SearchAn outline is a part students ignore too often. However, neglecting the necessity to create at least a rough plan, you have all the chances to fail the entire task. Outlines work as skeletons for academic papers – they help authors structure the main points and keep everything organized. With an outline at hand, your chances to create a professional and good-looking piece grow.
What is more, your readers will surely appreciate a table of contents that allows them to navigate your paper quickly. And what is more – we bet that your professor will take your effort at its worth.
An outline: what is it?
Outlines are not obligatory, but they help writers keep focused. They work as maps for papers. List the main ideas, sub-headings, and supportive elements there, and your future writing will be much easier. With an outline, your essay will sound logical and consistent. Using it as a basis for your piece, you will explain your ideas to the audience easily.
The structure of your outline
- Introduction
In your first paragraph, you are expected to present the topic and your main argument. The main point of the draft should include your thesis statement, which is a central idea of your future work. In this paragraph, you should tell your readers what are you going to develop in your further writing.
In your outline, an introduction can be represented by one central point and a couple of sub-headings. The main point is your thesis statement – this is the main idea of your paper. Subheadings may include a short history of the topic and a hook (something engaging and exciting to grab your audience’s attention).
- Body
In this part, you will have to make several sub-points because it is the longest part of your paper. The body section should be divided into paragraphs, and each one has to present a specific idea supported by quotations and arguments. The outline points should include the main idea of every section.
- Conclusion
In the last paragraph, you should sum up all of your previous arguments without providing any new facts. In your outline, list the restated thesis, briefly summarize each point you made before, and sum everything up with a solution, suggestion, or motivational sentence (it depends on your topic and type of work).
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Additional tips
- Make your outline detailed
Don’t be lazy and add enough points to each section of your plan. The more expanded outline you have, the better the paper you will compose.
- Sentences length
It’s up to you whether you want to write short or long sentences in your outline. Short and concise sentences will help you keep it brief and clear; long ones will provide more detailed information.
- Add important facts only
Each point of your outline should be equally essential. Less critical information might be listed in the sub-points.
- Parallel structure
Make sure that your points start similarly. For example, if the main points begin with a verb in a particular tense, make sure that the other points start the same way.
So keep on writing and never neglect such a useful tool as an outline! Remember, if you have a good plan, then you have already won half the battle!