College and Higher Education<
An outline helps you organise a paper's content in a logical and sequential way. Here is a basic guide .
Steps -(8)-
Write your composition's working title at the top of a blank sheet of paper. It does not need to be the one you use for your final paper .
Beneath the working title, write a few lines about the purpose of the paper and the steps you will take to achieve that goal. For example: ''In this paper i will show, the secrets of a successful and happy life, using scholarly journals from psychologists and veterinarians.''
Follow the summary with a statement of your paper's thesis: for example, ''Owning a dog can make one's life healthier and happier'' .
Begin to lay down the basic framework for your paper by dividing its content into sections .
Start by writing an Arabic or Roman numeral 1 - depending on your style of outline - followed by a period, then the title of the section (a ''section heading''). In an informal outline use Arabic numerals; in a formal outline use Roman numerals.
Follow this with a few lines describing what you wish to accomplish in the section .
Use sub-sections to list specific examples or topics that you wish to discuss under each heading. Mark them with a lowercase letter (a, b, c and so on) .
Follow this format for each section heading, then put the sections in the following general order: introduction, body, conclusion .
*Tips:
You may find it helpful to write each section heading on a separate sheet of paper to allow yourself room to take notes and brainstorm .
Remember that the outline is merely a tool in the writing process - it does not bind you to anything. Feel free to change its format to suit your needs .
As you write your paper, refer back to your outline to make sure you're on track .
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