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Essay Writing Guide

Essay Outline

Last updated on: Jun 28, 2024

A Complete Essay Outline - Guidelines and Format

By: Nova A.

13 min read

Reviewed By: Melisa C.

Published on: Jan 15, 2019

To write an effective essay, you need to create a clear and well-organized essay outline. An essay outline will shape the essay’s entire content and determine how successful the essay will be.

In this blog post, we'll be going over the basics of essay outlines and provide a template for you to follow. We will also include a few examples so that you can get an idea about how these outlines look when they are put into practice.

Essay writing is not easy, but it becomes much easier with time, practice, and a detailed essay writing guide. Once you have developed your outline, everything else will come together more smoothly.

The key to success in any area is preparation - take the time now to develop a solid outline and then write your essays!

So, let’s get started!

On this Page

What is an Essay Outline?

An essay outline is your essay plan and a roadmap to essay writing. It is the structure of an essay you are about to write. It includes all the main points you have to discuss in each section along with the thesis statement.

Like every house has a map before it is constructed, the same is the importance of an essay outline. You can write an essay without crafting an outline, but you may miss essential information, and it is more time-consuming.

Once the outline is created, there is no chance of missing any important information. Also, it will help you to:

• Organize your thoughts and ideas.
• Understand the information flow.
• Never miss any crucial information or reference.
• Finish your work faster.

These are the reasons if someone asks you why an essay outline is needed. Now there are some points that must be kept in mind before proceeding to craft an essay outline.

Easily Outline Your Essays In Seconds!

Prewriting Process of Essay Outline

Your teacher may ask you to submit your essay outline before your essay. Therefore, you must know the preliminary guidelines that are necessary before writing an essay outline.

Here are the guidelines:

• You must go through your assignments’ guidelines carefully.
• Understand the purpose of your assignment.
• Know your audience.
• Mark the important point while researching your topic data.
• Select the structure of your essay outline; whether you are going to use a decimal point bullet or a simple one.

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How to Write an Essay Outline in 4 Steps

Creating an essay outline is a crucial step in crafting a well-structured and organized piece of writing. Follow these four simple steps to create an effective outline:

Step 1: Understand the Topic

To begin, thoroughly grasp the essence of your essay topic. 

Break it down into its key components and identify the main ideas you want to convey. This step ensures you have a clear direction and focus for your essay.

Step 2: Brainstorm and Gather Ideas

Let your creativity flow and brainstorm ideas related to your topic. 

Jot down key pieces of information, arguments, and supporting evidence that will strengthen your essay's overall message. Consider different perspectives and potential counterarguments to make your essay well-rounded.

Step 3: Organize Your Thoughts

Now it's time to give structure to your ideas. 

Arrange your main points in a logical order, starting with an attention-grabbing introduction, followed by body paragraphs that present your arguments. 

Finally, tie everything together with a compelling conclusion. Remember to use transitional phrases to create smooth transitions between sections.

Step 4: Add Depth with Subpoints

To add depth and clarity to your essay, incorporate subpoints under each main point. 

These subpoints provide more specific details, evidence, or examples that support your main ideas. They help to further strengthen your arguments and make your essay more convincing.

By following these four steps - you'll be well on your way to creating a clear and compelling essay outline.

Essay Outline Format

It is an easy way for you to write your thoughts in an organized manner. It may seem unnecessary and unimportant, but it is not.

It is one of the most crucial steps for essay writing as it shapes your entire essay and aids the writing process.

An essay outline consists of three main parts:

1. Introduction

The introduction body of your essay should be attention-grabbing. It should be written in such a manner that it attracts the reader’s interest. It should also provide background information about the topic for the readers.

You can use a dramatic tone to grab readers’ attention, but it should connect the audience to your thesis statement.

Here are some points without which your introduction paragraph is incomplete.

To attract the reader with the first few opening lines, we use a hook statement. It helps engage the reader and motivates them to read further. There are different types of hook sentences ranging from quotes, rhetorical questions to anecdotes and statistics, and much more.

Are you struggling to come up with an interesting hook? View these hook examples to get inspired!

A thesis statement is stated at the end of your introduction. It is the most important statement of your entire essay. It summarizes the purpose of the essay in one sentence.

The thesis statement tells the readers about the main theme of the essay, and it must be strong and clear. It holds the entire crux of your essay.

Need help creating a strong thesis statement? Check out this guide on thesis statements and learn to write a statement that perfectly captures your main argument!

2. Body Paragraphs

The body paragraphs of an essay are where all the details and evidence come into play. This is where you dive deep into the argument, providing explanations and supporting your ideas with solid evidence. 

If you're writing a persuasive essay, these paragraphs will be the powerhouse that convinces your readers. Similarly, in an argumentative essay, your body paragraphs will work their magic to sway your audience to your side.

Each paragraph should have a topic sentence and no more than one idea. A topic sentence is the crux of the contents of your paragraph. It is essential to keep your reader interested in the essay.

The topic sentence is followed by the supporting points and opinions, which are then justified with strong evidence.

3. Conclusion

When it comes to wrapping up your essay, never underestimate the power of a strong conclusion. Just like the introduction and body paragraphs, the conclusion plays a vital role in providing a sense of closure to your topic. 

To craft an impactful conclusion, it's crucial to summarize the key points discussed in the introduction and body paragraphs. You want to remind your readers of the important information you shared earlier. But keep it concise and to the point. Short, powerful sentences will leave a lasting impression.

Remember, your conclusion shouldn't drag on. Instead, restate your thesis statement and the supporting points you mentioned earlier. And here's a pro tip: go the extra mile and suggest a course of action. It leaves your readers with something to ponder or reflect on.

5 Paragraph Essay Outline Structure

An outline is an essential part of the writing as it helps the writer stay focused. A typical 5 paragraph essay outline example is shown here. This includes:

• State the topic
• Thesis statement
• Introduction
• Explanation
• A conclusion that ties to the thesis
• Summary of the essay
• Restate the thesis statement

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Essay Outline Template

The outline of the essay is the skeleton that you will fill out with the content. Both outline and relevant content are important for a good essay. The content you will add to flesh out the outline should be credible, relevant, and interesting.

The outline structure for the essay is not complex or difficult. No matter which type of essay you write, you either use an alphanumeric structure or a decimal structure for the outline.

Below is an outline sample that you can easily follow for your essay.

Essay Outline Sample

Essay Outline Examples

An essay outline template should follow when you start writing the essay. Every writer should learn how to write an outline for every type of essay and research paper.

Essay outline 4th grade

Essay outline 5th grade

Essay outline high school

Essay outline college

Given below are essay outline examples for different types of essay writing.

Argumentative Essay Outline

An  argumentative essay  is a type of essay that shows both sides of the topic that you are exploring. The argument that presents the basis of the essay should be created by providing evidence and supporting details.

Persuasive Essay Outline

A  persuasive essay  is similar to an argumentative essay. Your job is to provide facts and details to create the argument. In a persuasive essay, you convince your readers of your point of view.

Compare and Contrast Essay Outline

A  compare and contrast essay  explains the similarities and differences between two things. While comparing, you should focus on the differences between two seemingly similar objects. While contrasting, you should focus on the similarities between two different objects.

Narrative Essay Outline

A narrative essay is written to share a story. Normally, a narrative essay is written from a personal point of view in an essay. The basic purpose of the narrative essay is to describe something creatively.

Expository Essay Outline

An  expository essay  is a type of essay that explains, analyzes, and illustrates something for the readers. An expository essay should be unbiased and entirely based on facts. Be sure to use academic resources for your research and cite your sources.

Analytical Essay Outline

An  analytical essay  is written to analyze the topic from a critical point of view. An analytical essay breaks down the content into different parts and explains the topic bit by bit.

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Outline

A rhetorical essay is written to examine the writer or artist’s work and develop a great essay. It also includes the discussion.

Cause and Effect Essay Outline

A  cause and effect essay  describes why something happens and examines the consequences of an occurrence or phenomenon. It is also a type of expository essay.

Informative Essay Outline

An  informative essay  is written to inform the audience about different objects, concepts, people, issues, etc.

The main purpose is to respond to the question with a detailed explanation and inform the target audience about the topic.

Synthesis Essay Outline

A  synthesis essay  requires the writer to describe a certain unique viewpoint about the issue or topic. Create a claim about the topic and use different sources and information to prove it.

Literary Analysis Essay Outline

A  literary analysis essay  is written to analyze and examine a novel, book, play, or any other piece of literature. The writer analyzes the different devices such as the ideas, characters, plot, theme, tone, etc., to deliver his message.

Definition Essay Outline

A  definition essay  requires students to pick a particular concept, term, or idea and define it in their own words and according to their understanding.

Descriptive Essay Outline

A  descriptive essay  is a type of essay written to describe a person, place, object, or event. The writer must describe the topic so that the reader can visualize it using their five senses.

Evaluation Essay Outline

Problem Solution Essay Outline

In a problem-solution essay, you are given a problem as a topic and you have to suggest multiple solutions on it.

Scholarship Essay Outline

A  scholarship essay  is required at the time of admission when you are applying for a scholarship. Scholarship essays must be written in a way that should stand alone to help you get a scholarship.

Reflective Essay Outline

A reflective essay  is written to express your own thoughts and point of view regarding a specific topic.

Getting started on your essay? Give this comprehensive essay writing guide a read to make sure you write an effective essay!

With this complete guide, now you understand how to create an outline for your essay successfully. However, if you still can’t write an effective essay, then the best option is to consult a professional academic writing service.

Essay writing is a dull and boring task for some people. So why not get some help instead of wasting your time and effort?  5StarEssays.com is here to help you. All your  do my essay for me  requests are managed by professional essay writers.

Place your order now, and our team of expert academic writers will help you.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the three types of outlines.

Here are the three types of essay outline;

• Working outline
• Speaking outline
• Full-sentence outline

All three types are different from each other and are used for different purposes.

What does a full-sentence outline look like?

A full sentence outline contains full sentences at each level of the essay’s outline. It is similar to an alphanumeric outline and it is a commonly used essay outline.

What is a traditional outline format?

A traditional essay outline begins with writing down all the important points in one place and listing them down and adding sub-topics to them. Besides, it will also include evidence and proof that you will use to back your arguments.

What is the benefit of using a traditional outline format and an informal outline format?

A traditional outline format helps the students in listing down all the important details in one palace while an informal outline will help you coming up with new ideas and highlighting important points

As a Digital Content Strategist, Nova Allison has eight years of experience in writing both technical and scientific content. With a focus on developing online content plans that engage audiences, Nova strives to write pieces that are not only informative but captivating as well.

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Trying to devise a structure for your essay can be one of the most difficult parts of the writing process. Making a detailed outline before you begin writing is a good way to make sure your ideas come across in a clear and logical order. A good outline will also save you time in the revision process, reducing the possibility that your ideas will need to be rearranged once you've written them.

The First Steps

Before you can begin outlining, you need to have a sense of what you will argue in the essay. From your analysis and close readings of primary and/or secondary sources you should have notes, ideas, and possible quotes to cite as evidence. Let's say you are writing about the 1999 Republican Primary and you want to prove that each candidate's financial resources were the most important element in the race. At this point, your notes probably lack much coherent order. Most likely, your ideas are still in the order in which they occurred to you; your notes and possible quotes probably still adhere to the chronology of the sources you've examined. Your goal is to rearrange your ideas, notes, and quotes—the raw material of your essay—into an order that best supports your argument, not the arguments you've read in other people's works. To do this, you have to group your notes into categories and then arrange these categories in a logical order.

Generalizing

The first step is to look over each individual piece of information that you've written and assign it to a general category. Ask yourself, "If I were to file this in a database, what would I file it under?" If, using the example of the Republican Primary, you wrote down an observation about John McCain's views on health care, you might list it under the general category of  "Health care policy." As you go through your notes, try to reuse categories whenever possible. Your goal is to reduce your notes to no more than a page of category listings.

Now examine your category headings. Do any seem repetitive? Do any go together? "McCain's expenditure on ads" and "Bush's expenditure on ads," while not exactly repetitive, could easily combine into a more general category like "Candidates' expenditures on ads." Also, keep an eye out for categories that no longer seem to relate to your argument. Individual pieces of information that at first seemed important can begin to appear irrelevant when grouped into a general category.

Now it's time to generalize again. Examine all your categories and look for common themes. Go through each category and ask yourself, "If I were to place this piece of information in a file cabinet, what would I label that cabinet?" Again, try to reuse labels as often as possible: "Health Care," "Foreign Policy," and "Immigration" can all be contained under "Policy Initiatives." Make these larger categories as general as possible so that there are no more than three or four for a 7-10 page paper.

With your notes grouped into generalized categories, the process of ordering them should be easier. To begin, look at your most general categories. With your thesis in mind, try to find a way that the labels might be arranged in a sentence or two that supports your argument. Let's say your thesis is that financial resources played the most important role in the 1999 Republican Primary. Your four most general categories are "Policy Initiatives," "Financial Resources," "Voters' Concerns," and "Voters' Loyalty." You might come up with the following sentence: ÒAlthough McCain's policy initiatives were closest to the voters' concerns, Bush's financial resources won the voters' loyalty.Ó This sentence should reveal the order of your most general categories. You will begin with an examination of McCain's and Bush's views on important issues and compare them to the voters' top concerns. Then you'll look at both candidates' financial resources and show how Bush could win voters' loyalty through effective use of his resources, despite his less popular policy ideas.

With your most general categories in order, you now must order the smaller categories. To do so, arrange each smaller category into a sentence or two that will support the more general sentence you've just devised. Under the category of "Financial Resources," for instance, you might have the smaller categories of "Ad Expenditure," "Campaign Contributions" and "Fundraising." A sentence that supports your general argument might read: "Bush's early emphasis on fundraising led to greater campaign contributions, allowing him to have a greater ad expenditure than McCain."

The final step of the outlining process is to repeat this procedure on the smallest level, with the original notes that you took for your essay. To order what probably was an unwieldy and disorganized set of information at the beginning of this process, you need now only think of a sentence or two to support your general argument. Under the category "Fundraising," for example, you might have quotes about each candidate's estimation of its importance, statistics about the amount of time each candidate spent fundraising, and an idea about how the importance of fundraising never can be overestimated. Sentences to support your general argument might read: "No candidate has ever raised too much money [your idea]. While both McCain and Bush acknowledged the importance of fundraising [your quotes], the numbers clearly point to Bush as the superior fundraiser [your statistics]." The arrangement of your ideas, quotes, and statistics now should come naturally.

Putting It All Together

With these sentences, you have essentially constructed an outline for your essay. The most general ideas, which you organized in your first sentence, constitute the essay's sections. They follow the order in which you placed them in your sentence. The order of the smaller categories within each larger category (determined by your secondary sentences) indicates the order of the paragraphs within each section. Finally, your last set of sentences about your specific notes should show the order of the sentences within each paragraph. An outline for the essay about the 1999 Republican Primary (showing only the sections worked out here) would look something like this:

I. POLICY INITIATIVES

II.  VOTERS' CONCERNS

III.  FINANCIAL RESOURCES

            A.  Fundraising

                        a.  Original Idea

                        b.  McCain Quote/Bush Quote

                        c.  McCain Statistics/Bush Statistics

            B.  Campaign Contributions

            C.  Ad Expenditure

IV.  VOTERS' LOYALTY

Copyright 2000, David Kornhaber, for the Writing Center at Harvard University

Home ➔ Essay Outline

How to Write an Essay Outline (Examples and Template)

Essays are used to express ideas or opinions about a particular subject matter. It’s among the first tasks introduced to students at the primary levels of education. It’s also one of the widely accepted forms of assessing students that cut across most academic disciplines, especially in college. Schools and even places of employment might also require an essay from an applicant before considering them.

The silver lining is that many students have a working knowledge of how to write an essay and its structure composition, which usually includes an introduction, body, and a concluding paragraph. Still, the average student spends more than the necessary number of hours on a single task because they run out of ideas or lose their train of thought. Even the overall content of the paper suffers. That can be avoided by penning down a solid outline before writing the first draft. Did you know even seasoned bestseller writers do this? So, what’s an outline? How does it improve your essays, and how do you write it? We are answering all these questions in our guide.

Essay Outline Format and Definition

An essay outline acts like a map or blueprint, guiding writers in organizing their work. It’s similar to a table of contents in research papers and dissertations. Many students actually make outlines without realizing it, which is why learning to write one is straightforward. Typically, students brainstorm and research ideas before starting to write. However, they often don’t organize these ideas properly. This step is crucial to transform their initial thoughts into a structured essay outline.

If writing an effective outline isn’t a task that you must submit for a grade, then it’s up to you how you format it. However, you should follow four main principles  when creating a plan for your academic writing:

• Ranking — as you go from your main headings to subheadings, you move from general to more specific.
• Parallelism — every heading on the same hierarchy level should start with the same word type (verb, adjective, noun, etc.).
• Parity — all headings of the same hierarchy should be equally important and less important than the ones higher in rank.
• Fragmentation — each main heading should be divided into at least two subheadings.

The image below illustrates all four principles of outlining:

The most common format is a standard alphanumeric outline template. Headlines are labeled in the following order (from the first to the most nested one):

• (a) Lowercase letters in round brackets

For what you write in each point, you can use brief phrases or full sentences to summarize the idea.

The decimal outline structure is another format you can apply, and it looks like this:

When organizing an essay, there are two primary types of outlines: topic outlines and sentence outlines .

A topic outline lists your essay’s main points and subpoints in short phrases or single words. As a result, it provides a clear, concise structure and helps you visualize the flow of the essay without getting into detailed sentences. This type of outline is mainly useful for shorter essays or when you have a strong comprehension of the subject and do not need to go into every point during this initial planning stage.

In contrast, a sentence outline has complete sentences for each main point and subpoint. This outlining approach offers a more detailed framework, allowing you to flesh out your ideas and ensure that each part of the essay is developed well. Sentence outlines are good for longer or more complex papers, where you need to clarify your thoughts and arguments in advance. By using full sentences, this outline type helps identify any gaps in logic or areas that need further analysis, making the actual writing process smoother and more efficient in the end.

Why is Outlining Important?

Reasons vary, but we usually use it to logically order all the data you collected during the brainstorming and researching stages. A good outline helps a lot in writing research papers, as you can easily keep track of all the relevant information. Even for oral presentations, it’s a great way to identify the strengths and weaknesses of their speech and make it more effective. To sum up, an outline’s core functions are:

• Guiding you during the writing phrase
• Helping you organize your thoughts and ideas
• Presenting material in a logical order
• Showing how your ideas link to one another
• Serving as an abstract for your paper

Outlines enhance thinking flow

Consider planning every next day before going to bed. You will realize that you undertake your daily activities without overthinking or second-guessing yourself because you know what to do every time. That is one of the proven life principles for most successful people. The same applies to paper writing. Your essays will feel like a walk in the park if you outline every major point beforehand.

Outlines save time

Time is a commodity that none of us have in abundance, especially considering the responsibilities students have to undertake daily. So why spend hours on essays when you have mounting academic work? You’d rather waste less time and still get good grades. That’s what essay outlines are for: saving time and improving your performance. Once you’ve planned out your essay, it takes less time to develop each idea.

Outlines improve grades

From students’ perspective, the whole point of sweating over an essay is to get the best grades, and an outline can help you do that. If you take time to brainstorm and jot down every major point you can raise in your essay, you will make fewer errors. If you arrange your ideas in an order that makes sense, your tutor will notice it and evaluate the paper accordingly.

How to Outline an Essay

Building an outline is an excellent way to ensure that every paragraph in your essay has a purpose. While outlining, you can see if a paragraph is essential or can be dropped without harm to your paper. It also checks how your argument or main idea is advancing, which will help you speed up the proofreading stage. Now that you learned how significant outlining is, let’s see how you can create one.

Before writing an outline, you should:

• Define the goal of your essay.
• Determine the target audience.
• Create the thesis statement.

Step 1: Research

The quality of your research determines the quality of your outline and your essay at large. That includes finding quotes from reputable sources or indicating the main supporting points to bolster your argument. Depending on your educational background, you might have to use different sources to expedite your research.

Any websites found on Google are unsuitable sources for papers written at a college or university level. Since the Internet is full of unverified information, it’s vital to ascertain your source’s credibility before referring to it. Examples of trusted sites include Google Scholar, Microsoft Academic, Science.gov, Refseek, and Oxford Academic.

Step 2: Organize

After choosing a topic and researching, it’s time to write the outline using all the gathered information. It should match the layout of the essay: an introduction, a body section, and a conclusion. Have you ever written down something but couldn’t read from your handwriting later on? This usually happens if you have bad handwriting or the information is too clustered to read. You don’t want to rely on such an outline, especially when pressed for time. So, you must organize your plan to match the essay structure .

Introduction

Some ways to start your introduction paragraph are anecdotes, proverbs or idioms, definitions, statistics, quotes, or facts. You can begin your essay outline by jotting down the main ideas for the introduction, which should also include a thesis statement. The point is to equip yourself with a road map, so short sentences should suffice.

Body paragraphs

Each body paragraph provides one idea that supports your thesis statement and is backed by facts, details, and examples. There will be more or fewer paragraphs here, depending on the essay volume. But, when writing a standard essay, you would usually need three body paragraphs, each of which should be in your outline. Remember that every paragraph must start with a topic sentence supported by two or three independent ideas with a link (transition) sentence at the end.

This paragraph summarizes every major point in the essay with some broader context. For a short paper, three to five sentences should be used for the concluding section of your paper.

Below is a template of a standard five-paragraph essay outline structure template that you can download by clicking on the button under the image.

Once you’re done, remember to proofread and edit to ensure you haven’t missed something important.

Essay outline examples

Now that you know how to write an outline, analyze the samples below to better understand how to apply this theory in practice. Each sample essay outline was hand-picked to ensure it corresponds to all key principles of creating one.

CLICK OR TAP ON THE IMAGE TO DOWNLOAD IT IN PDF

Argumentative essay outline example

Similar to persuasive essays, argumentative essays are designed to persuade the reader to accept a specific point of view. They require the writer to use relevant evidence and reasoning to support their arguments while addressing and refuting opposing viewpoints.

For example, an argumentative essay outline on the topic “The Necessity of Renewable Energy” could be structured as follows:

• A. Start with a striking statistic about current global energy consumption.
• B. Provide background on the reliance on non-renewable energy sources.
• C. Thesis: “In the face of escalating environmental crises and depleting non-renewable resources, transitioning to renewable energy sources emerges as an indispensable solution, not only to mitigate ecological damage but also to ensure long-term sustainability and economic viability for future generations.”
• 1. Detail the ecological damage caused by fossil fuels.
• 2. Highlight the contribution of non-renewable energy to global warming.
• 1. Describe the long-term environmental benefits of renewable sources.
• 2. Discuss technological advancements in renewable energy.
• 1. Address concerns about the high cost and practicality.
• 2. Provide evidence of decreasing costs and increasing efficiency.
• A. Reiterate the thesis in light of the arguments presented.
• B. Summarize the environmental and economic benefits.
• C. Concluding statement: Call to action for policy changes and individual responsibility​​.

Narrative essay outline example

Narrative essays tell a story, focusing on personal experiences and emotions. For instance, a narrative essay titled “My Journey to Becoming a Volunteer” could have the following example outline:

• A. Open with a personal anecdote about the desire to help others.
• B. Set the scene for the volunteer journey.
• C. Thesis: “My journey to becoming a volunteer was a transformative experience that reshaped my understanding of community and self, teaching me invaluable lessons in empathy, resilience, and the profound impact of selfless service on both personal growth and the well-being of others.”
• 1. Describe the initial motivation and decision-making process.
• 2. Mention key influences or events leading to the decision.
• 1. Narrate specific experiences and interactions during volunteering.
• 2. Reflect on challenges faced and how they were overcome.
• 1. Discuss the skills and insights acquired.
• 2. Illustrate how the experience changed perspectives on community and self.
• A. Summarize the journey and its impact.
• B. Reflect on the personal changes and growth experienced.
• C. Closing thoughts: The ongoing importance of volunteer work​​​.

Compare and contrast essay outline example

Compare and contrast essays examine the similarities and differences between two subjects, offering a balanced view. For example, a compare and contrast essay on “Online Learning vs. Traditional Classroom” might follow this outline:

• A. Discuss the rise of online learning platforms.
• B. Contrast online and traditional classroom settings.
• C. Thesis Statement: “While both online learning and traditional classroom education aim to deliver quality education, they differ significantly in terms of their learning environments and teacher-student interactions, each offering unique advantages and challenges that cater to diverse learning needs and preferences.”
• 1. Compare the curriculum and teaching materials used in both settings.
• 2. Illustrate with examples of course content in both formats.
• 1. Detail the virtual setting of online learning vs. physical classrooms.
• 2. Discuss the impact of these environments on student engagement.
• 1. Compare the nature of interactions in online and traditional settings.
• 2. Examine the impact on student learning and participation.
• A. Recap the key similarities and differences.
• B. Reflect on the effectiveness of each mode of learning.
• C. Final thoughts: Future trends in education​​​.

Bottom line

Here are three key tips for students creating essay outlines:

• Review Your Assignment: Start by thoroughly reading your assignment instructions. This helps you understand your essay type and any word count limits.
• Keep Your Title and Thesis Handy: At the top of your outline, write down your essay’s title and the full thesis statement. This keeps your main idea in clear view as you work.
• Take Notes During Research: As you research, jot down key points. These notes will be valuable when you’re building your essay outline.

Remember, essays vary widely, from argumentative and narrative to comparative and persuasive, each with its own goals and structure. Mastering the art of outlining is crucial for improving your writing skills and achieving higher grades. If you often struggle with organizing your thoughts or experience writer’s block, planning your essay before you start writing can be immensely helpful. With practice, you’ll be able to complete your assignments more quickly while maintaining high quality.

The earlier, the better. If you start researching without note-taking and creating an outline, you might do all that research in vain. You need to read a bit, find reputable sources that you will use, and analyze the evidence before planning. But, as soon as your argument starts shaping, you should start putting your thoughts on paper.

Planning is a bit individual. Some people benefit from it more than others. If you can generate ideas easily but struggle with the writing process, preparing a thorough outline will help. Conversely, if you’re having a hard time coming up with ideas, you might benefit more from writing right away. Overplanning can also be harmful when it doesn’t leave enough time to complete the paper.

• Walden University — Outlining
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• Purdue University — Types of Outlines

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College Essay Format & Structure | Example Outlines

Published on September 24, 2021 by Meredith Testa . Revised on May 31, 2023.

There are no set rules for how to structure a college application essay, but you should carefully plan and outline to make sure your essay flows smoothly and logically.

Typical structural choices include

• a series of vignettes with a common theme
• a single story that demonstrates your positive qualities

Table of contents

Formatting your essay, outlining the essay, structures that work: two example outlines, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about college application essays.

You should keep the formatting as simple as possible. Admissions officers need to work very quickly, so fancy formatting, unnecessary flourishes, and unique fonts will come off as more distracting than individual. Keep in mind that, if you’re pasting your essay into a text box, formatting like italics may not transfer.

Your essay will be easier for admissions officers to read if it is 1.5- or double-spaced. If you choose to attach a file, ensure that it is a PDF.

You don’t need a title for your essay, but you can include one, especially if you think it will add something important.

Most importantly, ensure that you stick to the word count. Most successful essays are 500–600 words. Because you’re limited in length, make sure that you write concisely . Say everything that you need to express to get your point across, but don’t use more words than necessary, and don’t repeat yourself.

Prevent plagiarism. Run a free check.

Once you’ve finished brainstorming topics but before you start writing, think about your writing’s trajectory: how you’ll start the essay , develop it, and end it .

Do you want to organize it chronologically? Would you prefer to make a “sandwich” structure by introducing a topic or idea, moving away from it, and then coming back to it at the end? There’s a variety of options (and a pair of strong examples below), but make sure you consider how you’d like to structure the essay before you start writing.

Although you should organize your thoughts in an outline, you don’t have to stick to it strictly. Once you begin writing, you may find that the structure you’d originally chosen doesn’t quite work. In that case, it’s fine to try something else. Multiple drafts of the same essay are key to a good final product.

Whatever structure you choose, it should be clear and easy to follow, and it should be feasible to keep it within the  word count . Never write in a way that could confuse the reader. Remember, your audience will not be reading your essay closely!

Vignettes with a common theme

The vignette structure discusses several experiences that may seem unrelated, but the author weaves them together and unites them with a common theme.

For example, a student could write an essay exploring various instances of their ability to make the best of bad situations. A rough outline for that essay might look like this:

• In a rehearsal for a school play when a lighting fixture malfunctioned and the set caught fire, I helped extinguish it.
• To help the situation, I improvised fixes for the set and talked with the director about adding lines referencing the “disaster.”
• I didn’t get into my first-choice high school, but I became class president at the school where I ended up.
• When I had ACL surgery, I used the downtime to work on my upper body strength and challenged my friends to pull-up contests.
• How these qualities will serve me in college and in my career

Single story that demonstrates traits

The narrative structure focuses on a single overarching story that shows many aspects of a student’s character.

Some such essays focus on a relatively short event that the author details moment by moment, while others discuss the story of a longer journey, one that may cover months or years.

For example, a student might discuss trying out for a sports team as a middle schooler, high school freshman, and high school senior, using each of those instances to describe an aspect of their personality. A rough outline for that essay might look like this:

• Confident, there to have fun
• Very passionate and in love with the sport
• Little sister was born that day, so I had to go alone with a friend’s parents
• Learned to be independent and less self-centered
• Realized that as much as I love gymnastics, there are more important things
• Gave up first homecoming of high school, had to quit other activities, lost countless hours with friends
• I had to repeat level 9 and didn’t progress quickly
• I had a terrible beam routine at one competition the previous year and still had a mental block
• I got stuck on some skills, and it took over a year to learn them
• Passion from age 7, perspective from age 11, diligence from age 15

If you want to know more about academic writing , effective communication , or parts of speech , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.

Academic writing

• Writing process
• Transition words
• Passive voice
• Paraphrasing

 Communication

• How to end an email
• Ms, mrs, miss
• How to start an email
• I hope this email finds you well
• Hope you are doing well

 Parts of speech

• Personal pronouns
• Conjunctions

There are no set rules for how to structure a college application essay , but these are two common structures that work:

• A montage structure, a series of vignettes with a common theme.
• A narrative structure, a single story that shows your personal growth or how you overcame a challenge.

Avoid the five-paragraph essay structure that you learned in high school.

Your college essay’s format should be as simple as possible:

• Use a standard, readable font
• Use 1.5 or double spacing
• If attaching a file, save it as a PDF
• Stick to the word count
• Avoid unusual formatting and unnecessary decorative touches

You don’t need a title for your college admissions essay , but you can include one if you think it adds something important.

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How to Write an Essay Outline

Have you ever tried writing an essay without an outline? If you have, chances are your ideas went all over the place even though you started out with a specific goal in mind. So when your professor reads the paper, they won’t know what points you’re trying to make or how those points support your thesis statement. If they can’t understand what they’re reading, there’s no way they’ll grade it an A+.

That’s why you should have an essay outline to organize your research or opinions in a way that makes sense for readers. An essay outline helps you structure your writing in a logical flow to get your ideas across more effectively, which also improves your overall writing quality . As such, it also ensures that you don’t accidentally leave out the most critical points you want to convey.

If you’re reading this, you probably don’t know how to write an outline for an essay (yet) or you want to get better at it. That’s exactly what this guide will help you with. You’ll discover what goes into an essay outline and how you can write one for your next paper. Let’s get started.

What is an outline?

An outline is an organization tool that helps authors plan their writing before they start. In other words, it’s a roadmap or a blueprint of your paper. It acts as the foundation of your piece, listing out the main ideas in a logical structure that flows well. Having a topical outline in place also makes it easier to remember all the points you need to form a strong argument or support your opinions.

Although an essay outline isn’t mandatory, it helps you get the job done faster and more easily. When you start writing without a proper plan in mind, however, there could be a lot of restructuring and rewriting. This not only takes time but can be mentally taxing, and you can’t afford that especially when you have other classes to catch up with.

Writing an essay outline involves a few steps – preparation, structuring, and organization. Since this can be a lot of work, it’s best to learn from a writing tutor who will guide you through the entire process and give you hands-on training. That doesn’t mean it’s impossible to learn it on your own, and this guide will give you all the basic ideas you need to cover when creating an outline.

Key elements of an essay outline

Regardless of what type of essay you’re writing, a formal essay outline typically has three essential elements – the introduction, the body, and the conclusion. Let’s take a closer look at each of these components:

The introduction

This is the section where you’ll introduce readers to your topic and describe why you’re writing about it. It needs to be relevant and attention-grabbing. When writing a college research paper outline, be sure to mention the topic and the thesis statement in your introduction.

Starting your outline with a thesis statement will give you a better sense of how to support the ideas and arguments you present in the body.

This is the section that will contain the most information and it’s where you’ll present ideas and arguments to support your thesis. It should have a minimum of three paragraphs and your outline should touch on each of them.

For each paragraph, note the topic or idea you’ll be discussing. Don’t forget to include the supporting evidence such as data, examples, expert opinions, and facts you plan to use for each paragraph.

The conclusion

This is the section where you wrap up the essay and remind readers about the points you were trying to make. Start by paraphrasing your thesis statement and summarize the purpose of your paper.

Outline formatting

In general, most formal essay outlines use a linear formatting style. This involves ranking your points or arguments in order of importance. So for example, you’ll start by discussing the most important point at the top of your essay body and then gradually move downward.

Considering all these elements, your essay outline will typically look like this:

3 Questions to ask before creating an outline

Before you’re ready to create your essay outline, ask yourself the following questions so you can start with a strong direction. Having all this information in place will make it easier to put together your outline:

1: What’s your goal?

What’s the purpose of writing this paper? Perhaps you want to inform your readers about a specific topic or maybe you want to persuade them to accept your argument. Identifying your goal will help you form a strong thesis statement as well.

2: Who will read it?

For whom are you writing your essay? Yes, you’ll consider writing for a professor when preparing a college research paper outline, but they aren’t your only target audience. Perhaps you’re writing for your classmates and peers, or you’re writing for experts in your field.

If you’re writing a college application essay, for instance, your target audience will be the members of the admissions committee. This means you should be writing for students, staff, and professors alike.

Identifying your target audience will help you understand how to form convincing arguments while considering their knowledge and points of view.

3: What’s your thesis statement?

Now based on the goal of your essay, come up with a strong thesis statement that details your argument and draws in the readers.

Structuring your outline

Once you have a goal and a thesis statement ready, it’s time to structure your essay outline. You can either use an alphanumeric outline structure like we’ve done in the above example, or you can also go for a decimal structure depending on what’s clearer to you.

Alphanumeric format:

Decimal format:

Remember, this isn’t your full essay yet so feel free to briefly outline your ideas in fragmented sentences. However, a college research paper outline will most likely need complete sentences if your professor is going to review it. This will help them understand the ideas and arguments you plan on presenting in your essay.

Putting this all together

Now let’s get to the main event – organizing your essay outline. Follow the topical outline structure of your choice and begin by outlining the introduction. In a sentence, describe the topic you’re writing about. Then follow up with your thesis statement.

You might also want to include an essay hook to make your paper even more enticing for readers. An essay hook is the opening sentence of your introduction, which instantly draws in readers and makes them want to read the entire piece. It could be anything from a relevant quote or a common misconception to an anecdote or a personal story.

Next, outline the body of your essay by noting down the topic or argument for each paragraph. Include the supporting evidence you plan on using such as stats , facts, examples, and expert opinions. Don’t forget to mention how the evidence ties in with the topic and thesis statement.

It will help to include a transition sentence in each paragraph so you can quickly structure your arguments in a logical flow. When you add more details to your essay outline, you’ll find it much easier to organize all the info as you write.

Finally, end it with an outline of your essay conclusion. Make sure you restate your thesis statement to remind your readers of your argument. Then follow up with a concluding statement to validate your thesis and propose any solution or plan to address the issue discussed in your essay.

Outline examples for different types of essays

While it’s helpful to read articles that tell you what to do and how to do it, working with a personal English tutor can give you a much more practical experience in writing essay outlines. Another excellent solution is to learn from example . So we’ve put together outline examples for the most popular types of essays:

Argumentative essay outline example

An argumentative essay, also known as a persuasive essay, involves using logical arguments to support your opinion and persuade readers. This type of persuasive writing will require solid evidence to back up your theory or argument such as facts, research, and examples.

Narrative essay outline example

A narrative essay is a form of descriptive writing where you narrate a story based on your personal experience or point of view. This is the easiest type of essay because it doesn’t require any research or supporting evidence. However, the most challenging part is providing specific and sensory details that would help readers understand your point of view.

Research essay outline example

A research essay is a form of academic writing which involves analyzing the works of other people on a certain topic and build on them using your own opinions or ideas. This is the most common type of essay you’ll have to write as a grad or post-grad student. It can be challenging as it requires plenty of research, coupled with original ideas and critical thinking.

Get ready to write sensational essays

All the tips and examples we’ve provided above will help you understand how and where to begin your essay writing process . It all starts with a good essay outline to organize your thoughts and structure your writing flow. Otherwise, you’ll end up losing your train of thought while you’re in the middle of writing. So make the most of our guide to develop your essay and outline writing skills.

Jacqueline Zote is a copywriter with a passion for all things relating to the English language. Her interests range from pop culture and mythology to social activism. Her short fiction has appeared in anthologies published by HarperCollins Publishers and Zubaan Books.

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How To Write An Essay Outline: Tips And Examples

• What Is An Outline?
• Why Are Outlines Helpful?
• Parts Of An Outline

To outline or not to outline: that is the age-old question. For a lot of people, outlines are a way to organize thoughts and gather information before they start writing, which can often save valuable time later on. But some writers prefer to craft essays more loosely, adding material and shaping their supporting paragraphs as they go.

Whether you’re new to outlines (or writing, period) or you’re just looking to hone your skills at crafting the perfect essay outline, there are some important things to know about the process. Follow along as we break down the why and the how of writing an effective outline and provide a step-by-step guide that will make writing your next essay a total cinch.

What is an outline?

An outline is “a general sketch, account, or report, indicating only the main features, as of a book, subject, or project.” In other words, it’s like a brief summary of the topics you plan to cover in a longer piece of writing.

In writing an outline, you create the skeleton of your essay, which provides a supportive structure on which you can arrange and organize each of your paragraphs. This helps you clarify the points you intend to make in your writing and also gives you an opportunity to tailor your research, which can make the writing process much easier later on.

Why are outlines helpful?

If you aren’t typically an outline writer, you might be wondering if you really need to put in the extra work to create one. Ultimately, everyone has a different writing style, and only you know what’s going to work for you, but here are four major reasons why many people find the outlining process helpful:

1. Outlines are brief and concise.

Remember: an outline is not the same thing as a rough draft. In an outline, each section contains only a sentence or two, and each topic is distilled to a single main idea.

2. Outlines help you write more efficiently.

You don’t have to worry about rambling or repeating the same statistic several times. You decide exactly where information belongs before you start writing.

3. Outlines are easy to edit.

You can move facts, details, and even entire sentences around easily without needing to rewrite whole paragraphs.

4. Outlines ensure supporting details connect to the thesis.

Once you see all of your work laid out, you might realize that certain paragraphs can be combined or that your conclusion doesn’t actually tie back to your thesis. Isn’t it nice to notice these potential errors before you’ve finished a draft?

Writer’s block? It’s part of the process. Here are some tips to overcome it and get your words flowing again.

The parts of a standard essay outline

Now that you understand the “why” behind writing an essay outline, let’s talk about how to do it. Here are the main parts to include in any essay outline:

Introduction

In an outline, your introduction consists of your thesis statement . This is a single sentence that states the subject, main idea, or main purpose of your essay.

When you write your essay, you will add a few sentences before and after your thesis statement to grab your reader’s interest and preview your essay’s main points. For the outline, you only need to narrow your point of view to a single, effective thesis that will inform the rest of the outline.

Body paragraphs

Body paragraphs are the parts of the essay in which you present information to back up your thesis. First, you’ll need to decide if you’re writing a three-paragraph essay or a five-paragraph essay . You may have anywhere from one to three body paragraphs, depending on what type you choose.

Each body paragraph in your outline should have:

• A main idea that aligns with your thesis.
• A topic sentence stating the main idea.
• A bulleted list of relevant research, quotes, anecdotes, and/or statistics.

Much like the introduction, your outline’s conclusion is all about your thesis statement. Here, you should:

• Restate your thesis
• Summarize the main points that support your thesis.
• Leave your reader with an impactful final thought or call to action.

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Example of a standard essay outline

Now that you know the parts of an essay outline, it might help to see them in action. Here’s an outline format you can use to plan your own essays, filled in with examples of a thesis statement, topic sentences for your body paragraphs, and the main parts of a strong conclusion.

• Thesis statement: There’s a lot of debate about which food category hot dogs fit into, but it’s clear from the evidence that a hot dog is a type of sandwich.

Body paragraph #1

• Topic sentence: To begin, hot dogs fit the dictionary definition of the word sandwich.
• Supporting detail: Sandwich is defined as “two or more slices of bread with a layer of meat, fish, cheese, and whatever other filling you’d like between them.”
• Supporting detail: A hot dog is a grilled or steamed sausage, usually made of pork or beef, which qualifies as a layer of meat.
• Supporting detail: Hot dog buns are split rolls, similar to the ones used for deli sandwiches.

Body paragraph #2

• Topic sentence: Secondly, hot dogs meet the legal definition of sandwiches in many places.
• Supporting detail: Mark Wheeler, a food safety specialist with the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), says the organization defines a sandwich as “a meat or poultry filling between two slices of bread, a bun, or a biscuit.”
• Supporting detail: In New York state, tax law lists “hot dogs and sausages on buns” as types of sandwiches.
• Supporting detail: Additionally, tax law in California clearly includes “hot dog and hamburger sandwiches” served from “sandwich stands or booths.”

Body paragraph #3

• Topic sentence: Finally, most Americans agree that hot dogs are sandwiches.
• Supporting detail: In a poll of 1,000 people conducted by RTA Outdoor Living, 56.8% of respondents agreed a hot dog is a sandwich.
• Supporting detail: Many fast food chains that serve primarily burgers and sandwiches, like Five Guys burgers and Shake Shack, also sell hot dogs.
• Supporting detail: Lexicographers at Dictionary.com have also declared that hot dogs officially meet the criteria to be included in the sandwich category. (Curious? Read the article here for this and other great food debates explained .)
• Restatement of thesis: Hot dogs are a unique kind of food, but the evidence makes it clear that they are indeed a type of sandwich.

Now, get to planning that perfect essay! (But if you’re hungry for a snack first, we don’t blame you.)

Plan and write a five-paragraph essay that will earn your instructor's own five—high five, that is!

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How to Write an Outline

Last Updated: August 2, 2024 Fact Checked

Sample Outlines

Planning your outline, structuring your outline, organizing your ideas, finalizing your outline, expert q&a.

This article was co-authored by Emily Listmann, MA and by wikiHow staff writer, Danielle Blinka, MA, MPA . Emily Listmann is a Private Tutor and Life Coach in Santa Cruz, California. In 2018, she founded Mindful & Well, a natural healing and wellness coaching service. She has worked as a Social Studies Teacher, Curriculum Coordinator, and an SAT Prep Teacher. She received her MA in Education from the Stanford Graduate School of Education in 2014. Emily also received her Wellness Coach Certificate from Cornell University and completed the Mindfulness Training by Mindful Schools. There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 3,961,061 times.

An outline is a great way to organize ideas and information for a speech, an essay, a novel, or a study guide based on your class notes. At first, writing an outline might seem complicated, but learning how to do it will give you an essential organizational skill! Start by planning your outline and choosing a structure for it. Then, you can organize your ideas into an easy to understand outline.

How to Create an Outline

• Choose your topic and thesis.
• Pick a format for your outline (e.g., alphanumerical vs. decimal).
• Cluster any similar ideas together.
• Start your outline with an introduction heading and follow with body headings.
• Include 2 subpoints for every main idea, and 2 supporting details for each subpoint.
• Add extra details and layers if you need them.
• Outline your conclusion.

Quick Outline Slideshow

• Some people process their ideas better when they write them down. Additionally, you can easily draw diagrams or examples, which might help you conceptualize the subject. However, it might take longer to write out your outline, and it won't be as neat.
• Typing your outline might be easier if your notes are already typed on the computer, as you can just copy and paste them into your outline. Copying and pasting also allows you to easily rearrange your sections, if necessary. Also, it will be easier to copy and paste information from your outline into your paper if you type your outline. On the other hand, it's harder to jot down notes in the margins or draw out organizational diagrams.

• If you’re working on a creative project, such as a novel, identify your concept, genre, or premise. Then, allow the outlining process to help you structure your work.
• It’s okay if your topic is somewhat broad when you first start, but you should have a direction. For example, your history paper topic could be French life during the German occupation of France in World War II. As you write your outline, you might narrow this down to the resistance fighters called maquisards .

• For a school assignment, review the assignment sheet or talk to your instructor. If the outline is for work, use an existing outline as a model for yours.
• If you are the only person who will see the outline, you can choose formatting that works for you. For example, you might write your outline in shorthand.

• Paraphrased ideas
• Historical facts

• Freewrite as ideas come to you.
• Create a mind map .
• Write your thoughts on index cards.

• For example, you may be writing a paper about policy change. Your thesis might read, “Policy makers should take an incremental approach when making policy changes to reduce conflict, allow adjustments, and foster compromise.” Each of the 3 reasons listed in your thesis will become its own main point in your outline.

• Roman Numerals - I, II, III, IV, V
• Capitalized Letters - A, B, C
• Arabic Numerals - 1, 2, 3
• Lowercase Letters - a, b, c
• Arabic Numerals in Parentheses - (1), (2), (3)

• 1.1.1 - Each side presents a case before the vote
• 1.1.2 - Citizens voice their opinion
• 1.2 - Neither side gets everything they want

• You might use short phrases to quickly organize your ideas, to outline a speech, or to create an outline that’s just for you.
• You might use full sentences to make it easier to write a final paper, to make a good study guide, or to fulfill the requirements of an assignment.

• If you jotted down your ideas or made a mind map, use different colored highlighters to identify ideas that belong in the same group.
• Sort your index cards, if you used them to brainstorm. Put cards with related ideas together. For example, you can put them in stacks, or you can line your cards out in rows to make them easier to read.

• For example, your main point might be that Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein champions emotion over reason. Your subpoints might be that Victor Frankenstein is restored by nature and that his scientific efforts create a monster. As supporting details, you might include quotes from the book.
• If you're writing a story or presenting a historical argument, a chronological order makes sense. For an essay or speech, pick the subtopic with the most supporting materials, and lead with this argument. From there, order your major subtopics so each one naturally flows into the next.
• Your broad ideas should connect back to your thesis or controlling idea. If they don’t, rewrite your thesis to reflect the main ideas you’re putting into your outline.

• Hook to grab the audience
• 1-2 general statements about your topic

• Phrase outline: II. Frankenstein champions emotion over reason
• Full sentence outline: II. In Frankenstein , Mary Shelley champions the use of emotion over reason.

• Depending on the purpose of your outline, you might have more subpoints. For example, a novel may have many subpoints. Similarly, a study guide will likely have several subpoints, as well.

• In an essay, this is often where you “prove” your argument.
• For a creative work, you might include essential details you must include in that scene, such as an internal conflict in your main character.
• Similar to subpoints, you may have more supporting details, depending on your purpose. A novel or study guide will likely have more supporting details.

• Roman Numeral
• Capital Letter
• Arabic Numeral
• Lowercase Letter
• Arabic Numeral in Parentheses

• Restate your thesis.
• 1-2 summarizing sentences.
• Write a concluding statement.

• This also gives you a chance to look for missing parts or ideas that aren’t fully fleshed. If you see areas that leave questions unanswered, it’s best to fill in those gaps in information.

• If you are making an outline for yourself, you might not worry about this.

• It’s a good idea to have someone else check it for errors, as it’s often hard to recognize errors in your own work.
• While you edit your outline, refer back to your assignment sheet or rubric to make sure you've completely fulfilled the assignment. If not, go back and correct the areas that are lacking.

• You can use more layers if you want to include more information.
• You might also include additional layers for a long creative work or a detailed study guide.

• Be concise and straightforward in your outline. This doesn't have to be perfectly polished writing; it just has to get your point across. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• Don't be afraid to eliminate irrelevant information as you conduct more research about your topic and narrow your focus. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• You can use outlines as a memorization tool . Choose concise words to trigger a concept. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

Tips from our Readers

• Only add the most important details to your outline; otherwise, your paper may be too long.

• Generally, you should avoid only having one point or sub-point on any outline level. If there is an A, either come up with a B or fold A's idea into the next level up. Thanks Helpful 4 Not Helpful 2
• Your outline should not be your essay in a different form. Only write down the major assertions, not every single detail. Thanks Helpful 2 Not Helpful 1

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://www.iup.edu/writingcenter/writing-resources/organization-and-structure/creating-an-outline.html
• ↑ https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/writingprocess/outlining
• ↑ https://www.ndsu.edu/pubweb/~cinichol/271/OutlinesHowTo.htm
• ↑ https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/544/02/
• ↑ https://www.writersdigest.com/write-better-fiction/7-steps-to-creating-a-flexible-outline-for-any-story
• ↑ https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/544/03/

About This Article

The easiest way to write an outline is to gather all of your supporting materials, like quotes, statistics, or ideas, before getting started. Next, go over your materials and take notes, grouping similar ideas together. Then, organize your ideas into subtopics and use your materials to provide at least two supporting points per subtopic. Be sure to keep your outline concise and clear, since you’ll have to refer to it later! For more help on how to plan and organize your outline, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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Why create an outline? There are many reasons, but in general, it may be helpful to create an outline when you want to show the hierarchical relationship or logical ordering of information. For research papers, an outline may help you keep track of large amounts of information. For creative writing, an outline may help organize the various plot threads and help keep track of character traits. Many people find that organizing an oral report or presentation in outline form helps them speak more effectively in front of a crowd. Below are the primary reasons for creating an outline.

• Aids in the process of writing
• Helps you organize your ideas
• Presents your material in a logical form
• Shows the relationships among ideas in your writing
• Constructs an ordered overview of your writing
• Defines boundaries and groups

How do I create an outline?

• Determine the purpose of your paper.
• Determine the audience you are writing for.
• Develop the thesis of your paper.
• Brainstorm : List all the ideas that you want to include in your paper.
• Organize : Group related ideas together.
• Order : Arrange material in subsections from general to specific or from abstract to concrete.
• Label : Create main and sub headings.

Remember: creating an outline before writing your paper will make organizing your thoughts a lot easier. Whether you follow the suggested guidelines is up to you, but making any kind of outline (even just some jotting down some main ideas) will be beneficial to your writing process.

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How to create a Flawless Essay Outline

Let’s face it, you cannot write a perfect essay without an outline. Now, it is common for students to stare at white pages for long without writing anything. It is also common for them start writing an essay only to realize that they have either run out of ideas or taken the wrong approach. Often, such events lead to frustrations, procrastination, and sometimes panic. This is where the essay outline or essay plan comes in.

Outlining or planning an essay is an important skill that will assure you success in every essay, whether short or long. Although loathed by many students, essay outlining process should be fun because it gets you 30% of the essay done, depending on the depth of your outline or essay plan. If you are after improving your essay grades and want to write papers that score B+ northwards to A+, you do not have any shortcut other than creating an outline to organize your research and thoughts before writing.

Luckily, in this guide, we take you through understanding the academic essay outlining including the definition of an essay outline, steps to create one, examples and templates of essay outlines, and a checklist to countercheck if you have aced your outline.

And now that your reading appetite is on, lets begin the essay outlining process, won’t we?

What is an essay outline?

An essay outline is simply a plan detailing how you are going to write an essay. it entails the structure and organization of the main parts (introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion) of the essay and the main points to write in each paragraph, making it easier when researching and writing an essay. It is basically a step-by-step guide to help you write your essay or call it a short plan for an academic essay.

Before writing an essay, it is recommended that you write a detailed essay outline if you want a well-structured and coherent essay.

Some professors will also ask you to submit an essay outline before starting to work on the first draft of your academic essays. Mainly, they do this to check if what you want to write is on the right track.

In this post, we are going to show you how exactly to write an excellent essay outline for your own use or as a class requirement. The moment you are done reading this, you should be able to plan your essays nicely and get maximum points if asked for an outline.

Although you can skip the process and write an essay without outlining, you will probably face challenges along the way. But before we delve deeper, lets explore why we need an essay outline anyway.

Why you should always outline your essays

While it is possible to write an essay without using an outline, it is much easier to write one using an outline. Below are the three main benefits of writing essay outlines.

• The outlines make it easy to write essays. There are very few people who can write logical and coherent essays without using an outline. Most people struggle to write good essays without using an outline. Creating an outline is basically creating a writing plan to guide you throughout your essay. A good outline will make it very easy for you to write your essay.
• The essay outlines help with organization. When you get concepts, arguments, and key points from research, you can find it difficult to include all of them in a logical manner in your essay if you don’t create an outline. Creating an outline will allow you to arrange your research and key points so that everything is in the right place. It will make your work more logical and coherent.
• An essay outline enhances the flow of points. Essay outlines usually have an alphanumeric structure. This structure is designed to ensure main arguments and supporting arguments are well-arranged. In other words, it is designed to ensure points flow nicely throughout essays. So, if you have points and you want them to explain them nicely and coherently, you should certainly create an outline.

You may now be aware of what distinguishes the successful students from those who fail. The former spend time planning and then writing while the latter probably dive in and get lost along the process of writing. If you are more into getting help with your outline , you can skip reading this and get your outline written within a few hours.

Essay Plan vs. Essay Outline

There is no significant difference between an essay plan and an essay outline. An essay plan is simply a crude version of an essay outline. Many people create a rough plan to write their essays. However, only a few people take their time to create thorough and detailed essay outlines.

You will rarely be asked to create an essay plan because essay plans are very simple and straightforward. However, as an undergraduate, you will certainly be asked about to create an essay outline now and then. You will be asked to include all the key elements of an essay outline in your outline.

If you are asked to choose between creating an essay plan and an essay outline, you should choose to create an essay outline. Essay outlines are much more detailed. In other words, they are much more beneficial for writing essays than essay plans.

Essay Outline Template- The standard/General Essay Outline

The typical essay outline will include three parts–introduction, body, and conclusion. The introduction basically tells the reader what they are about to read, the body presents the information, and then the conclusion wraps up everything.

Below is an essay outline example or template that you can use to create an outline for a five-paragraph essay.

• Introduction paragraph
• The first sentence is known as a hook and it should be attention-grabbing (use an interesting fact or data)
• The sentences that follow should introduce the topic to the reader plus other important information
• The last sentence in this paragraph should include your thesis statement/main argument
• First body paragraph
• The first sentence should be a topic sentence with the strongest argument supporting your main argument
• The sentences that follow should contain your reasoning for why this argument supports main argument (use data, evidence, and examples generously)
• The last two sentences should a neat summary of this paragraph plus the transitioning sentence
• Second body paragraph
• The first sentence should be a topic sentence with the second strongest argument supporting your main argument
• Third body paragraph
• The first sentence should be a topic sentence with the third strongest argument supporting your main argument
• The conclusion should start with a neat summary of the essay
• The sentences that follow should focus on the significance of the topic
• The last sentence should be a powerful closing statement

Steps to Create an Essay Outline

In this section, you will learn how exactly to outline your essay. By outlining your essay using the steps below, you should be able to write a quality, logical, and coherent essay on any topic.

Step 1: Read and re-read the essay requirements

You cannot create a fantastic outline if you do not fully understand the essay question and the requirements. So read and re-read the question and make sure you understand it. Make sure what you are about to research is exactly what your teacher or professor wants to see.

You should particularly look at the key terms in the essay instructions to make sure you understand what is expected of you. When you are sure you have understood the essay instructions, you should rewrite the essay question as a simple research topic.

Step 2: Do a thorough research

After completing Step 1 above, you should start researching the topic you want to write about. You should begin by doing a general Google search to find out general information about the topic. You should note all the important things you discover when reviewing general information about the topic.

You should then proceed to research the topic on scholarly and reliable resources such as your college’s library database, scholarly publications, books, news publications, and so on. This research will most likely give you all the information you need to write your essay.

After skimming all the important resources, you found relating to your topic, you should have an idea of the resources that will really help you to write your essay. Narrow down the resources based on relevance.

Step 3: Organize your arguments

It is at this point that you begin writing the plan for your essay outline. Of course, all quality essays are based on a thesis statement or major argument. So come up with a thesis or main argument based on the resources you have identified. Your thesis is what you will be supporting when you are writing the essay so make sure it is relevant and it is exactly what is needed in the essay prompt.

Remember, an essay is basically an article so it must flow. Your ideas must tell a story that is logical and goes from introduction to conclusion. So, after noting down a relevant central argument, you should find about three supporting arguments in your resources. Not them down as supporting arguments. Make sure you also note where you get them from plus all the explanations, data, and elaborations on each argument that you can get. You must cite these later when you are done writing your essay.

Next, number the supporting arguments in terms of strength or logic.

Step 4: Write an outline

It is at this stage that you commence writing your essay outline. Simply use the template above to write your essay outline. Your outline will have three sections – introduction, body, and conclusion. The introduction is one paragraph , the body is three paragraphs, and the conclusion is one paragraph.

The introduction part of your essay outline should include the hook, background information, and the thesis. Each body paragraph in your outline should simply include the topic sentence/main supporting argument, the main supporting information or evidence, the summary sentence, and the transitioning sentence. Lastly, the conclusion part of your outline should include a short summary of your essay and your closing statement.

After writing the conclusion part of your outline, you should proofread your outline to make sure it is logical and coherent. Your work is done.

Writing your essay outline following the four steps above will help you to come up with an excellent outline that will make it very easy for you to write your essay.

Examples of Essay Outline

Let’s explore the essay outlines for different types of essays using examples to clarify everything you need to know about essay outlines.

Sample Persuasive Essay Outline

Topic: Football is the best sport for children under 18

• Introduction
• Did you know that football or soccer is the most popular sport in the world? (Hook sentence)
• Football is the ideal sport for children because of its many benefits. (Thesis)
• Body Paragraph 1
• Football provides similar benefits to other youth sports (topic sentence/strongest supporting argument)
• It is exercising the entire body (supporting evidence)
• It promotes teamwork and cooperation (supporting evidence)
• Summary and transition sentence
• Body Paragraph 2
• Football provides extra benefits not provided by most other youth sports (topic sentence)
• It makes children to become more social and extroverted (supporting evidence)
• It helps children to form friendships with many children their age (supporting evidence)
• It teaches responsibility as different players are responsible for different parts of the field (supporting evidence)
• Essay summary sentence
• Football provides many benefits to children under 18 including total exercise … (Closing sentence)

Sample Expository Essay Outline

Here is a sample outline for an explanatory or expository essay .

Topic:  Why the U.S. defense budget should be reduced

• The U.S. Department of Defense, also known as the Pentagon, spends more money every year than the ten next countries combined. (Hook sentence)
• The Pentagon outspent the next 10 military powers combined in 2021 alone. This should be reduced because virtually the same level of defense can be achieved with a reduced budget and the money spent on defense can be better spent on social welfare programs. (Thesis statement)
• The Pentagon spends over $500 billion more than the next military power (topic sentence/strongest supporting argument – fully expand this argument)
• The U.S. is already significantly outspending the second most powerful military (supporting evidence)
• The U.S. can reduce military spending without jeopardizing its security (supporting evidence)
• The U.S. has a mutual defense agreement with the largest military alliance in the world (topic sentence – fully expand this argument)
• United States NATO allies such as France and the United Kingdom can help protect the country even if it reduces its budget (supporting evidence)
• There is nothing comparable to the current NATO military budget and might (supporting evidence)
• Body Paragraph 3
• The U.S. has many social problems that can be addressed by cutting the military budget ( topic sentence – fully expand this argument)
• Homelessness can be virtually eliminated if only half the Pentagon budget is dedicated to social housing (supporting evidence)
• Social welfare programs can be made more meaningful through redirecting defense budget to them (supporting evidence)
• Cutting the defense budget is not going to make the United States any weaker because the country far outspends its peers. The money can, however, help to eliminate homelessness and to address poverty in the country. (Closing sentence.

Sample Argumentative Essay Outline

Topic: The impact of social media on education

• Social media has revolutionized the world in the last ten years (Hook sentence)
• Social media has improved connectivity and communication (Background information)
• Social media has made it very difficult to educate young children (Thesis statement)
• Social media sites distract students in the classroom (Topic sentence)
• Evidence supporting this argument
• Social media sites prevent children for studying adequately (Topic sentence)
• Social media can have a positive impact on education (Topic sentence)
• Summary of the essay
• The ills of social media on education
• The positive side of social media on education
• Research can help with the adoption of positive social media rules and habits to make sure social media contributes overwhelmingly positive to education. (Closing sentence)

Research Essay Sample Outline (For Elementary School)

Topic: The invention of electricity

• Background information
• When was electricity invented?
• The uses of electricity
• The supply of electricity around the world
• Who invented electricity?
• How electricity was invented
• The contributions of Benjamin Franklin (Conducted first experiments to produce electricity)
• The contributions of Nikola Tesla (Helped to pioneer research on supply of electricity)
• The contributions of Thomas Edison (Helped to pioneer modern electric supply)
• How the invention of electricity revolutionized the world
• Electricity ushered in industrialization and modernization
• Electricity changed urban transport with the invention of trams

Classification Essay Sample Outline

Topic: Movie genres in the USA

• Since the invention of film, movies have become a core part of American culture (Hook)
• Over the many decades of cinematography, many genres of movies have emerged. The main classifications are comedy, action movies, and science fiction movies (Thesis statement)
• First Category (Body paragraph 1)
• Teen comedy movies
• Black comedy movies
• Romantic comedy movies
• Second Category ( Body paragraph 2)
• Thriller movies
• Adventure movies
• Third Category ( Body paragraph 3)
• Anti-utopias
• Summary of key points
• As long as the world continues existing, there is a likelihood that even more movie genres will emerge in the future. (Closing statement)

Essay outline formats

When you are asked by your professor for an essay outline, you must write your essay outline in one of the two accepted formats – decimal or alphanumeric. The most popular format is the alphanumeric formula. Here is an example of an alphanumeric format outline.

Alphanumeric format essay outline

• Example sentence
• a) Example sentence
• b) Example sentence

Now you know how to write an outline in an alphanumeric format, it is time to discover how to write an outline in decimal format. In our opinion, it is much easier to write a decimal format outline than an alphanumeric format outline. Here is an example of a decimal format outline.

Decimal format essay outline

1.0. Example sentence.

2.0. Example sentence.

3.0. Example sentence.

4.0. Example sentence

            4.1. Example sentence

            4.2. Example sentence

            4.3. Example sentence

            4.4. Example sentence

                        4.4.1. Example sentence

                        4.4.2. Example sentence

                        4.4.3. Example sentence

                        4.4.4. Example sentence

5.0. Example sentence

6.0. Example sentence

Checklist for a good essay outline

How do you know if you have written a good essay outline? Well, it is pretty easy actually. Just use the checklist below.

If your answer to all the questions below is yes, you are good to go. If your answer to any of the questions is no, then you need to tweak your outline to make sure the answer is yes.

• Is my essay outline easy to understand?
• Is my essay outline properly organized?
• Do all my supporting arguments relate to my central argument or thesis?
• Do I have supporting evidence under every supporting argument?
• Does every explanation under every supporting argument make sense?

While this checklist is useful, you don’t have to use it every time. You just need to make it a habit to write at least one essay outline every week. Practicing will make you perfect. And once you perfect the art of writing essay outlines, your essays will almost always be logical, coherent, and easy to understand. This will definitely ensure you get an above average total every time you submit an essay assignment.

Final Remarks

All types of essays are much easier to write using an essay outline. So, knowing how to write an essay outline is a valuable skill particularly for undergraduate students. In this essay outline guide, you discovered how to write general essay outlines. You also learned how to write essay outlines for different types of essays.

The knowledge you have gained in this blog post should make it easy for you to write essays. If you need any help writing an essay outline or an essay, you should order one from us right now. We have essay tutors who are ready to confidentially assist you with any essay outline writing project or essay writing project. Get the help you need right now!

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Essay Outline: How To Write A Perfect Essay Outline

In this article, we are going to be talking about how to write the perfect essay outline. This is important as it gives you a good foundation on which to build you essay. We will be giving you some useful tips and ideas to ensure that you get off on the right foot.

What Is An Essay Outline?

In the most simple terms an essay outline is the plan for your essay . In it, you will be able to give your essay a structure as well as detail any points which must be included in the final written piece of work. Your essay outline will give you the opportunity to note down what information is going to be presented in each paragraph , allowing you to write the essay freely and easily without having to stop to look up further information.

A good essay outline will enable the author to fully complete their essay from the notes within the outline. Some points that you might include are:

• You main point or argument on what the essay is about.
• Your thoughts and ideas which should be included.
• The structure of the essay.
• A plan of what information will be included where.

It is possible to write an essay without using an essay outline, but the end result will be nowhere near as good. In any area of life, planning can make a great difference and essay writing is no exception to this rule. The benefits of having an essay outline might be that it is an easy way to plan out and organise your ideas and will ensure that you do not miss out any key information during the writing process. Alongside this, once your essay outline is complete, writing the essay should take a lot less time.

How Should Your Essay Outline Look?

As a rule of thumb, most essays are made up from five paragraphs, although there is room for movement on this. But for the purposes of this article, we will assume that you are writing a five paragraph essay. There are usually three main parts to an essay, these are the introduction, the body (which is made up from three paragraphs) and finally the conclusion. Each of these should be plotted out within your essay outline. You might include some of the following points.

• The introduction should contain your thesis statement and this is the prime time to plan out what this should say. You will also need to refer to the subject of the essay.
• In the body of the essay you will be writing at least three paragraphs and so it is important to detail what will be discussed in each of these. You will need to plan out what statistics or data will be included in each paragraph as well as the topic, your opinions and any examples. Don’t forget to refer back to your thesis statement throughout the body.
• Finally, the conclusion will bring together all the ideas outlined in your essay. Once again, you will need to refer back to your thesis statement and be able to prove that it is correct.

Now that we know what to include within your essay outline, we are going to look at an example of what your outline might look like. You can use this as a guide to plan your own outline.

Introduction

• Introduction of the subject
• Thesis statement

Body 1st Paragraph

• Plan a sentence with an argument for your thesis statement
• Give evidence, data and facts to back up your argument.
• Refer back to your thesis and show how the information you have provided relates to it.

Body 2nd Paragraph

• Plan a second argument sentence relating to your thesis statement.
• Provide more evidence or data to back up this argument.
• Once again, refer back to your thesis statement to back it up.

Body 3rd Paragraph

• Create a final argument sentence surrounding your thesis statement
• Give evidence or data to back up your argument
• Relate this back to your thesis statement
• Provide a summary of the main argument points
• Include your thesis statement once again
• Create a call to action, this is something that you ask your reader to do once they have finished the essay.

Essay Outline Example

In most cases, an essay outline will detail ideas in order of how important they are, beginning with the most important. We are now going to look at an examples of a good essay outline to give you a better idea of how they work.

Outline For A Persuasive Essay

Why Yoga Is The Perfect Work out

Thesis statement: Yoga is the best form of exercise

Topic Sentence : Yoga is ideal for those with lower fitness levels

• Yoga can help build muscles in a slow way
• It can be done at varying levels

Topic sentence: Yoga is good for the mind

• Taking part in yoga can help you to relax
• Yoga focuses on breathing techniques which are proven to reduce stress
• Evidence to back up the previous fact.

Yoga is an excellent way of working out and can have benefits such as…

Further Tips For Creating An Essay Outline

It is important to be very clear of the process for creating your essay outline and we are now going to look at some further tips to help ensure that the process goes as smoothly as possible.

• Before you begin, you should ensure that you have thoroughly read the essay question or prompt and have understood what is being asked of you.
• You should then work out the type of essay you will need to write as well as what arguments should be included and how long the essay should be.
• It is important to remember to consider the purpose of the essay-is it to entertain, persuade or give information?
• Next it is important to think about the reader of the essay, what type of person is reading the work and what might they expect? How can you most appeal to your audience?
• It is now time to come up with your thesis statement. This should be something which grabs the attention of the reader and gets them emotionally involved right from the start.
• Decide on whether you will use an alphanumeric format or a decimal format-usually an essay outline uses an alphanumeric structure but either is fine depending on which one you feel works best for you.
• You are now ready to follow the steps we have detailed on creating your essay outline.

Essay Outline Infographic

How to Write a Quick Essay Outline | Video

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Essay Outline Templates

37 outstanding essay outline templates (argumentative, narrative, persuasive).

Writing an essay can seem like an overwhelming task, and planning beforehand is essential to success. An essay outline will help you to structure and organize your essay so that it flows coherently. Essay outlines work for all kinds of essays and will save you time and stress.

There are various different ways to structure an essay, and using an essay outline template allows you to decide on the best structure for your essay. Whether you want a balanced argument, or if you’re trying to persuade someone of your idea, then there will be an essay outline that works for you.

Table of Contents

• 1 Essay Outline Templates
• 2 What is an Essay Outline Template?
• 3 Essay Outline Examples
• 4 What Different Types of Essay Outline Templates Are Available?
• 5 Why are Essay Outlines important?
• 6 How Do You Structure an Outline for an Essay?
• 7 Essay Outline Samples
• 8 What is the Format of a Five-Paragraph Essay Outline? 
• 9 How to Write an Effective Essay Outline
• 10 Free Essay Outlines
• 11 Create an Effective Outline Using an Essay Outline Template

You can download and print one of our free essay outline templates to help you plan the perfect essay.

What is an Essay Outline Template?

An essay outline template is essentially the essay plan. It provides students with a clear structure before they write their essay, including all of the main points that are necessary for their writing.

Planning an essay outline beforehand makes the process of essay writing a lot less daunting, providing students with a guideline to follow whilst writing their essays in detail. In the world of academic writing , an essay outline serves as a tool to organize and structure thoughts before delving into the actual writing process. Many students underestimate the significance of creating an essay outline, often resulting in disorganized and incomprehensible essays.

Essay Outline Examples

What Different Types of Essay Outline Templates Are Available?

Essay outlines can be used for any college essay, research papers, a contrast essay, speech writing, or an expository essay. There are a range of essay outline templates to use, and they vary depending on the style of essay you are writing. These include:

• Argumentative essay outline
• Narrative essay outline
• Contrast essay outline
• Literary analysis essay outline
• Persuasive essay outline
• Expository essay outline
• College essay outline
• Descriptive essay outline
• Reflective essay outline

Depending on the purpose of your essay, there will be a different structure to suit your writing and your writing process. For example, an argumentative essay outline may follow a more traditional five-paragraph essay outline, while a literary analysis essay may follow a more detailed essay outline template.

Why are Essay Outlines important?

Of course, you can write an essay without planning. However, it will likely read as unstructured and lacking in coherence. Essays that follow an essay outline template present as more well-researched, clearer, and with a thoughtful structure throughout.

• Planning makes perfect If you are writing to argue a point or explore a range of viewpoints, essay outlines are crucial to prepare before you begin writing in detail. Writing should not be an immediate, quick process; the best essays are drafted, re-drafted, edited, and finalized. If you use an essay outline, this will be reflected in the quality of your work. As a teacher, it is clear to me when students have not taken the time to plan their work. Their writing seems messy and rushed. Essay outlines provide structure and balance to any long piece of writing.
• Save time during the writing process Planning is the hard part of essay writing. During the planning process, you will be brainstorming your ideas and cultivating your overall viewpoint or argument. This means that when you come to write the essay, those ideas are already there. All you need to do is formulate them into sentences and paragraphs. An essay outline makes the process of writing the essay itself so much simpler. With the essay outline template, you will have the bulk of your ideas and the structure of your essay there to follow. It will save you time when it comes to writing the essay out in full.

How Do You Structure an Outline for an Essay?

Depending on the assignment, essays can follow a range of structures, and there are many different ways to structure an essay outline.

Before you begin to structure your essay outline, there are a few things to consider:

• Check your assignment guidelines . Your teacher or professor may have specified a certain number of words or pages for the essay, which can affect how you structure it.
• Consider the purpose of the essay. Is it to argue, is it a persuasive essay, or is it to reflect upon something? This will greatly help you to form and structure your essay, as you may need to compare and contrast ideas throughout your writing.
• Who is your audience? If this essay is purely for academic purposes, then your essay may follow a more traditional structure. However, if your essay is for a speech or a college application, then the structure may be more unconventional and include more of your own thoughts and experiences.

While there may be variations in essay outline structures depending on the specific requirements of the assignment, some general guidelines can be followed. You should edit and adjust your essay structure depending on the tone, audience, and purpose of your essay.

Typically, an effective essay outline comprises three primary sections: the introduction, the body paragraphs, and the conclusion. Each of these sections serves a unique purpose and contributes to the overall coherence of the essay.

• Introduction The introduction section of an essay outline introduces the topic and provides relevant background information to engage the reader. It also includes the thesis statement, which presents the main argument or claim of the essay. To structure the introduction in the outline effectively, writers can utilize a hook to grab the reader’s attention, provide context, and end with a strong thesis statement.
• Body Paragraphs The body paragraphs section of the essay outline supports the thesis statement with relevant evidence and arguments. The number of body paragraphs may vary depending on the required length of the essay. However, it is common to have three body paragraphs, each focused on a specific supporting point. In the outline, writers can include subpoints, evidence, and examples for each body paragraph to ensure a coherent and logical flow of ideas.
• Conclusion The conclusion section of the essay outline summarises the main points discussed in the body paragraphs and restates the thesis statement. The conclusion should not be an afterthought in the essay writing process. This part of the essay helps to tie all of your ideas together and is reflective of a well-structured essay. It is crucial to end the essay on a strong note, leaving a lasting impression on the reader. To structure the conclusion in the outline, writers can briefly restate the thesis, review the main points, and provide a final thought or call to action.

Essay Outline Samples

What is the Format of a Five-Paragraph Essay Outline? 

A five-paragraph essay outline is a common essay structure used for academic essays. It is particularly useful for shorter essays or beginners who are just starting to develop their writing skills. Many high school students or first-year college students benefit from following this structure.

The format consists of five paragraphs, as the name suggests – an introduction, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

• Introduction In the introduction of a five-paragraph essay outline, writers should begin with an attention-grabbing hook to capture the reader’s interest. This can be achieved through a relevant anecdote, a rhetorical question, or a shocking statistic. This helps to immediately capture the reader’s attention and begin the essay strong. Next, provide some background information on the topic and end the introduction with a clear thesis statement that encapsulates the main argument of the essay.
• Body Paragraphs The three body paragraphs of a five-paragraph essay outline each focus on a specific supporting point, which aids in the development of the thesis statement. Start each body paragraph with a topic sentence that introduces the main idea of the paragraph. Following the topic sentence, writers should provide evidence, examples, or arguments to support the main point. It is essential to ensure a logical flow between paragraphs and maintain coherence throughout the essay. This can be done through the use of connectives at the start of each body paragraph, such as ‘Firstly,’ ‘Secondly,’ and ‘Furthermore.’
• Conclusion The conclusion of a five-paragraph essay outline restates the thesis statement and summarizes the main points discussed in the body paragraphs. However, it is vital to avoid introducing new information in the conclusion. Instead, writers should provide a thought-provoking final statement or reinforce the significance of the essay topic.

How to Write an Effective Essay Outline

Each writer will have their own unique approach to essay writing, but preparing an essay outline does not require you to reinvent the wheel. You can follow these simple steps to craft an effective, useful, solid outline.

• Read and Understand the Assignment Before beginning the outline, thoroughly read and understand the essay assignment, including any specific guidelines or requirements from the instructor. This will help in determining the length, topic, and structure of the essay. Understanding the assignment in detail also enables you to plan how you will carry out your preliminary research for the essay. Adaquete reading and preparation also helps you to establish the purpose of your essay, which will determine which essay outline template will work best for you.
• Brainstorm and Organize Ideas Start with brainstorming ideas related to the topic. Here, you should establish the key points of the essay based on your research. Once ideas are generated, you can organize them into meaningful categories or subtopics. In an argumentative essay outline, for example, you will need to compare and contrast ideas. By placing all the main points into categories in an organized manner, you can create a logical flow within the essay, making it more engaging for the reader.
• Choose an Appropriate Outline Format Decide on the outline format that best suits the specific essay requirements. Depending on the complexity of the topic, your essay may be formatted differently. An expository essay will differ from a research paper, for example, so be clear on which outline will work for you. It is also essential to decide on the number of main points to be included based on the required length of the essay. Sometimes it is best to discuss fewer points in greater detail, particularly for a literary analysis or narrative essay.
• Develop Thesis Statement and Main Arguments Craft a strong and clear thesis statement that encapsulates the main argument or claim of the essay. Then, determine the main arguments or supporting points that will be discussed in the body paragraphs.
• Organize Supporting Points and Supporting Evidence Arrange the main arguments in a logical order, keeping in mind the flow of ideas. Ensure that each supporting point is backed up by sufficient evidence or reasoning to strengthen the overall argument. This will also help you to write a strong conclusion to complete your essay.
• Review and Revise After creating the initial essay outline, review and revise it to ensure coherence, logical flow, and adherence to the assignment requirements. Make necessary adjustments and rearrange the outline if needed. Then, you can start writing your essay by following the outline.

Free Essay Outlines

Create an Effective Outline Using an Essay Outline Template

Creating an essay outline is a crucial step in the writing process that should not be overlooked. Whether it’s an argumentative essay outline, a literary analysis essay outline, or a persuasive essay outline, an essay outline template can help you to structure and organize your points in a thoughtful and clear way.

By structuring an essay outline effectively, using the appropriate format for a five-paragraph essay, and following the steps to write an essay outline, writers can ensure a well-organized, coherent, and compelling essay. Utilizing an essay outline template not only enhances the writing quality but also saves time and effort in the long run.

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Essay Outlines: An Essential Tool for Structured Writing & 24 Examples

May 9, 2024

May 9, 2024 | Blog

Table of Contents

What is an Essay Outline?

Writing a good essay requires you to come up with a good outline.

An essay outline is more like a rough draft of the actual essay or the essay’s skeleton.

It is your academic paper’s plan or any essay’s main foundation block.

You might get stuck or run out of content to write halfway through your essay without a good outline.

In essence, an outline helps with the structure of your essay.

More importantly, it helps you flow information and organize your points as you write.

Therefore, it helps you to stay focused and not stray from your original ideas.

However, it should be flexible to accommodate new information.

With an outline, you will clearly understand how the paper will go and the transition of ideas.

As such, an outline is one of the best tools if you do not want to run out of ideas when writing.  

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• Writing a 5-Paragraph Essay Outline: A Beginner’s Guide
• 11 Essay Outline Templates to Structure Your Writing

How to Write an Essay Outline?

An outline helps you pen down all the ideas you can use in the essay. This ensures that you have all the points handy when you sit down to write the essay. Here is how you can easily write an outline:

• Pick a topic according to your interest.
• Conduct preliminary research on the topic as much as possible.
• Understand the target audience.
• Determine the type of essay.
• Look at each piece of information that you have collected.
• Group your ideas in different paragraphs.

Essay Outline Format

Another important step before starting to write your essay is to understand the outline or the structure of an outline.

It is essential for effective writing as it gives your writing a smooth flow and enables the reader to easily understand your point of view.

Whatever the essay type, be it a narrative, persuasive, descriptive, or expository essay , it is best to follow the common structure of a five-paragraph essay structure.

This will include an introductory paragraph introducing the topic as a thesis statement and some argument or story.

Three-body paragraphs that will defend the thesis statement or argument with supporting material such as examples or statistics.

Lastly, the conclusion paragraph concludes the whole argument by stating its significance and giving your opinions or suggestions.

Let us discuss these parts of a generic outline in detail:

Introduction

Your introduction section will depend on the type of essay you are writing.

For instance, if you are writing an informative or persuasive essay, you will give your readers some context through the background information about the topic.

This will be an overview of the topic, which you will gradually narrow down to the thesis statement of your essay.

You will have to prove this thesis statement in the later paragraphs. Therefore, it should be based on some facts.

Thus your thesis statement will serve different purposes depending on your choice of essay type.

Body Paragraphs:

The body paragraph is the information-rich part of your writing.

These also provide content in different styles depending on the type of essay you are writing.

For instance, in an informative or persuasive essay, your body paragraphs will include information, facts, and logic to support your thesis statement or persuade your readers.

But in an argumentative essay , body paragraphs will defend your thesis or point of view.

In short, body paragraphs prove the validity of your opinion with the support of the researched outside information.

In creative writing , the body paragraphs will gradually move the story from its initial phase to the last moment going through different phases like falling action, rising action, climax, and anticlimax or denouement.

It does not relate these to the thesis, but the words and symbols make these narrative levels clear.

Conclusion:

The conclusion is very crucial to any writing as it wraps up the whole argument and puts an end that satisfies the whole discussion.

In a persuasive and expository essay, it is better to restate the thesis using different words and thus finalize its validity.

It proves you to be an apt writer as you explain the overall significance of your argument and validate the value of your side of the argument.

In creative writing, the information given in the body is explored.

In other words, you explain the significance of your written piece in your conclusion without directly stating it.

This can be done by explaining the effect of the ending on certain characters. Thus readers can infer the theme portrayed by the writer.

Quick Essay Outline Sample

Topic Introduction Hook Statement/ thesis statement Background Information and Context; Thesis Statement/  hook statement 3. Body Paragraph 1/2/3 Topic Sentence  (Shift of idea from the previous paragraph ) Claim (the argument put forward) Evidence (Information added from outside sources to support your point of view, i.e., claim) Explanation ( explaining evidence to defend the claim ) Concluding Sentence ( wrapping up of Argument in Paragraph ) 4. Conclusion Rephrasing Thesis Statement Restating Main Arguments (1,2,3) Overall Concluding Statement (giving Significance)

You can use this template for argumentative and persuasive essays as a reference.

Importance of Essay Outline

• The main purpose of the outline is to plan the structure of the essay. It helps to focus on the most important parts of the essay and develop them in a proper sequence.
• An outline will also help you organize your main ideas and determine the order in which you will write about them. An outline is a very effective way to think through how you will organize and present the information in your essay.
• Using an outline helps you organize your thoughts from beginning to end and ensures you don’t leave any important parts out of the middle. These outlines do not have anything written; they just help you structure your ideas and thoughts logically to build toward a meaningful and strong conclusion.

Examples of Essay Outlines / Types of Essay Outlines

Before you start writing an outline, you must know the different types of outlines you can use. It is important to choose the one that is most appropriate for your research paper . These are:

1. Informative Essay Outline

An informative essay , also known as an expository essay, is a type of writing in which the writer researches a topic and presents coherent ideas to the reader. The main objective of this type of essay is to inform readers by presenting them with new information.

An informative essay educates the reader about a topic. You’ll need to know a good deal about your subject and convey information clearly and organized.

Informative Essay Outline Format

This outline will guide students through their next informative essay. I. Introduction A. Hook B. Background information (define key terms) C. Thesis II. Body Paragraph 1 A. Topic sentence B. Evidence 1 (including citation) C. Evidence 2 (including citation) III. Body Paragraph 2 A. Topic sentence B. Evidence 1 (including citation) C. Evidence 2 (including citation) IV. Body Paragraph 3 A. Topic sentence B. Evidence 1 (including citation) C. Evidence 2 (including citation) IV.Conclusion (restate the thesis statement and summarize the main ideas of the essay)

Use this informative outline to organize your ideas.

2. Narrative Essay Outline

A narrative essay tells a story. It can be an interesting story, a realistic story, or a scary story. The author writes it from his point of view, so the events are told through his eyes and actions. The purpose of a narrative essay is to tell the reader about events, interactions, and experiences that have happened to the author during a particular time frame. It always has a vivid plot.

A narrative essay uses all the story elements — a beginning, middle, and ending, as well as plot, characters, setting, and climax — bringing them together to complete the story. The focus of a narrative essay is the plot, which is told with enough detail to build to a climax.

Structure of a Personal Narrative Essay Outline

Topic Introduction Hook Statement (Intrigue the reader) Set Up The Scene/ Context by giving background information. Thesis Statement 2.  Body Paragraphs Beginning Action → Rising Action → Falling Action (Paragraph 1→ 2 → 3) Use picaresque words Follow the Linear Progression of events by displaying the passage of time Use  transition words  to ensure a smooth flow of the events 3. Conclusion Analyze and Reflect on the action. Explain the significance of the story’s theme! Relate the theme to the real world.

For Narrative Writing, all you need to do is keep the plot in motion and be very careful and particular in the intro and conclusion so as not to lose the flow of the narrative!

Polishing Up!

Before you submit your essay, you must polish it and make it presentable. You can make your essay a perfect piece by following a few simple steps.

The Break Rule:

After you finish writing your essay, take a break to refresh yourself.

Take a break for at least 24 hours and give yourself time to refresh your brain.

Proofreading and editing should not be done immediately, as writing is mentally tiring.

So you must enjoy and refresh your brain to complete the last step of proofreading and editing the essay.

Proofreading and Editing:

When you take at least a 24-hour break, go for the grammar and spelling check and correct mistakes.

This includes punctuation, use of contractions as well as sentence structure. Then you can further improve your essay by improving the vocabulary and removing repetitive phrases.

The sentences you use should make logical sense and flow smoothly. The essay should be a coherent whole.

Use transition words to connect the different ideas and thoughts. Your essay should be simple, easy to read and understand.

Peer Editing:

Ask your peers to reread and edit the piece for you.

This will confirm that your paper is a well-written piece.

The more people read your essay, the more confident you will be about the quality of your work, making it understandable.

This is the last step that completes your essay.

Use this narrative outline to organize your ideas.

Compare and Contrast Essay Outline

A compare and contrast essay is a piece of writing that shows likeness and differences among characters, places, concepts, ideas, or other elements. It analyzes them critically to find out and highlight their similarities and dissimilarities.

Compare and contrast essays detail the differences and similarities between these two elements. A compare and contrast writing is based on an in-depth analysis of two or more objects and their practical findings.

To write a compare and contrast essay, you must gather evidence and present a well-reasoned argument on a debatable issue. You want to take two things and discuss both the similarities and the differences between them. For example, if you wanted to focus on contrasting two subjects, you would not pick apples and oranges; rather, you might choose to compare and contrast two oranges or apples to highlight subtle differences. For example, Red Delicious apples are sweet, while Granny Smiths are tart and acidic. Similarly, Braeburn apples are crisp and juicy, while Gala apples are very soft.

Compare and Contrast Essay Outline Format

duction Introduction to the broad topic Specific topic Thesis statement Body Paragraphs Body paragraph #1—First aspect that’s similar or different Subject #1 Detail #1 Detail #2 Subject #2 Detail #1 Detail #2 Body paragraph #2—Second aspect that’s similar or different Subject #1 Detail #1 Detail #2 Subject #2 Detail #1 Detail #2 Body paragraph #3—Third aspect that’s similar or different Subject #1 Detail #1 Detail #2 Subject #2 Detail #1 Detail #2 Conclusion Summary of main points—Restate the thesis statement while synthesizing information from body paragraphs. Evaluate the similarities/differences and discuss any future implications (if applicable) Significance—what’s the point you’re making?

Use this compare-and-contrast outline to organize your ideas.

Argumentative Essay Outline

An argumentative essay is a piece of writing where you present your point of view on a certain subject, supported by evidence and arguments.

To write an argumentative essay, you should use proper arguments and convincing language to persuade the readers that your point of view is more valid than other positions.

An argument is a reasoned opinion supported and explained by evidence. In an argumentative essay, you should focus on presenting and defending a claim rather than explaining the claim. An argumentative essay is usually written in the third person.

An argumentative essay presents both sides of an issue. However, it presents one side more positively or meticulously than the other so that readers can be swayed to the one the author intends. The purpose of this type of essay is to convince a reader rather than to inform.

Argumentative Essay Outline Format

Introductory Paragraph – Attention getter – Background information on the topic – Thesis statement (argumentative thesis) Body Paragraphs – Topic sentence explaining the main idea of the paragraph – Evidence to support your topic sentence and thesis statement (research) – Analysis of how the evidence connects to your claim and why it supports your argument (analysis and connection) Conclusion Paragraph – Restate your thesis statement (the argumentative claim) in different words. – Summarize your key points. – End with a clincher.

Use this argumentative outline to organize your ideas.

Persuasive Essay Outline

A persuasive essay is used to convince a reader about a particularly good idea or focus you believe in. Your persuasive essay could be based on anything you have an opinion about.

This type of paper differs from others because you need to use your opinion to make an argument. Your point of view matters and other people should be convinced it is true.

To write a persuasive essay, you must know your audience and which arguments they will respond to. Suppose you can try to find out what your audience believes so that you can consider their beliefs. Remember that not everyone will agree with your point of view and that some people may be against what you have to say. Writing a persuasive essay means convincing someone about something using reasons, facts, and other things supporting your opinion.

Persuasive Essay Outline Format (5-paragraph essay)

1) Introduction paragraph: Get the reader’s attention by using a “hook.” Pull your audience in! Quote, Fact, or something interesting to start an essay Give some background information about the topic. Would you please explain what the topic is and why it is controversial or important to you? Thesis or focus statement (MUST BE STATED in the LAST sentence of your  introduction paragraph ). This sentence states your opinion about the topic and will be proven in the rest of your essay with three strong reasons and support. Example:  I am in favor of ____________ because ____________, ______________, and ___________. Example:  I am against _____________because _____________, _____________, and ___________. 2) Body Paragraphs : (1st body paragraph) First argument or reason to support your position A topic sentence explaining your first reason. Example : My first reason for being against ___________ is __________________________. Provide support/evidence to prove your first reason with facts, data, examples, etc. (2nd body paragraph) Second argument or reason to support your position. A topic sentence explains your second reason. Example:  Another reason I do not support _____________is _______________. Support your second reason with facts, data, examples, etc. (3rd body paragraph) Counter argument and third reason to support position. State what the other side believes or may argue Example:  Some may argue _______________ Challenge their argument with your third reason and provide support. Example:  but I disagree because _____________. Give support such as facts, data, examples, etc., explaining why your opinion is right and the other side is not right. Conclusion Paragraph: Sum up your main points and three reasons. Restate your thesis.

Example: I am strongly against ______________.

Final words: last comments or call to action. Encourage the reader to agree and take your side on the issue.

Use this persuasive outline to organize your ideas.

Expository Essay Outline

An expository essay is a writing where the writer presents opinions, points of view, ideas, concepts, and arguments on a particular topic. It is usually a formal piece of writing with an introduction, a discussion, and a conclusion.

Expository Essays are often written in response to a prompt that asks the writer to expose or explain a specific topic. Essay questions on tests are normally written to prompt an essay in this very style and may look like the following:

Describe the causes of the American Civil War.

Explain what your favorite means of travel is and why.

An expository essay provides an explanation or information about something through factual data. Facts can be further explained by using clear and concise ideas. Towards the end of the expository essay, the writer should be able to build an argument out of the facts provided gradually.

Expository Essay Structure Outline 

Introduction 1. Begin with a hook . Tell a detailed story that pulls the reader in. The story should relate to the thesis statement of your essay in some way. 2. Tie-in  – This is a sentence (or a few complete sentences) that links your hook to your essay’s thesis. 3. Thesis statement  – This sentence is typically the last sentence of the introduction. It responds to the prompt and provides the main idea of the entire essay. The thesis statement should NOT include three supporting reasons. Sample thesis statement for the prompt “What is your favorite time of the year?”: “Without a doubt, Thanksgiving is my favorite time of the year.” Body Paragraph 1 1. Begin with a topic sentence  – The topic sentence provides the direction for the entire paragraph and should include one reason/example supporting your thesis statement. For example, with the prompt and thesis statement mentioned above, an appropriate topic sentence for body paragraph one might be “ Undoubtedly, I eat better on Thanksgiving than any other time of the year.” 2. Extension sentence  – This sentence further clarifies the idea presented in the topic sentence. It lets you start moving into the details you will develop in the paragraph. 3. Details  – Provide detailed examples that support the idea you presented in your topic sentence. Personal anecdotes provide excellent details. 4. Closing sentence  – This is the last sentence of the paragraph and should summarize the main idea or put a finishing thought to it. Body Paragraph 2 1. Transition  – This should summarize the main idea from the previous paragraph and lead to the new idea for this paragraph. Note that this also serves as the topic sentence for this paragraph with a new supporting reason. Possible transition structures include: Not only  do I eat like a king on Thanksgiving,  but  I also get to spend precious moments with family members I rarely see. Besides  eating like a king on Thanksgiving, I  also  spend precious moments with family members I rarely see. Eating well on Thanksgiving  is only the beginning; I also  spend precious moments with family members I rarely see. While  eating well on Thanksgiving is a pleasure ,  the precious moments I get to spend with family members I rarely see are even more important. 2. The rest of Body Paragraph 2 follows the same structure as Body Paragraph 1 Body Paragraph 3 1. The most important supporting detail/reason  should be reserved for this paragraph to end your essay with a bang. Ways to transition to this last idea include: Above all else , Thanksgiving is a time I get to show my gratitude for everything I have. Most significantly,  Thanksgiving is a time I get to show my gratitude for everything I have. 2. The rest of Body Paragraph 2 follows the same structure as Body Paragraph 1 Conclusion 1. Restate/summarize your three supporting reasons/examples  from each topic sentence. Example: I savor every bite of the food I eat on Thanksgiving. Also, I appreciate the opportunity to spend quality time with my family and show gratitude for everything I have. 2. Link back to your story in the hook  and finish it up. 3. Restate your thesis statement  using different words.

Use this expository outline to organize your ideas.

Reflective Essay Outline

A reflective essay is a piece of academic writing aiming to examine, observe, and describe the progress of the writer’s individual experience. When writing your essay, remember to focus on a deeper look at yourself, on your inner emotions, rather than the event itself.

A reflective essay always aims to introduce the reader to interesting moments from the writer’s life and fix attention to feelings about a certain issue. The point is that it should convey meaning and be an instructive story.

The format of a reflective essay greatly differs from an argumentative or research paper. A reflective essay is more of a well-structured story or a diary entry rife with insight and reflection. You might be required to arrange your essay using the APA style or the MLA format . The use of the first person pronoun ‘I’ is welcomed. Do not abuse this guideline! Though it is welcomed, it is not necessary.

Reflective Essay Outline Format

Introduction Hook —give a quick preview of the most exciting part of that story Thesis Statement —without giving too much away, write how this experience influenced you. Body Paragraph 1 Description of an influential person, place, or event Body Paragraph 2 The effect of the person, place, or event had on you at the time Body Paragraph 3 Lesson learned from reflecting on a person, place, or event Conclusion Summary of the experience Overall impact/lesson learned

Use this reflective outline to organize your ideas.

Cause and Effect Essay Outline

A cause-and-effect essay explains why the event or the situation occurs (causes) and its results (effects). A curriculum usually includes this exercise to test your ability to understand the logic of certain events or actions. If you can see the logic behind cause and effect in the world around you, you will better understand how the world works.

A cause-and-effect essay helps readers understand why something happened or is happening or shows readers how a situation will unfold. In other words, it answers questions such as “Why?” (the reason for something) and “What happens next?” (the consequences). Cause-and-effect essays examine causes, describe effects, or do both.

When writing a cause-and-effect essay, you should be sure that you have researched the specific causes and are confident that you’re demonstrating why they lead to particular results. In other words, ensure your ideas are logically related and effectively arranged.

It is important to note that this type of essay needs to be fairly objective as its aim is not to persuade readers to think in a certain way but to provide information on objective facts. In other words, your point should be supported with facts and pieces of evidence, not with your thoughts on the subject.

Sample cause and effect essay format

1. Introduction Attention grabber Basic information about the topic Thesis statement (indicate what the essay will be about causes, effects, or both) 2. Body paragraph I Topic sentence (indicates causes, effects, or both) Cause 1/effect 1 (detailed explanation with examples) 3. Body paragraph II Topic sentence (indicates causes, effects, or both) Cause 2/effect 2 (detailed explanation with examples) 4. Body paragraph III Topic sentence (indicates causes, effects, or both) Cause 3/effect 3 (detailed explanation with examples) 5. Conclusion Restating the thesis statement Reminding the reader of the main points Concluding sentence

This essay template outline will help you structure your essay and create a good flow and link between the causes.

Research Essay Outline

A research essay is a form of writing that requires the writer to investigate a topic and gather, generate, and evaluate evidence. The evidence can e researched and gathered from library books, journals, youtube, and web pages. The writer then writes about the topic by introducing their findings in an organized way, including thoughts and ideas based on the information they gathered during their investigation.

A research essay outline journey reports facts, data, and other information on a specific topic. It’s a research essay because you research your subject before writing it. Unlike an expository essay, which only requires you to examine and report the facts you find, a research essay requires you to form an opinion about a subject, then support that opinion with information from primary and secondary sources.

A research paper differs from a research proposal (also known as a prospectus), although the writing process is similar. Research papers are intended to demonstrate a student’s academic knowledge of a subject. A proposal is a persuasive piece meant to convince its audience of the value of a research project. Think of the proposal as the pitch and the paper as the finished product.

Research papers are similar to academic essays but are usually longer and more detailed assignments designed to assess your writing and scholarly research skills.

Research Essay Outline Format

1. Introduction: a. Hook statement b. Background/context c. Thesis statement 2. Body Paragraph: a. First Argument (topic sentence) i. Research/evidence to support the argument ii. Analysis of evidence b. Second Argument (topic sentence) i. Research/evidence to support the argument ii. Analysis of evidence c. Third Argument (topic sentence) i. Research/evidence to support the argument ii. Analysis of evidence 3. Conclusion:  a. Restate thesis statement b. Summarize the main arguments and their evidence

Use this research outline to organize your ideas.

Literary Analysis Essay Outline

A literary analysis essay is an argumentative analysis that carefully examines a piece of literature by looking at the story’s characters, theme, tone, setting, plot, and other literary devices used to narrate the story. It encourages readers to consider how and why a novel, poem, or play was written. It is meant to analyze a key element in the literature; thus, you should refrain from writing a paper explaining every point of the story’s plot. An argument can be raised by looking at certain characters or deciding to write about conflicts in the story.

Although a quick synopsis of the essay is needed within the argument of a literary analysis, the objective is not to write a report about a book or story. Instead, a literary analysis discusses a writer’s interpretation of a text through careful examination of the author’s choices within the text: word choice, main themes, motifs/symbols, character development, structure, imagery, etc. A literary analysis is not merely a summary or review; it discusses opinions and reasoning to prove an original thesis.

Literary Analysis Essay Outline Format

Introduction Introduce the Title of the Piece and the Author’s Name. Give sufficient background on the piece, but don’t give too much detail so that you spoil the surprise for the reader. Give your thesis statement (what your paper will explain or argue and the main points) Body Paragraphs Topic Sentence : Begin with a topic sentence that supports your thesis statement. Points: list three key points that support your topic sentence. Evidence:  include textual evidence (quotes from your reading) that supports each point. ~~~Explain why this is evidence and how it supports your point~~~. Closing Sentence:  Reparate your paragraph by referring to your topic sentence. ~~~This is where you go beyond just repeating what your evidence says and makes a connection for the reader about how this evidence is important to the broader argument of your paper.~~~ Body Paragraphs 2, 3 , etc. (repeat as needed) Conclusion Restate your thesis statement. Do not copy it word for word, but put it in different wording. Now is where you show what you learned from writing this paper. List all of the main points from your body paragraphs and briefly describe/explain how each point.

Use this literary analysis essay outline to organize your ideas.

Blank Informative Essay Template Outline

Blank sentence outline for literary analysis essay, essay paper outline template, five-paragraph essay outline, printable essay plan outline, business school essay exam outline, basic proper essay outline, topical outlines essay format, short essay outline template, group explanatory essay outline format, standard detailed essay outline, sample college research paper outline, final thought.

An outline is widely used in literature or writing. It helps the writer to organize their ideas and arguments. Outlining is an organized way of writing. It helps the writer become more efficient and easy to perform again.

While plenty of options exist for students who need to write an outline, it cannot be very clear when deciding which one you should use. Thankfully, many free outlines are available, and the templates above showcase some of the best we have found.

Need Some Help with Writing your Essay Outline?

Essay writing will still be a daunting task for you, even after reading this article.

You do not need to worry about that as EssayFreelanceWriters.Com is there to willingly and readily help you with the best custom essay writing service on the web and with your assignment!

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Whether it is a persuasive, expository, narrative, or creative writing essay, our experts very aptly know the structure and style of all custom essays and will successfully fulfill your requirements! What are you thinking? Live chat with our experts and get started today.

Frequently Asked Questions

When do i need to write an essay outline.

You will sometimes be asked to hand in an outline before you start writing your essay. Your supervisor wants to see that you have a clear idea of your structure so that writing will go smoothly. Even when you do not have to hand it in, writing an outline is essential to the writing process. Writing one (as informally as you like) clarifies your structure when you are working on an essay.

Should I use full sentences in my essay outline?

If you have to hand in your outline, you may be given specific guidelines stating whether you must use complete sentences. If you’re not sure, ask your supervisor. When writing an outline for yourself, the choice is yours. Some students find writing their ideas in full sentences helpful, while others prefer summarizing them in short, numbered sentences.

Do I have to stick to my essay outline as I write?

You should try to follow your outline as you write your essay. However, departing from your outline is okay if your ideas change or it becomes clear that your structure could improve. Just make sure you know why you’re doing so.

With a deep understanding of the student experience, I craft blog content that resonates with young learners. My articles offer practical advice and actionable strategies to help students achieve a healthy and successful academic life.

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How to Write a Hook- Steps With Examples

A hook in an essay or any piece of writing is like a fishing hook—it’s designed to grab your readers’ attention and draw them into the rest of your content. A well-crafted hook not only captures interest but also encourages readers to continue exploring what you have to say. If you’re unsure how to  write a hook that’s engaging, this article will provide you with effective tips for writing compelling openings, ensuring your engagement remains high.

What is a Hook?

A hook in writing is essentially a compelling sentence or paragraph that grabs the reader's attention from the very beginning. It sets the tone for the piece and entices readers to continue exploring what you have to say. To craft an effective hook, it needs to be engaging, informative, and suitable for the intended audience. This means it should capture interest, convey relevant information, and be appropriate for the reader's level and context. By focusing on relevance, audience, and cohesion, you can create a strong hook that not only draws readers in but also aligns with the main thesis and purpose of your writing.

6 Types of Essay Hooks

There are various types of hooks, each serving a different purpose and engaging the reader in unique ways.

Question Hook:

This type involves asking the reader a question that sparks their curiosity or gets them thinking.

For example:

"Have you ever watched the high-flying, jump shooting, slam dunking, ankle breaking players that play in the NBA?"

This question engages the reader by prompting them to visualize and think about the excitement of watching NBA players, setting the stage for a discussion about the thrill of the game.

Quotation Hook:

A quotation hook uses a relevant quote from a credible source to draw in the reader.

For instance:

"Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen,” said Michael Jordan.

This quote from a famous athlete underscores the theme of determination and hard work, immediately connecting the reader to the topic of achieving success through effort.

Statistic Hook:

This type employs surprising or impressive statistics to catch the reader's eye.

"Just 0.00545 percent of the 550,000 boys playing high school basketball each year in the United States become a first-round draft pick."

This statistic highlights the incredibly slim chances of making it to the NBA, intriguing the reader with the stark reality and setting up a deeper exploration of what it takes to succeed in professional sports.

Anecdotal Hook:

An anecdotal hook uses a short story to illustrate a point and connect with the reader on a personal level.

"When I was in high school, I remember playing in an AAU basketball league and seeing a boy who practiced relentlessly every morning. Years later, he was drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers."

This story captivates the reader by providing a relatable and tangible example of dedication leading to success, making the topic more engaging and memorable.

Common Misconception Hook:

This type addresses a common misconception to grab the reader’s attention by challenging their existing beliefs.

"Many people believe that all professional athletes were naturally talented from a young age, but the truth is, most of them had to work incredibly hard to get where they are."

This hook piques the reader's interest by presenting surprising information that contradicts what they might think.

Rhetorical Statement Hook:

A rhetorical statement hook uses a bold statement or assertion to provoke thought or agreement.

"There's no shortcut to success in any field, including sports."

This kind of hook immediately sets a strong tone and encourages the reader to think about and agree with the statement, drawing them further into the essay.

How to Write a Hook [3 Steps with Examples]

Imagine yourself reading an article or an essay. Have you ever noticed that the first 2-3 lines set your entire mood? Either it looks interesting, or you might want to skip it. The same is true when someone reads your essay. This is why learning how to write a hook statement for an essay is crucial, and in this guide, I'll be sharing my process to help you write effective hook statements on your own.

I use a few simple steps for writing hook statements that help me craft an effective hook to engage readers and compel them to read further. Along with these steps, I also rely on writing tools, specifically WPS Office , which helps me significantly in writing a good hook. So, let's have a look at the process of learning how to write a hook for your essay, with a few examples.

1.Create an outline

First and foremost, you need to create an outline for your essay. This means your hook needs to be based on the information you plan to communicate through your essay. It's essential to lay the groundwork. Creating an outline helps you organize your thoughts and ensures your hook aligns perfectly with the rest of your essay.

Brainstorming:

To begin with your outline, start by brainstorming, where you can write down all the points you believe you can include in your essay. I usually carry out this step in WPS Writer, where I can type down all the important points I want to include in my essay. Additionally, if I find a few points on the internet, I can simply paste them into my WPS Writer document.

For example, let's say you're writing an essay about the impact of social media on mental health. Your main points might include:

The rise of social media usage

Positive effects on connectivity and community building

Negative impacts on self-esteem and anxiety

Strategies for healthy social media consumption

To further assist me in this process, I use WPS AI to help brainstorm ideas. A fresh perspective is always welcome, and when you're short on ideas, these suggestions can really enhance your essay.

Identify the Angle:

Once we have the main points, it's time to decide on the specific perspective or argument you want to present. This is where you'll start to shape your essay's unique voice. For instance, if your topic is social media, you might choose to focus on its double-edged nature, arguing that while it offers unprecedented connectivity, it also poses significant risks to mental well-being if not used mindfully.

Sketch the Structure:

With your main points and angle in mind, outline the basic structure of your essay. This doesn't need to be elaborate – a simple roadmap will do.

Your structure might look something like this:

Introduction (including your hook)

Brief history of social media's rise

Positive impacts on connectivity

Negative effects on mental health

Strategies for balanced use

Having this structure in place will help you craft a hook that seamlessly leads into the rest of your essay.

WPS AI can also assist in creating an outline. With a simple prompt, you can mention the details of your essay, and it will help you organize your main points and structure effectively.

2.Develop a Thesis

With your outline ready, it's time to develop your thesis statement. This is the core argument of your essay, and your hook should pave the way for it.

Be Clear and Specific:

Your thesis statement should clearly articulate your stance on the topic. Avoid ambiguous or uncertain statements. Focus on writing a precise and debatable assertion that provides a solid foundation for your argument.

For our social media essay, a strong thesis might be:

"While social media platforms have revolutionized communication and community-building, their unchecked use can significantly impact mental health, necessitating a balanced approach to digital engagement."

Ensure Relevance:

Make sure your thesis connects directly with the hook you plan to write. Your hook should intrigue readers about the argument you're going to make.

Keep it Focused:

Resist the temptation to cover everything in your thesis. A focused thesis is easier to argue effectively and helps keep your essay on track.

3.Write your Hook

Now for the exciting part – crafting your hook! Remember, the goal is to captivate your reader from the very first sentence. Let's look at some examples of different hook types we discussed earlier and break down why they work.

Example 1: The Question Hook

"Have you ever caught yourself mindlessly scrolling through your social media feed, only to look up and realize hours have passed?"

This hook works because it:

Directly engages the reader by asking a question

Relates to a common experience many readers can identify with

Introduces the topic of social media usage subtly

By posing this question, you're inviting readers to reflect on their own experiences, creating an immediate connection to your topic.

Example 2: The Statistic Hook

"In 2023, the average person spent 2 hours and 31 minutes per day on social media platforms – that's over 38 days a year scrolling, liking, and sharing."

This hook is effective because it:

Presents a surprising or shocking statistic

Immediately quantifies the impact of social media on our lives

Sets the stage for a discussion on the significance of social media use

Statistics like this grab attention by putting abstract concepts into concrete, relatable terms that can surprise or even shock your readers.

Example 3: The Anecdote Hook

"As I watched my teenage daughter burst into tears over a single Instagram post, I realized social media was no longer just a fun pastime – it had become a powerful force shaping her self-image and mental health."

This hook works well because it:

Tells a brief, relatable story

Evokes emotion and empathy

Introduces the theme of social media's impact on mental health through a personal lens

Personal stories can be powerful hooks, drawing readers in with emotional resonance and real-world relevance.

Example 4: The Quote Hook

"'We are creating and encouraging a culture of distraction where we are increasingly disconnected from the people and events around us,' warns technology ethicist Tristan Harris."

This hook is powerful because it:

Uses an expert's words to lend authority to your topic

Introduces a critical perspective on social media

Sets up a discussion on the broader implications of our digital habits

Quotes from experts can lend credibility to your essay right from the start, setting the tone for a well-researched discussion.

When writing your hook, consider your audience and the tone of your essay. Choose a hook style that aligns with your topic and engages your readers effectively. Don't be afraid to write several versions and ask for feedback – sometimes the perfect hook takes a few tries to get right.

And if you're still having trouble writing a perfect hook for your essay, you can try using WPS AI features like Improve Writing to craft more effective hooks. WPS AI will help ensure your hook reads well and communicates your message clearly to readers.

Bonus Tips: How to Polish your Hook with WPS AI

WPS Office is an excellent tool for anyone looking to enhance their writing. It's particularly useful as a writing companion, helping you refine your sentences, choose the right words, and correct errors. If you're struggling with writer's block, especially when trying to craft an engaging hook for your article, WPS Office can assist you in several ways.

Invoke the AI Writing Assistant:

This feature offers tailored suggestions for opening sentences or paragraphs that are designed to grab attention. It can help generate various types of hooks, such as intriguing questions, startling facts, or impactful quotes. By analyzing your topic and audience, the AI Writing Assistant provides options that resonate well, making it easier to start with a strong, engaging hook.

Request Feedback from the AI Chatbot:

The AI Chatbot reviews your initial draft and provides targeted feedback on your hook. It evaluates the effectiveness of your opening lines, suggesting ways to enhance their impact or refine your approach. Whether your hook needs more clarity, engagement, or relevance, the chatbot’s feedback helps you make necessary adjustments to ensure it captures and retains your readers' interest.

FAQs about Writing a Hook

1. why is it important to have a good essay hook.

A well-crafted essay hook is essential as it captures the reader's attention and motivates them to continue reading. Without a captivating hook, readers may lose interest and discontinue reading. An engaging hook ensures that the audience remains invested, thereby enhancing the likelihood of effectively conveying the essay's message.

2. What's the difference between a hook and a thesis?

A hook is a statement that captures the reader's attention and is positioned at the beginning of the introduction. A thesis explains the main point of the essay, paper, or other writing. Typically, a hook appears as the attention-grabbing opener, followed by additional sentences that connect it to the thesis, which presents the primary argument or premise of the writing.

3. How long is a hook?

A hook is typically one to two sentences long and appears at the beginning of the introduction. It should be brief and engaging to quickly capture the reader's attention and encourage them to continue reading.

Grab Your Audience Attention With The Help of WPS Office

As a writer, I often face challenges in writing something clever enough to grab readers' attention. That’s why I rely on WPS Office to help me on how to write a hook and its suite of tools to assist with my writing and content sharing. WPS Office offers a wealth of amazing tools and services that benefit everyone who uses them. I highly recommend downloading WPS Office to experience its powerful features for yourself.

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15 years of office industry experience, tech lover and copywriter. Follow me for product reviews, comparisons, and recommendations for new apps and software.