Research Outlines
Information for successfully creating an outline worthy of an
A+ research paper.
The Benefits of an Outline
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An outline of an essay can be very helpful for two
reasons:
An outline will help make your essay more organized. A
careful plan will help your body paragraphs stay focused
on the ideas in your thesis statement.
An outline saves time for writers. Preparing an outline
can take time, but when you are finished, you will be able
to write the rough draft of your essay more quickly than
if you didn’t have an outline.
Types of Outlines
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Scratch outline: a preliminary list that lets you see where
you need to go. It is a rough list of your first ideas. It is a
starting point only. It is putting on the clothes without the
accessories.
Formal outline: Shows, in logical order, what you will be
writing about. Helps you separate main ideas and
supporting ideas. Gives you a foundation from which to
build an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. Often
changes after you write your first draft. It will show you
where you need to add more research or make other
changes.
SCRATCH VS. FORMAL
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A scratch outline is a collection of notes or ideas that
needs to be refined and expanded. It’s a raw material
rather than a finished product.
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A formal outline shows evidence of thought, revision,
planning, or research. It uses a prescribed format: Roman
numerals, upper case letters, numbers, and lower case
letters. It may be further expanded or revised as
research progresses.
Sample Process: Scratch Outline
TOPIC: Hershey Park
Working (Preliminary) Outline
I. Milton Hershey
A. Childhood
B. Chocolate Factory
II. Hershey Park
A. When did it open?
B. How has it changed?
C. What’s it currently like?
PRELIMINARY OR
WORKING THESIS: Hershey
Park dominates the Amusement
Park world.
III. Other parks
A. Disney World
1. Size
2. Cost
3. Number of visitors
B. Dorney Park
1. Size
2. Cost
3. Number of visitors
IV. Why is Hershey Park better?
Sample Process: Final Outline
Purpose: Serves as a table of
contents for your paper. Use
it to organize your note
cards as your write the
rough draft.
Notice that the final outline
is still a topic outline, even
though there is more detail.
Your final outline should
follow this exact format, with
Roman numerals, capital
letters, etc. If there is no B,
then there should not be an
A.
Thesis: With its fascinating history, impact on the local
community, and charitable activities, Hershey Park
dominates the Amusement Park world.
I. Milton Hershey
A. Childhood
B. Chocolate Factory
1. Its origins
2. Its success through the Depression
3. Its current success
C. Boys’ Home for orphans
1. Why he built it
2. When it became The Milton Hershey School
II. The Park
A. Opening
B. Changes since opening
1. Most expensive
2. Most publicized
3. Costs
a. public admission
b. cost of operation
4. Safety requirements
C. Impact on the local community
*PLEASE NOTE: THIS SAMPLE OUTLINE IS NOT COMPLETE! YOURS SHOULD HAVE 3-5 MAJOR HEADINGS (Roman
Numeral sections)
An Outline Organizes The Major Parts
Of Your Essay:
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Your Thesis Statement - The sentence that tells your reader your
ultimate point and what they should expect.
Your Major Points - The facts that you are using to prove your
main point.
Your Supporting Details - The examples, facts, quotations, etc.
that further explain and back up each major point. You should have
several for each Major Point.
Your Transitions - The statement or information you will use to
transition form one major point to the next. This stops your paper
from sounding jumpy or disorganized.
Concluding Thoughts - Any thoughts that you would like to
include at the close of your paper to wrap things up and tie it all
together. NEVER INCLUDE NEW FACTS OR INFORMATION IN
YOUR CONCLUSION!
Where do I start?
1.
2.
3.
4.
Gather all of your research or notes on the topic that
you are writing about.
Review it all and decide what your
research/information is telling you about your topic.
Form a working thesis statement that describes the
point that you want to make about your topic.
Begin to select what information you would like to
include in your essay based on what proves your point.
How to start organizing?
An Outline Organizes Your Information Into 3 major parts
in Preparation For Your Paper:
Your Conclusion
Your Body Paragraphs
Your Introduction
{Click Mouse to Continue}
What goes in the
intro. section?
The Same Information That Should Be In Your Essay’s
Introductory Paragraph
Major Point
Thesis Statement
{Click
Mouse
to Continue}
Your
2nd Major
Point
Your 3rd Majo
What about the
Body section?
The Body Section Outlines The Following Information
On Each Of Your Major Points:
Major point
3-5
Supporting Details
Transition
relating it back to your thesis
{Click Mouse to Continue}
And the conclusion section…
Your Conclusion Section Does The Following:
NOTE: You do not
have to rewrite the
thesis or major
points in your
outline if you do
not choose to, but
they should be in
your essay’s
conclusion!
Restates
your thesis statement
Reestablishes
your major points
{Click Mouse to Continue}
Adds any
final thoughts
The Process
Making an Outline
Essay Outline
In a formal outline, Roman
numerals are used to
represent paragraphs.
Capital letters can be
used to represent
supporting details for
the paragraphs.
I.
Introduction
Thesis: ____________________
II. Body Paragraph #1- Topic Sentence: _________
A. supporting idea
B. supporting idea
III. Body Paragraph #2- Topic Sentence: _________
A. supporting idea
B. supporting idea
IV. Body Paragraph #3- Topic Sentence: _________
A. supporting idea
B. supporting idea
V. Conclusion
The Process
Thesis Statement
To begin an outline, you need to start with your thesis statement.
The thesis statement will be your guide throughout the process of
writing your essay. From the thesis statement, you can begin
writing the topic sentences for the body paragraphs in the outline.
ESSAY OUTLINE
Thesis Statement
Topic Sentence #1
Topic Sentence #2
Topic Sentence #3
The Process
Topic Sentences
The topic sentence for each body paragraph
should support the thesis statement. The topic
sentences need to agree with the main idea or
subpoints in the thesis statement; otherwise,
the essay could be confusing.
The Process
Topic Sentences
Topic Sentence Paragraph #1:
Thesis Statement
A job interview can often
make or break your
chances of getting your
dream job. There are
several things that you can
do in an interview to
increase the possibility of
your success such as
dressing properly,
answering interview
questions thoroughly, and
asking good questions at
the end of the interview.
The way you dress can have a big impact
on an interview panel’s first impressions of
you.
Topic Sentence- Paragraph #2:
An interview is an opportunity for
potential employers to get to know you
better, so it is important that you answer
each question as completely as possible.
Topic Sentence- Paragraph #3:
By preparing some thoughtful questions
for the end of the interview, you can show
the panel that you have prepared for the
interview and want the job.
The Process
Supporting Details
Under the topic sentence for each paragraph,
list some of the supporting details, examples, or
ideas you want to include in each paragraph.
This would include quotes from your sources
or paraphrases used to support your own ideas.
The Process
Supporting Details
II. Body Paragraph #1:
Topic Sentence: The way you dress can have a big
impact on an interview panel’s first impressions of you.
A. Men and women should consider
wearing dark suits.
supporting details,
examples, and ideas
B. Conservative dress will show the
interview panel you are serious about
what you do.
C. Don’t carry too many things into the
interview. A notebook, pens, and/or
laptop computer should be carried in a
briefcase.
D. Hair and nails should be clean and
neat.
for potential employers to get to know you
better, so it is important that you answer each
question as completely as possible.
Example Outline
I.
II.
Introduction- Thesis Statement: A job interview
can often make or break your chances of getting
your dream job. There are several things that
you can do in an interview to increase the
possibility of your success such as, dressing
properly, answering interview questions
thoroughly, and asking good questions at the
end of the interview.
Body Paragraph #1:
Topic Sentence: The way you dress can have a big impact
on an interview panel’s first impressions of you.
A. Men and women should consider wearing
dark suits.
A. Ask interviewers to repeat questions you
don’t understand.
B. Take some time to think about the questions
before you answer.
C. A notebook to write down key words in
interview questions is sometimes helpful.
IV.
Topic Sentence: By preparing some thoughtful questions
for the end of the interview, you can show the
panel that you have prepared for the interview
and want the job.
A. Research the job and/or company before you
go to the interview.
B. Conservative dress will show the interview
panel you are serious about what you do.
B. The interview is your opportunity to get to
know your potential employer. Ask questions
about company goals, mission, expectations of
employees, etc.
C. Don’t carry too many things into the
interview. A notebook, pens, and/or laptop
computer should be carried in a briefcase.
C. Don’t ask questions about benefits or salary
during the interview. You should try to get this
information before you apply for the job.
D. Hair and nails should be clean and
neat.
III.
Body Paragraph #2:
Topic Sentence: An interview is an opportunity
Body Paragraph #3:
IV.
Conclusion: Don’t underestimate the
importance of a good interview.