OutlinesOutlines

What are they?What are they?

What are they good for?What are they good for?

How to write one?How to write one?

What is an Outline?What is an Outline?

An outline is the logical An outline is the logical ordering of ordering of information.information.

What’s it good for?What’s it good for? Helps you keep track of large amounts of Helps you keep track of large amounts of

information. information.

Creative writing:Creative writing:– helps organize the various plot threads and helps organize the various plot threads and

help keep track of character traits. help keep track of character traits.

Research Papers/Scientific Writing:Research Papers/Scientific Writing:– Helps to maintain flow and prevents deviation Helps to maintain flow and prevents deviation

from thesis.from thesis.

Oral report or presentation:Oral report or presentation:– speak more effectively in front of a crowd speak more effectively in front of a crowd

Outlines for StudyingOutlines for Studying

Helps bring attention to key Helps bring attention to key facts/ideasfacts/ideas

Helps differentiate insignificant Helps differentiate insignificant details details

from the significantfrom the significant! !

Reduces study time!!Reduces study time!!

What’s it good for? A What’s it good for? A Recap…Recap… Helps you Helps you keep trackkeep track of large amounts of large amounts

of information.of information.

Helps you Helps you organizeorganize your ideas your ideas

Presents your material in a Presents your material in a logicallogical form form

Shows the Shows the relationshipsrelationships among ideas in among ideas in your writing your writing

Constructs an ordered Constructs an ordered overviewoverview of your of your writingwriting

How’s it done?How’s it done?

The outline shows the order of the The outline shows the order of the various topics, the relative importance various topics, the relative importance of each, and the relationship between of each, and the relationship between the various parts.the various parts.

The most common order in outlines is The most common order in outlines is to go from the to go from the generalgeneral to the to the specificspecific. . This means you begin with a general This means you begin with a general idea and then support it with specific idea and then support it with specific examples. examples.

Outlines follow rigid formats, using Roman and Arabic numerals along with capital and small letters of the alphabet. – (This helps both you and anyone who reads

your outline to follow your organization easily.)

NOTE: There is no rule for which type of outline is best. Choose the one that you think works best for your paper.

How’s it done?How’s it done?

How’s it done?How’s it done?Rules for Outlining

1. Subdivide topics by a system of numbers and letters, followed by a period.Example:I.    A.    B.        1.        2.            a.            b.

i.II.    A.    B.2. Each heading and subheading must have at least two parts.3. Be consistent!!!!

MLA Outline FormatMLA Outline Format***The MLA outline uses a combination of ***The MLA outline uses a combination of

Roman and Arabic numerals and Roman and Arabic numerals and Contemporary English Letters. Below is Contemporary English Letters. Below is an example of an MLA outlinean example of an MLA outline..

Title of Outline

I. Main Heading #1

A. Sub Heading #1 1.1. Details for sub heading #12.2. More Details for sub heading #1 3.3. More Details for sub heading #1 4.4. More Details for sub heading #1

a.Information on specific detail b.More Information

B. Sub Heading #2

II. Main Heading #2

How’s it done?How’s it done?

1. Identify the topic.

2. Identify the main categories.

3. Create the first category.

4. Create subcategories.

How’s it done?How’s it done?

Three Types:Three Types:– SentenceSentence– TopicTopic– DecimalDecimal

The Full Sentence OutlineThe Full Sentence Outline

FULL sentences are required at every FULL sentences are required at every step of the outline. step of the outline.

Example: Example: Sentence Outline: Choices in College and

AfterThesis: The decisions I have to make in

choosing college courses, depend on larger questions I am beginning to ask myself about my life’s work.

I. I have two decisions to make with respect to choosing college courses in the immediate future.

A. One is whether to elect a course in art history or in chemistry.1. One time in my life, I planned to be a chemical engineer

professionally.2. On the other hand, I enjoy art and plan to travel and see

more of it.B. The second decision is whether to continue a third year of French

beyond the basic college requirement.1. French might be useful both in engineering and travel.2. Furthermore, I am eager to read good books which are

written in French.3. How necessary are these considerations in the light of other

courses I might take instead?

II. My problem can be put in the form of a dilemma involving larger questions about my whole future.

A. On the one hand I want to hold a highly-trained position in a lucrative profession.

B. On the other hand I want to lead a certain kind of life, with capacities for values not connected with the making of money.

III. I will have to make a decision balancing the conflicting needs I have described.

A. I will hold open the professional possibilities by electing chemistry.B. I will improve and solidify what cultural proficiency in another

language I have already gained, by electing French.

The Topic OutlineThe Topic Outline

Headings are given in single words or Headings are given in single words or brief phrases. brief phrases.

Example: Example: Topic Outline: Choices in College and AfterThesis: The decisions I have to make in

choosing college courses, depend on larger questions I am beginning to ask myself about my life’s work.

I. Two decisions describedA. Art history or chemistry

1. Professional considerations 2. Personal considerations

B. A third year of French?1. Practical advantages of knowing a  foreign 

language2. Intellectual advantages3. The issue of necessity

II. Definition of the problemA. Decisions about occupationB. Decisions about a kind of life to lead

III. Temporary resolution of the problemA. To hold open a professional possibility: chemistryB. To take advantage of cultural gains already made: French

Basic Rules: A RecapBasic Rules: A Recap

CoordinationCoordination SubordinationSubordination They come in Two’sThey come in Two’s Be Consistent!!Be Consistent!!

CoordinationCoordination All the information contained in Heading 1 All the information contained in Heading 1

should have the same significance as the should have the same significance as the information contained in Heading 2.information contained in Heading 2.

Example:Example:I. Visit and evaluate college campuses I. Visit and evaluate college campuses II. Visit and evaluate college websites II. Visit and evaluate college websites

A. Note important statistics A. Note important statistics B. Look for interesting classesB. Look for interesting classes

(Campus and websites visits are equally (Campus and websites visits are equally significant. They are part of the main tasks you significant. They are part of the main tasks you would need to do. Finding statistics and classes would need to do. Finding statistics and classes found on college websites are parts of the found on college websites are parts of the processprocess

SubordinationSubordination The information in the headings should be more The information in the headings should be more

general, while the information in the general, while the information in the subheadings should be more specific. subheadings should be more specific.

Example:Example:

I. Describe an influential person in your life I. Describe an influential person in your life A. Favorite high school teacher A. Favorite high school teacher

B. GrandparentB. Grandparent

(A favorite teacher and grandparent are specific (A favorite teacher and grandparent are specific examples from the generalized category of examples from the generalized category of influential people in your life.)influential people in your life.)

They Come in Two’sThey Come in Two’s

By convention, each category consists of a minimum of two entries. If your first category is Roman numeral I, your outline must also have a category labeled roman numeral II; if you have a capital letter A under category I, you must also have a capital letter B. Whether you then go on to have capital letters C, D, E, etc., is up to you, depending on the amount of material you are going to cover.

Be Consisten

t!

I.    A.    B.        1.        2.            a.            b.

i.ii.

A.    i.    ii.

THE END…THE END…

Ok, I Lied.Ok, I Lied.

TEXTBOOK OUTLINES FOR ACTUAL TEXTBOOK OUTLINES FOR ACTUAL STUDYING…STUDYING…

The formal chapter outlines will help with…The formal chapter outlines will help with…see slide 3, 4, and 5see slide 3, 4, and 5

TEXTBOOK OUTLINES FOR ACTUAL TEXTBOOK OUTLINES FOR ACTUAL STUDYING…STUDYING…

The formal chapter outlines will help with…The formal chapter outlines will help with…see slide 3, 4, and 5see slide 3, 4, and 5

Basic outlining already done for you…it’s Basic outlining already done for you…it’s your job to weed out the insignificant junk your job to weed out the insignificant junk from the good stuff. from the good stuff.

TEXTBOOK OUTLINES FOR ACTUAL TEXTBOOK OUTLINES FOR ACTUAL STUDYING…(c slides 3,4,5 yada yada STUDYING…(c slides 3,4,5 yada yada yada)yada)

Basic outlining already done for you…it’s Basic outlining already done for you…it’s your job to weed out the insignificant junk your job to weed out the insignificant junk from the good stuff. from the good stuff.

Two words….Sticky notes!Two words….Sticky notes!