Outlining Reading Texts in Various Disciplines

Outlining Reading Texts in
Various Disciplines
What is an outline?
An outline is a map of your essay or
a blueprint. It shows what information
each section or paragraph will
contain, and in what order. Most
outlines use numbers and/or bullet
points to arrange information and
convey points.
It is a tool we use in the writing process to
help organize our ideas, visualize our
paper’s potential structure, and to further
flesh out and develop points. It allows the
writer to understand how he or she will
connect information to support the thesis
statement and the claims of the paper. An
outline provides the writer with a space to
consider ideas easily without needing to
write complete paragraphs or sentences.
Importance of an outline
An outline allows a writer to
categorize the main points, to organize
the paragraphs into an order that
makes sense, and to make sure that
each paragraph/idea can be fully
developed. Essentially, an outline helps
prevent a writer from getting stuck
when performing the actual writing of
the essay.
Why outline?
Just like we need a road map when
traveling to an unfamiliar destination, good
writers create preliminary or rough outlines
after they have generated enough ideas
through prewriting to organize and develop
their essays. Strong, thorough prewriting
should develop more ideas than you can
actually use in your essay so that you are
able to select the most relevant and
convincing ideas for your essay.
Once you have settled on a thesis statement and
your main supporting ideas, you can write a formal
outline, creating the “skeleton” of your essay.
Looking at your ideas this way can help ensure that:
✓ Your main points are on-topic and directly support
your thesis
✓ Your main points are logically organized.
✓ Your most important ideas are emphasized, and
your less important ideas are subordinated.
✓ Your main points have enough and relevant
supporting evidence.
Outlines also help writers:
✓ Make the writing process easier since you
have a road map for your essay to follow.
✓ Break through writer’s block—for people
who struggle with writer’s block, it helps to
first set up a structure with lower stakes and
less pressure.
✓ Save time writing your essay since you
have a clear, focused plan to follow for your
essay.
✓ Ensure each part of your essay relates to
the essay.
Parts of an Outline
Introduction (attention grabber)
An introduction of an essay prepares the
reader on the contents of the essay. The
introduction of the essay is an opening of
what is to come ahead. Here, the writer
introduces the topic to the reader by giving
background information and providing a thesis
statement. Having mentioned the thesis
statement in your introduction, the rest of the
paper should help you support the claim.
Body (The content of the paper)
The second part of any essay is the body
of the essay. Typically, the body of the
essay should contain a minimum of three
paragraphs in support of the thesis
statement made in the introductory
paragraph. Each paragraph should relay an
individual point or idea. Furthermore, you
should always ensure that your paragraphs
contain three parts: the topic sentence,
supporting statement and the concluding
paragraphs.
Conclusion (Wrap all of your
arguments)
The conclusion of the essay
should mark the end of your
essay. Here, a writer is
supposed to summarize the
ideas made in the body and
also restate the thesis
statement.
How to do it?
✓ Put the thesis statement at the top: it should be polished
and be a complete sentence.
✓ Use Roman numerals (I, II, III, IV, V, etc.) to indicate the
main points/topic sentences which should be written in
specific phrases or complete sentences (this is the “P” or
Point of PIE).
✓ Use capital letters (A, B, C, D, E, etc.) for the major
supporting details; typically, writers should have at least two
main supporting details for each point/topic sentence (the
“I” or information of PIE providing evidence and the “E” or
explanation of PIE providing analysis).
✓ Use numbers (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, etc.) for sub-details clarifying
and specifying your main supporting details.
Thesis Statement
All outlines should begin with a thesis
statement of summarizing sentence.
This thesis sentence presents the
central idea of the paper. It must
always be a complete, grammatical
sentence, specific and brief, which
expresses the point of view you are
taking towards the subject.
Main points/ Main Idea/ Sub-
Points/ Supporting Details
Main points (also known as main idea). Chief point
an author is making about a topic. It sums up the
author’s primary message.
Sub -Points (also known as supporting details or
idea). A paragraph contains facts, statements,
examples-specifics which guide us to a full
understanding of the main idea. They clarify,
illuminate, explain, describe, expand and illustrate
the main idea and are supporting details.
Types of Outlines According to
Structure
1. Topic Outline
An outline that consists of a short phrase. It provides a
quick overview of topics to be included in an essay.
You are probably already familiar with this structure.
Look at a syllabus from one of your courses. It is
probably the equivalent of a topic outline, with topics
listed for each unit, and readings and assignments
under each. After each heading in a topic outline for
an essay, a maximum of several words is used to
identify the topic or idea that will be discussed under
the given heading.
2.Sentence Outline
An outline that is done in full sentence.

It Forces part of the essay to be written
out in sentences before the first draft.
Further, it expresses the specific and
complete idea that that section of the
paper will cover as part of proving the
overall thesis.
Topic Outline Example
Thesis Statement: The increased

use of social media has led to
more suicides among today’s
youth--a result of cyber bullying.
I. Effects and Consequences of Cyber Bullying
A. Damage victims
1. depression
2. decrease academic performance
3. suicides
B. Counselling
1. legal consequences
2. academic consequences
II. Prevention
A. Monitoring your Child
1. keeping tabs on activity

2. limiting access to social media
B. Counselling
1. consulting a school counsellor
2. finding a mentor
3. discussing the issue
Sentence Outline Example
Thesis Statement: The abuse of
alcohol and drugs can affect a person
economically, psychologically, and
physically.
I. Alcohol and drug abuse can affect one economically.
A. The cost of alcohol abuse is high and getting higher.
1. The costs of DUIs can be enormous.
2. Alcohol costs are always rising because of rising production costs
as well as state and local taxes.
B. The cost of drug abuse can be high.
1. Even the arrest for the possession of a minute amount of drugs can result
in high bail and court cost.
2. The cost of drugs fluctuates drastically according to the type of drug, its
availability, and the amount.
II. Alcohol and drug abuse can have severe psychological effects.
A. Alcohol abuse can damage a person psychologically.
1. Alcohol is a depressant and can alter the personality of anyone.
2. The abuse of alcohol can lead to the psychological addiction to alcohol.
B. Drug abuse can be detrimental to one psychologically.
1. Drugs impair one's ability to function normally because of the
hallucinations or numbness of "getting high."
2. Drugs can become a psychological addiction.

Outlining Reading Texts in Various Disciplines

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Outlining Reading Texts in

An outline that is done in full sentence.

Thesis Statement: The increased

1. keeping tabs on activity

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