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Outlining Process

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Claudia Cárdenas

Making an outline before writing an essay helps organize one's thoughts and ideas in a logical manner. An outline presents material in a hierarchical structure and establishes relationships between ideas. It involves determining the purpose, audience, and thesis statement. The outline then lists the main topics and subtopics to support the thesis through body paragraphs. Topic sentences for each paragraph should directly relate to and support the thesis. Outlining helps ensure paragraphs stay focused and saves time when writing the rough draft.

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Making an Outline A Plan That Builds an Essay © 2001 by Ruth Luman References
 Creating an outline before writing your paper will make organizing your thoughts a lot easier. Whether you follow the suggested guidelines is up to you, but making any kind of outline (even just some jotting down some main ideas) will be beneficial to your writing process.
 Aids in the process of writing  Helps you organize your ideas  Presents your material in a logical form  Shows the relationships among ideas in your writing  Constructs an ordered overview of your writing  Defines boundaries and groups
 To show the hierarchical relationship or logical ordering of information.  For research papers, an outline may help you keep track of large amounts of information.  For creative writing, an outline may help organize the various plot threads and help keep track of character traits.  Many people find that organizing an oral report or presentation in outline form helps them speak more effectively in front of a crowd.
 Determine the purpose of your paper.  Determine the audience you are writing for.  Develop the thesis of your paper.
 Brainstorm: List all the ideas that you want to include in your paper.  Organize: Group related ideas together.  Order: Arrange material in subsections from general to specific or from abstract to concrete.  Label: Create main and sub headings.
 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.  Division - How do I accomplish this?  Each heading should be divided into 2 or more parts.
 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).  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.
What is an outline ? Before you begin writing the first draft of your essay, it is best to make an outline. An outline is a general plan of what you are going to write. You can compare making an outline to drawing plans to build a house. Before one begins to build a house, it is best to draw up plans to make sure that a house is built in the way you want. The same is true with writing an essay and making an outline.
The Benefits of an Outline An outline of an essay can be very helpful for two reasons:  An outline will help make your essay more organized. A careful plan will help your body paragraphs stay focused on the ideas in your thesis statement.  An outline saves time for writers. Preparing an outline can take time, but when you are finished, you will be able to write the rough draft of your essay more quickly than if you didn’t have an outline.
Example Outline Here is an example of how a blank outline might look: Essay Outline I. Introduction Thesis: _____________________ II. Body Paragraph #1- Topic Sentence: _____________ A. supporting idea B. supporting idea III. Body Paragraph #2- Topic Sentence: ____________ A. supporting idea B. supporting idea IV. Body Paragraph #3- Topic Sentence: ____________ A. supporting idea B. supporting idea V. Conclusion
The Process Making an Outline In a formal outline, Essay Outline Roman numerals can I. Introduction Thesis: ____________________ be used to represent II. Body Paragraph #1- Topic Sentence: _________ paragraphs. Capital A. supporting idea letters can be used to B. supporting idea III. Body Paragraph #2- Topic Sentence: _________ represent supporting A. supporting idea details for the B. supporting idea paragraphs. IV. Body Paragraph #3- Topic Sentence: _________ A. supporting idea B. supporting idea V. Conclusion
The Process Thesis Statement To begin an outline, you need to start with your thesis statement. The thesis statement will be your guide throughout the process of writing your essay. From the thesis statement, you can begin writing the topic sentences for the body paragraphs in the outline. ESSAY OUTLINE Thesis Statement Topic Sentence #1 Topic Sentence #2 Topic Sentence #3
The Process Topic Sentences The topic sentence for each body paragraph should support the thesis statement. The topic sentences need to agree with the main idea or subpoints in the thesis statement; otherwise, the essay could be confusing.
The Process Topic Sentences Topic Sentence Paragraph #1: Thesis Statement The way you dress can have a big impact on an interview panel’s first A job interview can often impressions of you. make or break your chances of getting your dream job. Topic Sentence- Paragraph #2: There are several things that An interview is an opportunity for you can do in an interview potential employers to get to know you to increase the possibility of better, so it is important that you your success such as answer each question as completely as dressing possible. properly, answering interview questions Topic Sentence- Paragraph #3: thoroughly, and asking good By preparing some thoughtful questions at the end of the questions for the end of the interview. interview, you can show the panel that you have prepared for the interview and want the job.
The Process Supporting Details Under the topic sentence for each paragraph, list some of the supporting details, examples, or ideas you want to include in each paragraph.
The Process Supporting Details II. Body Paragraph #1: Topic Sentence: The way you dress can have a big impact on an interview panel’s first impressions of you. A. Men and women should consider wearing dark suits. B. Conservative dress will show the interview panel you are serious about what you do. C. Don’t carry too many things into the interview. A notebook, pens, and/or supporting details, laptop computer should be carried in a briefcase. examples, and ideas D. Hair and nails should be clean and neat.
for potential employers to get to know you better, so it is important that you answer each question as completely as possible. I. Introduction- Thesis Statement: A job A. Ask interviewers to repeat questions interview can often make or break your you don’t understand. chances of getting your dream job. There are several things that you can do in an B. Take some time to think about the interview to increase the possibility of your questions before you answer. success such as, dressing C. A notebook to write down key words properly, answering interview questions in interview questions is sometimes thoroughly, and asking good questions at the helpful. end of the interview. IV. Body Paragraph #3: II. Body Paragraph #1: Topic Sentence: By preparing some thoughtful Topic Sentence: The way you dress can have a questions for the end of the interview, you can big impact on an interview panel’s first show the panel that you have prepared for the impressions of you. interview and want the job. A. Men and women should consider wearing dark suits. A. Research the job and/or company before you go to the interview. B. Conservative dress will show the interview panel you are serious B. The interview is your opportunity to about what you do. get to know your potential employer. Ask questions about company goals, C. Don’t carry too many things into the mission, expectations of employees, interview. A notebook, pens, and/or etc. laptop computer should be carried in a briefcase. C. Don’t ask questions about benefits or salary during the interview. You D. Hair and nails should be clean and should try to get this information neat. before you apply for the job. III. Body Paragraph #2: IV. Conclusion: Don’t underestimate the Topic Sentence: An interview is an opportunity importance of a good interview.

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Outlining Process

  • 1. Making an Outline A Plan That Builds an Essay © 2001 by Ruth Luman References
  • 2. Creating an outline before writing your paper will make organizing your thoughts a lot easier. Whether you follow the suggested guidelines is up to you, but making any kind of outline (even just some jotting down some main ideas) will be beneficial to your writing process.
  • 3. Aids in the process of writing  Helps you organize your ideas  Presents your material in a logical form  Shows the relationships among ideas in your writing  Constructs an ordered overview of your writing  Defines boundaries and groups
  • 4. To show the hierarchical relationship or logical ordering of information.  For research papers, an outline may help you keep track of large amounts of information.  For creative writing, an outline may help organize the various plot threads and help keep track of character traits.  Many people find that organizing an oral report or presentation in outline form helps them speak more effectively in front of a crowd.
  • 5. Determine the purpose of your paper.  Determine the audience you are writing for.  Develop the thesis of your paper.
  • 6. Brainstorm: List all the ideas that you want to include in your paper.  Organize: Group related ideas together.  Order: Arrange material in subsections from general to specific or from abstract to concrete.  Label: Create main and sub headings.
  • 7. 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.  Division - How do I accomplish this?  Each heading should be divided into 2 or more parts.
  • 8. 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).  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.
  • 9. What is an outline ? Before you begin writing the first draft of your essay, it is best to make an outline. An outline is a general plan of what you are going to write. You can compare making an outline to drawing plans to build a house. Before one begins to build a house, it is best to draw up plans to make sure that a house is built in the way you want. The same is true with writing an essay and making an outline.
  • 10. The Benefits of an Outline An outline of an essay can be very helpful for two reasons:  An outline will help make your essay more organized. A careful plan will help your body paragraphs stay focused on the ideas in your thesis statement.  An outline saves time for writers. Preparing an outline can take time, but when you are finished, you will be able to write the rough draft of your essay more quickly than if you didn’t have an outline.
  • 11. Example Outline Here is an example of how a blank outline might look: Essay Outline I. Introduction Thesis: _____________________ II. Body Paragraph #1- Topic Sentence: _____________ A. supporting idea B. supporting idea III. Body Paragraph #2- Topic Sentence: ____________ A. supporting idea B. supporting idea IV. Body Paragraph #3- Topic Sentence: ____________ A. supporting idea B. supporting idea V. Conclusion
  • 12. The Process Making an Outline In a formal outline, Essay Outline Roman numerals can I. Introduction Thesis: ____________________ be used to represent II. Body Paragraph #1- Topic Sentence: _________ paragraphs. Capital A. supporting idea letters can be used to B. supporting idea III. Body Paragraph #2- Topic Sentence: _________ represent supporting A. supporting idea details for the B. supporting idea paragraphs. IV. Body Paragraph #3- Topic Sentence: _________ A. supporting idea B. supporting idea V. Conclusion
  • 13. The Process Thesis Statement To begin an outline, you need to start with your thesis statement. The thesis statement will be your guide throughout the process of writing your essay. From the thesis statement, you can begin writing the topic sentences for the body paragraphs in the outline. ESSAY OUTLINE Thesis Statement Topic Sentence #1 Topic Sentence #2 Topic Sentence #3
  • 14. The Process Topic Sentences The topic sentence for each body paragraph should support the thesis statement. The topic sentences need to agree with the main idea or subpoints in the thesis statement; otherwise, the essay could be confusing.
  • 15. The Process Topic Sentences Topic Sentence Paragraph #1: Thesis Statement The way you dress can have a big impact on an interview panel’s first A job interview can often impressions of you. make or break your chances of getting your dream job. Topic Sentence- Paragraph #2: There are several things that An interview is an opportunity for you can do in an interview potential employers to get to know you to increase the possibility of better, so it is important that you your success such as answer each question as completely as dressing possible. properly, answering interview questions Topic Sentence- Paragraph #3: thoroughly, and asking good By preparing some thoughtful questions at the end of the questions for the end of the interview. interview, you can show the panel that you have prepared for the interview and want the job.
  • 16. The Process Supporting Details Under the topic sentence for each paragraph, list some of the supporting details, examples, or ideas you want to include in each paragraph.
  • 17. The Process Supporting Details II. Body Paragraph #1: Topic Sentence: The way you dress can have a big impact on an interview panel’s first impressions of you. A. Men and women should consider wearing dark suits. B. Conservative dress will show the interview panel you are serious about what you do. C. Don’t carry too many things into the interview. A notebook, pens, and/or supporting details, laptop computer should be carried in a briefcase. examples, and ideas D. Hair and nails should be clean and neat.
  • 18. for potential employers to get to know you better, so it is important that you answer each question as completely as possible. I. Introduction- Thesis Statement: A job A. Ask interviewers to repeat questions interview can often make or break your you don’t understand. chances of getting your dream job. There are several things that you can do in an B. Take some time to think about the interview to increase the possibility of your questions before you answer. success such as, dressing C. A notebook to write down key words properly, answering interview questions in interview questions is sometimes thoroughly, and asking good questions at the helpful. end of the interview. IV. Body Paragraph #3: II. Body Paragraph #1: Topic Sentence: By preparing some thoughtful Topic Sentence: The way you dress can have a questions for the end of the interview, you can big impact on an interview panel’s first show the panel that you have prepared for the impressions of you. interview and want the job. A. Men and women should consider wearing dark suits. A. Research the job and/or company before you go to the interview. B. Conservative dress will show the interview panel you are serious B. The interview is your opportunity to about what you do. get to know your potential employer. Ask questions about company goals, C. Don’t carry too many things into the mission, expectations of employees, interview. A notebook, pens, and/or etc. laptop computer should be carried in a briefcase. C. Don’t ask questions about benefits or salary during the interview. You D. Hair and nails should be clean and should try to get this information neat. before you apply for the job. III. Body Paragraph #2: IV. Conclusion: Don’t underestimate the Topic Sentence: An interview is an opportunity importance of a good interview.