engineering essay outline

Have a language expert improve your writing

Run a free plagiarism check in 10 minutes, generate accurate citations for free.

• Knowledge Base
• How to write an essay outline | Guidelines & examples

How to Write an Essay Outline | Guidelines & Examples

Published on August 14, 2020 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on July 23, 2023.

An essay outline is a way of planning the structure of your essay before you start writing. It involves writing quick summary sentences or phrases for every point you will cover in each paragraph , giving you a picture of how your argument will unfold.

Instantly correct all language mistakes in your text

Upload your document to correct all your mistakes in minutes

Table of contents

Organizing your material, presentation of the outline, examples of essay outlines, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about essay outlines.

At the stage where you’re writing an essay outline, your ideas are probably still not fully formed. You should know your topic  and have already done some preliminary research to find relevant sources , but now you need to shape your ideas into a structured argument.

Creating categories

Look over any information, quotes and ideas you’ve noted down from your research and consider the central point you want to make in the essay—this will be the basis of your thesis statement . Once you have an idea of your overall argument, you can begin to organize your material in a way that serves that argument.

Try to arrange your material into categories related to different aspects of your argument. If you’re writing about a literary text, you might group your ideas into themes; in a history essay, it might be several key trends or turning points from the period you’re discussing.

Three main themes or subjects is a common structure for essays. Depending on the length of the essay, you could split the themes into three body paragraphs, or three longer sections with several paragraphs covering each theme.

As you create the outline, look critically at your categories and points: Are any of them irrelevant or redundant? Make sure every topic you cover is clearly related to your thesis statement.

Order of information

When you have your material organized into several categories, consider what order they should appear in.

Your essay will always begin and end with an introduction and conclusion , but the organization of the body is up to you.

Consider these questions to order your material:

• Is there an obvious starting point for your argument?
• Is there one subject that provides an easy transition into another?
• Do some points need to be set up by discussing other points first?

Here's why students love Scribbr's proofreading services

Discover proofreading & editing

Within each paragraph, you’ll discuss a single idea related to your overall topic or argument, using several points of evidence or analysis to do so.

In your outline, you present these points as a few short numbered sentences or phrases.They can be split into sub-points when more detail is needed.

The template below shows how you might structure an outline for a five-paragraph essay.

• Thesis statement
• First piece of evidence
• Second piece of evidence
• Summary/synthesis
• Importance of topic
• Strong closing statement

You can choose whether to write your outline in full sentences or short phrases. Be consistent in your choice; don’t randomly write some points as full sentences and others as short phrases.

Examples of outlines for different types of essays are presented below: an argumentative, expository, and literary analysis essay.

Argumentative essay outline

This outline is for a short argumentative essay evaluating the internet’s impact on education. It uses short phrases to summarize each point.

Its body is split into three paragraphs, each presenting arguments about a different aspect of the internet’s effects on education.

• Importance of the internet
• Concerns about internet use
• Thesis statement: Internet use a net positive
• Data exploring this effect
• Analysis indicating it is overstated
• Students’ reading levels over time
• Why this data is questionable
• Video media
• Interactive media
• Speed and simplicity of online research
• Questions about reliability (transitioning into next topic)
• Evidence indicating its ubiquity
• Claims that it discourages engagement with academic writing
• Evidence that Wikipedia warns students not to cite it
• Argument that it introduces students to citation
• Summary of key points
• Value of digital education for students
• Need for optimism to embrace advantages of the internet

Expository essay outline

This is the outline for an expository essay describing how the invention of the printing press affected life and politics in Europe.

The paragraphs are still summarized in short phrases here, but individual points are described with full sentences.

• Claim that the printing press marks the end of the Middle Ages.
• Provide background on the low levels of literacy before the printing press.
• Present the thesis statement: The invention of the printing press increased circulation of information in Europe, paving the way for the Reformation.
• Discuss the very high levels of illiteracy in medieval Europe.
• Describe how literacy and thus knowledge and education were mainly the domain of religious and political elites.
• Indicate how this discouraged political and religious change.
• Describe the invention of the printing press in 1440 by Johannes Gutenberg.
• Show the implications of the new technology for book production.
• Describe the rapid spread of the technology and the printing of the Gutenberg Bible.
• Link to the Reformation.
• Discuss the trend for translating the Bible into vernacular languages during the years following the printing press’s invention.
• Describe Luther’s own translation of the Bible during the Reformation.
• Sketch out the large-scale effects the Reformation would have on religion and politics.
• Summarize the history described.
• Stress the significance of the printing press to the events of this period.

Literary analysis essay outline

The literary analysis essay outlined below discusses the role of theater in Jane Austen’s novel Mansfield Park .

The body of the essay is divided into three different themes, each of which is explored through examples from the book.

• Describe the theatricality of Austen’s works
• Outline the role theater plays in Mansfield Park
• Introduce the research question : How does Austen use theater to express the characters’ morality in Mansfield Park ?
• Discuss Austen’s depiction of the performance at the end of the first volume
• Discuss how Sir Bertram reacts to the acting scheme
• Introduce Austen’s use of stage direction–like details during dialogue
• Explore how these are deployed to show the characters’ self-absorption
• Discuss Austen’s description of Maria and Julia’s relationship as polite but affectionless
• Compare Mrs. Norris’s self-conceit as charitable despite her idleness
• Summarize the three themes: The acting scheme, stage directions, and the performance of morals
• Answer the research question
• Indicate areas for further study

If you want to know more about AI tools , college essays , or fallacies make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!

• Ad hominem fallacy
• Post hoc fallacy
• Appeal to authority fallacy
• False cause fallacy
• Sunk cost fallacy

College essays

• Choosing Essay Topic
• Write a College Essay
• Write a Diversity Essay
• College Essay Format & Structure
• Comparing and Contrasting in an Essay

 (AI) Tools

• Grammar Checker
• Paraphrasing Tool
• Text Summarizer
• AI Detector
• Plagiarism Checker
• Citation Generator

Prevent plagiarism. Run a free check.

You will sometimes be asked to hand in an essay outline before you start writing your essay . Your supervisor wants to see that you have a clear idea of your structure so that writing will go smoothly.

Even when you do not have to hand it in, writing an essay outline is an important part of the writing process . It’s a good idea to write one (as informally as you like) to clarify your structure for yourself whenever you are working on an essay.

If you have to hand in your essay outline , you may be given specific guidelines stating whether you have to use full sentences. If you’re not sure, ask your supervisor.

When writing an essay outline for yourself, the choice is yours. Some students find it helpful to write out their ideas in full sentences, while others prefer to summarize them in short phrases.

You should try to follow your outline as you write your essay . However, if your ideas change or it becomes clear that your structure could be better, it’s okay to depart from your essay outline . Just make sure you know why you’re doing so.

Cite this Scribbr article

If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.

Caulfield, J. (2023, July 23). How to Write an Essay Outline | Guidelines & Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved June 18, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/academic-essay/essay-outline/

Is this article helpful?

Jack Caulfield

Other students also liked, how to create a structured research paper outline | example, a step-by-step guide to the writing process, how to write an argumentative essay | examples & tips, get unlimited documents corrected.

✔ Free APA citation check included ✔ Unlimited document corrections ✔ Specialized in correcting academic texts

In an essay, you will write about a topic in depth, presenting a clear argument which leads logically to your conclusions. You will need to provide evidence from academic sources to support your argument.

Most essays are written in response to a specific question set by a lecturer but you will sometimes have a choice of questions or an element of choice within the question.

Assessment criteria

It is always a good idea to look at the criteria that will be used to assess your essay. There is no one standard set of criteria but lecturers will usually be looking for evidence of the following:

• Wide, relevant reading
• Addressing the question / task set
• Analytical ability
• Well-constructed argument
• Use of relevant examples / evidence
• Clarity of expression
• Appropriate and accurate referencing

The more detailed structure of an essay will depend on the question that is being answered. However, for all essays you should:

Analysing the question

In this video, Professor John Preston explains how to approach an engineering essay.  He discusses an essay entitled , 'For local bus services, what are the appropriate levels of regulation and the appropriate forms of competition and ownership? Justify your answer with reference to theoretical and practical evidence both from Great Britain and elsewhere', and points out that there are 9 things you need to include in your analysis in order to fully answer the question .

Read a wide range of academic sources including books, journals and reports. Identify evidence you can use to support your ideas, but don’t ignore evidence that contradicts them; you may need to rethink your argument.

Once you have analysed the question and read widely, you should have a clear idea what your main argument will be. Now write an outline of your essay consisting of the topic sentence (main idea) of each paragraph and the evidence you will use to support this assertion.

Other University of Southampton sites

• English Language Support Classes
• Study Skills

Links to external websites

• Writing for Assignments E-library
• Critical Thinking and Reflection
• Essay Writing

The University cannot accept responsibility for external websites.

An essay is a story, a story that needs to be substantiated with evidence from the academic literature, for example, books and journal papers.

Don't start writing until you have:

analysed the essay question

read widely about all aspects of it

planned your response.

Search Utah State University:

Technical writing standards, style and format.

When writing technical documents, engineers rely on style manuals, which provide standards for writing and designing documents. Style manuals ensure consistency in writing and formatting documents written for academic or workplace communications.

Academic disciplines, including academic journals, have their own style manuals. These style manuals are used in the production of theses, dissertations, or journal articles.

Organizations use company-specific style manuals that contain guidelines for producing technical documents, business correspondence, professional presentations, and visual features (trademarks and logos). Document format and punctuation rules are commonly found in these style manuals. Company-specific style manuals often contain templates, which are used when creating written technical documents (progress or status reports, design reports, proposals, etc.), correspondence (letters, memos, and emails), or presentation slides.

General Format Guidelines

The following guidelines represent generally accepted technical writing guidelines. As a reminder, guidelines may change based on the discipline, professor, employer, or journal the document is written for.

Technical documents typically contain:

• Single spacing
• Left justification; full justification is preferred for theses, dissertations, and journal articles.
• One blank line between paragraphs OR indented paragraphs with no blank line between
• Serif font (Times New Roman), 12 pt. font size. When documents are written for electronic media, however, a Sans Serif font (Calibri or Arial) is typically used.
• One-inch margins. Margins may need to be adjusted when using company letterhead or when binding formal reports.

Stylistic Elements

Writers of technical information take into account the audience’s level of knowledge regarding the topic and the purpose of the document. In other words, “Why does the reader need this information and what will they do with it?” The following guidelines help writers achieve a readable style.

Acronyms and Abbreviations

Abbreviations are shortened forms of words such as ASME for American Society of Mechanical Engineers. Acronyms are formed when the abbreviation forms a pronounceable word such as NATO for North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

Abbreviations and acronyms should be spelled out the first time they appear in a technical document with the shortened form appearing in parentheses immediately after the term. The abbreviation or acronym can then be used throughout the paper.

Example: The Society for Technical Communication (STC) is a professional association dedicated to the advancement of technical communication, content, and information management.

Common abbreviations (U.S.) or acronyms (NASA) do not need to be spelled out when first used in a document.

Ambiguity occurs when words or passages can be interpreted in more than one way. Abstract language, misplaced modifiers, and vague pronoun reference can cause ambiguity. To make writing clear, avoid:

• abstract language ( really, quite, severely, very )
• overusing pronouns, particularly it, these, and this
• imprecise or subjective terms ( fast, slow, tall, small )
• words that have no precise meaning ( bit )

Analogies and Metaphors

Analogies and metaphors in useful in technical writing to illustrate abstract or complicated ideas by making comparisons between two generally unlike things.

“When two atoms approach each other at great speeds, they go through one another, while at moderate speeds, they bound off each other like two billiard balls.” Sir William Bragg

Writing with the intended audience(s) in mind is one of the most fundamental concepts of technical writing. Many technical documents will not only be read by the first person (primary audience) but may also be read by secondary audiences: readers in various levels of management, prospective financiers, or even individuals who access information without the writer’s knowledge.

For this reason, it is important to consider who may read your documents beyond the primary audience and write with any additional audiences in mind. This means targeting information appropriate for the knowledge of the audience(s) and using accessible language that both technical and non-technical audiences can understand.

Cliches, or figures of speech, are terms that have no concrete meaning and can affect the tone and professionalism of a document. Cliches should be avoided in technical writing. Examples include:

• water under the bridge
• writing on the wall
• easier said than done
• close the deal

Conciseness

Concise documents convey meaning using the fewest words possible without sacrificing meaning or clarity. To achieve conciseness:

• Eliminate empty/wordy phrases ( there is/are and it is ). These are considered to be indirect phrases and tend to be unclear and wordy. Direct statements, on the other hand, are clear and concise. Instead of: “There are 25 students who have already expressed interest in next year’s program.” Use: “Twenty-five students have already expressed interest in next year’s program.”
• Write using the active voice Instead of: “It was determined that the machine was broken by John.” (10 words) Use: “John broke the machine.” (4 words)
• Avoid using weak verbs Instead of: My recommendation is for a larger budget. Use: I recommend a larger budget.
• Eliminate filler words (very, quite, really, somewhat, that)

Contractions

Contractions are shortened forms of words with the missing letters represented by an apostrophe such as “you’ll” for “you will” or “didn’t” for “did not.” Contractions are unprofessional and informal and should be avoided in most technical documents.

Generalized Statements

Generalizations are broad statements or ideas that are applied to a group of people or things and should be avoided in technical writing. These statements are difficult to substantiate and are too broad to be supported.

The only way to learn another language is to visit the country where it is spoken.

Cats are nicer than dogs.

Gender-Neutral Terms

Avoid specifying gender when possible. Gender specific language can create stereotypes, make generalizations, and exclude gender. Individuals should not be referred to solely as he or she . To achieve gender neutrality:

• Use generic terms when referring to specific groups of people (“supervisors”)
• Avoid gender-specific pronouns (“his” or “her”)
• Use gender-neutral titles when referring to people “(sales representatives” not “salesmen”
• A student should always do his homework. (not gender neutral)
• A student should always do his or her homework. (gender neutral)
• Students should always do their homework. (gender neutral)
• A student should always do their homework. (gender neutral) *

*While it may seem strange or incorrect to use the plural their to refer to a single student, their has become the preferred replacement in many places in order to ensure gender neutral language. It is no longer considered grammatically incorrect to use their as a singular pronoun in this context.

In technical reports, headings are used to organize documents, guide the reader, and break content into manageable chunks of information. Readers often peruse headings and read those sections that pertain to them.

Headings organize content into large sections (major headings) and then into smaller sections (sub-headings). Headings are formatted by level (first level, second level, third level, etc.) and vary in their position and formatting. Discipline- and employer-specific style manuals will provide guidelines in the placement and visual layout of headings. Headings vary in the type of information they provide:

• Brief topic headings use short words or phrases Example: College Applications
• Statement headings use sentences or phrases and are more informational in nature. Example: College Application Process
• Question headings are useful when writing documents that explain how to do something. Example: How do I Apply for College?

When using headings:

• Construct headings in a parallel fashion
• Try to avoid starting headings with a, an, or the
• Aim for at least two headings at each level; avoid dividing a section into a single sub-section if possible
• Avoid repeating the wording of a higher-level heading in a sub-heading
• Use headings to create the table of contents (if applicable to the document)

Jargon is often called professional slang and consists of terms specific to a particular organization. Examples of jargon include terms like “flame” or “FUBAR.” Jargon sets members of an organization apart from non-members. When communicating with individuals who are likely to be unfamiliar with jargon, avoid using the term.

Lists are useful in technical writing for three purposes: to write a series of related items, to describe a series of tasks, and to make items visually accessible. Lists can be written in a sentence (as in the previous sentence) or set off from the text vertically. Items listed vertically are prefaced with a bullet, number, or checkmark. Bulleted lists make items easy to see or locate, numbered lists organize steps in a process, and checklists communicate items that need are required or need to be completed.

Lists are prefaced with a lead-in phrase ( Items to review for the training: ) or sentence ( The following topics will be reviewed at the training: )

Key points to keep in mind when creating lists:

• Lists should be constructed in a parallel fashion.
• Lists comprised of brief items typically contain no ending punctuation.
• Lists with no sequence required should be arranged logically (most to least important, alphabetical)
• Lists written as full sentences should use appropriate ending punctuation.

Narration (Point of View)

When writing, it is important to use appropriate tense and narration. Engineers often write to explain how something happened: a lab procedure, a site visit, an accident, a recommendation.

Third person narration is most often the appropriate choice in technical documents and academic journals, but in some cases it might be appropriate to use first or second person (common in business correspondence).

Examples: First person narration , “I” words are used. I should get good grades in college. We should get good grades in college. Second person narration , “You” words are used. You should get good grades in college. Third person narration , “he/she/neutral” words are used. A student should get good grades in college.

Students should get good grades in college.

Objectivity

Technical documents present facts, data, evidence, calculations, results, and theories, which must be presented in an impersonal, neutral, and objective manner. Avoid use of the word “feelings” or the verb “feel” in technical writing.

Phrases such as “I feel this is the best approach” evokes emotion, is not objective, and can lend uncertainty to technical writing. Similarly, “When the weight feels right” should not be used in describing inanimate objects.

Paragraphs are the building blocks of documents. It is important to keep in mind the basic elements of paragraph construction: each paragraph should contain a topic sentence that is well-developed and supported, discuss one idea, and transition to the next paragraph.

In technical writing, paragraphs are generally kept to 4-6 lines. Short paragraphs emphasize main ideas, encourage conciseness, keep the reader’s attention, and break up content into manageable chunks.

Parallelism

Parallelism means using the same structure for listed items. These items can occur in a sentence, in a table, in a bulleted or numbered list, or in headings. Sentences with parallel structure are easier to read and flow more smoothly.

When creating a bullet list, all items in the list should be parallel in construction.

Redundancy means using two or more words that essentially mean the same thing. Redundancy affects conciseness.

• a new innovation
• absolutely true
• red in color
• cylindrical in shape

SI versus Customary Units

Systeme Internationale (SI) units are the most widely and officially recognized system of metric units for weights, dimensions, and other physical measures in technical writing. Technical documents should use SI units in text, figures, tables, and equations.

Sentence Length

In technical writing, uncomplicated sentences are used to state complex ideas. Long, complex sentences tend to confuse readers. Strive for a sentence length of 10-20 words. A document should not be constructed, however, of short, choppy sentences. Varying sentence length can encourage readability, make comparisons, and contrast information.

Technical Terms and Definitions

When introducing a technical term in a document, italicize and provide a brief explanation of the term the first time it is used. There are generally three types of technical definitions: informal, formal, and expanded.

Informal definitions contain a word or brief phrase, often in parentheses, that gives minimal information about the term.

“At the southwest corner of the mall site, we found 16 barrels of creosote (a coal tar derivative) buried under three feet of sand.”

Formal definitions are typically a full sentence that distinguishes the term from other similar terms and includes the term itself, a class to which the term belongs, and distinguishing feature(s) of the term, which typically describe what the term does.

If the technical term has unclear or multiple meanings, add a qualifier to the beginning of the definition.

Tone refers to the feeling or attitude a document evokes; tone can also portray how the writer feels about a subject. Tone can be dependent on the purpose, audience, or medium of the message. Strive for neutral, professional, understandable words. Because engineers deal with complex information and terminology, word usage should be accessible and familiar.

Voice (Active or Passive)

Voice refers to how verbs are used in sentences. Although passive voice has long been a hallmark of technical writing, writing in the active voice is a preferred practice. Active voice makes documents more readable by making sentences more clear and concise. Passive voice is still used for certain types of technical documents such as lab reports.

When the verb is in the active voice, the subject performs the action; when the verb is used in the passive voice, the subject receives the action.

The boy hit the ball.

The ball was hit by the boy.

Hint: Watch for phrasing patterns common to passive voice: “was (verb)ed by….”

Use active voice when:

• writing most technical documents.
• writing needs to be concise, clear, and direct.
• it is important to know the “doer” of the sentence.

Use passive voice when:

• the genre (format) calls for passive voice (lab reports)
• the action itself is more important than who or what performed the action or when the doer of the action is unknown.

Word Choice

Words should be used that are accessible and familiar to your audiences, both primary and secondary. This means using a shorter, more well-known word in place of a longer, less-known word with the same meaning.

Trying to devise a structure for your essay can be one of the most difficult parts of the writing process. Making a detailed outline before you begin writing is a good way to make sure your ideas come across in a clear and logical order. A good outline will also save you time in the revision process, reducing the possibility that your ideas will need to be rearranged once you've written them.

The First Steps

Before you can begin outlining, you need to have a sense of what you will argue in the essay. From your analysis and close readings of primary and/or secondary sources you should have notes, ideas, and possible quotes to cite as evidence. Let's say you are writing about the 1999 Republican Primary and you want to prove that each candidate's financial resources were the most important element in the race. At this point, your notes probably lack much coherent order. Most likely, your ideas are still in the order in which they occurred to you; your notes and possible quotes probably still adhere to the chronology of the sources you've examined. Your goal is to rearrange your ideas, notes, and quotes—the raw material of your essay—into an order that best supports your argument, not the arguments you've read in other people's works. To do this, you have to group your notes into categories and then arrange these categories in a logical order.

Generalizing

The first step is to look over each individual piece of information that you've written and assign it to a general category. Ask yourself, "If I were to file this in a database, what would I file it under?" If, using the example of the Republican Primary, you wrote down an observation about John McCain's views on health care, you might list it under the general category of  "Health care policy." As you go through your notes, try to reuse categories whenever possible. Your goal is to reduce your notes to no more than a page of category listings.

Now examine your category headings. Do any seem repetitive? Do any go together? "McCain's expenditure on ads" and "Bush's expenditure on ads," while not exactly repetitive, could easily combine into a more general category like "Candidates' expenditures on ads." Also, keep an eye out for categories that no longer seem to relate to your argument. Individual pieces of information that at first seemed important can begin to appear irrelevant when grouped into a general category.

Now it's time to generalize again. Examine all your categories and look for common themes. Go through each category and ask yourself, "If I were to place this piece of information in a file cabinet, what would I label that cabinet?" Again, try to reuse labels as often as possible: "Health Care," "Foreign Policy," and "Immigration" can all be contained under "Policy Initiatives." Make these larger categories as general as possible so that there are no more than three or four for a 7-10 page paper.

With your notes grouped into generalized categories, the process of ordering them should be easier. To begin, look at your most general categories. With your thesis in mind, try to find a way that the labels might be arranged in a sentence or two that supports your argument. Let's say your thesis is that financial resources played the most important role in the 1999 Republican Primary. Your four most general categories are "Policy Initiatives," "Financial Resources," "Voters' Concerns," and "Voters' Loyalty." You might come up with the following sentence: ÒAlthough McCain's policy initiatives were closest to the voters' concerns, Bush's financial resources won the voters' loyalty.Ó This sentence should reveal the order of your most general categories. You will begin with an examination of McCain's and Bush's views on important issues and compare them to the voters' top concerns. Then you'll look at both candidates' financial resources and show how Bush could win voters' loyalty through effective use of his resources, despite his less popular policy ideas.

With your most general categories in order, you now must order the smaller categories. To do so, arrange each smaller category into a sentence or two that will support the more general sentence you've just devised. Under the category of "Financial Resources," for instance, you might have the smaller categories of "Ad Expenditure," "Campaign Contributions" and "Fundraising." A sentence that supports your general argument might read: "Bush's early emphasis on fundraising led to greater campaign contributions, allowing him to have a greater ad expenditure than McCain."

The final step of the outlining process is to repeat this procedure on the smallest level, with the original notes that you took for your essay. To order what probably was an unwieldy and disorganized set of information at the beginning of this process, you need now only think of a sentence or two to support your general argument. Under the category "Fundraising," for example, you might have quotes about each candidate's estimation of its importance, statistics about the amount of time each candidate spent fundraising, and an idea about how the importance of fundraising never can be overestimated. Sentences to support your general argument might read: "No candidate has ever raised too much money [your idea]. While both McCain and Bush acknowledged the importance of fundraising [your quotes], the numbers clearly point to Bush as the superior fundraiser [your statistics]." The arrangement of your ideas, quotes, and statistics now should come naturally.

Putting It All Together

With these sentences, you have essentially constructed an outline for your essay. The most general ideas, which you organized in your first sentence, constitute the essay's sections. They follow the order in which you placed them in your sentence. The order of the smaller categories within each larger category (determined by your secondary sentences) indicates the order of the paragraphs within each section. Finally, your last set of sentences about your specific notes should show the order of the sentences within each paragraph. An outline for the essay about the 1999 Republican Primary (showing only the sections worked out here) would look something like this:

I. POLICY INITIATIVES

II.  VOTERS' CONCERNS

III.  FINANCIAL RESOURCES

            A.  Fundraising

                        a.  Original Idea

                        b.  McCain Quote/Bush Quote

                        c.  McCain Statistics/Bush Statistics

            B.  Campaign Contributions

            C.  Ad Expenditure

IV.  VOTERS' LOYALTY

Copyright 2000, David Kornhaber, for the Writing Center at Harvard University

• The Vice Chancellor and Dean
• Facts and Figures
• Our Departments
• Zachry Engineering Education Complex
• Advising and Support
• Degree Programs
• Engineering Academies
• Online Degrees by Department
• Online Courses
• Engineering Global Programs
• Admissions and Aid
• Undergraduate Admissions
• Graduate Admissions
• Transfer Students
• Entry to a Major
• Explore Engineering Career Paths
• Visit With Us
• Student Life
• Find Your Community
• Get Creative
• Interact with Industry
• Solve Problems
• SuSu and Mark A. Fischer '72 Engineering Design Center
• Meloy Engineering Innovation and Entrepreneurship Program
• Undergraduate Research
• Autonomy and Robotics
• Education and Training Research
• Energy Systems and Services Research
• Health Care Research
• Infrastructure Research
• Materials and Manufacturing Research
• National Security and Safety Research
• Space Engineering
• Partner With Us
• PK-12 and Educators
• Researchers
• Reach Our Divisions

Entry to a Major Essays

Instructions & guidance.

There are three essay portions to the application: “Statement of Purpose,” “Outstanding Achievements” and “Additional Information.” Although “Outstanding Achievements" and “Additional Information” are optional, it is highly recommended that you complete these essays.

This application uses plain text formatting. You are encouraged to use a word processor like Microsoft Word to compose your essays and to check your word count (250 words for each essay), spelling and grammar. You can then copy and paste your text onto the application text area. 

Do not use AI text generators such as ChatGPT to complete your ETAM application. Using AI text generators may be considered plagiarism and/or cheating according to Student Rule: 20.1.2.3. Suspected use of generative AI may constitute a violation of the Texas A&M Honor Code and will be referred to the Aggie Honor System Office for investigation. More information may be found through the Aggie Honor System Office.

The University Writing Center  is a resource available to help prepare and/or review your essays. View this brief video with ETAM essay tips and information about ETAM-related services from the University Writing Center.

Essay Topics

Additional information for each essay topic is provided below:

• Statement of Purpose:  You will write one “Statement of Purpose” for each major you select. Your statement of purpose should explain your reason for selecting this major and include academic areas of interest, future professional career goals and strengths you would bring to the department. You should clearly articulate why you are interested in a specific major. You can also write about student organizations you have joined within the major or faculty you have met from this major and include all accomplishments related to the major.
• Outstanding Achievements:  Avoid using major-specific language. All majors you apply to will have access to read this essay. Use complete sentences; do not use bullet points. This section gives you an opportunity to discuss any outstanding achievements you feel are notable for departments to consider. Outstanding achievements should include leadership roles, major projects related to engineering, work or internship experience and scholarships you have received. You may use awards from your time in high school — particularly if they are related to engineering, science, math, or any leadership or extracurricular activities such as band, UIL, etc. This is also a great space to discuss AP credit and other academic qualifications.
• Additional Information:  Avoid major-specific language. All majors you apply to will have access to read this essay. This section allows you the opportunity to give additional information you want the committee to consider. You can include extenuating circumstances or other factors influencing your academic performance.
• Application Process and Guidelines
• Engineering Department Advisors
• Current Degree Programs
• Placement Outcomes

• Search Search for:
• Architecture
• Military Tech
• DIY Projects

32 Best Topics For An Engineering Essay

If a regular college student was told to come up with a list of the most difficult academic disciplines to deal with, we bet that engineering would be deservedly mentioned. Yes, this discipline is quite challenging to get around, which is especially true of home assignments in engineering so some students are forced to ask someone to  write my essay . This delicate problem often prompts some students to apply for help to online services, asking, “ do my engineering homework .” But it’s not only homework assignments in engineering that give college kids a hard time – another big burden connected with this discipline is academic writing.

In engineering paper writing, the first and most exasperating obstacle is settling on the topic. At first sight, choosing a paper topic seems to be quite easy. In reality, given the complexity of the discipline, developing a topic for an engineering discipline is a rigorous process. For this reason, we decided to put pen to paper and provide you with the greatest engineering essay topics!

Software Engineering Essay Topics

• The rapid evolution of neural networks
• Computer-assisted education as an innovative solution to the traditional academic system
• The implementation of machine learning in today’s digital industry
• The risks of using virus-infected computer software
• Virtual reality and human perception
• AI in modern digital marketing
• The challenges of database management
• The interactions between humans and machines
• The problem of ethical hacking today
• The development of biometric systems for computers

Biomedical Engineering Essay Topics

• The critical importance of modeling diseases through engineering
• The ways of improving medical imaging methods
• The outlook for structural health monitoring
• Genetic engineering as one of the most popular fields of biomedical engineering
• The use of biomedical engineering in handling the COVID-19 situation
• Biorobotics in disease detection
• The authentication systems based on biorobotics
• The treatment of cardiac diseases with the help of biomedical engineering

Structural Engineering Essay Topics

• The use of software in modeling experiments
• How to study the vulnerability of a particular area
• Self-healing: core principles
• The utilization of probabilistic methods in structural engineering

Mechanical Engineering Essay Topics

• Marine shipping and air pollution
• The history of mechanical engineering
• Parallel kinematic machines
• Manufacturing systems: performance analysis
• Electricity production mechanisms used at nuclear power plants
• The technology of solid-liquid separation
• The mechanical engineering of the smart auto-reeling mechanism
• Perpetual motion machines: the outlook
• The implementation of oil depletion
• The use of mechanical engineering in metallurgy

Engineering Writing Is Easy!

Developed by our top engineering specialists, these longed-for paper topics are for all students who fail to develop a good idea for their engineering papers. As you can now see, creating a solid engineering paper topic is not as big a deal as some college students believe it to be. Equipped with these 32 brilliant paper topics, you no longer have to torment yourself with the tedious procedure of seeking inspiration for your academic paper. Make sure to select the best topic from our top list developed by the leading experts in engineering!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Notify me of follow-up comments by email.

Notify me of new posts by email.

University of Missouri

• Faculty Directory
• Staff Directory
• Calendar & Events

Mizzou Engineering

Writing format.

The format or flow of information is important in helping the reader easily understand and process the information. Learn more about the common format used in technical reports and how to use citations and references.

General Format

The format or flow of information is important in helping the reader easily understand and process the information. The format builds the scaffold upon which the communication is based. A strong consistent and recognizable format aids the reader in processing the information

In general, there is an orderly explanation that explains the logic of the work. The paragraphs are also arranged in a consistent format usually starting with a topic sentence and then other sentences related to the topic of the paragraph.

The format of the technical writing depends on the audience and purpose. A short memo may simply describe the purpose of the memo in the first paragraph and answer a few key questions in the subsequent paragraphs. A comprehensive lab or design report will be longer and typically divided into many sections. There is not one “correct” format. The main importance is that the writing is structured so that the reader can easily and quickly recognize important information. This section provides some format examples for technical reports and memos. The formatting requirements for citations, references, cross-references, and cover sheets are the same for all written communications.

Most technical reports reference other sources of information. As such, the use of citations and cross-references is important. If you are discussing the ideas in a source at length (for example, in a summary), you do not need to cite every consecutive sentence. Cite the first time you mention the source, as long the following sentences clearly indicate that the ideas come from the same source.

There are two common conventions in Engineering: 1) the author-date format and 2) the numerical format. You will use the author date format for all assignments in Engineering, however the numerical format is required by some journals (such as the American Concrete Institute journals).

Author-date format

The author-date format is the default format used by the ASCE style guide ( https://ascelibrary.org/doi/10.1061/9780784479018.ch03 ) and will be the default format you will use in reports for the Civil Engineering program. The in-text citations consist of the names of individuals and corporate authors and the year of publication of the cited work in parentheses immediately following the information cited. All citations must appear in the list of references.

Basic format:

• Reinforced concrete (RC) flat-plate structures, as compared with other RC structural systems, generally cost less and are faster to construct (Gilsanz et al. 2015).
• “Buildings and other structures shall be designed to sustain local damage with the structural system as a whole remaining stable and not being damaged to an extent disproportionate to the original local damage.” (ASCE 2002, p. 2)
• Qian and Li (2014) performed static and dynamic loading tests of multi-panel flat-plate subassemblies with reduced scales to examine the collapse resistance of flat plates.
• Construction failure is avoidable (Feld and Carper 1977).
• Innovative technologies can be used to determine the longevity of key infrastructure features (McCullough et al. 2004).
• Previous cases of progressive collapse of buildings have been investigated by Sasani et al. (2007a, 2007b).

Numerical format

The numerical format is preferred by some journals and other publications. In this format, all the references are arranged numerically by the order in which they appear in the text. The citation simply consists of the number related to that reference either as a superscript or in brackets. This uses less room for the citation, but also does not provide information on who wrote the report or when the report was written.

• Construction failure is avoidable 1 . -Or- Construction failure is avoidable [1].

If the author is mentioned in the sentence, the number is still used.

• According to Wynham 2 , no additional support is necessary. -Or- According to Wynham [2], no additional support is necessary.

References give the reader the information they need to know so that they can find the reference for more information. Depending on where the report is published, the required format for the references may be slightly different. In Civil Engineering, the default format is the ASCE style. The excerpt below is directly from the ASCE style guide .

If a whole book is used (or pages here and there throughout the book), page numbers need not be given. If no author is listed, titles should be alphabetized. If a specific chapter is being used, the chapter title and inclusive page numbers should be included. Reports must include the full institution name and location.

• Evans, G. M., and Furlong, J. C. (2003). Environmental biotechnology: Theory and applications , Wiley, Chichester, U.K.
• Moody’s municipal and government manual. (1988). Moody’s Investors Service, New York.

Building Codes and Provisions

Building codes, provisions, and standards should be listed alphabetically by the name of the promulgating institution. If a title and code number are given, the title should be in quotes, and the code number in italics; if only a title is given, the title should be in italics.

• ACI (American Concrete Institute).(1989). “Building code requirement for reinforced concrete.” ACI 318-89,Farmington Hills, MI.
• Building Officials and Code Administrators International (BOCA). (1993). The BOCA national building code , Country Club Hills, IL.
• CEN (European Committee for Standardization). (1992). “Design of steel structures, part 1.1.” Eurocode 3 , Brussels.

Electronic Materials

CD-ROM—The section, chapter, and page numbers should be provided if available:

• Liggett, J. A., and Caughey, D. A. (1998). “Fluid statistics.” Fluid mechanics(CD-ROM), ASCE, Reston, VA, Section …, Chapter …, pp. …

The following elements should be included: author’s name (if known); year of publication or last revision (if available); full title of the document, in quotation marks; title of the complete work (if applicable), in italics; full web address, enclosed within angle brackets; and date of the visit (if applicable), in parentheses. If the Web page shows no year of publication, the year of the visit may be used in its place.

• Arizona Dept. of Commerce. (2005). “Community profile: Hualapai Indian Reservation.” 〈http://www.azcommerce/com/doclib/commune/ualapai.pdf〉(Mar. 17, 2014).
• “Acquisition reform network.” (1998). Arnet, 〈http://www.arnet.gov〉(Jan. 21, 2010)

Journal Articles

The standard format for a paper published in a U.S. journal is as follows:

Beskos, D. E. (1987). “Boundary element methods in dynamic analysis.” Appl. Mech. Rev.,40(1), 1–23.

ASCE Journals

ASCE no longer uses page numbers and has adopted a new format for its references (including those older papers that still contain page numbers). Use the following style for citation to an ASCE journal:

• Authors. (Year of initial publication). “Title of paper.” Journal abbr. , DOI, CID/page range.
• Irish, J. L., and Resio, D. T. (2013). “Method for estimating future hurricane flood probabilities and associated uncertainty.” J. Waterway, Port, Coastal, Ocean Eng ., 10.1061/(ASCE)WW.1943-5460.0000157, 04013015.

ASCE Committee/Technical Reports

ASCE committees, task forces, etc. publish reports, proposed codes and standards, commentaries on codes and standards, and so on. The committee is the author.

• ASCE Task Force on Friction Factors in Open Channels. (1963). “Friction factors in open channels.” J. Hydraul. Div., 89 (2), 97–143.

Cross-References

In addition to referencing other sources of information, cross-references are also used to refer to figure, tables, and equation s within the report. You must refer to every table, figure, equation used in the text . For documents in Engineering use the full reference (i.e. Figure #, Table #, Equation #) instead of an abbreviation (i.e. Fig., Eq.). If the item (figure, table, or equation) is a noun in the sentence then use it as a proper noun and capitalize the first letter.

• Figure 1 shows the stress-strain curve of aluminum.
• The stress-strain curve of aluminum is shown in Figure 1.

If the item (figure, table, equation) serves as a reference (where to go for more information), then include it in parentheses.

• The stress-strain curve of aluminum is non-linear (Figure 1).

All exhibits (Figures, Tables, Equations) should be sequentially numbered throughout the report (don’t skip numbers) and the cross-reference in the text should occur before the figure. If you change the order of your figures you have to renumber them. If the report is in several chapters, then the number may contain a chapter and/or sub-chapter number (i.e. Figure 3-4). The use of automatic features in Word makes keeping track of these things easier.

You can also use cross-references to refer to different sections in the report. This is common in technical reports in which the chapters and sub-sections are numbered.

• Refer to Section 4.13 for details of the test setup.

Cover Sheet

Many reports will contain a cover sheet that provides basic information. The layout of the cover sheet may be dictated by whomever is to receive the report (i.e. the Graduate School has a pre-determined layout for thesis and dissertations). The cover sheet will generally include the following information:

• Title of report
• Names of group members (where appropriate)
• Date submitted

Example Cover Sheet

Alternatively, you may be asked to provide a cover letter to a report or homework assignment. The cover letter also serves to identify the topic and authors of the report, but is written in the format of a letter and contains contact information.

Example Cover Letter

Technical Reports

Sample Technical Report

Technical Report Template

Technical Report Organization

Most technical reports follow the well-recognized general organization described in this section. This can be applied to technical reports, lab reports, journal papers, etc. A technical report is usually divided into distinct sections. A common format for a report is as follows:

Introduction – explains what the report is about and why is it is needed.

• Procedures – If the report is based on an experiment (lab) then this describes the procedure and apparatus used. If the report is a design report, then this may be the design procedures and calculations.
• Analysis/Results – reports the outcomes of the experiment or design.
• Discussion – explains the significance of the results and suggested recommendations.
• Conclusions – summarizes the main points of the report. Nothing new is presented in the conclusions.

Each section should be able to “stand on its own”. Meaning that if you need to refer to information in a previous section you should use an appropriate cross-reference (i.e. see Section 4.3.2 for …). In addition, the sections should have a logical flow and structure within themselves. Each paragraph should define or explain a single topic, and there should be organization, transitions, and flow between the paragraphs.

Abstract/Executive Summary

Introduction.

The first part of the technical report is the introduction. This sets the stage for the reader and provides needed background information. As such, the introduction must cover the purpose of the design/experiment, scope of work, and any needed background knowledge.

• Scope of Work – The scope of work is a description of the design or laboratory. This section should include a brief description of the project and outline the calculation requirements.
• Given Information – This section should include information given in the problem statement. Typically, this section includes information that is provided by the professor or client and does not require interpretation.
• Assumptions – This section should briefly describe any assumptions that are made in addition to the project description and requirements. Typically, assumptions are made by the engineer, not the client, and can be modified or changed.
• Background – This section provides the needed technical background for the reader. If the reader is not familiar with this area of study this section will need to be quite detailed so that the reader can fully understand the experiment and results. Sometimes the background is it’s own separate chapter/section in a report.

This can be used to describe the equipment and procedures used for a lab experiment, or the basis/assumptions, codes, etc. used for a design. Usually one of the easiest sections to write – you are simply saying what was done and how it was done. Be sure to be concise with your writing (no overly long explanations) and make sure you completely cover the procedure (someone else could repeat the experiment or design based on the information you give them).

The results section simply states the results of the design or laboratory experiments. Depending on your writing style you may combine this section with the discussion section. It consists of properly formatted tables and figures with explanations and descriptions of the tables and figures (you must reference every table and figure in the text). You should present without analyzing or commenting on significance (unless you are combining it with discussion).

In an experimental or laboratory research report the results will typically consist of the results of the calculations and/or experimental data. It typically consists of the tables and figures as well as clear and direct wording that highlights the most important results. Do not draw conclusions or make comparisons to other work in this section (that is for the discussion). Reference to the table and figures must be provided in the main body of the report.

In a design report the results typically consist of calculation work done in interpreting the design. If the calculations required are not extensive then this can be included in the main body of the report. Each step in the calculations should have a brief description. Provide equations used. Each equation should have a number for reference and all variables should be defined. If the calculations are extensive they can be included in the appendix (i.e. Sample Calculations), however a brief summary of the procedure should be in the main body of the report.

The next section is the discussion of the results. This is the heart of the technical report and shows what you determined in the design or learned from the experiment.

In an experimental or laboratory research report, you should analyze your results by discussing the data and interpreting your results. State the significance of your results clearly, and compare your results with theory or other work. Be sure to use quantitative comparisons in your discussion. Indicate if the results support the underlying theory or contradict it.

In a design report, you should highlight the main recommendations of the design or compare the design with other alternatives. This may be where you evaluate the value vs. cost of the proposed design. The reader should have a clear understanding of why this design was chosen.

Conclusions

The final section of the report is the conclusions.  This section sums up what was learned from the experiment or recommended in the design.  It generally focuses on restating the main discussion points.   There should be nothing new presented in this section – all points were previously covered in more detail earlier in the report.

The appendices are used to document the information that is not included in the main body of the report. For example, the data that you measured in the laboratory, sample calculations, and mathematical derivations should be presented in the appendices. You can have more than one appendix. Assign each appendix a letter and a title, and group the items in a sensible manner – for example, “Appendix A: Measured Data.” Data that are not mentioned in your results should not be included in the appendices. When mathematical terms are used in the report, include an appendix titled “Notation.”

Technical Memos

Sample Technical Memo

Technical Memo Organization

Technical memos are essentially short technical reports geared to answer specific client questions. Generally, memos are much shorter than reports (only 1 to 2 pages) and have less introductory and background information. Often the memos are in the form of a letter or an email. Results are often given in a supplementary section (enclosure in a letter or attachment to an email).

• Subject line – regardless of whether the form is a letter or email, there needs to be a short subject line for the memo Addressee – Memos are written for someone. You should address the memo to a person or a committee or group.
• Introductory paragraph – Although the introduction is not a long as in a report, the memo still needs to state the purpose of the memo and any assumptions or given information that was used in the experiment or design.
• Discussion paragraphs – These paragraphs answer the specific questions of the client. They are similar to a report discussion, but more targeted to the audience and the questions asked. All discussions should be quantitative.
• Conclusion – This optional paragraph may sum up some important points or recommendation. It can also provide encouragement for the client to contact you for more information.

Example Technical Memo

Essay Writing Guide

Essay Outline

Last updated on: Jun 10, 2023

A Complete Essay Outline - Guidelines and Format

By: Nova A.

13 min read

Reviewed By: Melisa C.

Published on: Jan 15, 2019

To write an effective essay, you need to create a clear and well-organized essay outline. An essay outline will shape the essay’s entire content and determine how successful the essay will be.

In this blog post, we'll be going over the basics of essay outlines and provide a template for you to follow. We will also include a few examples so that you can get an idea about how these outlines look when they are put into practice.

Essay writing is not easy, but it becomes much easier with time, practice, and a detailed essay writing guide. Once you have developed your outline, everything else will come together more smoothly.

The key to success in any area is preparation - take the time now to develop a solid outline and then write your essays!

So, let’s get started!

On this Page

What is an Essay Outline?

An essay outline is your essay plan and a roadmap to essay writing. It is the structure of an essay you are about to write. It includes all the main points you have to discuss in each section along with the thesis statement.

Like every house has a map before it is constructed, the same is the importance of an essay outline. You can write an essay without crafting an outline, but you may miss essential information, and it is more time-consuming.

Once the outline is created, there is no chance of missing any important information. Also, it will help you to:

• Organize your thoughts and ideas.
• Understand the information flow.
• Never miss any crucial information or reference.
• Finish your work faster.

These are the reasons if someone asks you why an essay outline is needed. Now there are some points that must be kept in mind before proceeding to craft an essay outline.

Easily Outline Your Essays In Seconds!

Prewriting Process of Essay Outline

Your teacher may ask you to submit your essay outline before your essay. Therefore, you must know the preliminary guidelines that are necessary before writing an essay outline.

Here are the guidelines:

• You must go through your assignments’ guidelines carefully.
• Understand the purpose of your assignment.
• Know your audience.
• Mark the important point while researching your topic data.
• Select the structure of your essay outline; whether you are going to use a decimal point bullet or a simple one.

Paper Due? Why Suffer? That's our Job!

How to Write an Essay Outline in 4 Steps

Creating an essay outline is a crucial step in crafting a well-structured and organized piece of writing. Follow these four simple steps to create an effective outline:

Step 1: Understand the Topic

To begin, thoroughly grasp the essence of your essay topic. 

Break it down into its key components and identify the main ideas you want to convey. This step ensures you have a clear direction and focus for your essay.

Step 2: Brainstorm and Gather Ideas

Let your creativity flow and brainstorm ideas related to your topic. 

Jot down key pieces of information, arguments, and supporting evidence that will strengthen your essay's overall message. Consider different perspectives and potential counterarguments to make your essay well-rounded.

Step 3: Organize Your Thoughts

Now it's time to give structure to your ideas. 

Arrange your main points in a logical order, starting with an attention-grabbing introduction, followed by body paragraphs that present your arguments. 

Finally, tie everything together with a compelling conclusion. Remember to use transitional phrases to create smooth transitions between sections.

Step 4: Add Depth with Subpoints

To add depth and clarity to your essay, incorporate subpoints under each main point. 

These subpoints provide more specific details, evidence, or examples that support your main ideas. They help to further strengthen your arguments and make your essay more convincing.

By following these four steps - you'll be well on your way to creating a clear and compelling essay outline.

Essay Outline Format

It is an easy way for you to write your thoughts in an organized manner. It may seem unnecessary and unimportant, but it is not.

It is one of the most crucial steps for essay writing as it shapes your entire essay and aids the writing process.

An essay outline consists of three main parts:

1. Introduction

The introduction body of your essay should be attention-grabbing. It should be written in such a manner that it attracts the reader’s interest. It should also provide background information about the topic for the readers.

You can use a dramatic tone to grab readers’ attention, but it should connect the audience to your thesis statement.

Here are some points without which your introduction paragraph is incomplete.

To attract the reader with the first few opening lines, we use a hook statement. It helps engage the reader and motivates them to read further. There are different types of hook sentences ranging from quotes, rhetorical questions to anecdotes and statistics, and much more.

Are you struggling to come up with an interesting hook? View these hook examples to get inspired!

A thesis statement is stated at the end of your introduction. It is the most important statement of your entire essay. It summarizes the purpose of the essay in one sentence.

The thesis statement tells the readers about the main theme of the essay, and it must be strong and clear. It holds the entire crux of your essay.

Need help creating a strong thesis statement? Check out this guide on thesis statements and learn to write a statement that perfectly captures your main argument!

2. Body Paragraphs

The body paragraphs of an essay are where all the details and evidence come into play. This is where you dive deep into the argument, providing explanations and supporting your ideas with solid evidence. 

If you're writing a persuasive essay, these paragraphs will be the powerhouse that convinces your readers. Similarly, in an argumentative essay, your body paragraphs will work their magic to sway your audience to your side.

Each paragraph should have a topic sentence and no more than one idea. A topic sentence is the crux of the contents of your paragraph. It is essential to keep your reader interested in the essay.

The topic sentence is followed by the supporting points and opinions, which are then justified with strong evidence.

3. Conclusion

When it comes to wrapping up your essay, never underestimate the power of a strong conclusion. Just like the introduction and body paragraphs, the conclusion plays a vital role in providing a sense of closure to your topic. 

To craft an impactful conclusion, it's crucial to summarize the key points discussed in the introduction and body paragraphs. You want to remind your readers of the important information you shared earlier. But keep it concise and to the point. Short, powerful sentences will leave a lasting impression.

Remember, your conclusion shouldn't drag on. Instead, restate your thesis statement and the supporting points you mentioned earlier. And here's a pro tip: go the extra mile and suggest a course of action. It leaves your readers with something to ponder or reflect on.

5 Paragraph Essay Outline Structure

An outline is an essential part of the writing as it helps the writer stay focused. A typical 5 paragraph essay outline example is shown here. This includes:

• State the topic
• Thesis statement
• Introduction
• Explanation
• A conclusion that ties to the thesis
• Summary of the essay
• Restate the thesis statement

Tough Essay Due? Hire Tough Writers!

Essay Outline Template

The outline of the essay is the skeleton that you will fill out with the content. Both outline and relevant content are important for a good essay. The content you will add to flesh out the outline should be credible, relevant, and interesting.

The outline structure for the essay is not complex or difficult. No matter which type of essay you write, you either use an alphanumeric structure or a decimal structure for the outline.

Below is an outline sample that you can easily follow for your essay.

Essay Outline Sample

Essay Outline Examples

An essay outline template should follow when you start writing the essay. Every writer should learn how to write an outline for every type of essay and research paper.

Essay outline 4th grade

Essay outline 5th grade

Essay outline high school

Essay outline college

Given below are essay outline examples for different types of essay writing.

Argumentative Essay Outline

An  argumentative essay  is a type of essay that shows both sides of the topic that you are exploring. The argument that presents the basis of the essay should be created by providing evidence and supporting details.

Persuasive Essay Outline

A  persuasive essay  is similar to an argumentative essay. Your job is to provide facts and details to create the argument. In a persuasive essay, you convince your readers of your point of view.

Compare and Contrast Essay Outline

A  compare and contrast essay  explains the similarities and differences between two things. While comparing, you should focus on the differences between two seemingly similar objects. While contrasting, you should focus on the similarities between two different objects.

Narrative Essay Outline

A narrative essay is written to share a story. Normally, a narrative essay is written from a personal point of view in an essay. The basic purpose of the narrative essay is to describe something creatively.

Expository Essay Outline

An  expository essay  is a type of essay that explains, analyzes, and illustrates something for the readers. An expository essay should be unbiased and entirely based on facts. Be sure to use academic resources for your research and cite your sources.

Analytical Essay Outline

An  analytical essay  is written to analyze the topic from a critical point of view. An analytical essay breaks down the content into different parts and explains the topic bit by bit.

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Outline

A rhetorical essay is written to examine the writer or artist’s work and develop a great essay. It also includes the discussion.

Cause and Effect Essay Outline

A  cause and effect essay  describes why something happens and examines the consequences of an occurrence or phenomenon. It is also a type of expository essay.

Informative Essay Outline

An  informative essay  is written to inform the audience about different objects, concepts, people, issues, etc.

The main purpose is to respond to the question with a detailed explanation and inform the target audience about the topic.

Synthesis Essay Outline

A  synthesis essay  requires the writer to describe a certain unique viewpoint about the issue or topic. Create a claim about the topic and use different sources and information to prove it.

Literary Analysis Essay Outline

A  literary analysis essay  is written to analyze and examine a novel, book, play, or any other piece of literature. The writer analyzes the different devices such as the ideas, characters, plot, theme, tone, etc., to deliver his message.

Definition Essay Outline

A  definition essay  requires students to pick a particular concept, term, or idea and define it in their own words and according to their understanding.

Descriptive Essay Outline

A  descriptive essay  is a type of essay written to describe a person, place, object, or event. The writer must describe the topic so that the reader can visualize it using their five senses.

Evaluation Essay Outline

Problem Solution Essay Outline

In a problem-solution essay, you are given a problem as a topic and you have to suggest multiple solutions on it.

Scholarship Essay Outline

A  scholarship essay  is required at the time of admission when you are applying for a scholarship. Scholarship essays must be written in a way that should stand alone to help you get a scholarship.

Reflective Essay Outline

A reflective essay  is written to express your own thoughts and point of view regarding a specific topic.

Getting started on your essay? Give this comprehensive essay writing guide a read to make sure you write an effective essay!

With this complete guide, now you understand how to create an outline for your essay successfully. However, if you still can’t write an effective essay, then the best option is to consult a professional academic writing service.

Essay writing is a dull and boring task for some people. So why not get some help instead of wasting your time and effort?  5StarEssays.com is here to help you. All your  do my essay for me  requests are managed by professional essay writers.

Place your order now, and our team of expert academic writers will help you.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the three types of outlines.

Here are the three types of essay outline;

• Working outline
• Speaking outline
• Full-sentence outline

All three types are different from each other and are used for different purposes.

What does a full-sentence outline look like?

A full sentence outline contains full sentences at each level of the essay’s outline. It is similar to an alphanumeric outline and it is a commonly used essay outline.

What is a traditional outline format?

A traditional essay outline begins with writing down all the important points in one place and listing them down and adding sub-topics to them. Besides, it will also include evidence and proof that you will use to back your arguments.

What is the benefit of using a traditional outline format and an informal outline format?

A traditional outline format helps the students in listing down all the important details in one palace while an informal outline will help you coming up with new ideas and highlighting important points

As a Digital Content Strategist, Nova Allison has eight years of experience in writing both technical and scientific content. With a focus on developing online content plans that engage audiences, Nova strives to write pieces that are not only informative but captivating as well.

Was This Blog Helpful?

Keep reading.

• How to Write an Essay - A Complete Guide with Examples

• The Art of Effective Writing: Thesis Statements Examples and Tips

• Writing a 500 Word Essay - Easy Guide

• What is a Topic Sentence - An Easy Guide with Writing Steps & Examples

• 220 Best Transition Words for Essays

• Essay Format: Detailed Writing Tips & Examples

• How to Write a Conclusion - Examples & Tips

• Essay Topics: 100+ Best Essay Topics for your Guidance

• How to Title an Essay: A Step-by-Step Guide for Effective Titles

• How to Write a Perfect 1000 Word Essay

• How To Make An Essay Longer - Easy Guide For Beginners

• Learn How to Start an Essay Effectively with Easy Guidelines

• Types of Sentences With Examples

• Hook Examples: How to Start Your Essay Effectively

• Essay Writing Tips - Essential Do’s and Don’ts to Craft Better Essays

• How To Write A Thesis Statement - A Step by Step Guide

• Art Topics - 200+ Brilliant Ideas to Begin With

• Writing Conventions and Tips for College Students

People Also Read

• quantitative research
• asa citation guide
• argumentative essay writing
• process analysis essay topics
• how to write an expository essay

Burdened With Assignments?

Advertisement

• Homework Services: Essay Topics Generator

© 2024 - All rights reserved

• Environment
• Information Science
• Social Issues
• Argumentative
• Cause and Effect
• Classification
• Compare and Contrast
• Descriptive
• Exemplification
• Informative
• Controversial
• Exploratory
• What Is an Essay
• Length of an Essay
• Generate Ideas
• Types of Essays
• Structuring an Essay
• Outline For Essay
• Essay Introduction
• Thesis Statement
• Body of an Essay
• Writing a Conclusion
• Essay Writing Tips
• Drafting an Essay
• Revision Process
• Fix a Broken Essay
• Format of an Essay
• Essay Examples
• Essay Checklist
• Essay Writing Service
• Pay for Research Paper
• Write My Research Paper
• Write My Essay
• Custom Essay Writing Service
• Admission Essay Writing Service
• Pay for Essay
• Academic Ghostwriting
• Write My Book Report
• Case Study Writing Service
• Dissertation Writing Service
• Coursework Writing Service
• Lab Report Writing Service
• Do My Assignment
• Buy College Papers
• Capstone Project Writing Service
• Buy Research Paper
• Custom Essays for Sale

Can’t find a perfect paper?

• Free Essay Samples
• Engineering

Essays on Engineering

Engineering essay defines it as an area of human intellectual activity, a discipline, a profession whose task is to apply the achievements of science, technology, the use of the laws of physics and natural resources to solve specific problems, reach goals and objectives of mankind. Many engineering essays explore its word origin. Word “engineering” derives from Latin words “ingenium”, which means “cleverness” and “ingeniare”, which means "to devise". Essays on engineering explore how engineering is realized through the use of both scientific knowledge and practical experience (engineering skills, abilities) in order to design and create useful technological processes and objects that implement these processes. Take a quick peek at the engineering essay samples we listed below – some of the provided essay samples can make your essays full to the brim with information!

Ethics in Engineering Ethics refer to the general code of conduct or principles required in a specific field or that which a person has set to govern their lives. Just like any other field of study, engineering also requires specific set of rules to ensure that there is proper sailing in...

The chief engineer contracted to build a bridge connecting the island of Manhattan, and the City of Brooklyn passes on due to an infectious wound after sustaining an injury. His son, William Roebling, also an engineer takes over to get the job done. In an unfortunate twist of fate, he...

This paper is based on an experiment of establishing the consistency, density, and compressive strength of concrete. The experiment involves casting of 12 sets of concrete cubes to with three different water to cement ratios. Therefore, four sets of cubes are prepared using one W/C ratio. The essence of making...

Words: 1787

You should submit your completed assignment to your tutor, arriving no later than Wednesday 25th April, 2018. Question 1 (carries 22% of marks) (a)A specimen of p-type silicon is 6mm in length, 2mm in width and 1mm thick. Its electricalresistance is 300 ꭥ measured along the length at room temperature. Assume that...

I am a freshman from India, and I have come to America to pursue a degree. My transition from my home country has been successful, and I am glad to have been admitted to this institution. I am going to major in electrical engineering and I have chosen to pursue...

The Construction Challenges The construction of concrete buildings in areas with structural challenges is difficult. Thus, the ongoing report incorporates theoretical applications of building and construction technology to help address the inadequacies presented by the area selected for construction. Inadequate analysis and investment into a construction site might compromise the structural...

Words: 1338

Found a perfect essay sample but want a unique one?

Request writing help from expert writer in you feed!

I would wish to be part of the team studying engineering at Cornell since the engineering program provided in the college has what I need to pursue my future career and aspirations.  I understand that the college's undergraduate research opportunities are widely accessible and based on the topics that I...

In engineering, Warren girders are trusses consisting of upper and lower members connected by members arranged as a series of isosceles triangles (“Definition of WARREN GIRDER” 2018). They basically offer support to the other beams. They often have an I-beam cross-section with two load-bearing flanges separated by a stabilizing web....

Words: 1823

The ingenuity of man in tackling societal problems has, over time, led to the construction of magnificent engineering structures, one of which are bridges. Bridges, by definition, refer to engineering artefacts that traverse over physical objects with a view to allow the passage of diverse objects such as ships, vehicles...

Words: 2332

A beam is a structural element utilized in the supporting of heavy loads that make various structures. The huge loads supported by the beam always tend to bend the beam while the beam reacts by resisting the bending caused by the load. The bending characteristics of a beam are dependent...

In engineering and other fields related to it, bending moment is defined as a measure of the reaction produced by an element such as a beam when an external force or moment is applied to a structural element, thereby causing the element to bend (Gere and Timoshenko, 1996). Simply put,...

Words: 1987

Heat Treatment Process in Metal Manufacturing Heat treatment is a process that involved a combination of heating and cooling process which are timed, and they are applied on a metal or an alloy that is in solid state to make the materials gain a desirable property. The processes of heat treatment...

Related topic to Engineering

You might also like.

Graduate School Personal Statement

Criteria for success.

• Your personal statement convinces a faculty committee that you are qualified for their program.
• It convinces them that you a good fit for their program’s focus and goals.
• You show a select group of skills and experiences that convey your scientific accomplishments and interests.
• Your experiences are concrete and quantitative.
• Your personal statement is no more than 3 pages.

Structure Diagram

The graduate school personal statement tells your story and demonstrates that you are a good match for a particular department or program. Matching goes both ways: they should be interested in you, and you should be interested in them. Your personal statement should make this match clear.

Analyze Your Audience

Your personal statement will be ready by a graduate committee, a handful of faculty from your program. They’re trying to determine if you will be a successful graduate student in their department, a positive force in the department’s intellectual life, and a successful scientist after you graduate. They are therefore interested in your qualifications as a researcher, your career goals, and how your personality matches their labs and department.

The graduate committee probably reads hundreds of applications a year. To make it easy for them to figure out that you are a good fit, make direct, concrete statements about your accomplishments and qualifications. To make it easy for them to remember you, create a narrative that “brands” you.

Create a personal narrative

PhD programs invest in the professional and scientific growth of their students. Get the committee excited about investing in you by opening your essay with a brief portrait of what drives you as a scientist. What research directions are you passionate about, and why? What do you picture yourself doing in 10 years?

Close your essay with a 2-3 sentence discussion of your career interests. No one will hold you to this; this just helps your committee visualize your potential trajectory.

Describe your experiences

Experiences are the “what” of your essay. What experiences led you to develop your skill set and passions? Where have you demonstrated accomplishment, leadership, and collaboration? Include research, teaching, and relevant extracurriculars. State concrete achievements and outcomes like awards, discoveries, or publications.

Quantify your experiences to show concrete impact. How many people were on your team? How many protocols did you develop? How many people were in competition for an award? As a TA, how often did you meet with your students?

Describe actions, not just changes in your internal mental or emotional state. A personal statement is a way to make a narrative out of your CV. It is not a diary entry.

Explain the meaning of your experiences

Meaning is the “why” or “so what” of the document. Why was this experience important to your growth as a scientist? What does it say about your abilities and potential? It feels obvious to you, but you need to be explicit with your audience. Your descriptions of meaning should also act as transition statements between experiences: try to “wrap” meaning around your experiences.

Demonstrate match to your target program

Demonstrate an understanding of the program to which you’re applying and about how you will be successful in that program. To do this:

• Read the program’s website. See what language they use to describe themselves, and echo that language in your essay. For example, MIT Chemical Engineering’s website points out innovative research areas and interdisciplinary opportunities.
• Get in contact with faculty (or students) in your target program. If you have had a positive discussion with someone at the department, describe how those interactions made you think that you and the department may be well-matched.
• State which professors in the program you would be interested in working with. Show how their research areas align with your background and your goals. You can even describe potential research directions or projects.

Resources and Annotated Examples

Annotated example 1.

These 2021 short answer responses are from an MIT ChemE graduate student’s successful application to the MIT ChemE program. 237 KB

Annotated Example 2

This is the personal statement from an MIT ChemE graduate student’s successful application to the MIT ChemE program. 121 KB

Annotated Example 3

This is the personal statement from an MIT ChemE graduate student’s successful application to the MIT ChemE program. 361 KB

Home — Essay Samples — Science — Mechanical Engineering — Passionate Pursuit: My Journey to Mechanical Engineering

Passionate Pursuit: My Journey to Mechanical Engineering

• Categories: Mechanical Engineering

About this sample

Words: 614 |

Published: Feb 7, 2024

Words: 614 | Page: 1 | 4 min read

Table of contents

Current academic experience in mechanical engineering, career goals in mechanical engineering, work experience in mechanical engineering, reasons for transfer, extracurricular activities, personal qualities.

Cite this Essay

Let us write you an essay from scratch

• 450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
• Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

Get high-quality help

Prof Ernest (PhD)

Verified writer

• Expert in: Science

+ 120 experts online

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

Related Essays

2 pages / 759 words

4 pages / 1687 words

3 pages / 1366 words

Remember! This is just a sample.

You can get your custom paper by one of our expert writers.

121 writers online

Still can’t find what you need?

Browse our vast selection of original essay samples, each expertly formatted and styled

Related Essays on Mechanical Engineering

Mechanical engineering is integral to the development and advancement of various industries, including automotive, aerospace, energy, and manufacturing. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, mechanical engineers are [...]

Simple machines are discussed in this essay as they are an important aspect of our everyday lives. These devices have the ability to apply force, making work easier by allowing us to push or pull over increased distances. The [...]

The growing concern about the oil prices and the environmental protection against emissions have made the auto makers move towards alternative lightweight materials like Al and Mg as a replacement for regular steel and cast [...]

Traditionally high temperature in cutting zone has been controlled by using cutting fluid. The cutting fluid helps to improve the surface finish as well as to facilitate chip flushing. It performs both coolant and lubricant [...]

A machine utilizes capacity to apply powers and control development to play out an expected activity. Machines can be driven by creatures and individuals, by characteristic powers, for example, wind and water, and by synthetic, [...]

With over one billion vehicles on the planet, the carbon dioxide emissions are rising. In the age of information, each and everyone is aware of the risks associated with vehicular pollution. In the past decade, there has been a [...]

Related Topics

By clicking “Send”, you agree to our Terms of service and Privacy statement . We will occasionally send you account related emails.

Where do you want us to send this sample?

By clicking “Continue”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy.

Be careful. This essay is not unique

This essay was donated by a student and is likely to have been used and submitted before

Download this Sample

Free samples may contain mistakes and not unique parts

Sorry, we could not paraphrase this essay. Our professional writers can rewrite it and get you a unique paper.

Please check your inbox.

We can write you a custom essay that will follow your exact instructions and meet the deadlines. Let's fix your grades together!

Get Your Personalized Essay in 3 Hours or Less!

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

• Instructions Followed To The Letter
• Deadlines Met At Every Stage
• Unique And Plagiarism Free

Home / Essay Samples / Science / Technology / Engineering

Engineering Essay Examples

Pursuing my dream job: my journey as an engineer.

This is my dream job essay engineer where I will talk about my work experience in petroleum industry. I was university and I finished my academic education. After completing the education 20 years ago, I started my engineer career in Salyan Oil Company. I applied...

Engineering Safety: Understanding Its Critical Importance

How safe? How and How to Determine Value for Factors of Security? What are the safety factors? What is meant to cover them? How are other points important for safety? Are the facts of factual science adequate for the uncertainties of practical engineering? What is...

My Ambition for Success in the Ares of Mechanical Engineering

Working with my father— a technician— as a helping hand in the furniture and sheet metal production house, motivated me to pursue an engineering field. As my study plan was fixed, immediately after school level, I joined Diploma in Automobile Engineering with a view to...

A Critical Analysis of Ethical Questions in Engineering Case Study

Ethics are an essential part of human life as it guides a person's behavior. Every profession or organization has a code of ethics that governs the way they conduct routine activities. The codes of ethics do not only dictate professional behavior but also outlines possible...

The Main Aspects in Bridge Engineering

The use of bridges has become essential in the everyday life of some people due to the fact that it allows people to travel over areas where it would be difficult to cross without it. There are a few essential things that engineers and architects...

Develoment of Computer Sciences and Engineering

Investigating Computer Applications/Technology Innovations over the Last Decade in the Healthcare Field A book by Tarek Sobh discusses the progress in information expertise that have been repeatedly made to order in the health care sector for improved routine. The book highlights the fast growth in...

Analysis of Pavilion Les Voûtes Filantes by Atelier Yok Yok

Les Voûtes Filantes is an installation piece that was produced by Atelier Yok Yok, a creative workshop of Architect-engineers at the Cahors Cathedral in the City of Cahors in France. This installation pavilion was held at the Festival Juin Jardins Cahors 2015. The installation was...

Report on Hosting Placement at Jacobs Engineering Company

This report will discuss the placement that was undertaken at Jacobs Engineering, Blackrock, from June 2018 to January 2019. During my placement I was in the Process Department, working alongside three senior process engineers who were working on the equipment section for the new Eli...

Case Study of Stresstech Company

For over three decades, Stresstech has been offering non-destructive and destructive residual measurement technologies to metal industries all over the world for process control and quality check. They have been providing high end services to industries like aerospace and automotive. In addition to that, they...

Effect of Using Mineral Addition on Properites of Concrete and Mortar

It is well known that supplementary cementitious materials in the form of natural Pozzolan or industrial by-products are able to modify the microstructure and interfacial zones of aggregate-paste or concrete (paste)-reinforcement, and improve durability of concrete. Silica fume has been recognized as one of the...

Trying to find an excellent essay sample but no results?

Don’t waste your time and get a professional writer to help!

You may also like

• Biotechnology Essays
• Intelligent Machines Essays
• Photosynthesis Essays
• Birds Essays
• Evolution Essays
• Renewable Energy Essays
• Thomas Edison Essays
• Japanese Essays
• Albert Einstein Essays

About Engineering

Engineering is the work involved in designing and constructing engines and machinery, or structures such as roads and bridges.

Main branches: chemical engineering, civil engineering, electrical engineering, and mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, marine engineering, computer engineering, and geological engineering.

The first engineer known by name and achievement is Imhotep, builder of the Step Pyramid at Ṣaqqārah, Egypt, probably about 2550 BCE. Imhotep’s successors — Egyptian, Persian, Greek, and Roman .

samplius.com uses cookies to offer you the best service possible.By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .--> -->