesis statement.
Two kinds of outline
Informal Outline- you simply jot down your thesis statement, what the introduction will discuss, what you’ll say in the body of your paper, and what you want to include in the conclusion.
Formal Outline- numbered and lettered headings and subheadings. This will help you to demonstrate the relationships between ideas, facts, and information within the paper.
ESSAY OUTLINE SAMPLE TEMPLATE
I. Introduction
Get the reader's attention – ask a leading question; relay something enticing about the subject in a manner that commands attention. You could start with a related quote, alluring description, or narrative.
Thesis Statement
State the thesis – what you are going to discuss. You could state the causes and effects to be discussed; comparison of subject X and subject Y; your position on the issue; your proposal if applicable; and the main points that will develop your argument.
II. Body
1. First Point, Topic sentence, Explanation
a. Supporting evidence (examples, facts, theories, statistics, quoted authorities, details, reasons, etc.)
b. Supporting evidence
c. (Conclusion and lead-in)
2. Second Point
a. Support
b. Support
c. optional
3. Third Point
a. Support
b. Support
c. optional
III. Conclusion
Summarize your thesis and how your evidence supports your points. Re-emphasize your thesis in a fresh way, showing how you have achieved your purpose. You may wish to appeal to the reader to see how you have come to a logical conclusion, or make a memorable final statement.