What is Outlining?

Outlining is a tool we use in the writing process to help organize our ideas, visualize our paper's potential structure, and to further flesh out and develop points. It allows the writer to understand how he or she will connect information to support the thesis statement and the claims of the paper.

It is a helpful guide in organizing your paper. Outlines give a visual structure to your work and are used to show relationships and hierarchies within your content.

To outline, you must create a linear, organized plan for your paper that shows the main ideas that you will discuss as well as their relationships within the paper.

Organizing your idea in an outline

• Begin by answering the question that leads to your thesis statement.

• Use the two or three main ideas from this technique as your main heading.

• Write subtopics for each main idea.

• Write the supporting details for each of the subtopics.

Use various outlines based on the structure you prefer

• Sentence outline – Using complete sentences as entries.

• Topic outline – Using words and phrases as entries.

• Paragraph outline – Using paragraphs as entries.

Guidelines in Writing an Outline:

• Place the title at the center above the outline.

• Every level of the outline must have at least two items (I and II, A and B, 1 and 2).

• Put a period after each numeral and letter.

• Indent each new level of the outline.

• All items of one kind (roman numerals, capital letters, Arabic numerals) should line up with each other.

• Capitalize the first letter of each item.

• The terms Introduction, Body, and Conclusion do not have to be included in the outline. They are not topics; they are merely organizational units in the writer’s mind.

Basic outline form I. MAIN IDEA

A. Subsidiary idea or supporting idea to I

B. Subsidiary idea or supporting idea to I

1. Subsidiary idea to B

2. Subsidiary idea to B a. Subsidiary idea to 2 b. Subsidiary idea to 2

II. MAIN IDEA A. Subsidiary or supporting idea to II B. Subsidiary idea to II C. Subsidiary idea to II

III. MAIN IDEA It is up to the writer to decide on how many main ideas and supporting ideas adequately describe the subject. However, traditional form dictates that if there is a I in the outline, there has to be a II; if there is an A, there has to be a B; and so forth.

Example Sentence Outline The following outline is for a 5-7-page paper discussing the link between educational attainment and health. Review the other sections of this page for more detailed information about each component of this outline!

I. Introduction A. Current Problem: Educational attainment rates are decreasing in the United States while healthcare costs are increasing. B. Population/Area of Focus: Unskilled or low-skilled adult workers C. Key Terms: healthy, well-educated

Thesis Statement: Because of their income deficit (cite sources) and general susceptibility to depression (cite sources), students who drop out of high school before graduation maintain a higher risk for physical and mental health problems later in life.

II. Background A. Historical Employment Overview: Unskilled laborers in the past were frequently unionized and adequately compensated for their work (cite sources). B. Historical Healthcare Overview: Unskilled laborers in the past were often provided adequate healthcare and benefits (cite sources). C. Current Link between Education and Employment Type: Increasingly, uneducated workers work in unskilled or low-skilled jobs (cite sources). D. Gaps in the Research: Little information exists exploring the health implications of the current conditions in low-skilled jobs.

III. Major Point 1: Conditions of employment affect workers' physical health. A. Minor Point 1: Unskilled work environments are correlated highly with worker

injury (cite sources).

B. Minor Point 2: Unskilled work environments rarely provide healthcare or adequate

injury recovery time (cite sources). IV. Major Point 2: Conditions of employment affect workers' mental health A. Minor Point 1: Employment in a low-skilled position is highly correlated with

dangerous levels of stress (cite sources).

B. Minor Point 2: Stress is highly correlated with mental health issues (cite sources). V. Major Point 3: Physical health and mental health correlate directly with one another. A. Minor Point 1: Mental health problems and physical health problems are highly

correlated (cite sources).

B. Minor Point 2: Stress manifests itself in physical form (cite sources)

VI. Major Point 4: People with more financial worries have more stress and worse physical health. A. Minor Point 1: Many high-school dropouts face financial problems (cite sources). B. Minor Point 2: Financial problems are often correlated with unhealthy lifestyle choices such unhealthy food choices, overconsumption/abuse of alcohol, chain smoking, abusive relationships, etc. (cite sources).

VII. Conclusion A. Restatement of Thesis: Students who drop out of high school are at a higher risk for both mental and physical health problems throughout their lives. B. Next Steps: Society needs educational advocates; educators need to be aware of this situation and strive for student retention in order to promote healthy lifestyles and warn students of the risks associated with dropping out of school.

Example of Topic Outline Several aspects must be considered in writing a topic outline.

1. Recall that all headings and subheadings must be words or phrases, not sentences.

2. Also, the wording within each division must be parallel.

3. Finally, as in any outline, remember that a division or subdivision cannot be divided into one part; therefore, if there is an "A" there must be a "B," and if there is a "1" there must be a "2." I. Family Problems A. Custodial: Non-custodial Conflicts B. Extended Family C. Adolescent's Age II. Economic Problems A. Child Support B. Women's Job Training C. Lower Standard of Living D. Possible Relocation

4. Poorer Neighborhood

5. New School

III. Peer Problems A. Loss of Friends B. Relationships with Dates