Outlining helps pull together the results of your prewriting. When your purpose is a major research project, an outline is a must; however, any report pulls together better if directed by an outline.

Outlines

bulletorder ideas
bullethelp prepare the thesis statement
bulletprovide visual guides
bullettake the place of a checklist
bulletand perhaps most importantly, reveal flaws:
bulletmissing information,
bulletundesirable repetitions,
bulletdigressions from the thesis,
bulletunclear thinking,
bulletillogical transitions.

Two Types of Outlines

Informal Outlines

An informal outline orders information and helps a writer gain clarity in thought; however, they are rarely acceptable for your professors. These types are generally for personal use only.

Sample Informal Outline
Thesis Statement: With the right training, any writer can use the outline to help organize and direct her report to attain clarity of thought use indents and bullets
bullettransitions
bulletsignify change of thought

to help with sufficient evidence

bulletdetail
bulletexamples

as a checklist of info

bulletinclude notes to self about citations or exciting ideas
bulletwhen writing the first draft can use as a reference

Formal Outlines

Content and format are rigid in the formal outline. The two blend to display the relationships among ideas in an orderly fashion. A formal outline can be a topic outline or a sentence outline. Each item in a topic outline is a word or phrase; each item in a sentence outline is a complete sentence. Formal outlines never mix the two.

Conventions of Formal Outlines

Formal Outline Pattern
Thesis Statement:
I. First main idea

A. First subdivision of the main idea

  1. First reason or example
    a. First supporting detail
    b. Second supporting detail
  2. Second reason or example
    a. First supporting detail
    b. Second supporting detail

B. Second subdivision of the main idea

  1. First reason or example
    a. First supporting detail
    b. Second supporting detail
  2. Second reason or example
    a. First supporting detail
    b. Second supporting detail
II. Second main idea

A. First subdivision of the main idea

  1. First reason or example
    a. First supporting detail
    b. Second supporting detail
  2. Second reason or example
    a. First supporting detail
    b. Second supporting detail

B. Second subdivision of the main idea

  1. First reason or example
    a. First supporting detail
    b. Second supporting detail
  2. Second reason or example
    a. First supporting detail
    b. Second supporting detail

Traits of a Formal Outline
bulletSignal groupings and levels of importance with numbers, letters, and indentations;
bulletsubdivide each level with more than one entry;
bulletuse the same level of generality for all subdivisions;
bulletdo not overlap headings, i.e., different points require different ideas;
bulletarrange phrases and sentences grammatically parallel;
bulletcapitalize the first word of each entry;
bulletend each sentence in a sentence outline with periods but not the items in a topic outline;
bulletdo not include introduction or conclusion;
bulletplace the thesis statement above the outline itself.
To: Jan Strever
From: Jim Hank
Date: February 24, 1998
Subject: Outline for LINUX Installation
Manual

Thesis Statement: A simplified manual outlining the steps required to install LINUX and bring up the program for the first time.

I.Pre-installation

1.System requirements

a.Processor
b.Memory (RAM)
c.Hard disk space
d.Drive types

2.Information required prior to installation

a.Available hard disk space
b.Mouse type
c.Brand and model of monitor
d.Horizontal and vertical sync of monitor
e.Video mode of monitor

3.Re-partitioning your hard disk

a.How PC should be partitioned
b.How to re-partition your hard disk

II.Installing the LINUX software

1.How to install software
2.Maneuvering through installation screens
3.Installation (screen by screen)

III. LINUX after installation

1.Booting your computer to LINUX

a.Logging into LINUX
b.Logging out of LINUX

2. Booting your computer to another Operating System

IV. Concluding Operations

 

Contents within this site are copyrighted by both the author of essays and/or Jan Strever.
The contents within these pages are solely those of the author and S.C.C.
should not be held responsible.  ©1999-2009
Last revised: November 19, 2009 by Jan Strever -- jstrever@scc.spokane.edu
Personal site:  http://www.js.spokane.wa.us/

Hit Counter