Is the essay meant to be argumentative, narrative, or expository? Different categories will require different types of outlines - narrative essays for example will have a structure that is unlike the format used in an analysis essay. The first thing you want to do is to carefully consider the subject. When you’re ready to start writing your essay outline, it’s best to take a step by step approach. This can be crippling when you're handing in an academic paper or another essay type that requires a common structure and some critical thinking. You can have all the credible sources in the world in your paper, but if they aren't formatted in the proper reference style they may affect your overall score. Instead of numerals and letters, a decimal outline uses decimals when formatting headings and sub-headings.įormatting will be especially important when it comes to doing your references. The decimal system on the other hand is similar but has the additional purpose of showing how every part of the outline relates to the rest of the essay. The alphanumeric structure is a common type of outline formatting system that uses the following characters for headings: In this case, just be sure to remember that consistency is key - you want to use the same system all throughout your outline and eventual essay. ![]() If there is no prior requirement, you can use the system of your choosing. It all comes down to what the teacher or lecturer has asked for. The majority of essays are structured using an alphanumeric structure, but there are other options like the decimal outline structure. Your essay outline should adhere to the requirements provided along with the essay topic - this is what makes taking that first step to evaluate everything so important Use the outline to make note of interesting terminology and theories you want to add to the final essay. Paying attention to language now will get you in the right headspace for writing your full essay and help you avoid mistakes that can affect your essay later on.Īsk yourself, is my outline grammatically correct and consistent? Are my headings correct? Typically, your main headings should be more general with each sub-heading becoming more specific as it explains your answers.Įven within the basic structure of your outline, you want to make sure that you are using complete sentences while in the process of writing. Language in outlinesĮven though you’ll be working on a rough outline, it will be important to focus on the language you’re using from the beginning. More than a basic essay that follows the assignment prompt, you want to try and use different writing techniques to make the paper an interesting read and cater your writing to your audience. Remember to check carefully for any repetitive ideas or statements and to think about the audience you are writing for. Since you’re working on an outline first, you can easily shift around arguments and supporting statements to make sure the final project will be suitable for publishing or marking. You can imagine your outline having four layers of organization - the first two layers are the more general, and the following layers go into more detailed information from there. ![]() Your outline should ideally be structured so that your arguments are ranked in terms of their importance. A conclusion that reiterates the thesis statement and summarizes key thoughts. ![]() A body, or arguments and counterarguments.A strong introduction or thesis statement.Broken down into the most basic parts, every essay outline should have: The basic parts of essay outlinesĮvery essay or research paper has to have a structure, and this is what you should also attempt to do in your essay outline. To write a strong outline, you'll ultimately need to make sure you've reviewed all the resources given and that you are approaching it from the right angle. If you’re a student, pay attention to the marking rubric and try to get a good idea of what your teacher or lecturer is looking for. It’s essential to look at the writing assignment carefully. ![]() The problem is there are a few things that need to be done before you can start essay writing. Before you jump into writing the final essay, you’ll want to create an outline that you can work from. You’ve been assigned a topic or you have a thesis statement that needs to be put onto paper. We’ve put together all the basics behind writing an outline for an essay in this easy guide: Before writing your outline An organized outline leads to an organized paper, which will have a better chance of being published or getting a good grade. The advantages of working on a paper outline first are numerous besides planning your answers, you’ll be able to organize them for better flow and ensure you haven’t missed anything important.
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