Why create an outline? Good question. There are many reasons; but in general, it may be helpful to create an outline when you want to show the logical ordering of information.
For research papers, an outline may help you keep track of large amounts of information. 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.
- helps 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
How do I create an outline?
- determine the purpose of your paper.
- determinethe audience you are writing for.
- develop the thesis of your paper.
Then:
- 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:
If you create an outline before writing your paper, it 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.
Purdue OWL . (2008, November 13). Developing an Outline: Why and How to Create a Useful Outline - The OWL at Purdue. The OWL at Purdue. Retrieved March 8, 2009, from http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/544/02/.
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