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• How to write an essay outline | Guidelines & examples

How to Write an Essay Outline | Guidelines & Examples

Published on August 14, 2020 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on July 23, 2023.

An essay outline is a way of planning the structure of your essay before you start writing. It involves writing quick summary sentences or phrases for every point you will cover in each paragraph , giving you a picture of how your argument will unfold.

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Table of contents

Organizing your material, presentation of the outline, examples of essay outlines, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about essay outlines.

At the stage where you’re writing an essay outline, your ideas are probably still not fully formed. You should know your topic  and have already done some preliminary research to find relevant sources , but now you need to shape your ideas into a structured argument.

Creating categories

Look over any information, quotes and ideas you’ve noted down from your research and consider the central point you want to make in the essay—this will be the basis of your thesis statement . Once you have an idea of your overall argument, you can begin to organize your material in a way that serves that argument.

Try to arrange your material into categories related to different aspects of your argument. If you’re writing about a literary text, you might group your ideas into themes; in a history essay, it might be several key trends or turning points from the period you’re discussing.

Three main themes or subjects is a common structure for essays. Depending on the length of the essay, you could split the themes into three body paragraphs, or three longer sections with several paragraphs covering each theme.

As you create the outline, look critically at your categories and points: Are any of them irrelevant or redundant? Make sure every topic you cover is clearly related to your thesis statement.

Order of information

When you have your material organized into several categories, consider what order they should appear in.

Your essay will always begin and end with an introduction and conclusion , but the organization of the body is up to you.

Consider these questions to order your material:

• Is there an obvious starting point for your argument?
• Is there one subject that provides an easy transition into another?
• Do some points need to be set up by discussing other points first?

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Within each paragraph, you’ll discuss a single idea related to your overall topic or argument, using several points of evidence or analysis to do so.

In your outline, you present these points as a few short numbered sentences or phrases.They can be split into sub-points when more detail is needed.

The template below shows how you might structure an outline for a five-paragraph essay.

• Thesis statement
• First piece of evidence
• Second piece of evidence
• Summary/synthesis
• Importance of topic
• Strong closing statement

You can choose whether to write your outline in full sentences or short phrases. Be consistent in your choice; don’t randomly write some points as full sentences and others as short phrases.

Examples of outlines for different types of essays are presented below: an argumentative, expository, and literary analysis essay.

Argumentative essay outline

This outline is for a short argumentative essay evaluating the internet’s impact on education. It uses short phrases to summarize each point.

Its body is split into three paragraphs, each presenting arguments about a different aspect of the internet’s effects on education.

• Importance of the internet
• Concerns about internet use
• Thesis statement: Internet use a net positive
• Data exploring this effect
• Analysis indicating it is overstated
• Students’ reading levels over time
• Why this data is questionable
• Video media
• Interactive media
• Speed and simplicity of online research
• Questions about reliability (transitioning into next topic)
• Evidence indicating its ubiquity
• Claims that it discourages engagement with academic writing
• Evidence that Wikipedia warns students not to cite it
• Argument that it introduces students to citation
• Summary of key points
• Value of digital education for students
• Need for optimism to embrace advantages of the internet

Expository essay outline

This is the outline for an expository essay describing how the invention of the printing press affected life and politics in Europe.

The paragraphs are still summarized in short phrases here, but individual points are described with full sentences.

• Claim that the printing press marks the end of the Middle Ages.
• Provide background on the low levels of literacy before the printing press.
• Present the thesis statement: The invention of the printing press increased circulation of information in Europe, paving the way for the Reformation.
• Discuss the very high levels of illiteracy in medieval Europe.
• Describe how literacy and thus knowledge and education were mainly the domain of religious and political elites.
• Indicate how this discouraged political and religious change.
• Describe the invention of the printing press in 1440 by Johannes Gutenberg.
• Show the implications of the new technology for book production.
• Describe the rapid spread of the technology and the printing of the Gutenberg Bible.
• Link to the Reformation.
• Discuss the trend for translating the Bible into vernacular languages during the years following the printing press’s invention.
• Describe Luther’s own translation of the Bible during the Reformation.
• Sketch out the large-scale effects the Reformation would have on religion and politics.
• Summarize the history described.
• Stress the significance of the printing press to the events of this period.

Literary analysis essay outline

The literary analysis essay outlined below discusses the role of theater in Jane Austen’s novel Mansfield Park .

The body of the essay is divided into three different themes, each of which is explored through examples from the book.

• Describe the theatricality of Austen’s works
• Outline the role theater plays in Mansfield Park
• Introduce the research question : How does Austen use theater to express the characters’ morality in Mansfield Park ?
• Discuss Austen’s depiction of the performance at the end of the first volume
• Discuss how Sir Bertram reacts to the acting scheme
• Introduce Austen’s use of stage direction–like details during dialogue
• Explore how these are deployed to show the characters’ self-absorption
• Discuss Austen’s description of Maria and Julia’s relationship as polite but affectionless
• Compare Mrs. Norris’s self-conceit as charitable despite her idleness
• Summarize the three themes: The acting scheme, stage directions, and the performance of morals
• Answer the research question
• Indicate areas for further study

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You will sometimes be asked to hand in an essay 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 essay outline is an important part of the writing process . It’s a good idea to write one (as informally as you like) to clarify your structure for yourself whenever you are working on an essay.

If you have to hand in your essay outline , you may be given specific guidelines stating whether you have to use full sentences. If you’re not sure, ask your supervisor.

When writing an essay outline for yourself, the choice is yours. Some students find it helpful to write out their ideas in full sentences, while others prefer to summarize them in short phrases.

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

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Essay Writing Guide

Essay Outline

Last updated on: Jun 10, 2023

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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How to Write an Essay Outline + Essay Outline Examples

Download for free, how to write an essay outline + essay outline examples .

Writing an essay can seem like a daunting task, but one of the best ways to tackle this challenge is to organize your ideas into a well-structured essay outline. This guide will walk you through the process of creating an essay outline, complete with essay outline examples, to ensure your next essay is a masterpiece.

We’ve compiled a variety of essay outline examples to help you understand how to structure your own essay. We'll cover persuasive essays, narrative essays, descriptive essays, expository essays, and even provide a sample research paper outline. Each example will provide you with an idea of how to lay out the structure and details for each type of essay.

Looking for a printable list of essay outline examples? Our printable PDF features essay outline examples and templates that your students can use as examples when writing research papers, or as a supplement for an essay-writing unit

Why write an essay outline? 

An outline serves as the skeleton of your essay, giving you a clear and organized path to articulate your thoughts. Not only does it make writing an essay significantly easier, but it also allows you to present your arguments coherently and effectively.

An essay outline will help you organize your main ideas and determine the order in which you are going to write about them.

Types of essay outlines

Several types of essay outlines can be used when writing an essay. The two most common types are the alphanumeric outline and the decimal outline.

An alphanumeric outline typically uses Roman numerals, capital letters, Arabic numerals, and lowercase letters, in that order. Each level provides a different level of specificity. This structure is a very effective way to think through how you will organize and present the information in your essay. It also helps you develop a strong argumentative essay.

Alternatively, a decimal outline uses only numbers, and each subsection is a decimal subdivision of the main section. This type of outline is often used in scientific papers.

Persuasive essay outline example 

In the following section, we'll explore a persuasive essay outline example on competitive swimming. The purpose of a persuasive essay is to convince the reader of a particular point of view or idea, using compelling arguments and evidence.

In this case, the argument is that competitive swimming is an ideal sport for kids. The essay will present a series of arguments to support this view, demonstrating the various benefits of competitive swimming for children.

Competitive Swimming, an Ideal Sport for Kids

Introduction

Start your argumentative essay outline by stating your point of view and/or presenting your persuasive argument.

Thesis: Competitive swimming is a great alternative to other youth sports.

Body Paragraph 1

Introduce your primary persuasive argument and provide supporting details in your argumentative essay outline.

Topic Sentence:   Competitive swimming provides the same benefits as other sports.

• Detail Sentence 1:   It is good exercise and builds muscular strength.
• Detail Sentence 2:   It promotes cooperation among team members, especially in relays.

Body Paragraph 2

Introduce a secondary argument and provide supporting details.

Topic Sentence:   Competitive swimming provides some unique additional benefits.

• Detail Sentence 1:   Swimming is an important skill that can be used forever.
• Detail Sentence 2:  Swimming poses a reduced risk of injury.
• Detail Sentence 3:   Each swimmer can easily chart his or her own progress.

Conclude your essay writing with a summary of the thesis and persuasive arguments. Brainstorming details that support your point-of-view is a great way to start before creating your outline and first draft.

Concluding Sentence:   There are many reasons why competitive swimming is a great alternative to other youth sports, including...

Narrative essay outline example

In the following section, we will examine a narrative essay outline example titled "How Losing a Swim Meet Made Me a Better Swimmer." Narrative essays aim to tell a story, often about a personal experience, to engage the reader and convey a particular point or lesson.

In this case, the narrative revolves around the author's personal journey of improvement and self-discovery through swimming. The essay will illustrate how an initial setback served as a catalyst for significant improvement and personal growth.

How Losing a Swim Meet Made Me a Better Swimmer

Introduce the subject of your narrative essay using a thesis statement and a plan of development (POD).

Thesis: The first time I participated in a competitive swim meet, I finished in last place. With more focused training and coaching, I was able to finish 2nd in the State Championship meet.

Plan of development:   I was very disappointed in my results from the first meet, so I improved my training and fitness. This helped me swim better and faster, which helped me to greatly improve my results.

Set the scene and provide supporting details. Again, start by brainstorming different ways to begin; then go ahead and craft an outline and a first draft.

Topic Sentence:   I was embarrassed at finishing last in my first competitive swim meet, so I began working on ways to improve my performance.

• Detail Sentence 1:   I spent extra time with my coach and the team captains learning how to improve my technique.
• Detail Sentence 2:   I started running and lifting weights to increase my overall fitness level.

Provide additional supporting details, descriptions, and experiences to develop your general idea in your essay writing.

Topic Sentence:   Over time, my results began to improve and I was able to qualify for the state championship meet.

• Detail Sentence 1:   My technique and fitness level made me faster and able to swim longer distances.
• Detail Sentence 2:  I steadily got better, and I began winning or placing in the top 3 at most of my meets.
• Detail Sentence 3:  My results improved to the point that I was able to qualify for the state championship meet.

Body Paragraph 3

The next step in the writing process is to provide additional supporting details, descriptions, and experiences. You can then divide them up under different headings.

Topic Sentence:   With my new confidence, techniques, and fitness level, I was able to finish 2nd at the state championship meet.

• Detail Sentence 1:   I was able to swim well against a higher level of competition due to my training and technique.
• Detail Sentence 2:  I was no longer embarrassed about my last-place finish, and was able to use it as motivation!

Conclude the narrative essay with a recap of the events described or a reflection on the lesson learned in the story. Briefly summarize the details you included under each heading.

Concluding Sentence:   I used my last-place finish in my first competitive swim meet as motivation to improve my performance.

Descriptive essay outline example

We will now delve into a descriptive essay outline example. Descriptive essays aim to create a vivid and detailed description of a person, place, object, or event to paint a picture for the reader. The intention is to immerse the reader in the subject matter fully.

In this case, the essay provides an in-depth description of a visit to the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto. The essay will use sensory and descriptive details to create a vivid and memorable experience for the reader.

Visiting the Hockey Hall of Fame

Introduce the subject of your descriptive essay with a thesis statement covering the person, place, object, etc. you are writing about.

Thesis: The Hockey Hall of Fame is full of sights, sounds, and experiences that will delight hockey fans of all ages.

Set the scene and provide factual details.

Topic Sentence:   The Hockey Hall of Fame is located in Toronto, Canada and features exhibits from amateur and professional hockey.

• Detail Sentence 1:   The Hall is located in downtown Toronto and is visited by 1 million people every year.
• Detail Sentence 2:   You can see exhibits ranging from the early beginnings of the sport to the modern NHL and Olympics.

Provide additional sensory details, descriptions, and experiences.

Topic Sentence:   There are many types of exhibits and shows, including activities you can participate in.

• Detail Sentence 1:  Player statues, plaques, and jerseys decorate the walls in every room of the Hall.
• Detail Sentence 2:  Many of the exhibits have movies and multimedia activities that make you feel like you're part of the game.
• Detail Sentence 3:  You can even practice shooting pucks on virtual versions of some of the game's greatest goalies!

Conclude the essay with a paragraph that restates the thesis and recaps the descriptive and sensory details.

Concluding Sentence:   The Hockey Hall of Fame is an experience that combines the best sights, sounds and history of the game in Toronto.

Expository essay outline example

In the following section, we will explore an example of an expository essay. An expository essay aims to explain or describe a topic using logic. It presents a balanced analysis of a topic based on facts—with no references to the writer’s opinions or emotions.

For this example, the topic is "Why The School Year Should be Shorter". This essay will use logic and reason to demonstrate that a shorter school year could provide various benefits for students, teachers, and school districts.

Why The School Year Should be Shorter

Introduce the primary argument or main point of an expository essay, or other types of academic writing, using a thesis statement and context.

Thesis: The school year is too long, and should be shortened to benefit students and teachers, save districts money, and improve test scores and academic results. Other countries have shorter school years, and achieve better results.

Describe the primary argument and provide supporting details and evidence.

Topic Sentence:   A shorter school year would benefit students and teachers by giving them more time off.

• Detail Sentence 1:   Students and teachers would be able to spend more time with their families.
• Detail Sentence 2:  Teachers would be refreshed and rejuvenated and able to teach more effectively.

Provide additional supporting details and evidence, as in this essay outline example.

Topic Sentence:  A shorter school year would save school districts millions of dollars per year.

• Detail Sentence 1:   Districts could save money on energy costs by keeping schools closed longer.
• Detail Sentence 2:  A shorter school year means much lower supply and transportation costs.
• Detail Sentence 3:  Well-rested and happy students would help improve test scores.

Provide additional or supplemental supporting details, evidence, and analysis, as in the essay outline example.

Topic Sentence:   Shortening the school year would also provide many benefits for parents and caregivers.

• Detail Sentence 1:   A shorter school year would mean less stress and running around for parents.
• Detail Sentence 2:  Caregivers would have more balance in their lives with fewer days in the school year.

Conclude the essay with an overview of the main argument, and highlight the importance of your evidence and conclusion.

Concluding Sentence:   Shortening the school year would be a great way to improve the quality of life for students, teachers, and parents while saving money for districts and improving academic results.

Sample research paper outline

Now let’s dive into a research paper outline. Unlike a typical essay, a research paper presents a thorough and detailed study on a specific topic. However, it shares the same foundation with an essay in terms of structuring the ideas logically and coherently. The outline for a research paper includes an introduction, a series of topic points that cover various aspects of the main topic, and a conclusion.

This research paper will explore the background of Mt. Everest, the major explorers who attempted its summit, and the impact of these expeditions on Mt. Everest and the local community.

The Conquest of Mt. Everest

• Location of Mt. Everest
• Geography of the Surrounding Area
• Height of the mountain
• Jomolungma (Tibetan name)
• Sagarmatha (Nepalese name)
• The number of people who have climbed Everest to date
• First to reach the summit (1953)
• Led a team of experienced mountain climbers who worked together
• Norgay was an experienced climber and guide who accompanied Hillary
• Sherpas still used to guide expeditions
• Leader of the failed 1996 expedition
• Led group of (mainly) tourists with little mountain climbing experience
• Loss of trees due to high demand for wood for cooking and heating for tourists.
• Piles of trash left by climbing expeditions
• Expedition fees provide income for the country
• Expeditions provide work for the Sherpas, contributing to the local economy.
• Introduction of motor vehicles
• Introduction of electricity

The Everest essay outline template is based on a research paper submitted by Alexandra Ferber, 9th grade.

Happy writing!

Writing an essay outline is a crucial step in crafting a well-structured and coherent essay. Regardless of the type of essay - be it persuasive, narrative, descriptive, expository, or a research paper - an outline serves as a roadmap that organizes your thoughts and guides your writing process. The various essay outline examples provided above serve as a guide to help you structure your own essay. Remember, the key to a great essay lies not just in the content but in its organization and flow. Happy writing!

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How to Write an Essay Outline

Writing a comprehensive outline will save hours of writing and editing time, so it’s essential to master. Coming up with outlines is useful beyond just academics, any project you undertake will benefit from a well-structured outline. This article will cover everything you need to know about writing an essay outline and contains several handy templates!

What Is an Essay Outline?

Put simply, an essay outline is a brief plan of your paper. It lays out the structure of the essay, it includes all the main points, and it collects all your research and information. A good outline for essay writing helps you think about how the information will flow and makes sure that you have a plan moving forward. 

There can be many kinds of outlines depending on citation style and type of essay, but the key thing about all of them is that they help arrange and organize your main points to make the writing process easier.

How to Write an Outline For an Essay ?

Almost all forms of writing can benefit from an outline. An academic essay usually follows the classic 5 paragraph format of essay writing, so that’s a good way to start structuring your outline. This means you’ll have an introduction section, 3 body paragraph sections, and a conclusion section. 

An outline is just for you, so don’t worry too much about making it perfect, no one else is going to see it. Fill it with as much information as you need, but remember that outline essay writing is supposed to help you organize the final essay. In case you need to hand in your outline this article covers more structured outlining as well and has several templates for you to follow.

Outline Writing Tips 

Keep these things in mind when creating an outline of an essay

• Collect all your information in one place and they see what fits into your outline. 
• Your outline will go through many drafts, don’t feel pressure to make the first version perfect
• Follow a template and fill in the blanks, this will make sure your outline has some flow. But make sure you spend time restructuring the information, no template is perfect and you may see better ways of organizing your essay.
• Work on your thesis before you start outlining. This will help structure the outline and make sure you only include relevant information. 

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General Essay Outline Format

If your outline needs to be submitted to your teacher then they may ask you to follow a specific outline format for the essay, these are discussed after this section. If you just need an outline for yourself, then this is a simple and short essay outline template to follow. Remember, this is YOUR outline, add things, skip sections, draw arrows, do whatever you need to to make it work for you.

• The title of your essay
• Your teacher’s name
• The name of the course
• Introduction
• A catchy hook
• Two sentence summary of the purpose of your paper
• Your thesis statement
• Transition sentence to the first body paragraph
• Body Paragraph 1
• First main point, argument, or piece of evidence
• How it connects to your thesis
• Transition sentence to the second body paragraph
• Body Paragraph 2
• Second main point, argument, or piece of evidence
• Transition sentence to the third body paragraph
• Body Paragraph 3
• Third main point, argument, or piece of evidence
• Transition sentence to the conclusion
• Summary of the main points of the paper
• Your main conclusion
• Reiterate your thesis statement
• Works Cited/Bibliography

How to create an essay outline in MLA and APA styles

You’re probably familiar with the two main citation styles in use  - Modern Language Association (MLA) and American Psychological Association (APA). MLA is used for literature studies, philology, linguistics, etc. while APA is used for psychology, science, education studies, etc. 

In general, there are 2 types of outlines, a basic outline, and full sentence outline. The only difference between them is that a full sentence outline requires the use of full sentences in headings and a basic outline doesn’t. Ask your teacher which one is preferred if they want you to hand in an outline and they haven’t specified. In the next sections you’ll find an essay outline example in MLA and APA styles.

MLA Essay Outline Template

Though there is no specific format for an MLA outline, you should follow the general MLA format (double-spaced and Times New Roman 12 pt. font). Use an alphanumeric outline structure:

• Headings in Roman numerals (I, II, III), 
• Subheadings in uppercase letters (A, B, C); 
• Then numbers (1, 2, 3) 
• And finally lowercase letters (a, b, c). 
• Make sure to add a period to each one. 

Here’s a sample basic outline for an essay in MLA style to make things clear. 

• Introduction - Why the pyramids were confusing to Europeans
• Summary - Europeans had misconceptions about Africa
• Thesis statement - A lack of information, eurocentric pride, and disdain for Africa led to doubts about the origins of the pyramids
• Body paragraph 1 - Age of the pyramids
• First point - How they were discovered
• Explanation - Why the pyramids seemed impossible
• Subpoin - Tool use and geometry 
• Transition - European discovery
• Body paragraph 2 - Discovered by Europeans in the 1800s
• First point - Colonial mindset
• Explanation - Misconceptions about ancient Africa
• Transition - Modern findings
• Body paragraph 3 - The evidence
• First point - New analysis of ancient building techniques
• Explanation - Could have been done with hard work and dedication
• Transition - Not aliens
• Conclusion - An example of prejudiced thinking
• Summary - The story of how pyramids were understood
• Thesis - The past was strange
• Conclusion - We know better now

APA Essay Outline Template

APA has a specified format for outlines. The headings format is alphanumeric like for MLA outlines, but there are 3 types of APA outlines - APA basic format, full sentence format, and decimal format. ‍

APA basic format and full sentence format use the following heading structure:

• Main Heading use Roman Numerals
• The first level of subheadings use capital letters
• Further subheadings use numbers 
• Further subheadings use lower-case letters.
• Further subheadings use numbers in parentheses

The only difference between APA basic format and full sentence format is that you write a full sentence rather than just a fragment for each point. 

The only difference between the decimal format and the other two is that it uses a different numbering system.

Decimal format example:

• First heading is 1.0.
• First paragraph in the first heading is 1.1.
• First point of your first paragraph is 1.1.1.
• Second sentence of your first paragraph is 1.1.2.
• Third sentence of your second paragraph is 1.2.3.
• Second heading is 2.0.
• Third sentence in the second paragraph under the second heading is 2.2.3.

If that seems complicated, don’t worry! It’s very rarely asked for and it’s very simple to get used to. 

Here’s a full sentence APA template to go over.

• Introduction - The pyramids have been fascinating to people since they were first constructed over 6000 years ago, but when they were re-discovered by Europeans some absurd theories came into existence.
• Summary - European misconceptions about ancient tools and building techniques as well as African history led to many misconceptions.
• Thesis statement - A lack of information, eurocentric pride, and disdain for Africa led to doubts about the origins of the pyramids.
• Body paragraph 1 - It’s staggering to think that the ancient Egyptians were as old to the ancient Romans as the ancient Romans are to us now.
• First point - The pyramids have been visible and famous since they were constructed, but Europeans visiting Egypt in the middle ages claim to have rediscovered them and did not believe in their African origins.
• Explanation - The massive size and fine construction of the pyramids made it seem impossible.
• Subpoin - Knowledge of what building tools and methods were available in ancient Egypt were not available.
• Subpoin - The size and precision cutting of the stones stumped scientists.
• Transition - The enlightenment and age of science helped solve some of these mysteries.
• Body paragraph 2 - It wasn’t till Napoleon in the 18th century that European scientists started analyzing ancient Egyptian culture.
• First point - Till then, the prevailing colonial mindset was just to loot and plunder as much as possible.
• Explanation - Europe had a dogma of “civilizing the savages”.
• Transition - These new scientific studies started unearthing clues to how the pyramids were constructed.
• Body paragraph 3 - After 1940 many expeditions and excavations took place and since the 1980s many questions have been answered.
• First point - The discovery of the village of workers made it clear that the pyramids were of African Origin.
• Explanation - A greater understanding of ancient Egyptian culture based on scientific data gave more evidence.
• Transition - Finally people could confidently answer that it wasn’t aliens!
• Conclusion - This was a glaring example of prejudiced thinking during the middle ages.
• Summary - The story of how pyramids were understood is connected to the discovery of how ancient Egypt used to be.
• Conclusion - We can learn not to judge before we have reliable data and evidence.

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Find your essay outline template by your essay type

Different types of essays need different kinds of information and some have unique structures of their own. In this section you’ll find simple essay outline templates for 5 common essay types.

Argumentative essay outline example

An argumentative essay uses evidence and logic to convince the reader that your point of view on an issue is correct. An outline is especially useful for this type of essay since it helps organize your arguments. Take a look at this outline example for essay template. 

• Background information
• First argument
• Second argument
• Opposing argument 1
• Your counterclaim with the evidence
• Opposing argument 2
• Summary of your main arguments
• Importance of your viewpoint

Expository essay outline example

An expository essay presents facts from both sides of an issue and makes an unbiased observation at the end. Keep your own opinions and emotions out of this type of essay. An outline can help arrange the various perspectives as well as make sure you don’t accidentally show bias. Here’s a template for you to follow.

• Present your topic
• First topic sentence
• Evidence 
• Analysis 
• Transition 
• Second topic Sentence
• Third topic Sentence
• Summary of the main points
• Importance of the topic 
• Possible further research

Reflective essay outline example

Reflective essays are one of the most fun essays to write. They ask you to write about an experience in your life and analyze how it impacted you. These are less formal than typical academic essays and are usually written in the first person (so use personal pronouns like “I”). These types of essays offer a lot of freedom so there is no particular way to write them, still, an outline can help organize your thoughts and clarify which emotions, feelings, and sensations you want to write about.

• Teaser for the full story
• Introduce the story
• Antagonist/conflict
• The build-up
• Details about the conflict
• Role of characters 
• The resolution of the climax
• The conclusion of the story 
• Summary of the events
• What you learned
• How it impacted you

Compare and contrast essay outline example

Compare and contrast essays ask you to analyze two things and examine any connections. This type of essay isn’t as formal or structured as expository essays so you don’t have to follow a specific structure. An outline is helpful to collect all the information and to help draw conclusions though, so here’s an example outline.

• Background information about the 2 points
• Connect point 1 and point 2
• Similarities
• Differences
• Comparisons
• Conclusions from analysis
• Other points to compare against
• Further research

Research essay outline example

A research essay requires finding reputable sources, analyzing and synthesizing information, and presenting your conclusion backed by evidence. These are popular assignments because they require critical thinking skills as well as research skills. Always use an outline if you’re assigned a research essay, it will help organize information and shorten writing time.

• First research finding
• Second research finding
• Analysis of research
• What you agree with and why with the evidence
• What you disagree with and why with the evidence
• Summary of research
• Importance of research

Quick Wrap Up

There is no denying that an outline helps with the writing process. Famous authors, YouTube scripts, speechwriters, everyone uses outlines to help organize their thoughts and present information effectively. Make sure you master this skill because it’s going to be useful throughout your life. 

If an outline is just for you (it’s not going to be given to a teacher) then follow a template, but there’s no reason to stick to it exactly. Draw on it, add sections, delete sections, do whatever you need to do to make the information you have to make the most sense to you. On the other hand, if it’s supposed to be handed in, check what format it’s supposed to be in and follow the format. 

The specific templates in this article are a good starting point, but you may need to add body paragraphs or make other minor changes here and there. After all, a template is just a guide.  

Hopefully, this article has given you tips, outlines, and a bunch of other helpful information, but if you need any help essay writer service or custom essay writing ,  Studyfy also offers custom essay writing services , " write my admission essay " service and coursework writing service help. If you need a top-quality paper that meets all your requirements, just say, write my paper for me , and our essay writers online will take care of the rest. Our custom essay writing services are designed to help you achieve academic success and get good grades. Trust us to provide you with the best possible outcome and reach out to us today to learn more about our services.

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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

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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Mar 22, 2023

How To Make an Essay Outline (With Examples)

Ready to tackle that daunting essay assignment? A well-crafted outline is your secret weapon. Let's dive in!

Developing an outline for your essay is a fantastic method to keep yourself structured and keep track of everything you intend to include in it. Writing of any kind, from academic papers to artistic writing, can benefit enormously from having a strategy drawn up before beginning the process. Sadly, a great number of students and writers either need to be taught how to make an outline or are incapable of producing one appropriately. Our AI Essay Outline Generator can be a big help in this process, but it's still very useful to understand the process entirely before utilizing AI tools to make the process easier.

In the following sections, we will first provide an overview of the process of creating an outline, followed by specific directions and several examples of outlines for essays.

An essay outline serves both as a strategy for the essay you will write and as guidance while writing the essay. It will serve as the structure for the article that you expect to write. Included are both the thesis statement and the primary subjects that are addressed in each section. Before beginning work on a house, one needs to have a blueprint just as one needs a writing summary. It is feasible to write an essay without first developing an outline; however, doing so significantly increases the amount of work involved in the writing process and increases the likelihood of missing essential details. 

After the outline has been made, there is a way to remember everything. It will also be useful for: 

Get your thoughts and their contents in order.

Understand the flow of data

Keep track of a vital source or citation.

Wrap up your work quickly

 If anyone questions you, "Why do I need an outline for my essay?" you can tell them the following. Now, before you go ahead and begin crafting an essay outline, there are a few things you should bear in mind. Before you can even begin to write a summary for an essay, you need to have a firm grasp of the fundamental requirements.

Here are the guidelines:

There is a requirement that you read the instructions for your tasks thoroughly.

Grasp the point of your work.

Recognize your audience.

Keep marking as you gather information related to your topic.

Choose a format for your essay outlines, such as a basic bullet list or a more elaborate one with decimal points.

Writing an essay or study paper is much easier if you have an outline to refer back to as you progress.

What are the benefits of an essay outline?

It helps you maintain order in your study materials. An organized outline is a great way to organize your thoughts and determine where you should include your study or rationale in an essay. By laying out your evidence in this manner, you can verify the validity of your thesis. If you can fill your plan with examples that back up your thesis, you have likely chosen a good one. If not, think again.

It depicts a chain of reasoning that starts at the top and goes down to the details. The typical drawing format is alphanumeric. Specifically, they switch between using Roman numbers, uppercase letters, Arabic numerals, and lowercase letters to emphasize various points and subpoints. Staggered bullet points and decimal outlines are two additional essays outline examples.

Being adaptable is made possible. You can write in complete sentences or use shorthand in your formal outline. The outline is not intended as a final draft but as a guide for creating the essay's material and discovering its best organizational structure.

Things to consider before writing an outline

The success of your outline and essay rests on the thoroughness of your investigation. You can do this by citing credible sources and providing examples to back up your claims. The best way to speed up your study will depend on your level of education.

Search results from Google should not be used as references in academic works. Since the Internet is rife with fake news, it's important to check the reliability of your source before citing it. Sites like Google Scholar , Microsoft Academic , Science.gov , Refseek, and Oxford Academic are examples of credible resources.

After settling on a subject and conducting the necessary research, you can begin crafting your outline. It needs the same structure as the rest of the essay, with an intro, body, and end. Have you ever jotted down a note you needed later but couldn't understand your handwriting? The material must either be more densely packed or written in illegible handwriting, contributing to this problem. Even if you're in a pinch for time, you should be independent of a sketchy outline. Therefore, you need to arrange your strategy to fit the structure of the essay. 

How to Make Outline for Essay

Outlining an essay is easy you can write an essay by following the outline and examples.

Introduction

Useful methods to begin an introductory paragraph include anecdotes, proverbs, phrases, explanations, facts, quotes, and hard data. If you're writing an English essay, you can start by outlining the opening, which should include your thesis statement. The goal is to provide a roadmap, so keep statements short. 

Body paragraphs 

Each paragraph in the body should focus on one main point that reinforces your thesis and provide supporting evidence. Paragraph count varies with overall writing length. However, for the substance of a typical essay, you should plan on at least three or four paragraphs. Remember that each paragraph needs a topic phrase, at least two supporting ideas, and a connecting sentence.

Conclusion 

This paragraph provides some background and a summary of all the essay's major points. The conclusion of a short paper needs only three to five lines.

8 examples essay of how to write an essay outline

Argumentative Essay 

Mountain Biking, an Ideal Sport for Adults

Putting forth your position and supporting arguments should start the plan for your argumentative essay.

Thesis: There are many traditional activities that young people can choose from, but mountain biking is a fantastic alternative. 

Body Paragraph 1

In the plan for your argumentative essay, you should state your main point and provide evidence to back it up. 

Topic Sentence:  You can get the same health advantages from mountain biking that you would from any other kind of sport.

Detail Paragraph 1: 

It's a great way to work out and gain muscle power.

Detail Paragraph 2: 

It aids cardiovascular activity and serves as a heart disease preventative.

Body Paragraph 2

Bring up an alternative point of view and back it up with evidence.

Topic Sentence: Mountain biking provides some other benefits too.

Learning how to ride a mountain bike is a forever skill.

Regularly riding mountain biking can help you gain muscle mass, tone your body, and improve your overall fitness.

Detail Paragraph 3: 

Riders of mountain bikes can readily track their improvement.

Write a conclusion that restates your thesis and briefly summarises your strongest supporting points. Before you create your outline and first draught, it can be helpful to brainstorm specifics that support your point of view.

Concluding Sentence: 

In conclusion, tell the reader that mountain biking has many advantages over other popular youth activities, making it a good option for adults. 

Narrative Essay

How Losing a Mountain Biking Meet Made Me a Better Mountain Biker

Your narrative essay's introduction should contain a thesis statement and outline of the paper's growth (POD).

Thesis: When I first tried professional mountain biking, I came in dead last. I would have placed higher in the State Championship Meet if my preparation and coaching had been more deliberate. 

Plan of development: After the first competition, I was so disheartened by my performance that I dedicated myself to getting in better shape. I was able to ride more efficiently and quickly as a consequence, which improved my performance greatly. 

Expand on your main point by including descriptive details, anecdotes, and examples in your essay.

Topic Sentence: Talk about your failure and how you felt after coming in last place at your first mountain biking competition, so you set out to improve.

Tell me about how you put additional time with my coach and team leaders to acquire new strength training techniques.

Talk about how you took up jogging and weightlifting to improve your general fitness.

Tell how your performance increased to the point where you could compete at the state finals.

Provide additional supporting details, descriptions, and experiences to develop your general idea in your essay writing. 

Topic Sentence:  How you gradually improved to the point where I won or placed first in most of my competitions.

Because of your skill and conditioning, you increased both my speed and my range.

Results-wise, you progressed to the point where you made it into the state finals. 

Body Paragraph 3

The next writing stage entails adding more information, such as supporting details, descriptions, and encounters. Then classify them accordingly.

Finish your narrative essay with a brief review of what you've written or some thoughts on what you hope the reader will take away from the experience. Give a quick summary of the information you provided in each section.

After coming in dead last at my first mountain biking competition, I made it my mission to better myself for future events.

Descriptive Essay

Visiting the Hockey Hall of Fame

Write a thesis statement introducing the person, location, thing, etc. that you will describe in your essay. 

Thesis: All categories of hockey fans will find something to enjoy at the Hockey Hall of Fame. 

The first step in writing any good story is to paint the picture. 

Topic Sentence:  The Hockey Hall of Fame honours both the novice and professional levels of the sport.

Located in the heart of Toronto, the Hall attracts over a million visitors annually.

The museum features displays covering the history of hockey from its earliest days to the present-day NHL and Olympian tournaments.

Describe or share more sensory details, feelings, or information. 

Topic Sentence:  There are various interactive exhibits and performances to check out. 

Every chamber in the Hall is decked out in player memorabilia, from statues and plaques to jerseys.

A lot of the displays have films and interactive media that put you right in the action.

You can take on digital incarnations of some of the game's best goalies to further hone your puck-shooting skills.

Bring the essay to a close with a paragraph summarising your main points and the sensory information you've provided.

Visiting Toronto's Hockey Hall of Fame is like being immersed in the game's greatest moments, stories, and memorabilia.

Expository Essay

Why The School Year Should be Shorter

In an expository essay or any other form of academic writing, the thesis statement and the surrounding context introduce the paper's major argument or main point.

Thesis: To benefit students and teachers, save districts money, and see better academic outcomes, the school year should be shortened. The school years in other nations are shorter, and their students do better academically.

Outline your main point and back it up with proof. 

Topic Sentence:  It would benefit both students and instructors if the school year were shortened.

Students and teachers would have more time to share with their loved ones.

Instructors would return to the classroom feeling revitalized and ready to impart their knowledge to their students.

Add more details and proof to support your claims, just like in this sample essay outline. 

Topic Sentence:  Having students spend less time in school would save millions of dollars annually for public education systems.

By having schools closed for longer, districts can save money on energy.

Lower supply and transportation expenses are just one of the many benefits of a shortened school year.

Detail Paragraph 3: Students would do better on tests if they received enough sleep and were generally happy.

Add more information, proof, and analysis to the outline, just as you would in an essay.

Topic Sentence:  There would also be numerous advantages for parents and guardians if the school year were shortened.

It would be easier and less time-consuming for families if the school year were shortened.

Fewer school days would allow for more work-life balance for carers.

Include a summary of your primary argument and the significance of your supporting evidence and conclusion in the final paragraph of your essay.

The quality of living for students, teachers, and parents would greatly improve if the school year could be shortened without negatively impacting district budgets or academic outcomes.

Informative Essay

The Effects of Climate Change on Our Planet

Climate change is one of the most pressing issues facing our planet today. With rising temperatures, changing weather patterns, and the melting of the polar ice caps, the impact of climate change is being felt across the globe. In this essay, we will explore the causes and effects of climate change and discuss what we can do to address this critical issue.

The causes of climate change can be attributed to a variety of human activities, including the burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, and the release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. These actions have led to a steady increase in the Earth's temperature, resulting in a range of devastating effects. One of the most visible effects of climate change is the melting of the polar ice caps. As temperatures rise, the ice caps are shrinking at an alarming rate, which is causing sea levels to rise. This, in turn, is leading to more frequent and severe flooding in coastal areas around the world. Another effect of climate change is the changing weather patterns. As the Earth's temperature rises, we are experiencing more extreme weather events, such as hurricanes, tornadoes, and heat waves. These events can cause significant damage to property and put lives at risk. Finally, climate change is having a significant impact on the world's ecosystems. Many plant and animal species are being pushed to the brink of extinction due to changes in their habitats and food sources.

In conclusion, climate change is one of the most significant challenges facing our planet today. The causes are clear, and the effects are being felt across the globe. However, there is still time to act. By reducing our carbon footprint, investing in renewable energy sources, and taking steps to protect our natural resources, we can help mitigate the effects of climate change and ensure a better future for generations to come.

Admissions essays

Thank you! Mr Sato. 

In the intro, tell the readers that Mr Sato was your English teacher and because of her expertise in the field, you got your degree in English. 

Thesis: Then tell the reader that your decision to major in English during your senior year of high school profoundly affected your outlook on life. Because learning English can be challenging for native Japanese learners.

After this, give an account of your experiences in English class and how you felt like giving up.

Tell about how Sato Sensei urged you to stick with the Japanese rather than give up and learn something else.

As a Japanese student who has also studied English, I have gained a unique perspective that has prepared me well for a career in foreign business. 

Persuasive essays

We Need More Security Cameras in the Student Parking Deck

Car thefts on campus are increasing

Thesis: The safety measures in place in the parking garage are inadequate at this time. Vehicles belonging to students are a constant target of theft. Provide data on auto burglaries and associated crimes, including the frequency of such crimes, the typical cost of repairing damaged vehicles, and the value of stolen items. The well-being of society benefits greatly from heightened security measures.

Use examples and quotations to illustrate the intangible benefits of improved safety.

Tell the benefits to outweigh the costs.

Provide evidence from other institutions that increased their security video coverage and saw a decrease in burglaries as a result.

Give the real price tag for a complete protection system.

Provide a summary of the discussion and stress the importance of school management making the student body's safety a top priority. Then, restate why installing additional surveillance cams in the garage is so important.

Personal essays

The Two Best Birthdays of my Life

Describe your favourite birthday traditions and how you feel about holidays in general. 

Thesis: Firstly describe how you had the most fun on your 17th and 22nd anniversaries.

Talk about how your 17th birthday was memorable. Like, “I recently received my driver's license and drove to my first concert with some of my closest friends. The wristband and admission stub from that event is still in my possession.”

Then tell me about your 22nd birthday. For example;

“It took me a while to realize that nobody remembered my birthday. After I had given up hope of ever seeing the art exhibit I had been looking forward to, my siblings surprised me by driving six hours to pick me up and transport me there” 

In the conclusion tell summarize the key points of your essay and again tell your happiness.

To sum it all up:

When you're in high school or college, you'll inevitably have to compose several essays. Each type of essay for example argumentative, expository, and narrative follows a similar pattern with slight changes. The key to writing flawless papers that earn top marks is recognising these distinctions and properly structuring your work.

You should outline first to stay on track while writing your essay and not forget anything. Organizing your thoughts into an essay outline will help you compose stronger and more quickly. For the most part, you can recall all of the necessary essay elements. Your ability to analyze critically increases. Also, you improve as a writer.

 Jenni.ai is a powerful AI-powered writing tool that is easily accessible online. Whether you need to quickly write an essay on any subject, such as how to write an essay outline, or simply want to enhance your writing skills, Jenni.ai is an excellent option that can ease your life in several ways. With its advanced AI capabilities, this computer software can swiftly produce high-quality essays on any topic. In our opinion, if you're looking for a reliable writing assistant to help you with your essay writing tasks, give Jenni.ai a try today!

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How to Write an Essay Outline: Templates and Examples

Looking for an outline for an essay to help you with an upcoming assignment? Don’t worry; we’ll give you everything you need to know about essay outlines!

Students take all kinds of classes throughout their academic careers. They learn about the basic principles of the world in science, how we got to where we are today in history, and how to dissect an Elizabethan-timed soliloquy reading Shakespeare in English.

While subjects differ drastically in the topics they teach, you can bet that they all rely on students interpreting material to analyze and reach a conclusion with. Non-quantitative subjects, like psychology, history, and English, often require students to format their arguments in various essays.

But how do you go about starting an essay? Well, a key area that students often neglect is looking into outline examples for essays. Having a scaffold to support your arguments and research means you’ll be able to focus on writing without getting distracted. Ideally, you’ll experience an extended writing flow state without any writer’s block.

If streamlining the writing process and making things easier for yourself sounds appealing, then keep reading for the outline tips you need!

What Is an Essay Outline?

An essay outline is a brief snapshot into the structure of your essay. It’s often informal and mostly written without an intended audience other than the essay author. An outline will state the main points that are being established throughout your essay and how they’re being supported.

Essays rely on internal logic to be effective. Think of essay outlines as a method of laying out the flow of your essay, especially making note of how the arguments reinforce one another. A good outline will provide effective points that tie back to your thesis. 

You may also be requested by your teacher to make an outline so they can provide feedback. This is a good way to get advice when you’re starting out writing essays or writing about more complicated topics. That way, you’ll be able to start writing good essays in no time.

Typical Parts of an Essay

Although essay structure does vary depending on the kind of essay , there are a few universals across the writing format. Virtually all essays begin with an introduction and end with a conclusion. The body paragraphs that support the central theme vary in length, quantity, and structure.

Ideally, the introductory paragraph should give the reader a cursory overview of the arguments that support your thesis, which is the central theme unifying the text. A line to hook your audience can also make for a more compelling essay.

In the conclusion, you’ll want to briefly summarize the points you made throughout the body paragraphs. Furthermore, any closing thoughts you have or final ideas you’d like to leave the reader with can be discussed here.

Steps for Writing an Essay Outline

Writing an essay template doesn’t need to be difficult or time-consuming. With the right steps and planning, you can not only save yourself a great deal of time but also write more persuasive content. The ins and outs of writing an essay outline follow multiple steps. Here are some things to think about:

Step One: Develop a Thesis

The first and most important step before beginning your essay outline is to try to determine a thesis that captures the core of what you’re arguing. Without a thesis, any arguments made in the body paragraphs don’t have a central theme to support. In this case, it can be easy to get off topic or even inadvertently argue against your thesis.

Step Two: Prioritize Research

You’ve no doubt come across a ton of ideas and thought of different arguments to make during your time planning for your essay (or checking out what SparkNotes had to say if it’s last minute). Regardless, a decision has to be made as to what the strongest arguments that support your thesis are.

An extra tip: don’t discard points that go against your thesis! These can be collected and used to dispel counter arguments in your essay. Articulating persuasive viewpoints means tackling objections head-on and giving a more compelling argument. Also, make sure you’re understanding everything you’re reading before writing about it.

Step Three: Structure Body Paragraphs

The exact structure and contents of the body paragraphs within an essay can change depending on the essay format. Generally, each body paragraph should focus on a supporting argument that defends your thesis. In a sense, each body paragraph comprises a mini-thesis that aligns with the overall goals of the essay as a whole.

One approach is to give one or two pieces of evidence that reinforce the body paragraph’s argument. These could come from research you had done on your topic beforehand or from a primary source that’s being discussed. Alternatively, you could include any counter arguments that directly go against the body paragraph’s stance.

Another common pitfall students make is including body paragraphs that are too similar to one another. In order to give the most compelling arguments, you should ideally be tackling your subject matter from all angles. Including a variety of opinions ensures that your essay encompasses many diverging views, making your thesis more compelling.

Essay Outline Examples

A standard essay can be written in a five-paragraph structure. Certain essays, such as expository essays , work well with this outline. In this case, you’d want to include an introductory paragraph that clearly states your thesis. This is followed by three supporting body paragraphs. Finally, a conclusion is used to wrap everything up.

As with the steps for writing an essay outline, you’ll always want to include an introduction and conclusion, no matter what kind of essay you’re writing. To determine the structure of the body paragraphs, consider looking at what research you’ve done on the topic and what would make the most sense for the essay you’re writing.

Essay Outline Template

A rough outline template for an essay can include all the features from your outline. When dealing with five-paragraph essays, you can format a rough template with a few basic categories. A common template taught in college-level English looks something like this

• Introduction paragraph
• Body paragraph one
• Body paragraph two
• Body paragraph three
• Conclusion paragraph 

Although this isn’t the only way to structure an essay, having some kind of template will make the writing process as easy as possible. When you have to interrupt your writing with research, you’ll find it makes it harder to write concisely, establish points, and transition between them.

Still have questions concerning essay outlines and templates? Check out our expert answers below for more insight!

1. How Can I Think of What to Write for My Essay?

A big sticking point for students is getting started with their essays. More often than not, students envision the writing process as a seamless block of time where academically studious peers complete their essays in a single session. This could not be further from the truth.

Writing is a responsive process more than anything. This means that without adequate research, you’ll find it increasingly difficult to have topics to write about or think of. That’s not to say essay writing is completely linear. You’ll likely need to go back and consult your research to revise arguments. However, a gradual progression is usually followed.

Don’t forget a non-linear process can actually help you generate ideas for your essay. Certain essay-writing tips , such as expanding on your thesis and using temporary subheadings, can help generate crucial concepts to communicate your arguments.

2. What’s the Point of Writing Essays?

Although it may seem like pointless homework, writing essays develops fundamental skills that enable you to function and excel in society. Sure, you may be wondering how writing about the whaling in Moby Dick is going to come in handy in life ten years from now. The real key is the linguistic and logical neural pathways being developed.

Essay writing is quite different from prose writing. There is a certain structure where sound logic matters. You can’t simply come up with a thesis and talk about irrelevant points that do no help defending it. The logic required to draw conclusions from research and literary works is a skill that needs to be practiced.

Being able to defend arguments in widely different settings requires critical thinking. Not everyone can come up with an essay on the spot. It takes time to develop the thinking process behind the writing in order to make logically consistent arguments. Fortunately, anyone can develop their talents with the right practice and determination to get better.

Final Thoughts

Writing essays is an involved process. If you’re just starting out and haven’t perfected your writing regimen, then doing a bit of planning can make all the difference in your final draft. Whenever you’re feeling overwhelmed or experiencing writer’s block, it can be a good idea to go back and consult your outline for your essay.

There may be several different kinds of topics to write about. Almost all non-quantitative classes have written components, and essays make up a large bulk of that. What all effective essay writing has in common is clearly articulated thoughts, with the reader easily understanding what message is being conveyed.

No one starts out writing perfect essays with ease, but the more often you write, the better you’ll get at the process. The most important thing to take away from essay writing is to give yourself a bit of review, especially a few months later. Give it a read with fresh eyes and see how you can improve for next time.

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How to write an outline for an essay

Whether you’re a researcher, an academic, or a student, knowing how to write an outline for an essay will be an essential skill.

Despite how important it is, there are all too many individuals out there carrying on with the writing process without knowing how to write effectively. Creating an outline for your next essay can help you to structure your thoughts more clearly before you put them down on paper.

The advantages of working on a paper outline first are numerous; besides planning your answers, you’ll be able to organize them for better flow and ensure you haven’t missed anything important. An organized outline leads to an organized paper, which will have a better chance of being published or getting a good grade.

We’ve put together all the basics behind writing an outline for an essay in this easy guide:

Before writing your outline

You’ve been assigned a topic or you have a thesis statement that needs to be put onto paper. Before you jump into writing the final essay, you’ll want to create an outline that you can work from. The problem is there are a few things that need to be done before you can start essay writing.

It’s essential to look at the writing assignment carefully. If you’re a student, pay attention to the marking rubric and try to get a good idea of what your teacher or lecturer is looking for.

To write a strong outline, you'll ultimately need to make sure you've reviewed all the resources given and that you are approaching it from the right angle.

The basic parts of essay outlines

Every essay or research paper has to have a structure, and this is what you should also attempt to do in your essay outline. Broken down into the most basic parts, every essay outline should have:

• A strong introduction or thesis statement
• A body , or arguments and counterarguments
• A conclusion that reiterates the thesis statement and summarizes key thoughts

Your outline should ideally be structured so that your arguments are ranked in terms of their importance. You can imagine your outline having four layers of organization - the first two layers are the more general, and the following layers go into more detailed information from there.

Since you’re working on an outline first, you can easily shift around arguments and supporting statements to make sure the final project will be suitable for publishing or marking.

Remember to check carefully for any repetitive ideas or statements and to think about the audience you are writing for. More than a basic essay that follows the assignment prompt, you want to try and use different writing techniques to make the paper an interesting read and cater your writing to your audience.

Language in outlines

Even though you’ll be working on a rough outline, it will be important to focus on the language you’re using from the beginning. Paying attention to language now will get you in the right headspace for writing your full essay and help you avoid mistakes that can affect your essay later on.

Ask yourself, is my outline grammatically correct and consistent? Are my headings correct? Typically, your main headings should be more general with each sub-heading becoming more specific as it explains your answers.

Even within the basic structure of your outline, you want to make sure that you are using complete sentences while in the process of writing. Use the outline to make note of interesting terminology and theories you want to add to the final essay.

Formatting your essay outline

Your essay outline should adhere to the requirements provided along with the essay topic - this is what makes taking that first step to evaluate everything so important

The majority of essays are structured using an alphanumeric structure, but there are other options like the decimal outline structure. It all comes down to what the teacher or lecturer has asked for.

If there is no prior requirement, you can use the system of your choosing. In this case, just be sure to remember that consistency is key - you want to use the same system all throughout your outline and eventual essay.

The alphanumeric structure is a common type of outline formatting system that uses the following characters for headings:

• Roman numerals
• Capital letters
• Arabic numerals
• Lowercase letters

The decimal system on the other hand is similar but has the additional purpose of showing how every part of the outline relates to the rest of the essay. Instead of numerals and letters, a decimal outline uses decimals when formatting headings and sub-headings.

Formatting will be especially important when it comes to doing your references. You can have all the credible sources in the world in your paper, but if they aren't formatted in the proper reference style they may affect your overall score. This can be crippling when you're handing in an academic paper or another essay type that requires a common structure and some critical thinking.

Writing your essay outline

When you’re ready to start writing your essay outline, it’s best to take a step by step approach.

The first thing you want to do is to carefully consider the subject. Is the essay meant to be argumentative, narrative, or expository? Different categories will require different types of outlines -  narrative essays for example will have a structure that is unlike the format used in an analysis essay.

It may be worthwhile to take some time to brainstorm all of the topics or ideas you want to write about and to choose the one you feel has the most potential from the shortlist. This is also a good opportunity to connect related ideas and strengthen your paper even further.

The next step is to take your list of organized ideas and structure them into an essay outline. When working on this part, you should organize your ideas by the level of importance. Think about how you can introduce these topics, give an explanation for them, and what conclusions can be drawn from them as an ending to your essay. Don't go into too much detail.

From there, you’ll want to write headings and subheadings based on the ideas you have gathered. Headings are one of the most underrated parts of writing an essay, but they too play a huge role in the success of a paper.

The secret to writing great headings is to make sure that everyone you put down adheres to the following guidelines:

• Does the reader understand the essay content?
• Is each content section clear?
• How does each section relate to the other sections?

If you’re unable to say “yes” to all the above, your headings will need some additional work.

When all of the above has been completed, you can start to fill in the body of your outline with your ideas and some rough sentences that you can build on in the final version.

Essay outline example

As mentioned above, your outline is essentially broken down into multiple layers of organization. Let's take a closer look at how this will work in practice.

Layer one is the most generalized section of the outline and will contain an introduction to the ideas you'll be discussing in the paper, and the conclusion. Think of this as the elevator pitch of your research. You can expect layer one to look like the following:

From the above, you can see that the main points of the example outline are separated into their own sections. Every main idea you introduce should have at least one or two supporting statements before you add another main idea.

Final thoughts

The chances are good that you will write many essays in your life, and hopefully, with the knowledge in this guide in hand, the process of outlining them will be easier each time.

Writing an outline might be a bit more time-consuming than jumping into the full paper immediately, but the final product is much more likely to excel. By taking the time to prepare a strong outline, you’ll be ensuring that you can create a better paper much faster.

Frequently Asked Questions about Writing an outline for an essay

Creating an outline for your essay will help you structure what you want to write, and usually contains a few bullet points under each section you plan to add. An outline is just a very rough plan for the paper you plan to write.

Perfecting your essay will come down to understanding the relevant literature, offering a fresh take with a strong opening hook, and keeping to the rubric set for the assignment. Once you've finished your first draft, try to read it objectively and improve any of the weak points you spot.

The four types are expository, descriptive, narrative, and argumentative. An expository essay is an essay that takes a closer look at an idea and evaluates the relevant evidence, while a descriptive essay describes an experience with a person, a place, or situation.

Narrative essays tell a story - anecdotal or personal experiences that are written creatively. Lastly, an argumentative essay tries to prove a point by investigating a topic and the evidence related to it.

This will highly depend on the type of assignment. If no specification is given, try to start with five paragraphs on the main topics and expand on sub-topics as needed. Prioritize your strongest points and only add supplemental ones to support them.

Give yourself a refresher on grammar and vocabulary rules, plan a solid outline and make sure you have carefully analyzed your research sources. Reading more papers will also help you improve your writing skills.

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How to Write an Outline

Last Updated: March 27, 2024 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Emily Listmann, MA and by wikiHow staff writer, Danielle Blinka, MA, MPA . Emily Listmann is a private tutor in San Carlos, California. 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. There are 8 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 3,949,894 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.

Quick Outline Slideshow

Sample outlines.

Planning Your Outline

• 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.

Structuring 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.

Organizing Your Ideas

• 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.

Finalizing Your Outline

• 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.

Expert Q&A

• 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

• 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 3 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/
• ↑ https://writing2.richmond.edu/writing/wweb/outline.html

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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Last Updated: Apr 01, 2024 Views: 4

What is an outline.

An outline is a brainstorming method that you can use to organize your writing. It helps you group your paper's main ideas with their supporting points, and put them all in a logical order. Many students find that creating an outline before they write their paper helps keep them on track and makes the writing process a little easier. 

How do I Format an Outline?

Neither APA nor MLA have specific formats for outlines, so please check with your instructor for a preferred format if you are doing an outline for an assignment. There are a few different common kinds of outlines, but a common one is an alphanumeric outline using Roman numerals and letters - see below for an example!

Example Outline - Alphanumeric

Thesis: (Thesis Statement)

• Detail about that idea
• Detail about that second idea

More Information

• Writing Process This link opens in a new window - includes outline and prewriting information (SNHU Academic Support)
• Tips for Organizing Your Essay (Harvard University) This link opens in a new window
• Four Main Components for Effective Outlines (Purdue OWL) This link opens in a new window

Further Help

Campus students.

To access academic support, visit your Brightspace course and select “Tutoring and Mentoring” from the Academic Support pulldown menu.

Online Students

To access help with citation and more, visit Academic Support via modules in Brightspace:

• The Complete Guide to Using Academic Support via Brightspace This link opens in a new window
• Accessing Writing STEM Help This link opens in a new window

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