Purdue Owl Essay Writing
29/10/2010
Purdue OWL Engagement
Welcome to the Purdue OWL
This page is brought to you by the OWL at Purdue (http://owl.english.purdue.edu/). When printing this page, you must include the entire legal notice at bottom.
Contributors:Elyssa Tardiff, Allen Brizee. Summary: This resource describes why outlines are useful, what types of outlines exist, suggestions for developing effective outlines, and how outlines can be used as an invention strategy for writing.
Four Main Components for Effective Outlines
Ideally, you should follow these four suggestions to create an effective outline. The examples are taken from the Sample Outline handout.
Parallelism - How do I accomplish this?
Each heading and subheading should preserve parallel structure. If the first heading is a verb, the second heading should be a verb. Example: 1. Choose Desired Colleges 2. Prepare Application ("Choose" and "Prepare" are both verbs. The present tense of the verb is usually the preferred form for an outline)
Coordination - How do I accomplish this?
All the information contained in Heading 1 should have the same significance as the information contained in Heading 2. The same goes for the subheadings (which should be less significant than the headings). Example: 1. Visit and evaluate college campuses 2. Visit and evaluate college websites 1. Note important statistics 2. Look for interesting classes (Campus and websites visits are equally significant. They are part of the main tasks you would owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/owlprint/544/ 1/4
29/10/2010
Purdue OWL Engagement
need to do. Finding statistics and classes found on college websites are parts of the process involved in carrying out the main heading topics.)
Subordination - How do I accomplish this?
The information in the headings should be more general, while the information in the subheadings should be more specific. Example: 1. Describe an influential person in your life 1. Favorite high school teacher
Purdue OWL Engagement
Welcome to the Purdue OWL
This page is brought to you by the OWL at Purdue (http://owl.english.purdue.edu/). When printing this page, you must include the entire legal notice at bottom.
Contributors:Elyssa Tardiff, Allen Brizee. Summary: This resource describes why outlines are useful, what types of outlines exist, suggestions for developing effective outlines, and how outlines can be used as an invention strategy for writing.
Four Main Components for Effective Outlines
Ideally, you should follow these four suggestions to create an effective outline. The examples are taken from the Sample Outline handout.
Parallelism - How do I accomplish this?
Each heading and subheading should preserve parallel structure. If the first heading is a verb, the second heading should be a verb. Example: 1. Choose Desired Colleges 2. Prepare Application ("Choose" and "Prepare" are both verbs. The present tense of the verb is usually the preferred form for an outline)
Coordination - How do I accomplish this?
All the information contained in Heading 1 should have the same significance as the information contained in Heading 2. The same goes for the subheadings (which should be less significant than the headings). Example: 1. Visit and evaluate college campuses 2. Visit and evaluate college websites 1. Note important statistics 2. Look for interesting classes (Campus and websites visits are equally significant. They are part of the main tasks you would owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/owlprint/544/ 1/4
29/10/2010
Purdue OWL Engagement
need to do. Finding statistics and classes found on college websites are parts of the process involved in carrying out the main heading topics.)
Subordination - How do I accomplish this?
The information in the headings should be more general, while the information in the subheadings should be more specific. Example: 1. Describe an influential person in your life 1. Favorite high school teacher