College Essay Writing: To Outline or Not to Outline? The process of drafting the perfect college essay or writing assignment is a daunting task for many students. If you don't even know where to begin, the idea of getting a good grade on your next assignment may seem like a pipe dream. However, there are a few steps that can help take the guesswork out of the writing process. One of the most popular is to start by making an outline for your essay. Why Outline? Outlining helps organize your thoughts, breaking the task of drafting the perfect essay into bite-sized pieces rather than an overwhelming eight-course meal. A surgeon wouldn't tackle your appendix with a hacksaw; a scalpel is a more appropriately scaled tool. In much the same way, using an outline can help you address your academic papers with the best tools for the job. To get started and guarantee college writing success, here are a few crucial parts of your outline: Pick a great topic – be sure it meets the requirements of the assignment and that you feel you can invest in it enough to write a great paper Choose some main idea points for your essay Find proof statements and facts for each of your main points – be sure you document your sources Decide on a great conclusion that seals the deal To Outline or Not to Outline? Now that you know some of the key points to include in your essay writing outline, how do you decide whether you need to outline or if you should skip this step? Sometimes, professional writers get into a "flow" when writing an essay or writing a research paper; if you sit down to write and know your juices are flowing – go for it. More often than not, writing essays is a little more complicated than sitting in front of the computer and watching your fingers race across the keyboard as your perfectly-structured assignment magically writes itself. If you find yourself struggling with an upcoming assignment, hiring a professional writing services company may be the key to unlocking your academic potential. Give outlining a try and see if your work improves. If you're still lost, an essay writing service may help remove academic stress from your college lifestyle. Outlining Tips and Takeaways When it's time for your next academic assignment, give outlining a try to see if helps you improve your grade. Be sure to: Use the outline to organize your thoughts Stick to your outline when writing your paper Keep the outline short and sweet Organize your outline according to the points above If trying out your outline boosts your grades, you may be onto something! If you still need help, our professional essay writing services may help you get back on track.