Drafting an Outline
Great Writing 5 Textbook - page 32
Examine the Outline sample on page 32. For your papers in this class, you will want to organize your ideas into a draft OUTLINE before writing your paper. Please note: For our class you do not need to put in "Introduction" or "Conclusion" in your Outline. Just start with point #1.
The outline serves as your guide to organizing paper details so that your points make sense and are discussed in logical order.
For example, below are disorganized details on the Effects of Technology as notes quickly written down.
- online shopping easier
- people get news faster
- brings people together FIND CATEGORIES FOR THESE DETAILS
- help in case of emergency
- stay in touch with family
POSSIBLE CATEGORIES - PERSONAL USE; EMERGENCIES; FAST ONLINE SERVICES
SAMPLE OUTLINE IS WRITTEN FROM ABOVE LIST OF IDEAS:
Note use of Roman Numerals I, II, III and Capital letters A, B, C, etc. (see page32)
Outline
Thesis Statement: Technology has had many good effects on society.
[note - you do not need to put Introduction in Outline - just your Thesis Statement and then start with point #1].
I. Personal difference
A. Brings people together
B. Stay in touch with family
II. Fast and convenient online service
A. Easy to shop online
B. Several news sources available 24 hours
III. Good for emergencies
A. In case of car accident
B. Family member or friend getting ill
Do not put in "Conclusion" in Outline - leave that for your essay.
NOTE: The above is a TOPIC outline - meaning you only write in short topic phrases. No sentences are needed.
That's it! This is as simple as it gets. Now there is an organization to the ideas and all that's left is to write the paper, filling in the details. Voila!
Notice how the ideas are INDENTED A FEW SPACES - from Important ideas (I. II. III.) to smaller supporting details (A, B, C).
See next page for your second writing assignment - low-stakes writing on a simple topic.