Creating an Outline

Objective: By the end of these lessons, students will understand how to correctly organize information into an MLA outline and will demonstrate this through completion of sample outlines at the end of the lessons, homework completion of an outline, and an outline on a story from the literature textbook with 100% accuracy.

Why should I create an outline?

• Outlines make the writing process more efficient.• Outlines help you include important information.• Outlines organize your work to improve the flow of information within your research paper.

Tip # 1Begin with a Roman numeral for each main topic. Place a period after each Roman numeral. Use capital letters for each subtopic. Place a period after each letter.

I. Types of TransportationA. AirB. Ground

main topic with Roman numeral

subtopics

Tip #2Capitalize the first letter of ALL words in the MAIN TOPIC like you would a book title. All words next to Roman numerals should be capitalized!

I. Early Life Main Topic

Tip #3

Capitalize ONLY the first letter of the first word of a subtopic. Subtopics are supporting details for a main topic. Every level of an outline contains more detail.

I. Early LifeA. Birth place subtopic

Tip #4Align the letters of the subtopics under the first letter of the main topic.

I. Early LifeA. Birth placeB. Childhood

Tip # 5Use numbers under letters to add more information, but DO NOT capitalize these words unless they are proper nouns. These are called DETAILS.

I. Background InformationA. BirthB. Family 1. daughter, Katie 2. brother, Chad

details

Tip #6Skip a line between each main topic when you begin a new Roman numeral.

I. Early Life A. Birth B. Childhood

II. Education Skip this line.

Tip #7If you use a I., you must have a II. You CANNOT have a I. without a II.!

I. Early Life A. Childhood

Tip #8

If you use an A., you must use a B.You CANNOT have an A. without a B.!

I. Early Life A. Birth B. ChildhoodYES!

Tip #9

I. Background Information A. Birth B. Family 1. daughter, Katie

C. Career

If you use a 1., you must use a 2.You CANNOT have a 1. without a 2.!

Tip #10

I. Background Information A. She was born in Canton. B. Family 1. She has a daughter, Katie.

2. brother, Chad C. Career

No sentences allowed! Rephrase in your own words and do not put periods at the end of main topics, subtopics or details.

I. Main Topic A. Subtopic

1. detail 2. detail

B. Subtopic

II. Main Topic #2 A. Subtopic B. Subtopic C. Subtopic 1. detail

2. detail 3. detail

D. Subtopic

III. Main Topic #3 A. Subtopic B. Subtopic 1. detail 2. detail

Title: __________________________________

Title: Indoor and Outdoor Activities in Warm and Cold Weather

I. How Plastic is Made A. Melting recycled plastic

1. recycling numbers 2. how recycled plastic compares to traditional

plasticAnd......it's missing a II. and a B.

PracticeFind the errors in the following outline.

I How plastic is madeA. Melting Recycled Plastic

1. Recycling numbers2. how recycled plastic compares to traditional plastic

Check under here for the answer.

PRACTICE #1Rearrange the topics into the correct outline format.

I. A. 1.

2.3.

B. 1. 2.

cat

dogchicken

bird

horse

Outdoor pets

Indoor pets

Types of Common Pets

PRACTICE #2This outline is about types of transportation. Arrange the information below.

I. A.B.C.

II. A.B.

III.A. B.

TruckLand Transportation SkateboardHelicopter Car

Non-motorized Transportation

Airplane

Air Transportation

Bicycle Motorcycle

Warm - Up

Creating an Outline

Objective: By the end of these lessons, students will understand how to correctly organize information into an MLA outline and will demonstrate this through completion of sample outlines, homework webs, and an outline on a story from the literature textbook with 100% accuracy.

A History of

Spices

A History of

Spices

Three

Important

Spices

#2

A History of

Spices

Purposes and

value of

Spices

#3

A History of

Spices

Fighting Over

Spices in History

#4

A History of

Spices

Modern People

Struggle Over Spices

Creating an Outline

Objective: By the end of these lessons, students will understand how to correctly organize information into an MLA outline and will demonstrate this through completion of sample outlines, homework webs, and an outline on a story from the literature textbook with 100% accuracy.