The outline of the essay serves as a structural basis and guides the author when starting a draft. The outline should summarize the content of the essay and organize the content in a reasonable and coherent manner. The ability to outline is very important for students and students because supervisors usually ask for an outline before the final paper. Keep reading this article to learn how to create an effective outline for a paper.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Preparing to Create an Outline
Step 1. Read the task guide carefully
Mark or underline important words and phrases in the instructions. Make sure you understand what to do before starting to outline. Ask for clarification if any clues are vague or confusing.
Step 2. Develop a topic
While outlining can help you develop and organize your ideas, you'll also need some prewriting practice to get started. There are many pre-writing strategies that can help you generate ideas.
- Write down all the ideas that come up (good or bad), then look over the list of ideas and group together some similar ideas. Expand the list by adding to its contents or using another pre-writing exercise.
- Free writing. Write anything for 5-10 minutes nonstop. Pour whatever is on your mind and don't edit. When you're done, review it again and mark or underline the most useful information. Repeat this exercise using that information as a starting point. You can repeat several times to hone and develop ideas.
- Grouping. Write the theme in the center of the sheet of paper, then circle it. Then, draw three or more lines from the circle. At the end of each line, write a new idea that relates to the main idea. Then, draw three or more lines from each new idea, and write down other related ideas. Keep developing until you feel like you've explored as many connections as you can.
- Ask. Take a piece of paper and write “Who? What? When? Where? Why? How?" Separate each question by two or three lines so you can write the answer on that line. Answer the questions in as much detail as possible. This exercise will develop ideas and identify areas of the topic that need further study.
Step 3. Know your goals
Think about what you want from the paper. Is it to persuade, entertain, enlighten, or something else? Make sure that your goals are in line with the assigned tasks. Look for keywords in the task guide to find out what the goal is.
Step 4. Know the reader
Think about who will read your paper. Lecturer? Classmate? Foreigners? Know your readers' needs and expectations by considering what they know and don't know about the topic. Expect their reactions too. How will they react to the information you will provide? Will they be angry, sad, amused, or something else?
Step 5. Develop a thesis statement
After developing your ideas and thinking about your goals and audience, you are ready to write your thesis. An effective thesis statement is able to state the main focus of the paper and debatable claims. The length of the thesis should not exceed one sentence.
- Make sure your thesis is debatable. Don't state facts or tastes. For example, the statement "Soekarno is the first president of Indonesia" is not a good thesis because it is a fact. Similarly, "Wiro Sableng is a good film" cannot be a thesis because it is taste.
- Make sure the thesis provides sufficient detail. In other words, avoid statements that something is "good" or "effective," say what makes it "good" or "effective."
Method 2 of 3: Determining the Basic Outline Style and Structure
Step 1. Choose the easiest standard alphanumeric structure
The most commonly used and easily recognizable alphanumeric outline, each subdivision is marked with Roman numerals, uppercase letters, Latin numerals, and lowercase letters, respectively.
- Roman numerals (I, II, III, etc.) are used to mark headings or main sections. Usually, three parts are needed in an essay outline, namely for the introduction, for the content of the discussion, and for the conclusion.
- Capital letters (A, B, C, etc.) mark the main points in the main section.
- Latin numerals (1, 2, 3, etc.) are used to parse main points.
- Lowercase letters (a, b, c, etc.) to enter the required details.
Step 2. Choose a decimal outline structure to show the interconnectedness of ideas
This structure uses a decimal separator in the form of a dot. The structure of the decimal and alphanumeric frames is more or less the same, the only difference is in the series of numbers that identify each part. Some people like this structure because it shows the contribution of each section to the essay as a whole.
- The decimal frame starts with "1.0" and the rest starts with the next number (2, 3, 4, etc.). Therefore, the first part is "1.0", the second is "2.0", and the third is "3.0".
- The number after the decimal point changes when there is new information. For example, under the "1.0" section, there is "1.1", "1.2", and so on.
- Subsequent subsections can be added with another decimal point, followed by a number corresponding to the new information. For example, under the "1.1" section, you might see "1.1.1", "1.1.2", and "1.1.3".
Step 3. Decide whether to use complete sentences or short phrases in the outline
Most essay outlines use complete sentences which are more helpful in providing comprehensive information. This is especially suitable if the framework must be submitted to the lecturer.
Step 4. Use parallel structures for the skeleton parts
For example, if one part starts with a verb, the next part must also start with a verb.
For example, part I starts with the phrase “buy a new book”, the second part should also start with the same phrase structure. The phrase “reading a new book” would be more appropriate, while “reading a new book” would feel less appropriate
Step 5. Coordinate section headings and subsections
Each section heading should display information that is as important as the other section headings, and subsections should contain less important information than the main section headings.
For example, if you are writing a narrative essay about finding and reading a favorite book, and the first part of the outline is entitled “Hearing information about books”, then “Looking for books in the library” and “Reading books” are appropriate titles for the other sections. The title of this section displays information that is just as important as the title of the first section. However, it would be inappropriate to title the section with “enter the room and close the door”. This line would be better suited as a subsection under the “Reading books” section
Step 6. Divide each title into two or more sections
To provide sufficient information for each section, you need to divide each section into two or more sections.
For example, under the “Hear information about books” section, you could also include subsections titled “Chat with friends”, “Listen to the radio on the way to school”, and “Search for new book ideas on the internet”. Under each of these subsections, you can provide additional subsections to break down the information that needs to be entered
Method 3 of 3: Organizing Information in an Essay Outline
Step 1. Include an introduction in the first part of the outline
This section should provide an eye-catching introduction and general information on the topic. The information in the introductory outline should gradually become more specific as it progresses through the subsections. The final subsection in the introductory outline should be a thesis statement.
- Under the subsections, write sentences that introduce the topic of the essay while holding the reader's attention. A surprising fact or anecdote is a great way to start.
- The second subpoint should describe the topic, problem history, background, or issue being discussed. This section is short, but contains the information readers need to understand your essay.
- The final subpoint must be a thesis statement. State the idea or argument you will discuss in the essay.
Step 2. Provide information on the essay discussion in the second part
The content or discussion is the largest part of the essay. So, create at least three subsections in this section.
- Don't label each point a "major point". Just write down the points discussed.
- Under each main point, write supporting evidence. Include each supporting evidence in a separate line and subsection. Then, write an explanation that analyzes the evidence and how it supports your claim.
- If you want, you can also include transitional sentences to the next main point at the end of each "main idea" section. However, this is not really necessary.
Step 3. Include a conclusion outline at the end
This section should return the reader to the general discussion introduced in the "Introduction".
- First of all, restate your thesis. Do not copy the original thesis statement verbatim. State the idea again, but in new words.
- Make a concluding statement. A conclusion statement usually discusses the implications of the thesis, proposes a solution to a problem discussed in the essay, or explains the importance of the thesis to something that is beyond the scope of the essay.
Step 4. Compare the results with the task guide
If a template must be submitted, you should always compare it to the guide to ensure all requirements are met. Check again whether your work is in line with the instructor's expectations so that you can get full marks.
