how to make a outline for an essay

Essay Writing Guide

Essay Outline

Last updated on: Jun 28, 2024

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.

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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

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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.

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Creating a clear and organized essay is not easy, but making an outline can help. By arranging your ideas in a logical and coherent way, an essay outline can guide you in effectively structuring your essay. 

Whether you’re working on a school or college assignment, take the time to create an outline. It can help you overcome the challenges of organizing your thoughts while writing. In this article, we’ll take a look at how to create an essay outline with the help of some useful examples and a downloadable template.

Craft clear and structured essays! Get started

What is an essay outline?

An outline acts as a blueprint for your essay, presenting the structure and content of each paragraph and showing how they connect. By creating an outline, you can streamline the writing process and minimize the need for revisions. It can also help you develop strong points to support your thesis statement .

Typically, an outline is created after establishing a working thesis statement and gathering relevant information. The collected information is then organized into a logical flow that can be expanded into a structured essay.

Why is it important to create an essay outline?

An essay outline not only gives structure to your essay but also helps effectively link its parts. It helps create a logical flow for your essay and also helps identify its primary components. Let’s take a look at this in detail.

1. Sets a logical order

To create a well-structured and impactful essay, the arrangement of information is key. Creating an essay outline makes it easier to organize bits of information from general to specific. 

Start off by creating a broad thesis statement or central idea. Then move on to providing examples or pieces of information that support this statement or elaborate on it. This method also provides a comprehensive overview of your essay and helps identify any missing bits of information.

2. Generates greater impact

The primary goal of your essay is to effectively present information that supports your thesis statement. If your essay is haphazardly structured, the message of the thesis statement can get lost.

In order to present a coherent message, determine the important bits of information that best support your thesis statement and organize them logically. Then elaborate on these bits to create a flow. This not only creates a greater impact but also makes your final essay more convincing.

3. Leads to smoother transitions

Transitions are the bridges that connect your ideas and ensure that your argument flows smoothly. However, creating smooth transitions from one point to another can be quite challenging.

A college essay outline helps you identify where you need to include transitions and what type of transition you should use to connect your ideas effectively. Creating smooth, logical, and cohesive transitions is crucial in ensuring that readers can easily follow your train of thought and grasp your argument. 

How to write an essay outline

After conducting all the necessary research, it is time to narrow down the central idea of your essay. Make sure that the scope of your idea is neither too broad nor too narrow. 

Select the main bits of information that elaborate on this central idea and organize them in a logical manner. Then provide specific examples to back them up. Let’s take a detailed look at these steps. 

1. Figure out the central message or the thesis statement of your essay.

Picking out a central idea or generic point for your essay can help create a base you can elaborate upon. 

You can start with a broad idea or stance and then research the specific bits of information that support this idea and provide more information on it. 

2. Identify the main points or arguments.

After collecting the necessary information to elaborate on your central idea, identify the broad points that give it substance. 

These points will form the headings of the essay. They should be broad enough to cover major themes, but specific enough to provide a clear focus for each section.

3. Organize your headings.

Decide the logical flow of your essay and arrange your headings in an organized manner.

It is crucial to have obvious starting and ending points, but the body can be organized in a way you consider to be the most impactful. Depending on the type of essay, your headings can be arranged chronologically, on the basis of importance, or from general to specific.

4. Provide examples and evidence to support the headings.

Once the headings are created and organized, provide statistics, anecdotes, and examples to back them up. These specific pieces of information can be elaborated upon while writing your first draft.

Using essay outline generators can also make your work easier. You can use this general essay outline format to create your own:

Essay outline template

To help you write a logical, well-structured, impactful essay, we have developed this fool-proof, comprehensive essay outline template. It will help you categorize all your essential information into well-structured, organized headings and subheadings.

The template includes an introduction, three body paragraphs, an optional paragraph for a counter-argument, and a conclusion. Under each of these headings, there are relevant subheadings that are applicable to all types of essays.  

The template uses an alphanumeric format, with Roman numerals for the headings and capital letters for the subheadings.

Download Free Outline Essay Template

Essay outline examples   .

Essays are highly versatile pieces of writing. They include various types, such as persuasive essays, compare and contrast essays, analytical essays, and cause-and-effect essays. 

But most of these essay types are a combination or a derivation of these four main types of essays. They include narrative, descriptive, argumentative, and expository essays. 

Each of these essays serves a different purpose and is structured differently. Let’s understand the purpose of each of these essay types with the help of relevant essay outline examples:

1. Narrative essay outline

A narrative essay outline is a highly personalized outline that reflects your unique experiences, feelings, and observations. 

The goal of this outline is to tell an impactful story with the help of vivid descriptions and sensory details that engage the reader’s attention.

Narrative essay outline example

Let us better understand the narrative essay outline with the help of an example. The following example is a personal narrative about growing up as an immigrant child.

I. Introduction

A. A vivid description of the moment I found out I was moving to a new country.

B. Brief explanation of my background and reasons for immigrating.

C. Thesis statement: The challenges and opportunities I faced as an immigrant in a new country.

A. Struggles in adjusting to a new culture.

1. Language barriers I faced in school and everyday life.

2. Differences in cultural norms and expectations.

B. Navigating a new education system

1. Differences in teaching styles and expectations.

2. Adjusting to a new curriculum and grading system.

C. Finding a sense of belonging

1. Challenges in making friends and building relationships.

2. Coping with homesickness and missing family and friends.

III. Conclusion

A. Reflection on my journey as an immigrant

1. Lessons learned and personal growth.

2. Significance of the experience.

B. Acknowledgment of my resilience and determination.

1. Overcoming challenges and achieving success.

2. Encouragement for others facing similar challenges.

C. Memorable closing statement related to my journey.

2. Argumentative essay outline

An argumentative essay outline requires you to take a clear stance on a topic and provide strong evidence to support it. 

The goal of this outline is to convince the reader to see your point of view on a controversial topic.

Argumentative essay outline example

The following example shows us how the internet is beneficial to the mental development of school children. It establishes the internet to be a valuable resource for children.

A. A surprising statistic or fact about children and their use of the internet.

B. Brief explanation of the prevalence of the internet in modern society and its impact on children.

C. Thesis statement: Despite concerns about safety and privacy, the internet is a valuable resource for children due to its educational opportunities, communication tools, and access to diverse perspectives.

A. Education opportunities.

 1. Access to information and resources that may not be available in traditional classroom settings.

2. Interactive tools and games that can reinforce learning and engage children in new ways.

B. Communication tools

1. Social media and messaging platforms that allow children to connect with peers and mentors.

2. Online forums and discussion groups that foster collaboration and problem-solving skills.

C. Exposure to diverse perspectives

1. Access to a variety of viewpoints and perspectives from around the world.

2. Exposure to different cultures and ways of thinking can foster empathy and understanding.

III. Counterarguments and Rebuttal

A. Potential safety concerns and risks associated with internet use

1. Explanation of safety measures and precautions that can mitigate these risks.

2. Rebuttal of the idea that the risks outweigh the benefits.

B. Potential negative effects on cognitive and social development

1. Explanation of the positive effects of internet use on cognitive development and social skills.

2. Rebuttal of the idea that the internet is inherently harmful to children.

IV. Conclusion

A. Restatement of thesis statement and main points of the argument.

B. Reflection on the importance of the internet as a valuable resource for children.

C. Final thoughts and call to action for readers to embrace the benefits of internet use for children.

3. Expository essay outline

An expository essay outline requires you to provide a detailed overview of a subject from all angles. It is used to test your knowledge of a particular subject.

The purpose of this essay outline is to inform, explain, or describe a topic or idea, rather than to persuade the reader or share personal opinions. 

This type of essay is often used in academic settings, such as in writing assignments, research papers, or even textbooks.

Expository essay outline example

The following example provides us with information on SONAR technology, its uses, its impact on the environment, as well as its benefits. 

A. A brief explanation of the significance of SONAR and its impact on underwater navigation and detection.

B. A definition of SONAR and its origins, and the history of its development and uses.

C. Thesis statement: This essay will provide a detailed overview of the use of SONAR technology, its applications, and its impact on various fields.

A. Explanation of SONAR technology

• Basic principles of SONAR.
• Types of SONAR and how they work.

B. Applications of SONAR technology

1. Military applications, including submarine detection and mine detection.

2. Commercial applications, including underwater mapping and exploration, and marine life observation.

C. Advantages and disadvantages of SONAR technology

1. Advantages, such as accuracy and range.

2. Disadvantages, such as interference and environmental impact.

A. Safety and environmental concerns

1. Explanation of the measures taken to minimize the environmental impact of SONAR technology.

2. Rebuttal of the idea that the benefits of SONAR technology are outweighed by its environmental impact.

B. Potential misuse or abuse of SONAR technology

1. Explanation of regulations and laws governing the use of SONAR technology.

2. Rebuttal of the idea that the potential misuse of SONAR technology justifies limiting its applications.

B. Reflection on the significance of SONAR technology and its impact on various fields.

C. Final thoughts and call to action for readers to learn more about SONAR technology and its applications.

4. Descriptive essay outline

A descriptive essay outline requires you to create a detailed and sensory-rich description of a person, place, object, event, or experience. 

The goal is to provide the reader with a visceral experience that engages their senses and imagination.

Descriptive essay outline example

The following example provides a highly immersive experience and uses multiple sensory descriptors to describe the summers spent by the writer at their grandmother’s farm.

A. Description of a typical summer day at grandma’s farm.

B. Brief overview of the location and purpose of the farm.

C. Thesis statement: Summers spent at grandma’s farm were some of the most memorable and enjoyable times of my childhood, thanks to the idyllic setting and the rich sensory experiences it provided.

II. Body Paragraph 1: The Scenery

A. Topic sentence: The farm was located in a picturesque rural area surrounded by rolling hills and green pastures.

B. Sensory details:

1. Visual: Describe the lush greenery, the colorful flowers, and the endless expanse of blue sky.

2. Auditory: Mention the sound of the chirping birds, the rustling leaves, and the occasional mooing of cows.

3. Olfactory: Describe the fragrant smell of fresh hay and the earthy aroma of the soil.

4. Tactile: Describe the feeling of the warm sun on the skin and the softness of the grass underfoot.

III. Body Paragraph 2: The Activities

A. Topic sentence: The farm provided numerous activities and tasks that kept me busy and engaged throughout the day.

1. Visual: Describe the sight of the cows grazing, the chickens clucking, and the horses trotting.

2. Auditory: Mention the sound of the milking machine, the creaking of the barn doors, and the whinnying of the horses.

3. Olfactory: Describe the smell of the freshly baked pies, the wood smoke from the bonfire, and the scent of the freshly cut grass.

4. Tactile: Describe the feeling of the cow’s rough tongue licking my hand, the warmth of the freshly laid eggs, and the rough texture of the hay bales.

IV. Body Paragraph 3: The People

A. Topic sentence: The farm was a family affair, and spending time with my grandmother and other relatives was a highlight of the summer.

1. Visual: Describe the sight of my grandmother cooking in the kitchen, my cousins running through the fields, and my uncles fixing machinery.

2. Auditory: Mention the sound of laughter and conversation around the dinner table, the chatter of family members working together, and the clinking of dishes.

3. Olfactory: Describe the smell of home-cooked meals, the familiar scents of family members, and the aroma of freshly brewed coffee.

4. Tactile: Describe the feeling of hugs from family members, the rough texture of my grandfather’s hand, and the warmth of a family embrace.

V. Conclusion

A. Restate thesis: Summers spent at grandma’s farm were truly unforgettable, filled with vivid sensory experiences and cherished memories.

B. Summarize main points: Recap the main sensory details and experiences shared in the essay.

C. Final thoughts: Reflect on the impact of the farm on the writer’s life and express gratitude for the memories made there.

Once you’re done writing your essay, it’s time to thoroughly revise, edit, and proofread your essay. If editing and proofreading is not your cup of tea, you can make things easier for you by working with a professional essay editing service .

Here are some related articles that you might find interesting:

• How to Write an Essay in 8 Simple Steps

Frequently Asked Questions

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Home ➔ Essay Outline

How to Write an Essay Outline (Examples and Template)

Essays are used to express ideas or opinions about a particular subject matter. It’s among the first tasks introduced to students at the primary levels of education. It’s also one of the widely accepted forms of assessing students that cut across most academic disciplines, especially in college. Schools and even places of employment might also require an essay from an applicant before considering them.

The silver lining is that many students have a working knowledge of how to write an essay and its structure composition, which usually includes an introduction, body, and a concluding paragraph. Still, the average student spends more than the necessary number of hours on a single task because they run out of ideas or lose their train of thought. Even the overall content of the paper suffers. That can be avoided by penning down a solid outline before writing the first draft. Did you know even seasoned bestseller writers do this? So, what’s an outline? How does it improve your essays, and how do you write it? We are answering all these questions in our guide.

Essay Outline Format and Definition

An essay outline acts like a map or blueprint, guiding writers in organizing their work. It’s similar to a table of contents in research papers and dissertations. Many students actually make outlines without realizing it, which is why learning to write one is straightforward. Typically, students brainstorm and research ideas before starting to write. However, they often don’t organize these ideas properly. This step is crucial to transform their initial thoughts into a structured essay outline.

If writing an effective outline isn’t a task that you must submit for a grade, then it’s up to you how you format it. However, you should follow four main principles  when creating a plan for your academic writing:

• Ranking — as you go from your main headings to subheadings, you move from general to more specific.
• Parallelism — every heading on the same hierarchy level should start with the same word type (verb, adjective, noun, etc.).
• Parity — all headings of the same hierarchy should be equally important and less important than the ones higher in rank.
• Fragmentation — each main heading should be divided into at least two subheadings.

The image below illustrates all four principles of outlining:

The most common format is a standard alphanumeric outline template. Headlines are labeled in the following order (from the first to the most nested one):

• (a) Lowercase letters in round brackets

For what you write in each point, you can use brief phrases or full sentences to summarize the idea.

The decimal outline structure is another format you can apply, and it looks like this:

When organizing an essay, there are two primary types of outlines: topic outlines and sentence outlines .

A topic outline lists your essay’s main points and subpoints in short phrases or single words. As a result, it provides a clear, concise structure and helps you visualize the flow of the essay without getting into detailed sentences. This type of outline is mainly useful for shorter essays or when you have a strong comprehension of the subject and do not need to go into every point during this initial planning stage.

In contrast, a sentence outline has complete sentences for each main point and subpoint. This outlining approach offers a more detailed framework, allowing you to flesh out your ideas and ensure that each part of the essay is developed well. Sentence outlines are good for longer or more complex papers, where you need to clarify your thoughts and arguments in advance. By using full sentences, this outline type helps identify any gaps in logic or areas that need further analysis, making the actual writing process smoother and more efficient in the end.

Why is Outlining Important?

Reasons vary, but we usually use it to logically order all the data you collected during the brainstorming and researching stages. A good outline helps a lot in writing research papers, as you can easily keep track of all the relevant information. Even for oral presentations, it’s a great way to identify the strengths and weaknesses of their speech and make it more effective. To sum up, an outline’s core functions are:

• Guiding you during the writing phrase
• Helping you organize your thoughts and ideas
• Presenting material in a logical order
• Showing how your ideas link to one another
• Serving as an abstract for your paper

Outlines enhance thinking flow

Consider planning every next day before going to bed. You will realize that you undertake your daily activities without overthinking or second-guessing yourself because you know what to do every time. That is one of the proven life principles for most successful people. The same applies to paper writing. Your essays will feel like a walk in the park if you outline every major point beforehand.

Outlines save time

Time is a commodity that none of us have in abundance, especially considering the responsibilities students have to undertake daily. So why spend hours on essays when you have mounting academic work? You’d rather waste less time and still get good grades. That’s what essay outlines are for: saving time and improving your performance. Once you’ve planned out your essay, it takes less time to develop each idea.

Outlines improve grades

From students’ perspective, the whole point of sweating over an essay is to get the best grades, and an outline can help you do that. If you take time to brainstorm and jot down every major point you can raise in your essay, you will make fewer errors. If you arrange your ideas in an order that makes sense, your tutor will notice it and evaluate the paper accordingly.

How to Outline an Essay

Building an outline is an excellent way to ensure that every paragraph in your essay has a purpose. While outlining, you can see if a paragraph is essential or can be dropped without harm to your paper. It also checks how your argument or main idea is advancing, which will help you speed up the proofreading stage. Now that you learned how significant outlining is, let’s see how you can create one.

Before writing an outline, you should:

• Define the goal of your essay.
• Determine the target audience.
• Create the thesis statement.

Step 1: Research

The quality of your research determines the quality of your outline and your essay at large. That includes finding quotes from reputable sources or indicating the main supporting points to bolster your argument. Depending on your educational background, you might have to use different sources to expedite your research.

Any websites found on Google are unsuitable sources for papers written at a college or university level. Since the Internet is full of unverified information, it’s vital to ascertain your source’s credibility before referring to it. Examples of trusted sites include Google Scholar, Microsoft Academic, Science.gov, Refseek, and Oxford Academic.

Step 2: Organize

After choosing a topic and researching, it’s time to write the outline using all the gathered information. It should match the layout of the essay: an introduction, a body section, and a conclusion. Have you ever written down something but couldn’t read from your handwriting later on? This usually happens if you have bad handwriting or the information is too clustered to read. You don’t want to rely on such an outline, especially when pressed for time. So, you must organize your plan to match the essay structure .

Introduction

Some ways to start your introduction paragraph are anecdotes, proverbs or idioms, definitions, statistics, quotes, or facts. You can begin your essay outline by jotting down the main ideas for the introduction, which should also include a thesis statement. The point is to equip yourself with a road map, so short sentences should suffice.

Body paragraphs

Each body paragraph provides one idea that supports your thesis statement and is backed by facts, details, and examples. There will be more or fewer paragraphs here, depending on the essay volume. But, when writing a standard essay, you would usually need three body paragraphs, each of which should be in your outline. Remember that every paragraph must start with a topic sentence supported by two or three independent ideas with a link (transition) sentence at the end.

This paragraph summarizes every major point in the essay with some broader context. For a short paper, three to five sentences should be used for the concluding section of your paper.

Below is a template of a standard five-paragraph essay outline structure template that you can download by clicking on the button under the image.

Once you’re done, remember to proofread and edit to ensure you haven’t missed something important.

Essay outline examples

Now that you know how to write an outline, analyze the samples below to better understand how to apply this theory in practice. Each sample essay outline was hand-picked to ensure it corresponds to all key principles of creating one.

CLICK OR TAP ON THE IMAGE TO DOWNLOAD IT IN PDF

Argumentative essay outline example

Similar to persuasive essays, argumentative essays are designed to persuade the reader to accept a specific point of view. They require the writer to use relevant evidence and reasoning to support their arguments while addressing and refuting opposing viewpoints.

For example, an argumentative essay outline on the topic “The Necessity of Renewable Energy” could be structured as follows:

• A. Start with a striking statistic about current global energy consumption.
• B. Provide background on the reliance on non-renewable energy sources.
• C. Thesis: “In the face of escalating environmental crises and depleting non-renewable resources, transitioning to renewable energy sources emerges as an indispensable solution, not only to mitigate ecological damage but also to ensure long-term sustainability and economic viability for future generations.”
• 1. Detail the ecological damage caused by fossil fuels.
• 2. Highlight the contribution of non-renewable energy to global warming.
• 1. Describe the long-term environmental benefits of renewable sources.
• 2. Discuss technological advancements in renewable energy.
• 1. Address concerns about the high cost and practicality.
• 2. Provide evidence of decreasing costs and increasing efficiency.
• A. Reiterate the thesis in light of the arguments presented.
• B. Summarize the environmental and economic benefits.
• C. Concluding statement: Call to action for policy changes and individual responsibility​​.

Narrative essay outline example

Narrative essays tell a story, focusing on personal experiences and emotions. For instance, a narrative essay titled “My Journey to Becoming a Volunteer” could have the following example outline:

• A. Open with a personal anecdote about the desire to help others.
• B. Set the scene for the volunteer journey.
• C. Thesis: “My journey to becoming a volunteer was a transformative experience that reshaped my understanding of community and self, teaching me invaluable lessons in empathy, resilience, and the profound impact of selfless service on both personal growth and the well-being of others.”
• 1. Describe the initial motivation and decision-making process.
• 2. Mention key influences or events leading to the decision.
• 1. Narrate specific experiences and interactions during volunteering.
• 2. Reflect on challenges faced and how they were overcome.
• 1. Discuss the skills and insights acquired.
• 2. Illustrate how the experience changed perspectives on community and self.
• A. Summarize the journey and its impact.
• B. Reflect on the personal changes and growth experienced.
• C. Closing thoughts: The ongoing importance of volunteer work​​​.

Compare and contrast essay outline example

Compare and contrast essays examine the similarities and differences between two subjects, offering a balanced view. For example, a compare and contrast essay on “Online Learning vs. Traditional Classroom” might follow this outline:

• A. Discuss the rise of online learning platforms.
• B. Contrast online and traditional classroom settings.
• C. Thesis Statement: “While both online learning and traditional classroom education aim to deliver quality education, they differ significantly in terms of their learning environments and teacher-student interactions, each offering unique advantages and challenges that cater to diverse learning needs and preferences.”
• 1. Compare the curriculum and teaching materials used in both settings.
• 2. Illustrate with examples of course content in both formats.
• 1. Detail the virtual setting of online learning vs. physical classrooms.
• 2. Discuss the impact of these environments on student engagement.
• 1. Compare the nature of interactions in online and traditional settings.
• 2. Examine the impact on student learning and participation.
• A. Recap the key similarities and differences.
• B. Reflect on the effectiveness of each mode of learning.
• C. Final thoughts: Future trends in education​​​.

Bottom line

Here are three key tips for students creating essay outlines:

• Review Your Assignment: Start by thoroughly reading your assignment instructions. This helps you understand your essay type and any word count limits.
• Keep Your Title and Thesis Handy: At the top of your outline, write down your essay’s title and the full thesis statement. This keeps your main idea in clear view as you work.
• Take Notes During Research: As you research, jot down key points. These notes will be valuable when you’re building your essay outline.

Remember, essays vary widely, from argumentative and narrative to comparative and persuasive, each with its own goals and structure. Mastering the art of outlining is crucial for improving your writing skills and achieving higher grades. If you often struggle with organizing your thoughts or experience writer’s block, planning your essay before you start writing can be immensely helpful. With practice, you’ll be able to complete your assignments more quickly while maintaining high quality.

The earlier, the better. If you start researching without note-taking and creating an outline, you might do all that research in vain. You need to read a bit, find reputable sources that you will use, and analyze the evidence before planning. But, as soon as your argument starts shaping, you should start putting your thoughts on paper.

Planning is a bit individual. Some people benefit from it more than others. If you can generate ideas easily but struggle with the writing process, preparing a thorough outline will help. Conversely, if you’re having a hard time coming up with ideas, you might benefit more from writing right away. Overplanning can also be harmful when it doesn’t leave enough time to complete the paper.

• Walden University — Outlining
• Bow Valley College — Writing Support
• Purdue University — Types of Outlines

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How to Write an Essay Outline

Imagine that an essay outline is like building a blueprint for a house: it lays the foundation and framework for your ideas. An outline helps you organize your thoughts, ensuring that each section of your essay supports your main argument. 

By mapping out your introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion in advance, you can see the big picture and make sure all your points are connected. Let’s see why an essay outline is an important part of the writing process, as well as discover better ways to perform this task.

What Is an Outline?

An essay outline is a structured plan that organizes an essay's main ideas and supporting points before the writing process begins. It serves as a framework, breaking down the essay into key sections: the introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. 

Each section includes brief notes or bullet points detailing what will be covered, helping to ensure a logical flow of ideas and coherence in the final piece. By providing a clear overview of the essay's structure, essay outlines make the writing process more efficient and help maintain focus on the central argument or thesis.

Don’t Even Have an Outline Yet?

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Parts of an Essay to Include in the Outline

An essay structure typically includes three main parts: the introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. Use a coursework writing service if you’re tasked with a longer paper than a short composition.

Introduction

The introduction of an essay sets the stage for the entire piece, providing a first impression that engages the reader. It typically begins with a hook, a compelling statement or a question designed to capture the reader's interest. Following the hook, background information is provided to give context and help the reader understand the topic at hand. 

This section culminates in a thesis statement, a clear and concise summary of the main argument or purpose of the essay. The introduction not only introduces the topic but also lays out the roadmap for what will be discussed, setting the tone for the rest of the essay.

Tips for the Introduction:

• Start with a strong hook to grab attention.
• Provide just enough background information to set the context.
• Craft a clear and specific thesis statement.
• Avoid overly broad or general statements.

Body Paragraphs

The essay's body is where the main ideas and arguments are developed. Each body paragraph should start with a topic sentence that clearly states the paragraph's main point. This is followed by supporting details, such as evidence, examples, and analysis, which reinforce the topic sentence.

Effective transitions between paragraphs are crucial, as they ensure the essay flows logically from one idea to the next. The body paragraphs collectively build the case for the thesis, providing depth and detail that strengthen the overall argument.

Tips for Body Paragraphs:

• Begin each paragraph with a strong topic sentence.
• Use specific evidence and examples to support your points.
• Analyze the evidence to show how it supports your argument.
• Use transition words and phrases to connect ideas smoothly.

The conclusion of an essay brings closure to the argument and reinforces the thesis. It typically begins by restating the thesis in light of the evidence presented in the body paragraphs. This is followed by a brief summary of the main points discussed in the essay, highlighting the key arguments made. 

The conclusion should end with a closing thought or call to action, leaving the reader with something to ponder or a sense of resolution. The goal is to leave a lasting impression that underscores the significance of the essay’s findings.

Tips for the Conclusion:

• Restate the thesis in a new way to reflect the discussion.
• Summarize the main points succinctly.
• End with a thought-provoking final sentence or call to action.
• Avoid introducing new information or arguments.

Are you a fan of literature? Recommended for reading: The Divine Comedy summary .

How to Write an Essay Outline in 4 Simple Steps

An essay outline can simplify and enhance the writing process by organizing your ideas and ensuring a logical flow. Here’s how to write an essay outline in four steps:

1. Identify Your Thesis and Main Points

Begin by determining the thesis of your essay—the central argument or point you intend to make. Once you have a clear thesis, identify the main points that will support this argument. 

These points will form the backbone of your essay and should be distinct, relevant, and directly related to your thesis. Write down your thesis statement and list your main supporting points, which will serve as the core sections of your outline.

• Make sure your thesis is specific and debatable.
• Limit your main points to three or four to maintain focus.
• Ensure each main point clearly supports your thesis.

2. Organize Main Points into Sections

Writing an essay outline is divided into three main sections: introduction, body, and conclusion. Allocate each main point to a body paragraph, and decide the order in which you will present them. 

Consider the logical progression of your argument, ensuring each point builds upon the previous one. This step helps you see the overall structure of your essay and ensures a coherent flow of ideas.

• Use a logical order, such as chronological, thematic, or order of importance.
• Ensure each section transitions smoothly to the next.
• Make sure each body paragraph addresses a single main point.

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3. Develop Supporting Details for Each Main Point

For each main point in the essay outline, jot down the supporting details you’ll use to explain and back up your argument. These can include facts, quotes, examples, and analysis.

Organize these details under each main point, creating subpoints that will form the content of each body paragraph. This step ensures that each paragraph has enough substance to support your argument and keeps your writing focused and detailed.

• Use a mix of evidence types to strengthen your argument.
• Make sure each supporting detail is relevant and directly backs up your main point.
• Balance your paragraphs: ensure they are similar in length and depth.

4. Create a Draft Outline

Combine your thesis, main points, and supporting details into a draft outline. Start with the introduction, including your hook, background information, and thesis statement. Next, outline each body paragraph, starting with a topic sentence and followed by your supporting details. 

Finally, outline your conclusion, restating the thesis, summarizing the main points, and ending with a closing thought. Review your outline to ensure it’s logically structured and covers all necessary points.

• Keep your outline clear and concise.
• Use bullet points or numbering to organize your sections.
• Review and revise your outline for coherence and completeness.

Essay Outline Example

An essay outline example can help a student by providing a clear template that demonstrates how to organize their thoughts and structure their essay effectively. If you’ve got little time left until submission, click on the pay someone to write my paper link, and our specialists will sort your problem out quickly.

Persuasive Essay Outline

Literary analysis essay outline, argumentative essay outline.

An essay outline provides structure and organization, ensuring clarity and coherence in the writing process. It helps writers focus on their main arguments and prevents them from straying off-topic. Additionally, having an outline saves time by streamlining the writing process and making it easier to fill in the details.

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Should I Use Full Sentences in My Essay Outline?

How to create an outline for an essay, what is an outline for an essay.

is an expert in nursing and healthcare, with a strong background in history, law, and literature. Holding advanced degrees in nursing and public health, his analytical approach and comprehensive knowledge help students navigate complex topics. On EssayPro blog, Adam provides insightful articles on everything from historical analysis to the intricacies of healthcare policies. In his downtime, he enjoys historical documentaries and volunteering at local clinics.

• Updated writing tips.
• Updated examples.
• https://www.sjsu.edu/writingcenter/docs/handouts/Outline%20Template.pdf
• https://www.monash.edu/student-academic-success/excel-at-writing/how-to-write/essay/example-essay-outlines
• Structure of an Essay: Outline - Resources for Writing Different Types of Essays | Gallaudet University. (2022, November 16). Gallaudet University. https://gallaudet.edu/student-success/tutorial-center/english-center/writing/resources-for-writing-different-types-of-essays/structure-of-an-essay-outline/

How To Write An Essay Outline: Tips And Examples

• What Is An Outline?
• Why Are Outlines Helpful?
• Parts Of An Outline

To outline or not to outline: that is the age-old question. For a lot of people, outlines are a way to organize thoughts and gather information before they start writing, which can often save valuable time later on. But some writers prefer to craft essays more loosely, adding material and shaping their supporting paragraphs as they go.

Whether you’re new to outlines (or writing, period) or you’re just looking to hone your skills at crafting the perfect essay outline, there are some important things to know about the process. Follow along as we break down the why and the how of writing an effective outline and provide a step-by-step guide that will make writing your next essay a total cinch.

What is an outline?

An outline is “a general sketch, account, or report, indicating only the main features, as of a book, subject, or project.” In other words, it’s like a brief summary of the topics you plan to cover in a longer piece of writing.

In writing an outline, you create the skeleton of your essay, which provides a supportive structure on which you can arrange and organize each of your paragraphs. This helps you clarify the points you intend to make in your writing and also gives you an opportunity to tailor your research, which can make the writing process much easier later on.

Why are outlines helpful?

If you aren’t typically an outline writer, you might be wondering if you really need to put in the extra work to create one. Ultimately, everyone has a different writing style, and only you know what’s going to work for you, but here are four major reasons why many people find the outlining process helpful:

1. Outlines are brief and concise.

Remember: an outline is not the same thing as a rough draft. In an outline, each section contains only a sentence or two, and each topic is distilled to a single main idea.

2. Outlines help you write more efficiently.

You don’t have to worry about rambling or repeating the same statistic several times. You decide exactly where information belongs before you start writing.

3. Outlines are easy to edit.

You can move facts, details, and even entire sentences around easily without needing to rewrite whole paragraphs.

4. Outlines ensure supporting details connect to the thesis.

Once you see all of your work laid out, you might realize that certain paragraphs can be combined or that your conclusion doesn’t actually tie back to your thesis. Isn’t it nice to notice these potential errors before you’ve finished a draft?

Writer’s block? It’s part of the process. Here are some tips to overcome it and get your words flowing again.

The parts of a standard essay outline

Now that you understand the “why” behind writing an essay outline, let’s talk about how to do it. Here are the main parts to include in any essay outline:

Introduction

In an outline, your introduction consists of your thesis statement . This is a single sentence that states the subject, main idea, or main purpose of your essay.

When you write your essay, you will add a few sentences before and after your thesis statement to grab your reader’s interest and preview your essay’s main points. For the outline, you only need to narrow your point of view to a single, effective thesis that will inform the rest of the outline.

Body paragraphs

Body paragraphs are the parts of the essay in which you present information to back up your thesis. First, you’ll need to decide if you’re writing a three-paragraph essay or a five-paragraph essay . You may have anywhere from one to three body paragraphs, depending on what type you choose.

Each body paragraph in your outline should have:

• A main idea that aligns with your thesis.
• A topic sentence stating the main idea.
• A bulleted list of relevant research, quotes, anecdotes, and/or statistics.

Much like the introduction, your outline’s conclusion is all about your thesis statement. Here, you should:

• Restate your thesis
• Summarize the main points that support your thesis.
• Leave your reader with an impactful final thought or call to action.

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Example of a standard essay outline

Now that you know the parts of an essay outline, it might help to see them in action. Here’s an outline format you can use to plan your own essays, filled in with examples of a thesis statement, topic sentences for your body paragraphs, and the main parts of a strong conclusion.

• Thesis statement: There’s a lot of debate about which food category hot dogs fit into, but it’s clear from the evidence that a hot dog is a type of sandwich.

Body paragraph #1

• Topic sentence: To begin, hot dogs fit the dictionary definition of the word sandwich.
• Supporting detail: Sandwich is defined as “two or more slices of bread with a layer of meat, fish, cheese, and whatever other filling you’d like between them.”
• Supporting detail: A hot dog is a grilled or steamed sausage, usually made of pork or beef, which qualifies as a layer of meat.
• Supporting detail: Hot dog buns are split rolls, similar to the ones used for deli sandwiches.

Body paragraph #2

• Topic sentence: Secondly, hot dogs meet the legal definition of sandwiches in many places.
• Supporting detail: Mark Wheeler, a food safety specialist with the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), says the organization defines a sandwich as “a meat or poultry filling between two slices of bread, a bun, or a biscuit.”
• Supporting detail: In New York state, tax law lists “hot dogs and sausages on buns” as types of sandwiches.
• Supporting detail: Additionally, tax law in California clearly includes “hot dog and hamburger sandwiches” served from “sandwich stands or booths.”

Body paragraph #3

• Topic sentence: Finally, most Americans agree that hot dogs are sandwiches.
• Supporting detail: In a poll of 1,000 people conducted by RTA Outdoor Living, 56.8% of respondents agreed a hot dog is a sandwich.
• Supporting detail: Many fast food chains that serve primarily burgers and sandwiches, like Five Guys burgers and Shake Shack, also sell hot dogs.
• Supporting detail: Lexicographers at Dictionary.com have also declared that hot dogs officially meet the criteria to be included in the sandwich category. (Curious? Read the article here for this and other great food debates explained .)
• Restatement of thesis: Hot dogs are a unique kind of food, but the evidence makes it clear that they are indeed a type of sandwich.

Now, get to planning that perfect essay! (But if you’re hungry for a snack first, we don’t blame you.)

Plan and write a five-paragraph essay that will earn your instructor's own five—high five, that is!

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How to Write an Outline

Last Updated: August 2, 2024 Fact Checked

Sample Outlines

Planning your outline, structuring your outline, organizing your ideas, finalizing your outline, expert q&a.

This article was co-authored by Emily Listmann, MA and by wikiHow staff writer, Danielle Blinka, MA, MPA . Emily Listmann is a Private Tutor and Life Coach in Santa Cruz, California. In 2018, she founded Mindful & Well, a natural healing and wellness coaching service. She has worked as a Social Studies Teacher, Curriculum Coordinator, and an SAT Prep Teacher. She received her MA in Education from the Stanford Graduate School of Education in 2014. Emily also received her Wellness Coach Certificate from Cornell University and completed the Mindfulness Training by Mindful Schools. There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 3,964,811 times.

An outline is a great way to organize ideas and information for a speech, an essay, a novel, or a study guide based on your class notes. At first, writing an outline might seem complicated, but learning how to do it will give you an essential organizational skill! Start by planning your outline and choosing a structure for it. Then, you can organize your ideas into an easy to understand outline.

How to Create an Outline

• Choose your topic and thesis.
• Pick a format for your outline (e.g., alphanumerical vs. decimal).
• Cluster any similar ideas together.
• Start your outline with an introduction heading and follow with body headings.
• Include 2 subpoints for every main idea, and 2 supporting details for each subpoint.
• Add extra details and layers if you need them.
• Outline your conclusion.

Quick Outline Slideshow

• Some people process their ideas better when they write them down. Additionally, you can easily draw diagrams or examples, which might help you conceptualize the subject. However, it might take longer to write out your outline, and it won't be as neat.
• Typing your outline might be easier if your notes are already typed on the computer, as you can just copy and paste them into your outline. Copying and pasting also allows you to easily rearrange your sections, if necessary. Also, it will be easier to copy and paste information from your outline into your paper if you type your outline. On the other hand, it's harder to jot down notes in the margins or draw out organizational diagrams.

• If you’re working on a creative project, such as a novel, identify your concept, genre, or premise. Then, allow the outlining process to help you structure your work.
• It’s okay if your topic is somewhat broad when you first start, but you should have a direction. For example, your history paper topic could be French life during the German occupation of France in World War II. As you write your outline, you might narrow this down to the resistance fighters called maquisards .

• For a school assignment, review the assignment sheet or talk to your instructor. If the outline is for work, use an existing outline as a model for yours.
• If you are the only person who will see the outline, you can choose formatting that works for you. For example, you might write your outline in shorthand.

• Paraphrased ideas
• Historical facts

• Freewrite as ideas come to you.
• Create a mind map .
• Write your thoughts on index cards.

• For example, you may be writing a paper about policy change. Your thesis might read, “Policy makers should take an incremental approach when making policy changes to reduce conflict, allow adjustments, and foster compromise.” Each of the 3 reasons listed in your thesis will become its own main point in your outline.

• Roman Numerals - I, II, III, IV, V
• Capitalized Letters - A, B, C
• Arabic Numerals - 1, 2, 3
• Lowercase Letters - a, b, c
• Arabic Numerals in Parentheses - (1), (2), (3)

• 1.1.1 - Each side presents a case before the vote
• 1.1.2 - Citizens voice their opinion
• 1.2 - Neither side gets everything they want

• You might use short phrases to quickly organize your ideas, to outline a speech, or to create an outline that’s just for you.
• You might use full sentences to make it easier to write a final paper, to make a good study guide, or to fulfill the requirements of an assignment.

• If you jotted down your ideas or made a mind map, use different colored highlighters to identify ideas that belong in the same group.
• Sort your index cards, if you used them to brainstorm. Put cards with related ideas together. For example, you can put them in stacks, or you can line your cards out in rows to make them easier to read.

• For example, your main point might be that Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein champions emotion over reason. Your subpoints might be that Victor Frankenstein is restored by nature and that his scientific efforts create a monster. As supporting details, you might include quotes from the book.
• If you're writing a story or presenting a historical argument, a chronological order makes sense. For an essay or speech, pick the subtopic with the most supporting materials, and lead with this argument. From there, order your major subtopics so each one naturally flows into the next.
• Your broad ideas should connect back to your thesis or controlling idea. If they don’t, rewrite your thesis to reflect the main ideas you’re putting into your outline.

• Hook to grab the audience
• 1-2 general statements about your topic

• Phrase outline: II. Frankenstein champions emotion over reason
• Full sentence outline: II. In Frankenstein , Mary Shelley champions the use of emotion over reason.

• Depending on the purpose of your outline, you might have more subpoints. For example, a novel may have many subpoints. Similarly, a study guide will likely have several subpoints, as well.

• In an essay, this is often where you “prove” your argument.
• For a creative work, you might include essential details you must include in that scene, such as an internal conflict in your main character.
• Similar to subpoints, you may have more supporting details, depending on your purpose. A novel or study guide will likely have more supporting details.

• Roman Numeral
• Capital Letter
• Arabic Numeral
• Lowercase Letter
• Arabic Numeral in Parentheses

• Restate your thesis.
• 1-2 summarizing sentences.
• Write a concluding statement.

• This also gives you a chance to look for missing parts or ideas that aren’t fully fleshed. If you see areas that leave questions unanswered, it’s best to fill in those gaps in information.

• If you are making an outline for yourself, you might not worry about this.

• It’s a good idea to have someone else check it for errors, as it’s often hard to recognize errors in your own work.
• While you edit your outline, refer back to your assignment sheet or rubric to make sure you've completely fulfilled the assignment. If not, go back and correct the areas that are lacking.

• You can use more layers if you want to include more information.
• You might also include additional layers for a long creative work or a detailed study guide.

• Be concise and straightforward in your outline. This doesn't have to be perfectly polished writing; it just has to get your point across. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• Don't be afraid to eliminate irrelevant information as you conduct more research about your topic and narrow your focus. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• You can use outlines as a memorization tool . Choose concise words to trigger a concept. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

Tips from our Readers

• Only add the most important details to your outline; otherwise, your paper may be too long.

• Generally, you should avoid only having one point or sub-point on any outline level. If there is an A, either come up with a B or fold A's idea into the next level up. Thanks Helpful 4 Not Helpful 2
• Your outline should not be your essay in a different form. Only write down the major assertions, not every single detail. Thanks Helpful 2 Not Helpful 1

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://www.iup.edu/writingcenter/writing-resources/organization-and-structure/creating-an-outline.html
• ↑ https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/writingprocess/outlining
• ↑ https://www.ndsu.edu/pubweb/~cinichol/271/OutlinesHowTo.htm
• ↑ https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/544/02/
• ↑ https://www.writersdigest.com/write-better-fiction/7-steps-to-creating-a-flexible-outline-for-any-story
• ↑ https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/544/03/

About This Article

The easiest way to write an outline is to gather all of your supporting materials, like quotes, statistics, or ideas, before getting started. Next, go over your materials and take notes, grouping similar ideas together. Then, organize your ideas into subtopics and use your materials to provide at least two supporting points per subtopic. Be sure to keep your outline concise and clear, since you’ll have to refer to it later! For more help on how to plan and organize your outline, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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Home / Guides / Writing Guides / Parts of a Paper / How to Write an Essay Outline

How to Write an Essay Outline

It’s 11 p.m., your paper is due tomorrow, and you’re only about halfway done. You’re typing along and when you realize that, wait…you’re actually not a huge fan of your argument or the supporting examples you’re using. Your options are to haphazardly keep writing or to backtrack and rehash what you’ve already done. Ugh. Unsurprisingly, both options aren’t great.

This scenario is scary, but totally avoidable! Though it’s tempting to just start writing, one of the best steps you can take before you type a single word is to create an outline for your paper. By taking the time to write a paper outline, you can prevent the scenario above and make your writing process a cinch!

Guide Overview

What is a paper outline, why it’s worth writing an outline.

• Step 1: gather your relevant materials
• Step 2: create your thesis
• Step 3: find examples
• Step 4: analyze your examples
• Step 5: arrange your examples

A paper outline is a skeletal version of your paper. Another way to think about an outline is to view it as a roadmap. An outline helps you organize and streamline your thoughts ahead of time. By front loading this work, you allow the eventual writing process to be much easier: instead of having to backtrack and see if your paper makes sense, you can refer to your outline and be rest assured that you’re on the right track.

It’s understandable if you think it’s not worth the time to write an outline. After all, writing a paper in itself is a lot of work – why add an extra step?

Here’s the secret: creating an outline and then writing your paper takes about the same amount of time as jumping straight into writing your paper. Why? By immediately writing, you run the risk of having to go back and see if the flow of your paper makes sense. Backtracking takes up a lot of time: having to go back and revise your paper because you missed a point can be a pain.

Taking the time to outline your paper gives you the space to see what arguments work, which examples to include, and more. Doing this prep work ahead of time prevents you from having to do it while in the middle of your paper. Your completed outline serves as a solid reference as you write your assignment. In an ideal world, your outline should be so thorough that the writing process is essentially just you converting your bullet points into sentences that flow together!

How to outline a paper

Step 1: gather your relevant materials.

The first step to take when outlining a paper is to gather all your relevant materials. If you’re writing a paper about a book you’re reading in class, start thinking about which passages from the book are relevant to your prompt. If you’re writing a paper about a broader topic, identify what sources you’ll need to construct your argument.

Pro tip: Avoid plagiarism and keep track of the sources you’re using at EasyBib.com! Easily create an APA or MLA format citation , try out our Chicago citation generator , and find help for other citation styles.

Step 2: Create your thesis

After you’ve compiled your materials, start thinking about your thesis statement. Revisit your assignment prompt, peruse your materials, and determine what your viewpoint is regarding the prompt.

Step 3: Find examples

Once you have your thesis, come up with ways to support it. Identify the quotes you need or the arguments you want to utilize in order to bolster your thesis.

Step 4: Analyze Your Examples

Write 3-4 bullet points connecting your examples to your thesis. The analysis part of your paper is the meat of your paper, so feel free to take as much time as you want during this step.

Step 5: Arrange Your Examples

Now that you have your examples and analysis, arrange them in a logical way that helps you develop and support your thesis. This is the step in which you can start copying and pasting your notes into an outline that mimics the flow of your paper. By the end of this step, you should have a solid outline!

Here’s a template for a five paragraph essay you can use for your papers moving forward:

Before you jump into writing your paper, it might pay to take a quick look at our EasyBib grammar guides . Discover what an abstract noun is, read a determiner definition , see the difference between regular and irregular verbs , and get familiar with other parts of speech.

EasyBib Writing Resources

Writing a paper.

• Academic Essay
• Argumentative Essay
• College Admissions Essay
• Expository Essay
• Persuasive Essay
• Research Paper
• Thesis Statement
• Writing a Conclusion
• Writing an Introduction
• Writing an Outline
• Writing a Summary

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How To Write An Outline For An Essay In 5 Simple Steps

Declan Gessel

May 5, 2024

Learning how to write an outline for an essay can be the key to creating a well-structured and cohesive piece of writing. Through this guide, we will provide you with a step-by-step guide on how to write an essay outline, explaining its benefits and the essential components of a good outline. By the end of this guide, you will have a clear understanding of how to organize your thoughts cohesively and effectively before diving into the actual writing process.

Table Of Content

What is an essay outline, 5 benefits of using an essay outline, how to write an outline for an essay—5 simple steps, mistakes to avoid when creating your essay outline, example of essay outlines, write smarter essay outlines with jotbot — start writing for free today.

An essay outline is a roadmap for your essay - it helps you organize your thoughts and plan the key points you want to make before you start writing. Let's face it - essays can be challenging. Students often feel overwhelmed, have disorganized thoughts , or may experience writer's block. 

Without a plan, your essay might end up with off-topic points, weak arguments, and ultimately, lower grades. An essay outline can help you stay focused and ensure your essay stays on track. Here, I'll guide you through the process of outlining an essay step by step. Let's dive in!

Related Reading

Essay Outline

Persuasive Essay

Narrative Essay

Argumentative Essay

How To Write A Conclusion For An Essay

Transition Sentences

Expository Essay

Rhetorical Analysis Essay

Essay Format

1. Structured Thinking

Clear thinking leads to clear writing. When you create an outline, you're organizing your thoughts in a logical way, making it easier to translate those ideas into a coherent piece of writing. This helps prevent you from going off on tangents, keeping your essay focused and to the point.

2. Stronger Argument

Every essay needs a clear and focused argument that is supported by evidence. An outline helps ensure that each point you make in your essay connects back to your main argument. By outlining your essay first, you can make sure that your argument is cohesive and well-supported.

3. Improved Flow & Organization

A well-organized essay is easier to read and understand. Outlining your essay can help you structure your thoughts logically, ensuring that your essay has a clear introduction, body paragraphs that support your argument, and a conclusion that ties everything together. This way, your essay will flow smoothly from one point to the next.

4. Saves Time and Effort

Writer's block is a common problem when it comes to essay writing. By outlining your essay in advance, you can create a roadmap for your writing, making it easier to get started and keep going until you reach the end. This can save you time and effort in the long run by preventing the need for extensive rewrites or major edits.

5. Confidence Booster

Starting an essay from scratch can be intimidating, especially if you're not sure where to begin. Creating an outline can help you get over this initial hurdle by giving you a clear plan of action to follow. This can boost your confidence, making it easier to get started and keep going until you finish your essay.

1. Understand Your Essay Prompt

Understanding the essay prompt is the first step in creating an effective essay outline. Identifying key elements such as the topic, purpose, and specific requirements will guide you in crafting a focused outline. Thoroughly reading the prompt ensures you grasp the main idea and know exactly what to convey. Always look for the thesis statement, which is often provided within the prompt, as it will help you shape your argument.

2. Formulate Your Thesis Statement

A thesis statement is the backbone of your essay, expressing the main argument or point of view. It summarizes what the essay is about and guides your reader on what to expect. A strong thesis statement is essential, as it clearly articulates your stance and sets the tone for the rest of the paper. Your thesis should directly address the essay prompt, be specific, and invite debate or discussion.

3. Brainstorm Main Points

Brainstorming helps you identify the main ideas that will support your thesis statement. Utilize various techniques such as mind mapping, freewriting, or listing ideas to explore different angles of your topic. Focus on quality over quantity, ensuring that each point supports your thesis effectively. This stage is crucial as it sets the direction for your essay.

4. Organize Your Main Points

Organizing your main points in a logical order is fundamental to crafting a coherent and structured essay outline. Consider different essay structures such as chronological, cause-and-effect, and compare-and-contrast. Match the structure that best fits the content and your thesis statement. Arranging your main points in a logical sequence helps you build a cohesive argument.

5. Flesh Out Your Outline

Fleshing out your outline involves adding more details to each main point. This includes supporting evidence like facts, statistics, examples, counter arguments, and rebuttals. Ensure that you have transitions that smoothly connect ideas throughout the outline. This helps to maintain a coherent flow of logic within your essay.

Jotbot is your personal document assistant. Jotbot does AI note taking, AI video summarizing, AI citation/source finder, it writes AI outlines for essays, and even writes entire essays with Jotbot’s AI essay writer. Join 500,000+ writers, students, teams, and researchers around the world to write more, write better, and write faster with Jotbot.

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1. Forgetting the Thesis Statement

When creating an essay outline, don't make the mistake of forgetting about your thesis statement. It's crucial that your outline mirrors your thesis statement. Each main point should tie back to and contribute to supporting your central argument.

2. Too Many (or Too Few) Main Points

Strive for a balance when outlining your essay; aim for 3-5 strong main points that can be adequately developed within the essay's length. Avoid overwhelming yourself with too many ideas or struggling with insufficient content.

3. Weak Supporting Evidence

Don't just list generic evidence sources in your outline. Briefly mention specific examples, facts, or quotes you plan to use to support each of your main points. This will help you visualize the depth and strength of your argument.

4. Unclear Transitions

Even in an outline, transitions are vital to maintain the flow of your ideas. Use terms like "because," "furthermore," or "in contrast" to show the relationship between your main points and ensure smooth transitions between sections.

5. Treating the Outline as Set in Stone

Remember, outlines are flexible tools to aid your writing process. Don't be afraid to adjust your outline as you write and discover new ideas or refine your arguments. Being adaptable during the writing process is essential for producing a strong piece of writing.

How To Write A Narrative Essay

How To Write An Analytical Essay

Types Of Essays

Write Me A Paragraph

Descriptive Essay

Synthesis Essay

How To Write A Synthesis Essay

Essay Structure

Words To Start A Paragraph

How To Start Off An Essay

Having a solid understanding of the five steps to creating an outline is crucial, but seeing it applied in practice can be even more helpful. Here, we'll provide examples to illustrate how the steps translate into concrete structures:

Why Schools Should Offer Later Start Times for Teenagers (Persuasive Essay)

Introduction.

Hook: Briefly mention the importance of sleep for teenagers and the current trend of early school start times.

Background Information: Briefly discuss the biological sleep patterns of teenagers and how they differ from adults.

Body Paragraph 1

Main Point: Later start times improve academic performance.

Evidence: Studies showing a correlation between later start times and increased alertness, improved test scores, and higher graduation rates.

Body Paragraph 2

Main Point: Later start times contribute to better physical and mental health.

Evidence: Statistics on the link between sleep deprivation and increased risk of depression, anxiety, and even accidents.

Body Paragraph 3

Main Point: Later start times allow for more balanced schedules and extracurricular activities.

Evidence: Examples of how later start times can improve opportunities for teens to participate in sports, hobbies, or even work part-time jobs.

Restate Thesis: Briefly summarize the key arguments for later school start times.

Call to Action: Encourage readers to support this change in educational policy.

Jotbot is your personal document assistant. Jotbot does AI note taking, AI video summarizing, AI citation/source finder, it writes AI outlines for essays, and even writes entire essays with Jotbot’s AI essay writer. Join 500,000+ writers, students, teams, and researchers around the world to write more, write better, and write faster with Jotbot. 

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How to Outline an Essay: Basic Essay Outline Template

Written by MasterClass

Last updated: Jun 7, 2021 • 3 min read

Essay outlines are excellent tools for organizing your writing. A strong outline can turn a meandering essay into a focused, persuasive piece of writing.

How to Write an Essay Outline

Have you ever tried writing an essay without an outline? If you have, chances are your ideas went all over the place even though you started out with a specific goal in mind. So when your professor reads the paper, they won’t know what points you’re trying to make or how those points support your thesis statement. If they can’t understand what they’re reading, there’s no way they’ll grade it an A+.

That’s why you should have an essay outline to organize your research or opinions in a way that makes sense for readers. An essay outline helps you structure your writing in a logical flow to get your ideas across more effectively, which also improves your overall writing quality . As such, it also ensures that you don’t accidentally leave out the most critical points you want to convey.

If you’re reading this, you probably don’t know how to write an outline for an essay (yet) or you want to get better at it. That’s exactly what this guide will help you with. You’ll discover what goes into an essay outline and how you can write one for your next paper. Let’s get started.

What is an outline?

An outline is an organization tool that helps authors plan their writing before they start. In other words, it’s a roadmap or a blueprint of your paper. It acts as the foundation of your piece, listing out the main ideas in a logical structure that flows well. Having a topical outline in place also makes it easier to remember all the points you need to form a strong argument or support your opinions.

Although an essay outline isn’t mandatory, it helps you get the job done faster and more easily. When you start writing without a proper plan in mind, however, there could be a lot of restructuring and rewriting. This not only takes time but can be mentally taxing, and you can’t afford that especially when you have other classes to catch up with.

Writing an essay outline involves a few steps – preparation, structuring, and organization. Since this can be a lot of work, it’s best to learn from a writing tutor who will guide you through the entire process and give you hands-on training. That doesn’t mean it’s impossible to learn it on your own, and this guide will give you all the basic ideas you need to cover when creating an outline.

Key elements of an essay outline

Regardless of what type of essay you’re writing, a formal essay outline typically has three essential elements – the introduction, the body, and the conclusion. Let’s take a closer look at each of these components:

The introduction

This is the section where you’ll introduce readers to your topic and describe why you’re writing about it. It needs to be relevant and attention-grabbing. When writing a college research paper outline, be sure to mention the topic and the thesis statement in your introduction.

Starting your outline with a thesis statement will give you a better sense of how to support the ideas and arguments you present in the body.

This is the section that will contain the most information and it’s where you’ll present ideas and arguments to support your thesis. It should have a minimum of three paragraphs and your outline should touch on each of them.

For each paragraph, note the topic or idea you’ll be discussing. Don’t forget to include the supporting evidence such as data, examples, expert opinions, and facts you plan to use for each paragraph.

The conclusion

This is the section where you wrap up the essay and remind readers about the points you were trying to make. Start by paraphrasing your thesis statement and summarize the purpose of your paper.

Outline formatting

In general, most formal essay outlines use a linear formatting style. This involves ranking your points or arguments in order of importance. So for example, you’ll start by discussing the most important point at the top of your essay body and then gradually move downward.

Considering all these elements, your essay outline will typically look like this:

3 Questions to ask before creating an outline

Before you’re ready to create your essay outline, ask yourself the following questions so you can start with a strong direction. Having all this information in place will make it easier to put together your outline:

1: What’s your goal?

What’s the purpose of writing this paper? Perhaps you want to inform your readers about a specific topic or maybe you want to persuade them to accept your argument. Identifying your goal will help you form a strong thesis statement as well.

2: Who will read it?

For whom are you writing your essay? Yes, you’ll consider writing for a professor when preparing a college research paper outline, but they aren’t your only target audience. Perhaps you’re writing for your classmates and peers, or you’re writing for experts in your field.

If you’re writing a college application essay, for instance, your target audience will be the members of the admissions committee. This means you should be writing for students, staff, and professors alike.

Identifying your target audience will help you understand how to form convincing arguments while considering their knowledge and points of view.

3: What’s your thesis statement?

Now based on the goal of your essay, come up with a strong thesis statement that details your argument and draws in the readers.

Structuring your outline

Once you have a goal and a thesis statement ready, it’s time to structure your essay outline. You can either use an alphanumeric outline structure like we’ve done in the above example, or you can also go for a decimal structure depending on what’s clearer to you.

Alphanumeric format:

Decimal format:

Remember, this isn’t your full essay yet so feel free to briefly outline your ideas in fragmented sentences. However, a college research paper outline will most likely need complete sentences if your professor is going to review it. This will help them understand the ideas and arguments you plan on presenting in your essay.

Putting this all together

Now let’s get to the main event – organizing your essay outline. Follow the topical outline structure of your choice and begin by outlining the introduction. In a sentence, describe the topic you’re writing about. Then follow up with your thesis statement.

You might also want to include an essay hook to make your paper even more enticing for readers. An essay hook is the opening sentence of your introduction, which instantly draws in readers and makes them want to read the entire piece. It could be anything from a relevant quote or a common misconception to an anecdote or a personal story.

Next, outline the body of your essay by noting down the topic or argument for each paragraph. Include the supporting evidence you plan on using such as stats , facts, examples, and expert opinions. Don’t forget to mention how the evidence ties in with the topic and thesis statement.

It will help to include a transition sentence in each paragraph so you can quickly structure your arguments in a logical flow. When you add more details to your essay outline, you’ll find it much easier to organize all the info as you write.

Finally, end it with an outline of your essay conclusion. Make sure you restate your thesis statement to remind your readers of your argument. Then follow up with a concluding statement to validate your thesis and propose any solution or plan to address the issue discussed in your essay.

Outline examples for different types of essays

While it’s helpful to read articles that tell you what to do and how to do it, working with a personal English tutor can give you a much more practical experience in writing essay outlines. Another excellent solution is to learn from example . So we’ve put together outline examples for the most popular types of essays:

Argumentative essay outline example

An argumentative essay, also known as a persuasive essay, involves using logical arguments to support your opinion and persuade readers. This type of persuasive writing will require solid evidence to back up your theory or argument such as facts, research, and examples.

Narrative essay outline example

A narrative essay is a form of descriptive writing where you narrate a story based on your personal experience or point of view. This is the easiest type of essay because it doesn’t require any research or supporting evidence. However, the most challenging part is providing specific and sensory details that would help readers understand your point of view.

Research essay outline example

A research essay is a form of academic writing which involves analyzing the works of other people on a certain topic and build on them using your own opinions or ideas. This is the most common type of essay you’ll have to write as a grad or post-grad student. It can be challenging as it requires plenty of research, coupled with original ideas and critical thinking.

Get ready to write sensational essays

All the tips and examples we’ve provided above will help you understand how and where to begin your essay writing process . It all starts with a good essay outline to organize your thoughts and structure your writing flow. Otherwise, you’ll end up losing your train of thought while you’re in the middle of writing. So make the most of our guide to develop your essay and outline writing skills.

Jacqueline Zote is a copywriter with a passion for all things relating to the English language. Her interests range from pop culture and mythology to social activism. Her short fiction has appeared in anthologies published by HarperCollins Publishers and Zubaan Books.

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Types of Outlines and Samples

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Alphanumeric Outlines

This is the most common type of outline and usually instantly recognizable to most people. The formatting follows these characters, in this order:

• Roman Numerals
• Capitalized Letters
• Arabic Numerals
• Lowercase Letters

If the outline needs to subdivide beyond these divisions, use Arabic numerals inside parentheses and then lowercase letters inside parentheses. Select the "Sample Outlines" PDF in the Media Box above to download the sample of this outline.

The sample PDF in the Media Box above is an example of an outline that a student might create before writing an essay. In order to organize her thoughts and make sure that she has not forgotten any key points that she wants to address, she creates the outline as a framework for her essay.

What is the assignment?

Your instructor asks the class to write an expository (explanatory) essay on the typical steps a high school student would follow in order to apply to college.

What is the purpose of this essay?

To explain the process for applying to college

Who is the intended audience for this essay?

High school students intending to apply to college and their parents

What is the essay's thesis statement?

When applying to college, a student follows a certain process which includes choosing the right schools and preparing the application materials.

Full Sentence Outlines

The full sentence outline format is essentially the same as the Alphanumeric outline. The main difference (as the title suggests) is that full sentences are required at each level of the outline. This outline is most often used when preparing a traditional essay. Select the "Sample Outlines" PDF in the Media Box above to download the sample of this outline.

Decimal Outlines

The decimal outline is similar in format to the alphanumeric outline. The added benefit is a system of decimal notation that clearly shows how every level of the outline relates to the larger whole. Select the "Sample Outlines" PDF in the Media Box above to download the sample of this outline.

Descriptive Essay Outline Template

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This type of essay provides a descriptive picture of a topic or subject in a manner that arouses the imagination and senses of the readers. The subject of these essays can be a person, place, event, or experience providing an exact image in the reader’s mind and with a lasting impact. It has three main sections, such as an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. This free template of descriptive essay provides you with an intuitive outline that navigates you to write an engaging essay. It can be used by creative writers, students, and professionals. It can be used online and is print-ready. 

This template is easily adjustable to your needs with a professional layout. The main sections of this template are:

• The primary section is the introduction, you can start it with a hook to capture the reader’s attention. Subsequently, you can provide context about your subject while describing its relevance. In the thesis statement, you can state the topic and position clearly and you can outline the main points and ideas. 
• The secondary section includes the body paragraphs, their number may vary depending on the complexity and need of the subject. The format for all these paragraphs is similar. You can start these paragraphs with topic sentences, clearly stating what the paragraph is about. Consequently, you can immerse the readers into clear sensory descriptions, appealing to their five senses. Afterward, actual details about the subject can be written, to deepen the reader’s understanding about it. Transitional sentences can be used to build a connectivity between various paragraphs. 
• In conclusion of this template, you can restate your thesis statement by paraphrasing it while summarizing your stance on the subject. Following that, you can write a summary of all the key points discussed in the body. In consequence, you can end the essay with a compelling closing statement, reinforcing the essay’s main idea and leaving a lasting impact on the readers. 

This template is available in multiple file formats, with some specific perks such as user-friendliness, the ability to customize and edit, and a clean and elegant template format. You can facilitate your descriptive essay writing with this template. 

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• Research paper

How to Create a Structured Research Paper Outline | Example

Published on August 7, 2022 by Courtney Gahan . Revised on August 15, 2023.

A research paper outline is a useful tool to aid in the writing process , providing a structure to follow with all information to be included in the paper clearly organized.

A quality outline can make writing your research paper more efficient by helping to:

• Organize your thoughts
• Understand the flow of information and how ideas are related
• Ensure nothing is forgotten

A research paper outline can also give your teacher an early idea of the final product.

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Table of contents

Research paper outline example, how to write a research paper outline, formatting your research paper outline, language in research paper outlines.

• Definition of measles
• Rise in cases in recent years in places the disease was previously eliminated or had very low rates of infection
• Figures: Number of cases per year on average, number in recent years. Relate to immunization
• Symptoms and timeframes of disease
• Risk of fatality, including statistics
• How measles is spread
• Immunization procedures in different regions
• Different regions, focusing on the arguments from those against immunization
• Immunization figures in affected regions
• High number of cases in non-immunizing regions
• Illnesses that can result from measles virus
• Fatal cases of other illnesses after patient contracted measles
• Summary of arguments of different groups
• Summary of figures and relationship with recent immunization debate
• Which side of the argument appears to be correct?

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Follow these steps to start your research paper outline:

• Decide on the subject of the paper
• Write down all the ideas you want to include or discuss
• Organize related ideas into sub-groups
• Arrange your ideas into a hierarchy: What should the reader learn first? What is most important? Which idea will help end your paper most effectively?
• Create headings and subheadings that are effective
• Format the outline in either alphanumeric, full-sentence or decimal format

There are three different kinds of research paper outline: alphanumeric, full-sentence and decimal outlines. The differences relate to formatting and style of writing.

• Alphanumeric
• Full-sentence

An alphanumeric outline is most commonly used. It uses Roman numerals, capitalized letters, arabic numerals, lowercase letters to organize the flow of information. Text is written with short notes rather than full sentences.

• Sub-point of sub-point 1

Essentially the same as the alphanumeric outline, but with the text written in full sentences rather than short points.

• Additional sub-point to conclude discussion of point of evidence introduced in point A

A decimal outline is similar in format to the alphanumeric outline, but with a different numbering system: 1, 1.1, 1.2, etc. Text is written as short notes rather than full sentences.

• 1.1.1 Sub-point of first point
• 1.1.2 Sub-point of first point
• 1.2 Second point

To write an effective research paper outline, it is important to pay attention to language. This is especially important if it is one you will show to your teacher or be assessed on.

There are four main considerations: parallelism, coordination, subordination and division.

Parallelism: Be consistent with grammatical form

Parallel structure or parallelism is the repetition of a particular grammatical form within a sentence, or in this case, between points and sub-points. This simply means that if the first point is a verb , the sub-point should also be a verb.

Example of parallelism:

• Include different regions, focusing on the different arguments from those against immunization

Coordination: Be aware of each point’s weight

Your chosen subheadings should hold the same significance as each other, as should all first sub-points, secondary sub-points, and so on.

Example of coordination:

• Include immunization figures in affected regions
• Illnesses that can result from the measles virus

Subordination: Work from general to specific

Subordination refers to the separation of general points from specific. Your main headings should be quite general, and each level of sub-point should become more specific.

Example of subordination:

Division: break information into sub-points.

Your headings should be divided into two or more subsections. There is no limit to how many subsections you can include under each heading, but keep in mind that the information will be structured into a paragraph during the writing stage, so you should not go overboard with the number of sub-points.

Ready to start writing or looking for guidance on a different step in the process? Read our step-by-step guide on how to write a research paper .

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{{How To Make an Essay Outline}} (예시 포함)

두려운 에세이 과제를 준비할 준비가 되셨나요? 잘 만들어진 개요는 비밀 무기입니다. 함께 시작해 볼까요!

에세이의 개요를 작성하는 것은 자신을 체계적으로 유지하고 포함하려는 모든 내용을 추적하는 훌륭한 방법입니다. 학술 논문부터 예술적 글쓰기까지 모든 종류의 글쓰기는 과정을 시작하기 전에 전략을 세우면 엄청나게 도움이 될 수 있습니다. 안타깝게도 많은 학생과 작가들은 개요를 작성하는 방법을 배우지 못하거나 적절하게 개요를 작성할 수 없습니다. 우리의 AI 에세이 개요 생성기 는 이 과정에서 큰 도움이 될 수 있지만, 과정을 더욱 쉽게 만들기 위해 AI 도구를 활용하기 전에 과정을 완전히 이해하는 것이 매우 유용합니다.

다음 섹션에서는 개요 작성 과정에 대한 개요를 제공한 후 에세이 개요의 구체적인 지침과 여러 예제를 제시하겠습니다.

에세이 개요는 작성할 에세이의 전략이자 작성하는 동안의 지침 역할을 합니다. 이것은 당신이 작성하려고 하는 기사 구조로 작용할 것입니다. 여기에 각 섹션에서 다루는 논제와 주요 주제들이 포함됩니다. 집을 짓기 전에 청사진이 필요하듯이 작성 요약이 필요합니다. 개요를 먼저 작성하지 않고 에세이를 쓰는 것은 가능하지만, 그렇게 하면 글쓰기 과정에 관련된 작업이 크게 증가하고 필수적인 세부정보를 놓칠 가능성이 높아집니다. 

개요가 작성되면 모든 것을 기억하는 방법이 있습니다. 또한 다음 용도로 유용합니다: 

생각과 내용을 정리합니다.

데이터 흐름을 이해합니다.

중요한 출처나 인용을 추적합니다.

작업을 빠르게 마무리합니다.

 누군가가 "왜 에세이에 개요가 필요하죠?"라고 물으면 다음과 같이 대답할 수 있습니다. 이제 에세이 개요 작성에 착수하기 전에 염두에 두어야 할 몇 가지 사항이 있습니다. 에세이 요약을 시작하기 전에 기본 요구 사항을 잘 이해해야 합니다.

과제의 지침을 철저히 읽어야 합니다.

작업의 요점을 파악합니다.

주제와 관련된 정보를 수집하면서 표시를 계속합니다.

기본적인 불릿 목록이나 소수점이 있는 더 복잡한 형식과 같은 에세이 개요의 형식을 선택합니다.

에세이 또는 연구 논문 작성은 진행하면서 참조할 수 있는 개요가 있으면 훨씬 수월합니다.

에세이 개요의 이점은 무엇인가요?

공부 자료의 질서를 유지하도록 도와줍니다. 조직된 개요는 생각을 정리하고 에세이에 어디에 공부나 합리성을 포함해야 하는지 결정하는 데 훌륭한 방법입니다. 이러한 방식으로 증거를 제시하면 논제의 타당성을 확인할 수 있습니다. 계획을 논제를 뒷받침하는 예제로 채울 수 있다면 좋은 논제를 선택한 것입니다. 그렇지 않다면 다시 생각해보세요.

상위에서 시작해 세부 사항까지 내려가는 논리의 연쇄를 보여줍니다. 일반적인 그리기 형식은 알파벳 숫자입니다. 구체적으로, 로마 숫자, 대문자, 아라비아 숫자, 소문자를 사용하여 다양한 포인트와 하위 포인트를 강조합니다. 계단식 불릿 포인트와 소수점 개요는 에세이 개요의 또 다른 예입니다.

적응력을 제공합니다. 공식적인 개요에서 완전한 문장으로 작성하거나 약어를 사용할 수 있습니다. 개요는 최종 초안이 아닌 에세이 자료 작성 및 최고의 조직 구조를 발견하기 위한 가이드로 의도되었습니다.

개요 작성 전에 고려해야 할 사항

개요와 에세이의 성공은 철저한 조사의 정도에 달려있습니다. 신뢰할 수 있는 출처를 인용하고 주장을 뒷받침할 예제를 제공함으로써 이를 수행할 수 있습니다. 학습 수준에 따라 연구 속도를 높이는 최고의 방법이 결정됩니다.

Google 검색 결과는 학술 작품의 참고 문헌으로 사용하지 않아야 합니다. 인터넷은 가짜 뉴스로 가득 차 있으므로 인용하기 전에 출처의 신뢰성을 확인하는 것이 중요합니다. Google Scholar , Microsoft Academic , Science.gov , Refseek, Oxford Academic 같은 사이트는 신뢰할 수 있는 자원입니다.

주제 선정과 필요한 조사를 완료한 후에 개요를 작성할 수 있습니다. 소개, 본문, 결말과 같은 에세이의 나머지 부분과 같은 구조가 필요합니다. 필요한 노트를 적었는데 나중에 자신의 필체를 이해할 수 없는 경험이 있으신가요? 자료는 더 빽빽하게 적혀 있거나 읽기 어려울 정도로 적혀 있어 이 문제에 기여합니다. 시간에 쫓기더라도 불안정한 개요에 의존해서는 안 됩니다. 따라서 에세이의 구조에 맞춰 전략을 구성해야 합니다. 

에세이를 위한 개요 작성 방법

에세이 개요 작성은 쉽습니다. 개요와 예시를 따라 에세이를 쓸 수 있습니다.

소개 단락을 시작하는 유용한 방법으로는 일화, 속담, 문구, 설명, 사실, 인용 및 구체적 데이터를 포함합니다. 영어 에세이를 작성하는 경우 논제 문장을 포함하여 개요를 작성할 수 있습니다. 주된 목표는 로드맵을 제공하는 것이므로 문장을 간결하게 유지하세요. 

본문 단락 

본문의 각 단락은 논제를 강화하는 주요 포인트와 뒷받침하는 증거에 초점을 맞춰야 합니다. 단락 수는 전체 글의 길이에 따라 다릅니다. 그러나 일반적인 에세이의 내용을 위해 최소한 3개나 4개의 단락을 계획해야 합니다. 각 단락에는 주제 문장, 최소한 두 가지 지원 아이디어, 연결 문장이 필요하다는 것을 잊지 마세요.

이 단락은 모든 에세이의 주요 포인트를 배경 설명과 함께 요약합니다. 짧은 논문의 결론은 단 세 줄에서 다섯 줄이면 충분합니다.

에세이 개요 작성 방법에 대한 8가지 예시

논쟁적인 에세이 

산악자전거, 성인에게 이상적인 스포츠

자신의 입장을 제시하고 뒷받침하는 주장을 시작하면서 논쟁적인 에세이의 계획을 세워야 합니다.

논제: 젊은 사람들이 선택할 수 있는 전통적인 활동이 많이 있지만, 산악 자전거는 환상적인 대안입니다. 

논쟁적인 에세이의 계획에서는 주요 포인트를 밝히고 이를 뒷받침하는 증거를 제공해야 합니다. 

주제 문장: 산악 자전거를 타면 다른 스포츠를 통해 얻을 수 있는 동일한 건강상의 이점을 얻을 수 있습니다.

세부 단락 1: 

체력 단련과 근력 향상에 좋은 방법입니다.

세부 단락 2: 

심혈관 활동을 돕고 심장병 예방제로 작용합니다.

대안적인 관점을 제시하고 이를 뒷받침하는 증거를 제공합니다.

주제 문장: 산악 자전거는 또한 몇 가지 다른 장점도 제공합니다.

산악 자전거 타는 법을 배우는 것은 평생 기술입니다.

정기적으로 산악 자전거를 타면 근육량을 늘리고, 체형을 다듬고, 전반적인 건강을 개선할 수 있습니다.

세부 단락 3: 

산악자전거 사용자는 쉽게 자신의 발전을 추적할 수 있습니다.

논제를 다시 말하고 가장 강력한 뒷받침 포인트를 간략히 요약하는 결론을 작성합니다. 개요와 첫 번째 초안을 작성하기 전에 자신의 관점을 뒷받침하는 구체적인 사항을 브레인스토밍하는 것이 도움이 될 수 있습니다.

결론 문장: 

결론적으로, 산악 자전거는 다른 대중적인 청소년 활동보다 많은 이점을 가지고 있어 성인에게도 좋은 선택이라는 것을 독자에게 알려줍니다. 

산악 자전거 경기에서 진 후 나를 더 나은 자전거 선수로 만들어 준 경험

이야기 에세이의 소개에는 논제 문장과 글의 발전 계획(POD)이 포함되어야 합니다.

논제: 내가 첫 번째 전문 산악 자전거를 시도했을 때 최하위에 그쳤습니다. 준비와 지도 방법이 좀 더 체계적이었다면 주 챔피언십 경기에서 더 높은 순위를 얻었을 것입니다. 

발전 계획: 첫 번째 경기 후 성과에 낙담하여 더 나은 컨디션을 가꾸기 위해 전념했습니다. 그 결과 더욱 효율적이고 빠르게 탑승할 수 있었으며 성과가 크게 개선되었습니다. 

주요 포인트를 확장하기 위해 에세이에 설명적인 세부 사항, 일화, 예를 포함합니다.

주제 문장: 처음 산악 자전거 경기에서 최하위를 기록한 후 실패와 느낌에 대해 이야기하고 개선하기 위해 나섰습니다.

새로운 근력 훈련 기술을 배우기 위해 코치 및 팀 리더와 추가 시간을 보낸 이야기를 들려줍니다.

일반적인 피트니스 향상을 위해 조깅과 역도 운동을 시작한 경험을 이야기합니다.

결국 주 결승에서 경쟁할 정도로 성과가 향상된 과정을 이야기합니다.

에세이 작성에서 일반적인 아이디어를 확장하기 위해 추가적인 지원 세부사항, 설명, 경험을 제공합니다. 

주제 문장:  이기기까지 점진적으로 발전한 과정을 이야기합니다.

기술과 컨디션 덕분에 속도와 범위를 증가시켰습니다.

성과 측면에서 주 결승에 진출할 정도로 발전했습니다. 

다음 작성 단계는 지원 세부사항, 묘사 및 만남과 같은 추가 정보를 추가하는 것입니다. 그런 다음 이에 맞게 분류합니다.

브리프하게 작성한 내용이나 독자가 경험에서 얻게 될 것에 대한 생각으로 이야기를 마무리합니다. 각 섹션에 제공한 정보를 간단하게 요약합니다.

첫 번째 산악 자전거 경기에서 최하위를 기록한 이후, 향후 대회를 위해 자신을 발전시키기로 결심했습니다.

하키 명예의 전당 방문

에세이에서 묘사할 인물, 장소, 사물 등을 소개하는 논제 문장을 작성합니다. 

논제: 하키 팬들은 하키 명예의 전당에서 즐길만한 무언가를 찾을 것입니다. 

좋은 이야기를 쓰려면 먼저 그림을 그리는 것이 중요합니다. 

주제 문장:  하키 명예의 전당은 초보자와 전문가 모두에게 스포츠를 기립니다.

토론토 도심에 위치한 이 명예의 전당은 연간 백만 명 이상의 방문객을 끌어모읍니다.

박물관에는 하키의 초창기부터 현시대 NHL 및 올림픽 대회까지의 역사를 다루는 전시물들이 있습니다.

더 많은 감각적 세부사항, 느낌 또는 정보를 설명하거나 공유합니다. 

주제 문장:  다양한 상호작용 전시와 공연을 확인할 수 있습니다. 

명예의 전당의 각 방은 선수 기념품으로 장식되어 있습니다. 예를 들어 조각상과 명패에서 유니폼까지.

많은 전시는 행동에 직접 참여할 수 있는 영화와 상호작용 미디어를 제공합니다.

게임의 최고 골키퍼 중 몇 명의 디지털 버전을 상대로 팍슛 기술을 향상시킬 수 있습니다.

주요 포인트를 요약하고 제공한 감각적 정보를 요약한 단락으로 에세이를 마무리합니다.

토론토의 하키 명예의 전당을 방문하면 게임의 가장 위대한 순간, 이야기 및 기념품에 몰입할 수 있는 경험을 제공합니다.

왜 학년은 짧아야 하는가?

설명 에세이 또는 다른 형태의 학술 글쓰기에서 논제 문장과 주변 맥락은 글의 주요 논점 또는 포인트를 소개합니다.

논제: 학생과 교사에게 이득이 되며, 구역 비용 절감 및 더 나은 학업 성과를 보기 위해 학년을 단축해야 합니다. 다른 나라에서는 학년이 짧아지고 학생들이 더 잘 성취합니다.

주요 포인트를 개요로 작성하고 증거로 뒷받침합니다. 

주제 문장:  학년이 짧아지면 학생과 교사 모두에게 이득이 됩니다.

학생과 교사는 사랑하는 사람들과 더 많은 시간을 보낼 수 있습니다.

교사는 더 활기차게 돌아와 학생들에게 지식을 전달할 수 있습니다.

주장을 뒷받침하기 위해 추가 세부사항과 증거를 추가합니다. 이 에세이 개요 예시를 참고하세요. 

주제 문장:  학생들이 학교에 덜 있을 때 공교육 시스템은 연간 수백만 달러를 절약할 수 있습니다.

학교가 더 오래 닫히면 구역은 에너지 절약을 할 수 있습니다.

학년이 짧아지면 공급 및 운송 비용을 줄일 수 있습니다.

세부 단락 3: 학생들은 충분한 수면과 일반적인 행복을 누릴 때 시험 성적이 더 나아질 것입니다.

에세이와 마찬가지로 개요에 더 많은 정보, 증거 및 분석을 추가합니다.

주제 문장:  학년이 짧아짐으로써 부모와 보호자에게도 많은 이점이 있을 것입니다.

학년이 짧아지면 가족에게 더 쉽고 덜 시간이 걸립니다.

보호자는 더 많은 일과 생활 균형을 가질 수 있습니다.

결론 단락에서는 주요 주제와 뒷받침 증거 및 결론의 중요성을 요약합니다.

학군 예산이나 학업 성과에 부정적인 영향을 주지 않으면서 학년을 줄일 수 있다면, 학생, 교사 및 부모의 삶의 질이 크게 개선됩니다.

기후 변화가 우리 지구에 미치는 영향

기후 변화는 오늘날 우리의 행성이 직면한 가장 시급한 문제 중 하나입니다. 온도 상승, 기후 패턴 변화, 극지방의 빙하가 녹으면서 기후 변화의 영향이 전 세계적으로 느껴집니다. 이 에세이에서는 기후 변화의 원인과 영향을 탐구하고 이 중대한 문제에 대해 우리가 할 수 있는 조치를 논의합니다.

기후 변화의 원인은 화석 연료의 연소, 산림 벌채, 대기로의 온실 가스 배출을 포함한 다양한 인간 활동에 기인할 수 있습니다. 이러한 행동은 지구의 온도가 꾸준히 상승하게 만들었고, 그 결과 여러 파괴적인 효과를 나타냈습니다. 기후 변화의 가장 눈에 띄는 영향 중 하나는 극지방의 빙하가 녹고 있는 것입니다. 온도가 상승함에 따라 빙하는 놀라운 속도로 줄어들고 있으며, 이는 해수면 상승을 초래하고 있습니다. 이는 세계의 해안 지역에서 더 빈번하고 심각한 홍수를 초래하고 있습니다. 또 다른 기후 변화의 영향은 날씨 패턴의 변화입니다. 지구의 온도가 상승함에 따라 우리는 허리케인, 토네이도, 폭염과 같은 더 극심한 기상 현상을 경험하고 있습니다. 이러한 사건은 재산에 심각한 피해를 입히고 생명을 위협할 수 있습니다. 마지막으로, 기후 변화는 세계의 생태계에 상당한 영향을 미치고 있습니다. 많은 식물과 동물 종이 서식지와 식량 공급의 변화 때문에 멸종 위기에 처하고 있습니다.

결론적으로 기후 변화는 오늘날 우리 행성이 직면한 가장 중대한 도전 중 하나입니다. 원인은 명확하며, 그 영향은 전 세계적으로 느껴지고 있습니다. 그러나 행동할 시간은 여전히 남아 있습니다. 우리의 탄소 발자국을 줄이고, 재생 가능 에너지원에 투자하며, 천연 자원을 보호하기 위한 조치를 취함으로써 우리는 기후 변화의 영향을 완화하고 향후 세대를 위해 더 나은 미래를 보장할 수 있습니다.

감사합니다! 사토 씨. 

소개에서 독자에게 사토 씨가 당신의 영어 선생님이었고 분야에 대한 그녀의 전문성 덕분에 영어 학위를 받았다고 알리세요. 

논제: 그런 다음 고등학교 마지막 학년에 영어 전공을 선택한 것이 당신의 삶의 전망에 크게 영향을 미쳤다고 독자에게 알립니다. 일본어 원어민이 영어를 배우는 것은 어려울 수 있음을 강조합니다.

그 후, 영어 수업에서의 경험과 포기하고 싶었던 느낌을 설명하세요.

사토 선생님이 포기하지 않고 일본어를 계속 공부하라고 권한 것을 이야기합니다.

영어를 공부한 일본 학생으로서 외국 비즈니스 분야에서 경력을 쌓기에 잘 준비된 독특한 관점을 얻었습니다. 

학생 주차장에 보안 카메라를 더 설치해야 합니다

캠퍼스에서 차량 절도 증가

논제: 현재 주차장의 안전 조치가 부족합니다. 학생들의 차량은 절도의 지속적인 표적입니다. 차량 강도 및 관련 범죄에 대한 데이터와 이러한 범죄의 빈도, 손상된 차량 수리의 일반 비용 및 도난된 아이템의 가치를 제공합니다. 안전 조치 강화로 사회의 복지에 크게 이바지합니다.

개선된 안전의 무형적인 이점을 예시와 인용문으로 설명합니다.

비용 대비 이점을 설명합니다.

보안 비디오 커버리지를 증가시킨 후 차량 절도가 감소한 다른 기관의 증거를 제공합니다.

완전한 보호 시스템의 실제 가격을 제시합니다.

토의 요약을 제공하고 학교 관리가 학생 안전을 최우선으로 해야 한다는 점을 강조합니다. 그런 다음, 주차장에 추가 감시 카메라 설치의 중요성을 다시 강조합니다.

인생에서 두 번의 최고의 생일

당신의 생일 전통과 전반적인 휴가에 대한 감정을 설명하세요. 

논제: 첫 번째로 17살과 22살의 기념일이 가장 재미있었다고 설명하세요.

17살 생일이 어떻게 기억에 남았는지 이야기하세요. 예를 들어, “최근 운전면허를 취득했고 가장 가까운 친구들과 첫 콘서트장으로 운전했습니다. 그 이벤트의 팔찌와 입장표는 아직도 소지하고 있습니다.”

그런 다음 22살 생일에 대해 이야기하세요. 예를 들어;

“아무도 내 생일을 기억하지 못한다고 생각하기까지 시간이 걸렸습니다. 기다렸던 예술 전시회를 보길 포기했을 때 갑자기 형제들이 여섯 시간을 운전해 와서 저를 데리고 갔습니다.” 

결론적으로 에세이의 주요 포인트를 요약하고 다시 자신의 행복을 강조하세요.

고등학교나 대학에서는 여러 에세이를 작성해야 합니다. 각각의 에세이 유형, 예를 들면 논쟁적, 설명적, 이야기가 약간의 변형을 가지고 유사한 패턴을 따릅니다. 완벽한 학점을 얻기 위한 글쓰기의 핵심은 이러한 차이점들을 인식하고 자신의 작품을 적절히 구조화하는 것입니다.

에세이 작성을 진행하면서 경로를 차지하지 않고 아무것도 잊지 않기 위해 먼저 개요를 작성하는 것이 좋습니다. 에세이 개요에 생각을 구성하면 더 강력하고 빠르게 에세이를 구성하는 데 도움이 됩니다. 대부분의 경우 필요한 에세이 요소들을 기억할 수 있습니다. 비판적 분석 능력이 증가합니다. 또한, 작가로서의 실력이 향상됩니다.

 Jenni.ai는 쉽게 접근 가능한 강력한 AI 기반의 글쓰기 도구입니다. 에세이 개요 작성 방법과 같은 주제로 에세이를 빠르게 작성하거나 글쓰기 기술을 단순히 향상시키기를 원하신다면, Jenni.ai는 여러 방법으로 삶을 쉽게 만들어주는 훌륭한 옵션입니다. 고급 AI 기능을 갖춘 이 컴퓨터 소프트웨어는 어떤 주제에든 고품질의 에세이를 신속하게 생성할 수 있습니다. 만약 에세이 글쓰기 작업을 도와줄 신뢰할 수 있는 글쓰기 도우미를 찾고 계시다면, 오늘 바로 Jenni.ai를 사용해 보세요!

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