LibAnswers

An outline is the second step of essay writing (after brainstorming) where ideas are organized into a logical order. Use numbering, letters or bullet points to visualize how the essay should be structured. This is one of the strongest organizational tools to keep track of large amounts of information. Here are some benefits of outlining:

• It shows the relationships between your paragraphs.
• It helps you organize the flow of arguments in a logical order.
• It helps you identify areas that need more research.

Sample outline

Here is an example of an outline using the five-paragraph format for an argumentative essay:

1. Introduction
   1. Thesis question: In question form, state the topic.
   2. Background information: For example, what is the historical, societal, or economic context? Are there any key terms that need to be defined?
      1. NOTE: Do this for information that is referred to throughout the essay. Other background information specific to any of the three body paragraphs can be explained within that paragraph.
   3. Thesis statement: Answer the above thesis question with a thesis statement -- your opinion on the question. This is what you are going to be arguing.
2. Major point 1
   1. Write your first argument to support your thesis as a topic sentence (the point of the paragraph).
   2. Example/Evidence: Put your source information here and write a couple of points on it. Why is the source important? What can be inferred? What important information do you want to include? Stats? Figures?
   3. Explanation: Explain how the example helps defend your thesis.
3. Major point 2 (same as above outline)
4. Major point 3 (same as above outline)
5. Conclusion
   1. Restate thesis: Restating your thesis to remind the reader of your main argument.
   2. Importance: Write a few points on why this essay is important and what the next steps are (for example, further research that can be done).