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How to Write Outline of the Essay

The document provides a comprehensive guide on how to create an effective essay outline, detailing the structure from the introduction to the conclusion, including optional sections like counterarguments and recommendations. It also introduces various pre-writing activities such as listing, clustering, and free writing to help generate and clarify ideas before outlining. These strategies aim to enhance the organization and coherence of the essay-writing process.

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momina khan
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
4 views

How to Write Outline of the Essay

The document provides a comprehensive guide on how to create an effective essay outline, detailing the structure from the introduction to the conclusion, including optional sections like counterarguments and recommendations. It also introduces various pre-writing activities such as listing, clustering, and free writing to help generate and clarify ideas before outlining. These strategies aim to enhance the organization and coherence of the essay-writing process.

Uploaded by

momina khan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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How to Write Outline of the Essay

Creating an outline is a crucial step in the essay-writing process. It helps organize your thoughts and
structure your essay effectively. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to write an outline for your essay:

I. Introduction

A. Thesis Statement:

1. State the main point or argument.

2. Concisely express your stance on the topic.

B. Background Information:

1. Provide context or relevant background information.

2. Introduce key terms or concepts.

II. Body Paragraphs

A. Paragraph 1:

1. Topic Sentence: Introduce the first main idea.

2. Supporting Details: Provide evidence or examples.

3. Analysis: Discuss the significance or implications.

B. Paragraph 2:

1. Topic Sentence: Introduce the second main idea.

2. Supporting Details: Offer evidence or examples.

3. Analysis: Discuss the significance or implications.

C. Paragraph 3:

1. Topic Sentence: Introduce the third main idea.

2. Supporting Details: Present evidence or examples.


3. Analysis: Discuss the significance or implications.

III. Counterargument (Optional)

A. Counterargument:

1. Address possible opposing viewpoints.

2. Refute counterarguments with evidence and analysis.

IV. Conclusion

A. Restate Thesis:

1. Summarize the main point or argument.

2. Reaffirm your stance.

B. Summary of Key Points:

1. Recap the main arguments made in the body paragraphs.

2. Highlight key evidence or examples.

C. Closing Thoughts:

1. Provide final reflections or implications.

2. End with a thought-provoking statement or call to action.

V. Additional Sections (if required)

A. Recommendations:

1. Suggest practical solutions or recommendations.

2. Explain the potential impact of these recommendations.

B. Conclusion:
1. Summarize the main points.

2. Reinforce the thesis statement.

VI. References (if applicable)

A. Cite sources:

1. Include a list of references or works cited.

2. Follow the citation style specified by your instructor.

Tips for Creating an Effective Outline:

- Be concise and use brief phrases or sentences.

- Maintain a logical flow between sections and paragraphs.

- Ensure each section contributes to the overall coherence of the essay.

- Revise and adjust the outline as needed during the writing process.

PRE-WRITING ACTIVITIES
 Pre-writing strategies use writing to generate and clarify ideas.
 While many writers have traditionally created outlines before beginning writing, there are
several other effective prewriting activities. We often call these prewriting strategies
“brainstorming techniques.”

Listing

 Listing is a process of producing a lot of information within a short time by generating


some broad ideas and then building on those associations for more detail with a bullet
point list. Listing is particularly useful if your starting topic is very broad, and you need
to narrow it down.
 Jot down all the possible terms that emerge from the general topic you are working on.
This procedure works especially well if you work in a team. All team members can
generate ideas, with one member acting as scribe. Do not worry about editing or throwing
out what might not be a good idea. Simply write down as many possibilities as you can.
 Group the items that you have listed according to arrangements that make sense to you.
Are things thematically related?
 Give each group a label. Now you have a narrower topic with possible points of
development.
 Write a sentence about the label you have given the group of ideas. Now you have a topic
sentence or possibly a thesis statement.

Clustering

 Clustering, also called mind mapping or idea mapping, is a strategy that allows you to
explore the relationships between ideas.

 Put the subject in the center of a page. Circle or underline it.


 As you think of other ideas, write them on the page surrounding the central idea. Link the
new ideas to the central circle with lines.
 As you think of ideas that relate to the new ideas, add to those in the same way.
 The result will look like a web on your page. Locate clusters of interest to you, and use
the terms you attached to the key ideas as departure points for your paper.
 Clustering is especially useful in determining the relationship between ideas. You will be
able to distinguish how the ideas fit together, especially where there is an abundance of
ideas. Clustering your ideas lets you see them visually in a different way, so that you can
more readily understand possible directions your paper may take.

Free writing

 Free writing is a process of generating a lot of information by writing non-stop in full


sentences for a predetermined amount of time. It allows you to focus on a specific topic
but forces you to write so quickly that you are unable to edit any of your ideas.

 Free write on the assignment or general topic for five to ten minutes non-stop. Force
yourself to continue writing even if nothing specific comes to mind (so you could end up
writing “I don’t know what to write about” over and over until an idea pops into your
head. This is okay; the important thing is that you do not stop writing). This free writing
will include many ideas; at this point, generating ideas is what is important, not the
grammar or the spelling.
 After you have finished free writing, look back over what you have written and highlight
the most prominent and interesting ideas; then you can begin all over again, with a tighter
focus You will narrow your topic and, in the process, you will generate several relevant
points about the topic.

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